"Let me go! You quickly let me go! Hey! Do you know who I am? I am from the Shimura Clan!"
In the evening, as Sarutobi Squad returned to Konoha, they saw members of the Konoha Military Police Force arresting a drunken man, seemingly a drunkard arrested for causing trouble while intoxicated.
On the shoulders of the Police Department members was a symbol of a gunbai inside a shuriken, which was precisely the emblem of the Konoha Military Police Force.
Hiruzen Sarutobi heard the drunken man from the Shimura Clan loudly shouting, frowned slightly, and glanced at his disciples beside him.
(At the beginning of Konoha's establishment, the Sarutobi Clan and the Shimura Clan were the first families to join Konoha. This is not something I made up. Compared to the Sarutobi Clan, which possessed Fire Release secret techniques, the Shimura Clan had zero presence, probably a family used to make up numbers, and incidentally allowed Danzo Shimura to become a person with a family and a home. I thought he was such a beast that he must have been an orphan.)
"Behave yourself and please cooperate with our work."
The Police Department member said with a cold face, not caring at all which prominent family the person he arrested belonged to, adopting a business-like attitude, serious and responsible.
Although at this moment, he really wanted to tell this person from the Shimura Clan, 'I'm from the Uchiha Clan, what's your Shimura Clan even worth?!'
How many Chunin and Jonin have come from families that flaunt their power by relying on the Village's higher-ups?
Besides Danzo Shimura, there was no one else who could fight!
The surrounding villagers watched as the Police Department members took away the troublemaking drunk, but instead of cheering, they seemed somewhat repulsed by the Police Department members.
Was the seed planted at this time? Orochimaru observed the expressions on the villagers' faces and understood why the Uchiha Clan was eventually forced into a coup.
Deciding to launch a coup was not as simple as enduring one or two grievances; years of oppression had led to deep-seated resentment within the Uchiha Clan towards Konoha.
Moreover, Konoha was jointly established by the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan. Not to mention becoming Hokage, the Uchiha Clan didn't even hold high-level positions.
After the death of Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, Konoha's high-ranking officials seemingly continued Tobirama Senju's policies, but in reality, they misunderstood his policies. He treated all clans equally, and everything he did was to protect the Village.
If the Sarutobi Clan posed a threat to Konoha, he would also formulate policies to target the Sarutobi Clan.
Hashirama Senju was a very idealistic person, while Tobirama Senju was a very realistic person, considering things more comprehensively.
It could be said that almost half of Hashirama Senju's ideals were realized by Tobirama Senju, and the other half was achieved by him convincing Madara Uchiha through suicide.
Hokage Office
"Third Hokage, you're finally back!"
"It's too much to leave the Hokage's work to us!"
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado grumbled, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had used a Transformation Jutsu to appear young.
"Hahaha! I'm leading by example. As the sensei of Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, it was their first C-rank mission, and I, as their teacher, needed to personally supervise it."
Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a hearty laugh, dispelled the Transformation Jutsu, and was in a good mood seeing that there weren't too many reports and documents piled on the desk.
"Hiruzen, you're still the same."
The sound of a door opening echoed, and Danzo Shimura walked into the office, his head and right eye wrapped in bandages. It was said that he was severely injured during a mission, but the actual circumstances were unknown to anyone.
"Danzo, as the head of the Shimura Clan, you need to rein in your clan members."
Hiruzen Sarutobi thought of what he had just seen. Normally, he wouldn't say much, but his disciples were with him. What would they think if they knew that Konoha's higher-ups condoned their clan members acting arrogantly in the Village?
"What?"
Danzo Shimura was stunned for a moment. He had originally come to confront Hiruzen Sarutobi, but he didn't expect to be outmaneuvered by him instead.
"When my disciples and I returned to Konoha after our mission, we saw members of the Konoha Military Police Force arresting a member of the Shimura Clan for drunken disorderly conduct."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stated what that Shimura Clan member had done, then looked at Danzo Shimura and said meaningfully, "Danzo, as the Assistant Hokage, you must lead by example."
"I understand."
Danzo Shimura's face darkened. He had originally come to confront Hiruzen Sarutobi for taking his disciples out of the Village on a mission, but he never expected to be warned by Hiruzen Sarutobi over a minor offense committed by a clan member.
Since things had come to this, he couldn't righteously scold Hiruzen Sarutobi for leaving the Village as the Hokage.
(Compared to the old and cunning, completely shameless Danzo Shimura, the younger Danzo Shimura still had some shame.)
"Third Hokage, aren't you making a mountain out of a molehill?"
Utatane Koharu felt that Hiruzen Sarutobi was being a bit excessive.
"I just don't want the new generation of Konoha to see the Assistant Hokage's clan abusing the Assistant Hokage's prestige to do evil in the Village."
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't think he was being excessive. What if it had a negative impact on his disciples?
Both Jiraiya and Tsunade were very opinionated children, not to mention Orochimaru, who was even more mature than her peers.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sincerely hoped that Orochimaru would inherit the Will of Fire.
With Orochimaru's talent, Hiruzen Sarutobi was confident in training her to become a Ninja who surpassed him, and it wasn't impossible for her to become Konoha's Fourth Hokage in the future.
"Achoo!"
Orochimaru sneezed, rubbing the goosebumps on her arm, feeling inexplicably like she had been plotted against.
"Orochimaru, are you alright?"
Tsunade looked at Orochimaru with concern.
"Hmm... I'm fine."
Orochimaru rubbed her nose, then looked at Tsunade beside her, "Speaking of which, your house is in that direction, right?"
Could it be... Orochimaru looked at the smile on Tsunade's face, a bad premonition rising within her.
"Hehe!"
Tsunade smirked and grabbed Orochimaru's arm, as if afraid she would run away, "Come with me and try your luck, alright? There's a Casino not far from here."
Tsunade said, pointing in the direction of the Casino.
"Tsunade, I suddenly remembered something very important, so I won't be joining you."
Orochimaru said with a forced smile, feeling her heart sink halfway as she felt the force transmitted from Tsunade's hand.
Where was Jiraiya? At a time like this, where had he gone?
Orochimaru looked around, trying to find the white-haired figure, and realized something.
He wouldn't have gone to see the older ladies, would he?
"We just got back to Konoha, what could you possibly have to do!"
Tsunade didn't believe Orochimaru had anything very important to do and dragged Orochimaru towards the Casino.
Damn it, Casinos shouldn't even exist!
Hashirama Senju, you are a great sinner!
Orochimaru walked beside Tsunade, looking utterly dejected. This wasn't the first or second time she had been dragged to a Casino by Tsunade.
Anbu?
Orochimaru noticed a fleeting dark shadow.
Soon after, night completely fell, and the streetlights lit up.
Tsunade walked out of the Casino, frustrated. This time, she hadn't lost money but had won some.
The key was that the money she won wasn't won by her, but by Orochimaru using her money.
"Orochimaru, I suspect my gambling luck is so bad because you stole it!"
Tsunade scratched her head in annoyance, redirecting her anger towards Orochimaru beside her.
"Tsunade, stop dreaming. Your gambling luck has always been terrible. If I stole your gambling luck, I would also become unlucky."
Orochimaru said seriously. How blind would she have to be to steal Tsunade's gambling luck?
"What did you say!"
Tsunade's face turned red with anger. She gritted her teeth and glared fiercely at Orochimaru. This was the most vicious thing she had ever heard.
"Anyway, you didn't lose money this time, isn't that good?"
Orochimaru looked calmly at Tsunade. She didn't really care about Tsunade throwing a tantrum.
Compared to even more annoying bratty kids, Tsunade was much better. Besides, coming to the Casino this time wasn't without its rewards.
"It's not bad either."
Tsunade fiddled with her fingers, conflicted.
"It's getting late, I'm going home now!"
Tsunade found an excuse and turned to run away.
Orochimaru looked at the fleeing Tsunade in confusion, but didn't think much of it, instead planning what she would do next.
Mastering new Ninjutsu, practicing Ninjutsu, training Chakra control, writing—these could all be left to the Shadow Clone. The main body needed to increase its Chakra reserves.
Ninjutsu attribute counters were based on situations where the strength gap wasn't significant. If there was an overwhelming difference in strength, it was entirely possible to overpower an opponent through sheer force.
For example, Madara Uchiha's Fire Release and others' Fire Release were not comparable at all.
When Madara Uchiha released Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique with his strength, it could unleash power exceeding an S-rank Ninjutsu. That was the difference in Chakra reserves.
Simply put, the rank of a Ninjutsu was merely its difficulty to learn, not its power.
---
Training Ground
"Listen up, today I'm going to test whether you can accurately hit targets with your shuriken throws." Hiruzen Sarutobi held a Kunai in his hand. "Come on, use me as your target, and let me see your growth during this time."
"Orochimaru, you first."
"Mm."
Orochimaru stepped forward, looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had almost no openings, and threw a shuriken with a flick of her wrist, forming hand signs.
That was... Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Orochimaru's hand signs, recognizing it as the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
One shuriken transformed into several Shadow Clones, attacking from different directions.
Hiruzen Sarutobi effortlessly knocked down each shuriken with his Kunai. "Good, Orochimaru, you learned the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique after I used it once."
"My turn, my turn!"
Jiraiya stepped forward, suddenly realizing he didn't know the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique at all. At this point, he could only bite the bullet.
"Shu... shuriken..."
Jiraiya threw a shuriken, feigning hand signs. After forming the signs, he put both hands into his clothes.
Just as the three thought he could use the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique... "All-Out Throwing Technique!"
Jiraiya threw several shuriken outwards like scattering flowers.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade stared dumbfounded at Jiraiya and the shuriken he had thrown to the ground. Orochimaru turned away, trying hard to suppress her laughter, her shoulders trembling.
"That's not even Ninjutsu!"
Tsunade punched Jiraiya on the head.
Jiraiya, having been punched by Tsunade, looked at Orochimaru, who was covering her mouth and snickering, and gave an embarrassed smile.