Two years later, under the leadership of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, Konoha Village was becoming increasingly prosperous. Unlike the well-meaning but indecisive First Hokage, the overbearing Second Hokage, and the brainwashing chain-smoking Third Hokage, Minato Namikaze, though young, was decisive and gentle yet not weak.
For example, he established the Hokage Guard, Minato's personal guard, to prevent the Anbu from monopolizing power. In fact, upon closer observation, many elder high-ranking officials had gradually retired and been replaced by younger generations over the past year. Minato Namikaze was systematically weakening the influence of Hiruzen Sarutobi's old guard.
This did not mean Minato Namikaze was ungrateful after becoming Hokage. On the contrary, he deeply respected Hiruzen Sarutobi. However, these old guards hindered the village's development, and in the face of the village's progress, Minato Namikaze would not hesitate.
It's the era of the youth. You old folks (vermin) can go home and retire!
Facing Minato Namikaze's blend of firmness and gentleness, the advisors Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane voluntarily took leave for "rest," which in reality meant they loitered around Hiruzen Sarutobi's house all day. They knew they couldn't deal with Minato Namikaze and could only hope that Hiruzen Sarutobi would once again display his might!
They couldn't let go of their desire for power. Years of greed had corrupted them. However, they were unaware that at this moment, something else interested Hiruzen Sarutobi more than power.
Their efforts were destined to be in vain.
"Danzō, are you free today? Want to go fishing by the river?"
Ever since his wife, Biwako Sarutobi, passed away from illness a year ago, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been visiting Danzō with increasing frequency.
After all, as one ages, a sense of loneliness naturally arises, and the urgent need to find an old friend to dispel the emptiness sets in!
Danzō's face was grim. This was the third time Hiruzen Sarutobi had approached him today! Would it ever end? Didn't he have experiments to conduct?!
Moreover, the Fourth Hokage had already begun to target his Root organization. Cutting funds and reassigning personnel were just initial measures. Danzō knew Minato Namikaze's methods would go beyond this, but he was powerless!
Why cut funding? Because Root couldn't produce useful experimental results, and the experiments with results couldn't be brought to light!
As for reassigning personnel, the reason given was that the underground environment was detrimental to health, and one should breathe fresh air. How could Danzō refute this? Even he himself had to make time to go fishing with Hiruzen. There was no valid reason to object!
Danzō gritted his teeth in secret. The main culprit behind all of this was standing right before him, yet Danzō was utterly helpless against him. He couldn't bring himself to strike him, so he could only vent his frustration verbally. Truly infuriating!
"Hiruzen! Can't you have any ambition! I'm very busy, with numerous experiments I need to supervise. Unlike you, who's idle all day!"
Facing Danzō's complaints, Hiruzen Sarutobi's wrinkled face broke into a smile like a blooming chrysanthemum. Danzō had used these tricks countless times over the past two years. Just listen and forget; if you take it seriously, you lose!
"I specially bought you a top-quality fishing rod. If you don't go, I'll give it to someone else!"
"How dare you! I'll go!"
Danzō looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi's increasingly radiant face and cursed himself again: Damn it! Danzō, are you that cheap! How many times have you been fooled by such petty tricks these past few years! Why haven't you learned your lesson!
"Hmph! I'll go get ready, you wait!"
Danzō flicked his sleeves, intending to return and instruct his subordinates to pause the experiments, relocate the data and experimental results to a secret base outside the village. This Konoha Village was no longer a place to stay!
Hiruzen Sarutobi grabbed Danzō's arm and smiled, "What important matter could you possibly have? It's the era of the youth now. Let them handle things themselves. You can't work forever, can you? It's time to relax!"
"Hiruzen! I'm not like you. I always think of Konoha! You..."
"Ah, I know, I know. Let's go! Let's go fishing first. Perhaps we'll even run into Might Duy and Sakumo!"
"Damn it! Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"
"Danzō, I'm the Hokage! Uh, sorry, I forgot I've abdicated, ha ha ha!"
Danzō: (*꒦ິ⌓꒦ີ) I am the darkness of Konoha, the ruthless Danzō! Can someone please get this Hiruzen Sarutobi away from me!
...
Orochimaru's residence.
Orochimaru, clad in a loose kimono, was uncharacteristically not in his laboratory. In the past two years, he had researched everything that could be researched. Those that couldn't be researched had become increasingly difficult with the ascension of the Fourth Hokage. It was time to leave the village!
Orochimaru's gaze was fixed on the red-haired man sitting opposite him. He said softly, "I'm planning to leave, Lin Yu."
"Oh!"
"I'm going to defect from Konoha!"
"Oh!"
"..."
Even Orochimaru was slightly speechless at Lin Yu's perfunctory attitude. "I'm defecting from the village! Can you be a bit more serious!"
Lin Yu took a sip of hot tea and asked doubtfully, "Can't you just find an excuse to go on a trip or something? Must you defect and have Konoha hunt you down?"
Orochimaru chuckled, "Even if I don't defect, once I leave the village and do what I intend to do, it won't be something I can control!"
"So you want to sever ties with Konoha? I didn't realize you, Orochimaru, still had some affection for Konoha."
"If I truly did, I wouldn't have embarked on this path."
Orochimaru asked himself, apart from a select few, he wouldn't feel the slightest emotional ripple if everyone else in Konoha were to perish. Even those few were insignificant compared to his path of scientific research!
However, as he thought this, a white-haired figure with a cheerful smile appeared in his mind, affecting his normally placid emotions. His eyes flickered, and he quickly gripped his teacup to distract himself.
After composing himself, Orochimaru said, "It should be within these few days. I'll notify you once I'm ready."
Lin Yu pondered for a moment and then said, "Actually, if you really want to conduct human experiments, I have a method: White Zetsu!"
Lin Yu briefly explained the existence of White Zetsu to Orochimaru. It took Orochimaru a while to recover, and he murmured, "Such an incredible lifeform. It can adapt to the growth of various cells, and even fuse with First Hokage cells."
Orochimaru's eyes revealed boundless curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. He truly wanted to defect from the village right now!
"So..."
Orochimaru interrupted, "Lin Yu-kun, I know what you want to say, but the special bloodline limits of the major ninja countries are also within my experimental materials. Can you guarantee that the Five Great Nations won't come after me?"
Guarantee my ass! Let your Jiraiya protect you! I have so much free time to find Kushina and play. Who has time to help you!