Chương 185: If It Comes to It, I'll Deal with My Beloved Disciple Myself

After Dongye Zhen's twelfth birthday, April arrived before anyone noticed. Another year, another class of fresh-faced academy students. Just like the previous year, both generations of Hokage attended the entrance ceremony. Although the Third Hokage currently occupied the office, Hiruzen never forgot that he was merely serving as acting Hokage. As always, he handed the responsibility of addressing the new students to Minato Namikaze. In that regard, Hiruzen was never particularly obsessed with power.

If anything, old age had softened him. He clung too tightly to the bonds he'd spent a lifetime forging, even when he knew some of those former comrades had long since forgotten the ideals they once shared in protecting Konoha. As members of the Fourth Hokage's Shadow Guard, Dongye Zhen and the others stood among the instructors behind the podium. Though the Shadow Guard technically belonged to ANBU, they weren't quite the same as ordinary ANBU operatives.

During formal public events like this, they didn't need masks or black uniforms. They represented Konoha's rising generation—living proof of what diligent training could achieve. The incoming class wasn't particularly large. With the war over, the Academy had reduced enrollment and raised its standards for admission. None of the names were familiar to Dongye Zhen. His own generation had officially graduated at the end of last month.

Since nearly every talented student had graduated early during the war years, this year's graduates lacked any standout prodigies worth talking about. The only familiar name was Iruka Umino. His theoretical knowledge was excellent, but his combat abilities were painfully mediocre. Like many students lacking exceptional talent, he'd remained in the Academy for the full six years before graduating. Honestly, that wasn't a bad thing.

Quite a few classmates with decent talent—but not enough to truly excel—had graduated early and promptly died on the battlefield. Iruka had been luckier than most. Thanks to Dongye Zhen's intervention, his parents had survived the Nine-Tails incident. His mother, Kairi Umino, had suffered severe injuries but eventually recovered and retired from active ninja service. These days she stayed home full-time, raising and educating her son.

As a result, Iruka now enjoyed something most Konoha shinobi never had: a complete and happy family. That alone put him ahead of the vast majority of the village's ninja. And yet, rumors said he still spent his school days acting like a fool and pulling pranks to attract attention. Orphans had their struggles. Kids with living parents had to survive double-teaming. Both of Iruka's parents were civilian jōnin and decorated war heroes.

They had charged the Nine-Tails without hesitation and enjoyed an excellent reputation throughout the village. They loved their son dearly. Unfortunately, they were completely stumped by his painfully average ninja talent. That frustration, in turn, became young Iruka's greatest source of insecurity—and the reason he constantly sought attention at school. While Minato was delivering his speech, Dongye Zhen sensed a familiar presence approaching from behind.

"Teacher Kuroiwa. Long time no see. Finished preparing for the new student intake?"

"Good morning, Teacher Kuroiwa!" Yugao greeted him as well. The newcomer was their former homeroom instructor, Inoue Kuroiwa. Seeing his former star pupils, Kuroiwa beamed.

"Zhen, Yugao. It's really you two. Time flies, doesn't it? Six years vanished in the blink of an eye." If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. He sighed nostalgically.

"You and Shisui were my greatest achievements as an educator. I can only hope this year's students include talents like you." Dongye Zhen chuckled.

"Teacher, if Konoha produced someone like me every single year, the other villages would lose sleep at night."

"Hahaha, fair point." Kuroiwa laughed heartily.

"After you all graduated early, your classmates who finished last month looked rather ordinary by comparison. Fortunately, there was still one genius among them."

"Uchiha Itachi."

"Exactly." Kuroiwa nodded.

"The Uchiha Clan truly lives up to its reputation as the strongest clan in the shinobi world. Nearly every graduating class has a top student from their family. Honestly, only monsters like you or Kakashi can suppress an Uchiha of the same generation." Dongye Zhen already knew the story. Itachi had enrolled the previous year and graduated alongside sixth-years after only a single year at the Academy. There was no practical reason for early graduation in peacetime.

But his teacher, Funeno Daikoku, had apparently concluded that keeping Itachi at the Academy served no purpose. Fugaku Uchiha hadn't objected, and few others felt qualified to intervene. Frankly, Dongye Zhen considered that teacher's Will of Fire severely lacking. Did he not understand that the true purpose of the Academy for clan heirs wasn't merely education? It was building bonds with children their own age. May arrived. Another ninja disappearance occurred within Konoha.

Inside a familiar conference room in the Hokage Tower, the place where Konoha's leadership frequently met, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane sat in silence, waiting. A short while later, Danzo entered. The moment he saw the grim expressions on his old comrades' faces, his brows furrowed. The atmosphere felt disturbingly similar to an interrogation. What was this about? Were they upset that Root had recently been recruiting members from various clans? But what choice did he have?

Root's elite forces had been nearly wiped out during a previous operation. Hiruzen spoke first.

"Danzo, do you know what Orochimaru has been doing recently? Has Root been involved in any of it?" Danzo snorted.

"That's rich, Hiruzen. He's your disciple, and you're asking me?"

"Just answer the question." Danzo's expression darkened.

"I don't know. I've been occupied rebuilding Root. I haven't been paying attention to his activities." Koharu leaned forward.

"Danzo, our investigation into the recent disappearances points directly at Orochimaru. He's already under suspicion of betraying Konoha, yet you're still covering for him." Danzo exploded.

"Covering for him? What nonsense are you spouting?" His voice rose sharply.

"He's not my disciple. And let's not forget—you were the ones who assigned him to monitor Root in the first place. Now you're accusing me of protecting him? Ridiculous." Hiruzen fixed him with a cold stare.

"Danzo. One last time."

"Have you been involved in any of Orochimaru's activities?" Danzo answered without hesitation.

"Absolutely not."

"You'd better not have." Hiruzen's voice hardened.

"And I've heard Root has suffered severe losses since last year. That's why you've been recruiting under my name." He paused.

"My recommendation is simple: stop."

"Root doesn't need rebuilding."

"Use the personnel you still have and focus on intelligence operations." Danzo's eyes widened.

"Hiruzen, what are you saying? Root must be restored. Konoha cannot survive without Root's protection."

"That's an order."

"You..." Danzo's face twisted with anger.

"You'll regret this." Hiruzen met his gaze evenly.

"I am the Hokage."

"Humph!" Furious, Danzo stormed out and slammed the door behind him. Yet beneath his rage, another thought dominated his mind. So Orochimaru had been exposed. Hiruzen would likely move against his prized disciple soon. That meant Danzo needed to erase every trace of evidence and sever all connections with the snake immediately. The flames couldn't be allowed to reach him. Anyone who aspired to become Hokage could not afford the stain of murdering comrades. At the very least, not openly.

What Danzo couldn't understand was Orochimaru's reasoning. Experimental subjects? The world was full of shinobi and civilians. There were countless people to abduct. Why target villagers? The man had gone completely mad. Even during their secret revival of the Wood Release experiments years ago, the children had been obtained from outside the village. They'd never dared touch Konoha's own. Not because of morality. Because some lines within Konoha simply could not be crossed. After Danzo left, Homura spoke quietly.

"I don't believe a word he said." Koharu nodded.

"That's just how he is. We never should have assigned Orochimaru to Root. Danzo's methods are far too dark. He twisted Orochimaru's thinking." Hiruzen drew deeply from his pipe. His thoughts drifted to the disciple he had once cherished most. Danzo had corrupted Orochimaru? No. Hiruzen didn't believe that for a second. Danzo wasn't capable of changing Orochimaru. The truth was far simpler. At some point, Orochimaru's own heart had fallen into darkness. Homura turned toward him.

"What now? If the evidence is conclusive... are we really going to deal with Orochimaru?" Hiruzen didn't answer. Instead, he tapped the table three times. A masked ANBU appeared instantly in the room. It was his eldest son. The commander of the remaining ANBU directly under his authority and the man who had been investigating Orochimaru.

"Have you confirmed everything?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama. We've identified all of Orochimaru's laboratories, both inside and outside the village."

"Where is he now?"

"At the laboratory southwest of the village. He entered this afternoon and has not emerged."

"Good." Hiruzen rose to his feet.

"I want to see for myself what he's been doing." Then he issued another order.

"Notify Kumoi. Have him mobilize his ANBU division and seize every other laboratory."

"Understood." The ANBU vanished. After giving his instructions, Hiruzen removed the Hokage robes draped over his shoulders, revealing the old-fashioned combat armor beneath. Orochimaru was his disciple. This was something he had to handle personally. If all of this truly led back to Orochimaru... Then he would clean house himself. Even if the one standing before him was the disciple he had once loved most.