After his physical body had been slain by Shimura Danzō, Orochimaru found himself oblivious to the changes occurring in the Shinobi World. Though he could passively glean information through the Cursed Seal implanted in various individuals, it proved insufficient for him to grasp the overall situation.

Upon returning through Kabuto’s body, Orochimaru did learn of the big changes transpiring in the Shinobi World.

He discovered that in a surprising turn of events, Kuroto had ascended to the position of Godaime Hokage of Konoha. However, even with this newfound knowledge, he still lacked a comprehensive understanding of the unfolding events.

Only now, after reclaiming his chakra from Anko’s body, did Orochimaru fully comprehend the situation and perceive the predicament faced by Kuroto and the Hokage faction. Realizing this, a chuckle escaped Orochimaru’s lips, “Humiliated in such a manner, the Uchiha Clan will not remain silent. Is Sarutobi Sensei prepared to confront three Mangekyō Sharingan users?” he mused. Then, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, as if remembering something overlooked, he added, “Oh… how could I forget? Instead of three, it should be four Mangekyō Sharingan users.”

Observing Orochimaru’s performance, Kuroto feigned surprise and inquired with a furrowed brow, “What do you mean by four Mangekyō Sharingan users? Aren’t there only three? Uchiha Patriarch, Uchiha Shinichi, and Uchiha Shisui?”

Upon hearing Kuroto’s astonishment, a cunning smile crept across Orochimaru’s face as he responded, “No… no… there are indeed four Mangekyō Sharingan users… another Uchiha has awakened those eyes…” He then playfully continued, “Dealing with four of them… Konoha lacks the strength for such a task. If you wish, I can lend my assistance. My only condition is that I require one pair of those Sharingan for research. Surely, it isn’t too much to ask, is it?”

Kuroto was well aware that Orochimaru was referring to Itachi. Apart from the members of Amatsukami, Orochimaru knew about Uchiha Itachi’s awakening of the Mangekyō Sharingan. In fact, Orochimaru himself played a pivotal role in Itachi’s initial awakening of this power.

However, Orochimaru’s desire for Itachi’s body and his Sharingan remained an undisclosed secret. Alas, the more Orochimaru coveted the Uchiha clan and their ocular abilities, the more he suffered. This was true in the original canon and remained so in this altered reality—suffering at the hands of Shinichi, suffering at the hands of Itachi, and suffering at the hands of Danzō.

Hearing Orochimaru’s proposition, Kuroto shook his head and firmly stated, “There is no need… The current Konoha… does not require your intervention, Orochimaru-Sensei. You should focus on your own endeavors, especially on getting a body for yourself, and refrain from interfering in Konoha’s internal affairs.”

Wooooooooo!

Just as Kuroto firmly rejected Orochimaru’s proposal, a piercing siren echoed through the village, instantly alerting everyone to the intrusion. Immediately, Kurenai appeared beside Kuroto and swiftly reported the situation. “Hokage-sama, the patrol team has detected an intruder within the village,” she informed, her gaze briefly flickering towards Kabuto, the said trespasser, and the unconscious Anko.

Kuroto directed his questioning gaze toward Orochimaru. “Did you kill someone?” he inquired, his tone laced with suspicion.

Orochimaru calmly shook his head. “No, I merely rendered them unconscious,” he clarified.

Satisfied with the response, Kuroto nodded and turned his attention to Kurenai. “Cease the alarm… and ensure that Anko is taken inside. Yui will attend to her,” he instructed in a composed demeanor.

Kurenai nodded in acknowledgment. “Understood,” she replied before disappearing to carry out Kuroto’s orders. The alarms were promptly silenced, and Anko was gently escorted into the safety of another room to recuperate.

As Kurenai departed with Anko, Orochimaru locked his gaze onto Kuroto and spoke, his eyes carrying a subtle hint of persuasion. “I suggest you reconsider my proposal, for it would be mutually advantageous,” he suggested, attempting to weave his charms.

Leaving those words hanging in the air, Orochimaru turned on his heels and began making his way out of the house, leaving Kuroto to contemplate his proposition.

Observing Orochimaru’s departure, Kuroto regarded him with a solemn expression and responded, “Orochimaru-sensei… Senjutsu undoubtedly holds great power, but it will not make you or Kabuto invincible. And now that you are retrieving your soul fragments, you are all the more vulnerable to death.” He continued, his tone sincere and earnest, “Sensei… I have no desire to take your life. Therefore, I kindly request that you refrain from meddling in Konoha’s internal affairs.”

Within Konoha, it’s a tradition to kill their Sensei.

In the canon, Yondaime perished due to Obito’s actions, Sandaime fell at Orochimaru’s hands, Jiraiya succumbed to death while fighting Nagato, and Orochimaru himself met his end in an attempt to take over Sasuke’s body, whom he taught personally for nearly three years.

Kuroto wished to avoid following this grim tradition unless absolutely unavoidable, thus, he issued a warning to Orochimaru.

Pausing in his tracks upon hearing Kuroto’s words, Orochimaru cast a fleeting glance towards the distant Hokage Rock, where Kuroto’s face was being carved beside Yondaime’s. He let out a sigh before responding, “Very well.” With a mix of resignation and respect towards his disciple, he added, “I may not have achieved the position of Hokage, but you have fulfilled the longing I once harbored. I have no desire to witness your death… The Uchiha Clan is not to be trifled with, so tread cautiously in whatever you are planning.”

Kuroto nodded, accepting the cautionary words. “I will keep that in mind,” he affirmed.

“And remember, Uchiha Itachi, the fourth individual in the clan to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, is distinct from the others. He is astute, frigid, and resolute. Dealing with him will prove to be the greatest challenge… Perhaps far more than Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Shisui, and Uchiha Shinichi. Do not drop your guard at any cost, Kuroto-kun,” Orochimaru warned before vanishing into the shadows, leaving Kuroto to reflect on his words.

“I know, Sensei…” said Kuroto, staring at the empty spot Orochimaru stood at until a moment ago.

…

Uchiha District

Whoosh!

An Uchiha Jonin swiftly entered Fugaku’s study and delivered his report. “Fugaku-sama, the alarm has been deactivated. It was merely a test to assess the alarm system’s effectiveness. No intruders were detected within the village.”

After a moment of silence, Fugaku nodded in acknowledgment. “Understood. You may withdraw.”

The Uchiha Jonin complied with a respectful nod. “As you command,” he uttered before disappearing from sight.

Returning his attention to the six individuals seated before him, Fugaku resumed his role as the leader of the Uchiha Clan. These six individuals, apart from Fugaku himself, comprised the pinnacle of the clan’s combat prowess. Fugaku had summoned them to his study to discuss the matter of a coup d’état.

Although the sudden alarm had momentarily interrupted their meeting, now that they knew it was a false alarm, they could proceed with their deliberations.

At this juncture, one of the seven individuals, Uchiha Yusuke, spoke up. “Fugaku-sama, I have verified the news. The other Kages will be departing the village by the end of this month.”

Fugaku’s expression remained cold as he responded, “They have overstayed their welcome in Konoha. It is time for them to leave.”

The purpose of the other Kages’ visit to Konoha had been to discuss strategies to counter Shimura Danzō and the Akatsuki Organization’s assault on Iwagakure. However, despite months of searching, the Five Great Shinobi Villages had been unable to locate any trace of Shimura Danzō. Furthermore, the Akatsuki had inexplicably fallen into silence following their attack on Iwagakure. As a result, the Gokage Conference proved fruitless. With no immediate actions to be taken, it was only natural for the other Kages to return to their respective villages.

Uchiha Minoru spoke up with a solemn expression, conveying the sentiment of the entire Uchiha clan. “Fugaku-sama… the voice of the entire clan is unified, and I believe the time has come for us to take action.”

Fugaku nodded with hardened resolve. “The day the other Kages depart shall be the day we make our move.”

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