Chapter 55 56 57 Hatake Tatsuya in Naruto (Patreon)

On the outskirts of Konoha, nestled by a stream, Rin, Kurenai, and Shizune knelt upon the grass. Laid out before them was a large fish, its life waning due to excessive dehydration. In response, the three women gently placed a small hand pillow beneath the fish, and a faint green light emanated from their palms.

This was the rare medical ninjutsu mastered by only a handful of skilled medics – the Healing Jutsu.

Beside them, Tsunade, overseeing their training, stood alongside the three women. She stifled a yawn, inwardly yearning for a visit to the casino.

The Chunin Exams of that year unfolded without any major surprises. In the absence of the brilliant Uchiha Shisui, Hatake Kakashi emerged as the sole candidate to successfully pass the exams and be promoted to Chunin.

Namikaze Minato celebrated this accomplishment by treating the young Chunin to a meal at a barbecue restaurant, despite his financial limitations.

However, an awkward silence hung over the table where Kakashi, Obito, and Asuma sat. They refrained from interaction, their mutual discomfort palpable even to the cheerful Minato.

Months had passed since the assembly of Minato's class, and nothing had changed. Was it sustainable to persist in such a manner?

...

...

While Namikaze Minato celebrated Kakashi's achievement, Sarutobi Hiruzen paced his Hokage office with a throbbing headache. A few days ago, Danzo reported the failure of the First Generation cell experiment. All subjects, including Uchiha Shisui, had perished.

Uchiha Shisui was dead!

Sarutobi Hiruzen was struck by a cold sweat at this revelation. Simultaneously, he realized the gravity of his previous decision to relinquish Shisui to Orochimaru and Danzo for experimentation. He had made a grave mistake.

After years of waiting, the Uchiha clan had finally birthed a prodigious talent, only to lose him so tragically. How would he explain this to the Uchiha clan? What if their grief led them down a darker path?

He wasn't overly concerned about the Uchiha clan's power; they were formidable but manageable. Yet, with the authority he held, suppressing them wasn't difficult. The true dilemma lay in what followed the suppression.

To admit that their experiments had caused the death of the Uchiha clan's genius would shatter his cultivated image of benevolence. Other villagers and ninjas might turn against him, jeopardizing his position. The specter of rebellion loomed large.

In the wake of such revelations, the challenges seemed insurmountable, leaving Hiruzen grappling with the weight of his decisions and the uncertain future that lay ahead.

The current might of the Uchiha was not to be underestimated; it was akin to a barrel of explosives. Once ignited, the colossal fire barrel known as "Konoha Shinobi" at their back would erupt.

"Hiruzen, maintain your composure," Danzo, positioned on the opposite side, spoke with an air of leisure.

"Why are you so calm, Danzo?" Sarutobi Hiruzen ground out through gritted teeth.

"I've stressed the need for caution in the experiments before, not just for other subjects but even for Uchiha Shishui... How can you expect me to explain this to the Uchiha clan!?" Hiruzen's frustration was palpable.

Danzo remained unruffled as he calmly countered, "Why do we need to explain to them? Won't alter the narrative suffice?"

"What are you suggesting?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression shifted abruptly.

Danzo nonchalantly put forth two options, raising two fingers on his left hand as he continued composedly, "First, we declare that Uchiha Shisui met his demise during a mission. He was attacked by Suna shinobi aiming to acquire Sharingan secrets, thereby redirecting Uchiha's resentment toward the Sungakure."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was taken aback, unable to fathom Danzo's approach. To accuse the Sungakure after a truce had been established – was he serious?

"Of course, other countries can be implicated too, but it's wise to target the weaker ones. The Sungakure stands as the most vulnerable among the other four. Don't you think it's a fitting choice?" Danzo maintained his calm demeanor.

Taking a deep breath, Sarutobi Hiruzen managed to regain some composure, asking with an air of resignation, "What's your second suggestion?"

This was a strategy he would only resort to as a last-ditch effort. This could potentially instigate the Third Ninja War.

Danzo's lips curved in a nearly invisible arc as he offered the alternative, "In that case, you'll need to tarnish your dear student Orochimaru's reputation."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was left flabbergasted by Danzo's proposition. Wasn't this approach too unscrupulous?

With a casual slant to his posture, Danzo continued, "We simply put the blame squarely on him, portraying him as a renegade. Uchiha's animosity will naturally shift towards Orochimaru."

"This...!" Sarutobi Hiruzen found himself completely astounded.

Was this tactic not overly manipulative?

Danzo leaned back, comfortably resting on the sofa as he explained, "Considering the frail bond between You and your apprentices, doesn't this approach seem apt? Compared to sparking a war with the Suna, this alternative appears to minimize potential losses."

A deep, contemplative silence engulfed Sarutobi Hiruzen for a prolonged moment.

As the silence persisted, Danzo, noticing the prolonged hesitation, rose from his seat and made his way to the exit of the office. Before departing, he said, "When the decision is made; summon me."

...

...

With the office now vacant except for Sarutobi Hiruzen, he remained seated in his chair, his thoughts in turmoil.

Time slipped by unnoticed. The sun arched high and then descended, yielding to the moonlight that bathed the room.

Eventually, Sarutobi Hiruzen clenched his teeth and yielded, his voice tinted with reluctant acquiescence, "Anbu! Go call Orochimaru!"

At this precise moment, the trio of young kunoichi trying to practice healing jutsu, deeply engrossed in honing their healing jutsu, were jolted by a resounding laughter echoing from a distance.

The cacophonous surge of chakra crashed into the ailing giant fish that teetered on the brink of death, and the three distinct clusters of energy disintegrated the fish's form.

Trio's pupils shifted their gaze in unison, drawn by curiosity toward the source of the uproar.

Across the field, Tatsuya and Orochimaru sat facing each other.

Tatsuya was caught in an exaggerated fit of laughter, his enthusiasm effervescent.

"What's gotten into the old man this time?" Tsunade quirked an irritated brow, promptly barking at the trio of young practitioners, "What are you staring at? Catch another fish and get back to your practice!"

Startled by Tsunade's tigerish rebuke, the three young girls reluctantly rolled up their pant legs once more and headed down to the river to secure more fish.

Yet, their hearts fluttered with intrigue.

What could be the cause of Tatsuya's extraordinary laughter?

...

...

"Marvelous! It appears that staying within Konoha brings forth new surprises each day!"

Tatsuya applauded, his hands meeting in a resounding clap of approval.

Opposite him, Orochimaru, notably reserved, broke his silence, remarking, "Tatsuya-kun, I'm discussing business matters here, not sharing a joke with you."

Merely two hours prior, Orochimaru had been summoned to the office of his mentor, the Third Hokage. There, he received news so astonishing that even Orochimaru himself was left astounded—

He was being asked to defect. But, to be exact, it wasn't an outright defection. Rather, he was being requested to leave Konoha.

The news pertained to the "demise" of Uchiha Shisui—a fact that Sarutobi Hiruzen aimed to conceal. However, the Uchiha clan would inevitably learn of the truth, sooner or later.

Inevitably, Sarutobi Hiruzen would be confronted by the Uchiha clan without an adequate explanation.

This Uchiha conundrum was poised to become the spark that ignited the entire powder keg of Konoha. Thus, Sarutobi Hiruzen needed to divert the Uchiha's wrath.

He summoned Orochimaru, hoping to shift this responsibility onto him.

The Uchiha clan would be led to believe that Orochimaru was the perpetrator behind illicit human experiments that resulted in Uchiha Shisui's accidental death, forcing him into defection.

The intention was to redirect the Uchiha's ire.

Although Orochimaru would be designated as a traitor, he wouldn't actually be hunted down. Instead, he would play this role in another setting.

In essence, they were "meant to see doing something."

Orochimaru was flabbergasted when he first heard of Sarutobi Hiruzen's plan. Did he really understand the magnitude of what his teacher was proposing?

While he had anticipated his teacher's shrewdness, he hadn't quite expected such audacious maneuvering.

Even though Orochimaru relished his experiments with the First Generation cells, he had followed Sarutobi's instructions to the letter. Now, in the face of adversity, his mentor wanted him to bear the brunt of the consequences.

It was true that "the cunning rabbit has three burrows," and although the rabbit hadn't been caught yet, it had been whisked away to a hideout by Danzo.

However, Orochimaru was acutely aware that Danzo would never acknowledge this even if he confronted him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, those crafty friends and partners in manipulation, knew one another all too well.

Thus, Orochimaru decided to accept this burden, owning the responsibility in its entirety.

Tatsuya's overwhelming happiness stemmed from his unexpected revelation that Sarutobi Hiruzen was a master player at this game. To have Orochimaru, his once-beloved or most beloved disciple, shoulder the blame was an artful move.

A pang of pity struck him, sensing the injustice of it all.

"But must you wear such a crestfallen expression? After all, you were planning on defecting, weren't you?" Tatsuya quipped with a chuckle. "So, sooner or later, it's all the same."

Orochimaru's pupils contracted slightly.

Ever since the last Ninja World War, a growing disillusionment had cast a shadow over his perception of Konoha. Defection had crossed his mind more than once, albeit without a firm commitment.

His current astonishment didn't stem from apprehensions about the path ahead; rather, he was taken aback by his mentor's unreserved willingness to let him carry the burden.

He wanted to protest, "Why the bitterness in my heart? Wasn't I simply following your instructions his instruction?"

Amused by the irony, Tatsuya mused to himself. By all logical standards, Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't easily relinquish his once cherished disciple.

However, Namikaze Minato had emerged as a more pliable alternative, and Orochimaru's bond with his mentor had frayed over time.

Moreover, the current predicament was significantly grave, demanding an elaborate solution. It was implausible for Sarutobi Hiruzen to take responsibility personally or involve Danzo.

Orochimaru remained the only plausible candidate.

A lamentable situation, indeed.

Though Orochimaru's future actions might warrant severe retribution many times over, the initial missteps were undeniably influenced by the directions of Shimura Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen. In the end, they were shedding their skins to protect their interests.

A stroke of ill fortune and a touch of sympathy colored the narrative.

With no recourse but to confront the reality at hand, Orochimaru managed to regain some semblance of composure. He ventured to ask, "Tatsuya-kun, can you provide me with an escape route?"

Tatsuya's eyes flickered subtly. "Oh? Considering you're only pretending to defect, and neither of them will genuinely chase after you, do you really need my assistance?"

"You're underestimating me, Tatsuya-kun."

Orochimaru's demeanor returned to its customary aloofness, his lips curling into a self-assured smile.

"Your patience with the current generation of elders must be wearing thin, isn't it? Are you trying to tell me that thoughts of eliminating them haven't crossed your mind?"

Following a brief silence, Tatsuya spoke in a hushed tone.

"Are you intrigued by the 'Collapse of Konoha' plan?"

Orochimaru had defected, diverging from the course of the original narrative by almost a decade. As of now, only a select few were privy to this occurrence.

Due to his diminishing presence in the past years, Orochimaru's departure from the village had gone unnoticed. Even Tsunade, his fellow sannin, hadn't anticipated that Orochimaru's visit to Tatsuya some time ago would mark their final encounter.

It had been a complete month since that encounter.

News of a heartening nature arrived from the Uchiha clan—Uchiha Fugaku's wife, Uchiha Mikoto, was with child. This information had reached Tatsuya through Nawaki.

"Uchiha Itachi..." Tatsuya mused inwardly.

To be candid, Tatsuya felt disinclined to pass judgment on the man. Uchiha Itachi exemplified the intricate tapestry of human nature. Nevertheless, Tatsuya fervently hoped that if he were to have a son in the future, the child wouldn't emulate Uchiha Itachi. In such a case, Tatsuya had no qualms about reprimanding the child.

Meanwhile, just as Uchiha Fugaku celebrated the impending arrival of his son, his thoughts converged on the prodigy from his own clan—Shishui.

He harbored aspirations of grooming Uchiha Shisui into a deputy capable of supporting his son.

"I thought it appropriate to keep you informed, Fugaku."

Facing Uchiha Fugaku's inquiry regarding Uchiha Shisui, Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a heavy sigh, furrowing his brows. "Unfortunately, Shisui... he's passed away. Orochimaru was the responsible party. By the time our investigators arrived, he had already defected!"

...

...

Beside a small stream on the outskirts of Konoha, a sizable roasted wild boar, rivaling a hippopotamus in proportion, was skewered upon a wooden fork, roasting over a campfire.

Tatsuya replenished the firewood, cynically contemplating that Uchiha Fugaku was likely exulting in joy at home.

Abruptly, a figure emerged from the woods behind him.

It was none other than Orochimaru, branded by Konoha as a "Rebellious Ninja."

"Seems old man's political maneuvers are more potent than anticipated. He deftly funneled Uchiha's animosity toward me."

Even Orochimaru's tone couldn't fully suppress the tinge of resentment as he made this remark.

"What's the status?" Tatsuya, extracting a pork leg from the roasted boar, turned to face Orochimaru, casually inquiring.

"Did Akatsuki take you in?"

"Unexpectedly, those three brats Jiraiya adopted back then have matured somewhat."

"However, luck wasn't on your side this time, Tatsuya-kun. They declined my proposal. After all, my current persona is that of a renegade, and I did suggest to kill them back then."

"Remarkably, one of those youngsters possesses the very eyes of the Sage of Six Paths."

Orochimaru, now bearing the mark of Konoha's rebellion, had been recommended by Tatsuya to join Akatsuki upon his departure. Yet, Orochimaru appeared to have fallen short of success.

Nevertheless, this outcome wasn't entirely surprising.

The helm of Akatsuki's organization was still firmly in Yahiko's grasp, with Nagato yet to succumb to the darkness.

Indeed, accommodating Orochimaru, who had now turned rebellious and harbored intentions of eliminating them, was out of the question.

"A regrettable circumstance, undoubtedly. However, could you, in that case, assist me in monitoring Akatsuki?" Tatsuya tossed the final bone to the hungry ninjas nearby before shifting his attention to Orochimaru. "They will eventually become the agents of change in this world."

"Haha, even without your words, the fact that the red-haired youngster possesses the Rinnegan has piqued my intrigue entirely," Orochimaru remarked, his tongue grazing his lips.

Abruptly, Orochimaru pivoted and inquired, "On a related note, Tatsuya-kun, when do you plan to execute your 'Collapse of Konoha' scheme? I can hardly contain my impatience any longer."

In the original narrative, when Orochimaru's motives behind attacking Konoha were queried, Tatsuya hadn't discerned the answer.

Apart from the price of a pair of hands to end Sarutobi Hiruzen's life, Orochimaru had taken actions that shook the very foundation of Konoha. But nobody stopped him. The motives behind these actions remained shrouded.

However, his current intent was unmistakable—to dismantle Konoha. Despite his cold, serpent-like demeanor, he was still human, not a snake. He was driven by a need for vindication, returning without retribution would run contrary to Orochimaru's essence.

"I share your restlessness, but this is a matter of urgency. You, who engaged with the elders, understand the gravity more than I do," Tatsuya retorted.

Amused, he added, "Hehe, if you get the chance to bestow some 'gifts' upon Sarutobi, do remember to inform me."

With a couple of sneers, Orochimaru receded into the forest, vanishing from view entirely.

In the span of a single day, a piece of news rippled through the streets and lanes of Konoha Village.

As one treads the thoroughfares, both ordinary villagers and shinobi alike bore expressions oscillating between panic and incredulity.

When Namikaze Minato, accompanied by Kakashi, Obito, and Asuma, returned to the village after concluding a C-level mission, they were immediately inundated by village chatter. "Has Master Orochimaru truly defected?" "The Uchiha clan's prodigy is no more!" "Who will be the Fourth Hokage now?" Such discussions reverberated.

"Hey, what's transpired?" Obito's voice trembled with disbelief. "We were only gone a day—what could have occurred?"

Kakashi shared his incredulity. "Orochimaru-san...defected? A rebel?"

Asuma's brows furrowed, his gaze searching for Kurenai in vain.

Namikaze Minato's countenance was unusually somber. Once he disbanded his squad, he wasted no time, hastening toward the administrative headquarters.