Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 3 Hiruzen Sarutobi: Kumokawa is a good kid!
Tick-tock...tick-tock...

The sound of dripping water echoed layer upon layer within the arched space, mixed with the whistling of wind coming from somewhere, and the damp, musty smell, along with the old, rusty odor, filled the air.

A completely black cat lay in the shadows, its paws toying with several half-dead white snakes.

Once the white snake stops moving, the black cat will release its paws, and the snake will struggle and writhe, but its paws will firmly hold it down, revealing a kind of wicked humor.

But soon, as if sensing something, the black cat raised its head.

That's why we were able to see its appearance clearly.

This cat is entirely black, but its eyes are one white and one black.

Normal people would just think of it as a cat with one eye, but no one knows that the white eye is the "Byakugan" that the other four great ninja villages dream of.

You should know that the Jonin "Ao" from Kirigakure was known as the "Byakugan Killer" because he possessed a Byakugan, and even appeared on Konoha's gold-lettered wanted list because of it.

No one would ever imagine that a madman would transplant such a precious eye roll onto a cat.

But that's exactly what some people did.

The black cat lowered its head, picked up the white snake's corpse, and leaped into the shadows of the crisscrossing pipes above, as silently as if it were walking on clouds.

Crouching at the corner of the drainpipe, its white pupils dilated slightly, while its black eyes narrowed into slits, it stared at the calm water in the distance.

The murky sewage, deep enough to reach above the knees, gleamed with an oily sheen, reflecting the crisscrossing, rusty pipes overhead.

Snap... Snap...

A moment later, ripples appeared on the calm water, and three swift black figures came treading on the water, their figures twisting into strange shapes in the ripples.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and his two ANBU members went through a lot of trouble, encountering many traps and decoys set up by Orochimaru along the way, before finally finding the normal path through the intricate underground pipes.

Only snakes and rats like this dark and damp environment, and Orochimaru's habits seem to be really getting closer to those of snakes.

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly stopped, looked at the rusty door in front of him, his expression turning somewhat gloomy, and raised his hand to signal the ANBU ninja to come forward.

Bang! !

With a muffled thud as the iron gate was forcefully broken open, a pungent stench, a mixture of disinfectant and the sweet, nauseating smell of rotting flesh, rushed out with a cold wind.

The dim yellow light cast bright shadows, but the scene before him made Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils shrink.

The laboratory walls were stained with dark red blood, forming a mottled abstract painting, and the light bulbs hanging from the ceiling flickered due to the vibrations from the broken door.

The ground was covered with layers of dark brown substance, like evidence of a crime that could not be washed away no matter how hard it was washed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi clearly heard the sudden, rapid breathing of the two ANBU ninjas beside him, who were staring intently at the several cylindrical glass containers standing in the laboratory.

The outline of a curled-up human figure could be vaguely seen in the pale green liquid. The skin had a translucent waxy sheen due to long-term immersion, and the exposed muscle tissue was covered with sutures that looked like maggots.

A beating heart could still be seen inside the dissected chest cavity, and snake-like organs were grafted and coiled inside the abdominal cavity, with tangled lines extending out of the container like jellyfish tentacles.

There were many such experimental subjects in the laboratory, with blood-red numbers such as "32", "42", and "65" visible.

The surrounding iron shelves were also piled with glass jars, containing biological organs at different stages of development, which were strangely vividly twitching in the liquid.

"This..." The pupils beneath the mask of the ANBU ninja trembled.

To be honest, although the scene before him was quite shocking, Hiruzen Sarutobi was actually mentally prepared for it.

After all, Orochimaru's earliest involvement in human experimentation was actually with the tacit approval of him and all the higher-ups in Konoha, when he conducted experiments transplanting Hashirama's cells.

Although those people volunteered to become test subjects, just to cultivate users who could use Wood Release and bring it back to life, it also proved that Hiruzen Sarutobi was not a soft-hearted person.

Even seeing this scene before him, Hiruzen Sarutobi still felt reluctant and guilty towards his disciple.

Until, in the deepest part of the laboratory, two overlapping shadows were seen...

Because Orochimaru was facing away from the door, Hiruzen Sarutobi saw first on the operating table a young face and a severed neck.

Hinata Kumokawa's face was no longer smiling; it had long been replaced by fear, and tears slowly slid down his youthful face.

Seemingly having spotted Hiruzen Sarutobi, she raised her hand and opened her mouth in his direction, but no sound came out.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi clearly understood what the child wanted to say.

“My grandfather’s three generations…” he said.

At that moment, Orochimaru, who had heard the noise, turned around. The bright and cold light reflected on his pale face, making his blood-stained, ferocious features appear even more evil and ugly.

The headless corpse at Orochimaru's feet was still gushing blood, turning the laboratory into a bloody hell, creating a brutal and grotesque scene.

This scene had a greater impact on Hiruzen Sarutobi than the experimental subjects.

Most importantly, he knew the child and was very impressed with him.

As the honorary principal of the Konoha Ninja Academy, he often takes time to give speeches at the school, cultivating an image of himself as an approachable elder while also explaining Konoha's "Will of Fire".

On one occasion, he selected Hinata Kumokawa's class and, while explaining the "Will of Fire," noticed the child's face almost overflowing with longing.

Afterwards, as usual, the teacher asked the children to write down their feelings.

Hiruzen Sarutobi originally didn't have time to read those "viewing notes," but he happened to recall that hopeful, innocent face, and on a whim, he dug out that almost dusty "viewing notes."

Then, he froze.

My home is like a large, deeply rooted tree.

[My grandfather's three generations were tree trunks]

[Sometimes harmonizing the internal, sometimes providing nourishment]

Father is the branch and leaf.

[Sometimes for warmth and protection from the cold, sometimes for shelter from wind and rain]

Although they are old and weak, and although the trees are riddled with holes from insects, they still drive their roots deep into the soil to support and protect the entire family and the fruit.

And we are all fruits.

Our family was overjoyed by our birth. We often enjoyed delicious nutrition, and someone always sheltered us from the wind and rain.

But we've forgotten who provided us with nourishment, who sheltered us from the wind and rain.

I'm too superior.

Perhaps, when I fall, I will be devoured and left on the ground.

As a seed, I understand how to take root and sprout.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was tired of the adults' elaborate praise and also tired of the children's blind and ignorant love and admiration.

However, this piece, without any flowery language, perfectly embodies the "Will of Fire" and even subtly points out the conflict between the ninja clan and the village. The words, spoken by a child, are sincere and beautiful.

The last three sentences, in particular, struck a chord with Hiruzen Sarutobi in an instant, warming his weary body.

Yes, those ninja clans only teach their children to protect the interests of the ninja clan, but never teach them to see themselves as part of Konoha. And those ninja children can only see the "branches and leaves" that shelter them from the wind and rain, but they can't see him who supports the whole "tree" and all the "fruits" below.

Without a doubt, this is a good child who can transcend the limitations of the ninja clan, focus on the whole of Konoha, and inherit the pure will of fire!

If anyone were to come to Hiruzen Sarutobi and tell him that Hyuga Kumokawa was a bad kid, Hiruzen Sarutobi could immediately pull out Enma and smash that person's brains out.

But such a good child, now...

As he watched that figure slowly fall onto the operating table, Hiruzen Sarutobi's complex feelings for Orochimaru quietly dissipated, and veins gradually appeared on his aged face.

"Orochimaru!" He glared at Orochimaru with extreme anger. "What are you doing!"

"What have you done?!"

Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi was clearly enraged, Orochimaru's heart skipped a beat.

He never expected the other party to be so angry. Knowing his increasingly indecisive teacher, he was certain that even if the human experiments were exposed, the other party wouldn't harm him; there was still a good chance of escaping Konoha. But now, why...?

Before Orochimaru could even think of Hyuga Kumokawa, the enraged Hiruzen Sarutobi had already formed hand seals.

Hai – Xu – You – Shen – Wei!
"Psychic art!"

Bang!
As a puff of white smoke erupted, a robust monkey wearing a fur coat and a Konoha headband appeared beside Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Hiruzen, are you in trouble?"

As soon as the Monkey King appeared, he instinctively asked a question, but when he looked up, he saw Orochimaru and paused, saying, "This..."

"Ape Demon!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's loud shout interrupted Enma's thoughts.

With a loud "bang," white smoke erupted, and the ape demon transformed into a stick as thick as a pillar.

Using the Ape Demon right off the bat?!
Upon seeing this, Orochimaru's expression instantly turned ugly. He didn't have time to think about why the old man was so angry today, nor did he care to think about why his white snake hadn't given a warning.

If he hesitates any longer, he might really die here today!

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!!"

hum! !

A gust of wind mixed with fine wind blades was exhaled from Orochimaru's mouth, and the shrill air pressure caused ripples in the air.

The surrounding bottles and jars shattered instantly, and the debris was swept towards Hiruzen Sarutobi and his two companions, obscuring the vision of the two ANBU ninjas.

Even now, Orochimaru still thought of taking Hyuga Kumokawa with him before he fled.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't even look, his staff grew longer, and he smashed it down on Orochimaru in the distance.

"puff!"

Orochimaru, who had already exhausted his chakra due to the organ transplant surgery, was instantly sent flying by this blow while trying to capture Hyuga Kumokawa. In mid-air, he vomited a mouthful of thick, bloody blood mixed with fragments of his organs.

"Damn it! Damn it!!"

Orochimaru glared hatefully at Hiruzen Sarutobi, whose expression was grim. Seeing that the other man instantly teleported to Hyuga Kumokawa's side, Orochimaru knew that he probably wouldn't be able to take Hyuga Kumokawa away this time.

Realizing this, Orochimaru calmed down, despite his reluctance to accept it.

"Earth escape: Submerge in the earth!"

Using that force, Orochimaru quickly formed hand seals in mid-air, his feet planted on the ceiling, the solid sand beneath his feet turned into fluid, and his body sank into the ground like a fish swimming in water.

"Sandaime-sama!"

Two ANBU ninjas stepped forward and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was looking up with a cold expression.

Hiruzen Sarutobi withdrew his gaze, his anger subsiding somewhat. He looked at Hyuga Kumokawa beside him and said, "Take this child to the doctor immediately and do everything you can to save his life."

"Yes!" The two ANBU ninjas didn't ask any more questions, nodded in response, picked up Hyuga Kumokawa, and disappeared from the spot in an instant.

At this moment, Orochimaru, who was rapidly ascending from the ground, clutched his chest, his face deathly pale.

Even if he were at his peak, he wouldn't be able to defeat Hiruzen Sarutobi, let alone now that his chakra is almost completely depleted.

So now all he can do is try his best to escape Konoha. Hyuga Kumokawa can only be left in Konoha for the time being, and he has to keep Hyuga Kumokawa alive and keep it a secret.

Thinking of this, I felt extremely frustrated.

How could things suddenly spiral out of control?
Oh right, it's all because of that damn brat!

But was all of this done by that brat?
Not only did they scheme against him for years, but they also dragged the old man into it. Everything that happened today was part of their plan.
That kid's only fifteen! Is he some kind of monster?!
As his thoughts raced through his mind, Orochimaru burst forth from the ground, only to be met by a figure.

Wearing an ANBU mask, carrying a short sword on his back, and sporting his signature silver hair.

Kakashi Hatake.

"Rachel!"

Without uttering a single word, he charged forward wielding the Lightning Blade, instantly making Orochimaru laugh in exasperation.

Are all these brats so overconfident?!

Just as Orochimaru felt a murderous intent rising in his heart, a barely perceptible voice entered his ears.

呲!
"This is……"

Orochimaru looked down at his feet and saw a black cat dart out, then glance up at him one last time.

A human-like mockery appeared on the cat's face.

The key is……

"White eyes?!"

Upon noticing the black cat's white eyes, Orochimaru's narrow pupils instantly contracted.

The next moment, before they could even react.

boom! !

The explosions of several detonating tags echoed through the quiet night, and the entire experimental base was shattered by a terrifying force.

The flat ground cracked and caved in as if an earthquake had struck, and flesh and blood scattered and flew like rain under the impact of the explosion!
At the same time, in the opposite direction, two ANBU ninjas who were leaping in the trees instinctively stopped upon hearing a loud noise coming from afar.

"Is that Lord Sandai...?" They looked in the direction of the voice, and couldn't help but feel a chill run down their spines.

Unbeknownst to them, Hinata Kumokawa, who was in their arms, had a subtle smile on his face.

"Did I still show mercy?" he thought to himself with a smile. "I hope Orochimaru will like my final gift."

He didn't expect Hiruzen Sarutobi's momentary anger to actually kill Orochimaru, and emotional identification couldn't compare to decades of master-disciple relationship.

Once Hiruzen Sarutobi has completely calmed down, he might regret that he went too far.

But it doesn't matter.

Hinata Kumokawa only wanted to clear his name; whether Orochimaru lived or died was irrelevant.

Moreover, a useful chess piece like Orochimaru isn't something you can find just anywhere.

It would be a shame if it died before being completely drained.

Thinking of this, Hinata Kumokawa glanced at the sky.

It was already five in the morning, and the morning glow was already reflected on the horizon.

The sun is both sunset and sunrise at every moment. As it extinguishes itself and descends the mountain to gather the desolate afterglow, it is also the moment when it burns on the other side, climbing up the mountain peak and spreading its blazing morning light.

"Next, it's time for the Tenseigan," Hinata Kumokawa thought to himself with a soft laugh as he closed his eyes.

Heh, the Hyuga clan, birds in a cage.

Make the illusory appear real, and the real appear illusory; the strong appear weak, and the weak appear strong.

Starting today, the roles of offense and defense have shifted.

The plot of this book is basically a re-creation based on the original setting, but it will not follow the original unchanged. The plot will go completely off track and change all the plot. This is all normal. I have written it like this before. I guarantee it will be exciting.

For example, the opening scene where Orochimaru's human experiments are exposed, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, out of pity, lets Orochimaru go, is a plot point that appears in both the manga and the anime.

Although there are subtle differences between the two (for example, in the anime, when faced with Enma's questioning, the Third Hokage bluntly stated that he could not kill Orochimaru, while in the manga he simply remained silent, and Orochimaru's laboratory was much bloodier than in the anime), the plot is actually quite similar.

I've read the Naruto anime and manga official guidebook four or five times in October. It doesn't contain any of the original work's tropes like Konoha's Eight Colors, the Cold-blooded Orochimaru, the Ninja Hero Hiruzen Sarutobi, Elite Jonin, Kage-level, or Demigod Hanzo.

So everyone can read with peace of mind. If you see anything that's different from the fanfiction you've read before, feel free to ask if you're curious. But it's best not to immediately say, "Hey, you wrote this wrong," or don't blame October for pointing out the original setting later, hahaha.

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(End of this chapter)