I am the new Hokage of Konoha.

As soon as it sensed something was wrong, it immediately grabbed its tiny tail, determined to pull it out.

Therefore, he deliberately brought out the Uchiha Police Force.

The latter will certainly do everything in its power to investigate this matter in order to protect its own reputation.

Given the strength of the Uchiha clan, they should be more than enough to give Orochimaru and Root, who supported his experiments, a run for their money.

Of course, for Yun Ting, the Uchiha were merely a visible force used to attract the latter's attention.

In secret, he also specially dispatched members of the Shadow Guard to investigate Orochimaru's secret base.

Konoha ninjas are not allowed to leave the village without permission.

Therefore, Orochimaru's secret base could only be located within the vast forests of Konoha Village.

Having Tokuma Hyuga's Byakugan will make finding a job much easier.

However, simply rolling one's eyes isn't enough.

Yun Ting specially wrote a letter and had Tokuma deliver it to Hyuga Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga clan, hoping to get his secret help.

He wasn't worried that the latter would leak the letter to three generations.

The Hyuga clan has been able to remain in power in Konoha for many years not only because of their strategic ability with the Byakugan, but also because they maintain political neutrality.

As the Fourth Hokage, Hyuga wouldn't be so unwise as to offend one side for the sake of the other.

Of course, it's perfectly normal not to help in that case.

To Yun Ting's surprise, Hyuga Hiashi actually replied and agreed to send clan ninjas to help.

This was an unexpected delight.

In fact, not only Yun Ting was surprised, but Hyuga Hizashi, as his younger brother, was also very puzzled by his older brother's actions.

He privately inquired, "Clan Chief, why are you helping the Fourth Generation Fire...?"

At the end, Hizashi suddenly paused and couldn't continue.

Why help the Fourth Hokage? As a member of Konoha, isn't this what I should do? There's no need for a reason.

The current situation is that the third generation is still in power, but the fourth generation will ultimately only have the title.

"I want to be here," Hyuga thought, reorganizing his thoughts. Just as he was about to speak again, the current head of the Hyuga clan, Hyuga Hiashi, raised his hand to stop him, saying calmly:

"Hizashi, I understand what you mean. But I want to ask you, who is the leader of Konoha now?"

"It's the fourth generation, but..."

"When the third generation abdicates, the fourth generation takes office. Is this a legitimate and proper arrangement?"

At this point, Hizashi seemed to understand something and whispered, "Yes."

"The Fourth Hokage is rightfully the rightful heir, and therefore the legitimate successor. Since the former has made the request, Hyuga, as a member of Konoha, should certainly lend a hand."

At this point, Hiashi Hyuga's eyes sharpened as he looked at his younger brother.

"Hizashi, you must remember this: the Hyuga clan has been able to continue to this day by adhering to orthodoxy. The main family protects the Byakugan, and the branch family protects the orthodoxy of the main family! At the same time, we not only adhere to our own orthodoxy, but also respect the orthodoxy of the outside world. Do you understand?"

"I see!"

It turned out that his elder brother agreed to the Fourth Generation's offer because of his own orthodox beliefs, which he had always upheld as his creed, rather than because of self-interest, as he had suspected, and thus actively invested in the Fourth Generation's side.

Thinking of this, Hizashi clenched his fists tightly in his sleeve.

So, must a branch family always remain under the main family's orthodoxy?

Chapter Twenty-Three: Itachi and Orochimaru

Unaware of the conversation between the brothers Risa and Ritsu, Yunting was in a very good mood for the next period of time.

The Third Hokage didn't take the matter of his meeting with Fugaku Uchiha, which only involved discussing cases within the village, to heart.

With the Uchiha and Hyuga clans, two of Konoha's most powerful families, tracking down Orochimaru's crimes, it seems only a matter of time before they do.

In addition, his magical arts progressed smoothly under the tutelage of the Living Slug.

Everything is moving in a favorable direction.

Yun Ting, the planner, found herself with some free time.

After get off work, he still wandered around the village at his leisure, only this time over a larger area.

He would still smile at the villagers he encountered along the way, even though these people he had long been familiar with no longer provided him with reputation points in the short term.

Unbeknownst to him, he had arrived at a quiet place.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that the memorial monument for Konoha was right in front of them.

Having arrived here, Yun Ting went inside, passing one tombstone after another, and looking at the densely packed names of ninjas who sacrificed themselves for Konoha, his face became serious.

"Lord Hokage."

Just then, a somewhat childish male voice suddenly sounded beside him.

Yun Ting turned his head and saw a little boy wearing clothes with the Uchiha clan crest bowing to him very politely.

"What's the name of the Uchiha family child? Why are you here alone?" Yun Ting stepped forward and kindly patted the child's head as he asked.

"My name is Uchiha Itachi. I've come here to pay my respects to the elders of my clan," the boy named Uchiha Itachi replied earnestly.

“Uchiha...Itachi?” Yun Ting was taken aback and looked down to examine him closely. Although he didn’t have the prominent nasolabial folds that he had when he grew up, his facial features were indeed identical.

No wonder it looked familiar at first glance.

So, Yun Ting rubbed Uchiha Itachi's head hard once again, knowing he wouldn't have the chance to do it again.

"It's getting late, you should hurry back so as not to worry your master." After satisfying his request, Yun Ting smiled and said to Itachi.

The future Itachi may be a scourge to the Uchiha clan, but he will be utterly loyal to Konoha.

Your position determines your thoughts.

As the Hokage of Konoha, he naturally admired such a person greatly.

"Yes!"

After politely saying goodbye, Uchiha Itachi turned and headed home.

Midway through, recalling Yun Ting's previous attitude towards him, the cunning man pondered to himself, "Everyone in the clan says that the Fourth Hokage has a great prejudice against the Uchiha clan, but now it seems that this is not the case. It seems that rumors cannot be taken seriously."

Standing before the memorial tablet, watching Itachi Uchiha's retreating figure, Yun Ting's smile faded, and he calmly said:

"Come out. I didn't expect that one of the legendary Sannin would also like to hide in the shadows and spy."

At this time and place, the only one of the so-called Legendary Sannin can be Orochimaru.

"I didn't mean to spy, I just wanted to go somewhere that was already taken, so I was just waiting outside." Orochimaru's signature hoarse voice rang out from the nearby woods.

Immediately afterwards, he calmly walked out in his Shinin uniform, his snake-like golden vertical pupils looking at Yun Ting, and said with a playful smile, "However, I did see an interesting scene. I didn't expect that the Hokage, who comes from the Senju clan, would have no prejudice against the Uchiha."

Yun Ting frowned slightly and said, "Prejudice? Mr. Orochimaru is wrong. The Uchiha are also members of Konoha. As the Hokage, how could I have prejudice, especially in front of a child?"

"It's precisely in front of children that one lets down their guard," Orochimaru said with interest. "Our once-beloved Second Hokage famously declared that the Uchiha clan is an evil one. Inheriting his will, the students now in high positions treat this as gospel. Even my 'incredibly kind' Third Hokage didn't truly believe it. Yet, unexpectedly, it's different with you, the Fourth Hokage of the Senju clan. Interesting. It seems the winds of change are not static."

"Mr. Orochimaru is overthinking it," Yun Ting replied calmly, not wanting to elaborate on the matter.

Then he looked at the other person and calmly asked, "What have you been busy with lately, Mr. Orochimaru? I haven't seen you much these past few months."

Orochimaru chuckled and said, "The development of ninjutsu, the in-depth research of chakra, the mysteries of the soul, and so on—there's just too much to cover. It's perfectly normal that the Hokage doesn't see me."

Yun Ting nodded: "Mr. Orochimaru's knowledge is indeed profound, and I admire him greatly. But what brings you to the memorial tablet today?"

"I couldn't help it, I've been having auditory hallucinations lately, like bugs buzzing in my ears. I came out to clear my head and maybe see some acquaintances. Like, my unfortunate disciple," Orochimaru said, looking at Yun Ting with a half-smile.

After saying that, he came to the monument engraved with the Thousand Hands Rope Tree and put down the flowers he had prepared.

Yun Ting watched Orochimaru's retreating figure, a hidden sharpness flashing in his eyes.

This guy's words seemed to imply that he had realized something.

A cold wind swept by, and the memorial tablet seemed much colder than before.

Orochimaru, with his back to Yun Ting, paid no attention to the gravestone of his former disciple and sighed, "Human life is so fragile! Who would have thought that a few small explosive tags could take the life of a Senju lineage member? And who would have thought that the once heroic ninja is now clinging to the last vestiges of power with his aged hands?"

Yun Ting's eyes flashed, and following his lead, she said, "So..."

"That's why!" Orochimaru turned back, his vertical pupils filled with fervor and determination, "I'm going to use the fastest speed possible, within the limited time, to pursue that eternal possibility!"

"Only in this way can the tragedy be prevented from happening again!"

......

Sunset West Mountain.

At this moment, only Yun Ting remained in front of the memorial monument.

He was pondering what Orochimaru had said before.

It seems the other party has noticed something is wrong, but also seems completely unconcerned, which is quite contradictory.

However, Yun Ting still had memories of his past life. Considering that Orochimaru seemed completely unsurprised when the Third Hokage led the team to storm the secret base, he suddenly had an answer in his heart.

I've been overlooking one thing all along.

That is why, given Orochimaru's intelligence, he would be so foolish as to capture people in Konoha for experiments.

Outside the Land of Fire, and even outside Konoha Village, there are plenty of living people for him to experiment on.

Even if you don't go out yourself, your roots can help.

The risk of exposure is negligible.

But stealing someone right under Konoha's nose is unwise no matter how you look at it.

Yun Ting once thought that Orochimaru was so focused on his research that he had lost his mind and acted without considering the consequences.

But now it seems the other party is quite rational.

So, is it possible that Orochimaru deliberately wanted the Third Hokage to find out, so that he could take this opportunity to sever his ties and defect from Konoha?

After all, for someone like him, the rules and regulations of Konoha would only restrict his development. Only by breaking free and jumping into a wider space could he study everything without restraint and, within a limited time, become the master of truth and the ultimate individual, as he hoped.

At this moment, the more Yun Ting thought about it, the more he felt that his idea was correct.

Orochimaru had developed feelings for Konoha over the years, and rather than severing them himself, he preferred to use someone else to achieve a clean and decisive end.