[Deep Within Konoha, In A Secluded Courtyard]
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, scattering patches of light across the chessboard.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura sat facing each other, leisurely playing a game of chess.
The air was filled with the faint scent of tea and the fresh smell of pine wood. Everything felt peaceful and calm.
"So many years have passed, Danzo... your mindset has finally improved, hasn't it?"
Hiruzen lifted his teacup, took a light sip, and wore his usual kind smile.
Danzo glanced at him. His single eye remained sharp, though it lacked some of its former gloom.
After a moment of silence, Danzo spoke flatly, his voice carrying a trace of self-mockery.
"Whether I'm convinced or not... it doesn't matter anymore."
"Haha, I think things are pretty good now."
Hiruzen set down his teacup and said with a smile.
"You don't have to worry about so many things anymore. Konoha is developing steadily, and the villagers are living peaceful lives. Why keep stirring things up? Stability is the greatest blessing."
Danzo curled his lip. His thin fingers picked up a chess piece, but he did not place it down for a long time.
"Hmph. Standing still.", Danzo snorted softly.
"The Fourth Great Ninja War will break out sooner or later. Arisu clearly has enough ability to push Konoha even further and dominate the entire ninja world, yet he handed the position to Minato, a ruler who preserves what already exists... What a waste."
At that point, Danzo paused slightly, and a complicated look flashed through his eyes.
He had originally thought that after Arisu abolished Root and stripped him of all power, he would spend the rest of his life alone in some rundown, gloomy cabin and die there.
But reality had completely exceeded his expectations.
Not only had Arisu not wiped him out, he had provided him with good food and a comfortable life. His treatment was even better than when he held power. Arisu had even arranged private doctors to look after his health.
This kind of "kindness" was something Danzo had never imagined.
In his past understanding, power struggles were supposed to be life-and-death battles where every root was cut away.
Yet Arisu had completely shattered those beliefs through another method.
During these years of retirement, Danzo had personally witnessed how Arisu handled all kinds of difficult matters.
Problems that even gave him headaches were often cleaned up by Arisu in just a few moves, with ease.
That level of ability and vision truly surpassed his own.
"Arisu..."
"His only flaw is probably that he's too perfect."
"I'm believing more and more that Arisu is the reincarnation of the First Hokage."
"Just like the First Hokage, he rarely uses force against outsiders, yet he keeps making Konoha stronger in peace, with foundations as solid as a mountain. A ninja like that possesses true wisdom.", Hiruzen praised sincerely.
Danzo let out a faint snort but did not argue.
Because he knew very well that Arisu truly shared astonishing similarities with the First Hokage, Uchiha Arisu, the same broad-mindedness, the same foresight, and the same... overwhelming strength that earned people's respect.
Because of the changes in the timeline, both Danzo and Hiruzen were still alive and well.
There was no Orochimaru Konoha Crush Plan either.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura continued chatting as they sat across from each other.
At that moment, a familiar hearty laugh came from the entrance of the courtyard.
"Hahahaha!"
"Old man, looks like you've completely settled into retirement! Hahaha, you're even playing chess. Life sure is relaxed. Want to come gather material with me at the Konoha hot springs?"
As the voice sounded, Jiraiya, who had just returned from traveling around the ninja world, strode into the courtyard.
His white hair hung loosely, and he still carried the look of someone who had been traveling.
"Jiraiya? You've finally come back to the village!"
Hiruzen's eyes lit up. A genuine smile immediately spread across his face, and he quickly set down his teacup, clearly pleased.
Danzo merely glanced at Jiraiya and said nothing, maintaining his usual cold and reserved manner.
Jiraiya did not mind. He walked straight to the chessboard, casually pulled over a chair, and sat down.
"I wandered around outside for quite a while this time and gathered some new material. Now that I'm back, I plan to organize it properly and continue being a novelist."
"But there's another important matter..."
Jiraiya paused slightly and turned his gaze toward Danzo, his expression becoming more serious.
"Elder Danzo, the main reason I came back this time is to ask about Orochimaru."
"Please tell me what exactly happened to him before. Why did he leave Konoha?"
The atmosphere in the courtyard stiffened slightly at the mention of that name.
Danzo's brows furrowed faintly, and his thin fingers paused above the chessboard.
"Orochimaru... was too nervous. After seeing me fall from power, he worried that he would be implicated as well. He was afraid Arisu's new regime would settle accounts with him, so he chose to leave. As for where he went, I don't know."
"Hmph. Orochimaru was too cautious."
With that, Danzo gave a faint snort and said no more.
Hearing this, the smile on Hiruzen's face gradually faded, replaced by deep regret and sorrow.
Orochimaru had once been one of his favorite and most promising students.
That child possessed astonishing talent and great ambition. Even after he later sided with Danzo, Hiruzen still believed that with Orochimaru's abilities, his future remained limitless.
As long as he stayed in Konoha, he would eventually find his own path.
But no one expected that after the situation changed, Orochimaru would choose to leave for distant lands and completely abandon the village he had once fought for.
"Sigh... Orochimaru, that child...", Hiruzen sighed softly, his eyes filled with regret.
"In the end, he still left."
Jiraiya leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and looked toward the dense forest outside the courtyard. His expression also became somewhat complicated.
He and Orochimaru were brothers. Not by blood, but closer than blood.
Although their personalities were completely different, that bond still remained.
For a time, all three fell silent.
"Hahaha, forget it, forget it. Orochimaru is so strong that he's definitely just hiding somewhere. Since you two are free anyway, why not come with me to a Konoha massage parlor? Hehehe... I heard they have..."
A smile appeared on Jiraiya's face.
Ever since Tsunade got married, Jiraiya had completely let loose. He was practically becoming a ladies' man.
Danzo's face darkened.
Hiruzen coughed lightly, "Hahaha, just kidding, just kidding. You two are getting a bit old. I'll be going now."
Jiraiya laughed and teased them a little, "Young people these days... living only for pleasure. In the future... hmph!"
Danzo snorted coldly. He could not stand that sort of thing.
Jiraiya, however, looked completely unconcerned.
"Lord Danzo, that's called boldness! Boldness!"
"I, Jiraiya, am a great hero of the ninja world!"
Although he looked unconcerned on the surface, Jiraiya was still very worried about Orochimaru deep down.
After leaving...
"Strange. Where exactly did Orochimaru go...? Should I go back to Mount Myoboku and ask? Maybe Mount Myoboku has some special toad that can find Orochimaru..."