However, not everyone believed Uchiha Ren's explanation.
Although Ren's words sounded reasonable on the surface, to the village's upper leadership there were still obvious flaws.
It was true that Uchiha Itachi had been diagnosed with a Bloodline Disease (Kekkei Illness). However, the diagnosis had only been confirmed recently—and the examination had been conducted at Konoha Hospital.
Konoha Hospital was essentially under Koharu Utatane's authority. At the time, to ensure the results were accurate, Fugaku Uchiha had gone to great lengths to invite several of the hospital's most capable doctors for a joint consultation.
There was no way Koharu Utatane and the others were unaware of it.
And if Koharu knew, that was essentially the same as Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō knowing as well.
Therefore, they did not believe a single word of Ren's excuse.
At that moment, Uchiha Ren continued speaking:
"So, the Uchiha clan is willing to vouch for Orochimaru. Everything he has done was entirely legitimate."
"Of course, words alone are not enough. Therefore, the Uchiha clan has decided to fund the establishment of a Konoha Scientific Research Institute. All of Orochimaru's experimental projects will be moved into the open so that everyone can supervise them. Furthermore, all of Orochimaru's research results will be shared with the village."
"Everyone, are you satisfied with this explanation?"
Orochimaru's predicament had been unexpected. But to Ren, it was also an opportunity to completely clear Orochimaru's name. Taking advantage of the situation, he proposed the concept of the Konoha Scientific Research Institute.
Once this meeting ended, Orochimaru's past would truly become the past.
The institute would serve two purposes: first, as a convenient way to redirect attention; second, to allow everyone to gradually accept the existence of such an organization.
After all, the institute would be funded by the Uchiha clan, making it essentially a private enterprise of the clan. That meant others would have little reason to oppose it.
Later, once Minato Namikaze ascended to power, Orochimaru would only need to produce a few research achievements. At that point, upgrading the Konoha Scientific Research Institute into an official Konoha Research Department would face far less resistance.
Just as Ren expected, no one in the meeting room paid much attention to the so-called research institute.
Instead, they were quite pleased with Ren's suggestion that Orochimaru place all of his experiments in the open.
At the very least, once the experiments became properly regulated, they would no longer have to worry about children from their clans mysteriously disappearing every now and then.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze, however, was extremely complicated as it moved back and forth between Uchiha Ren and Orochimaru.
He could see clearly that Ren was protecting Orochimaru—and at the same time warning him not to push the Uchiha clan into directly entering the conflict.
Previously, although Ren had spoken up for Shimura Danzō, he had never involved himself too deeply. It looked more like some kind of interest exchange between them, forcing Ren to say a few words on Danzō's behalf.
Most of the time, Ren had spoken from a neutral position—or from the standpoint of the Uchiha clan.
In other words, Ren and Danzō merely had a relationship based on mutual interests.
But with Orochimaru, it was a genuine alliance.
This discovery made Hiruzen both cautious and deeply wary of Uchiha Ren.
Ren had managed to form such a close alliance with Orochimaru right under his nose without him noticing at all.
If that was the case, aside from Orochimaru, how many other people present might already have been drawn into Ren's camp?
Thinking of this, Hiruzen subconsciously glanced toward Minato Namikaze beside him.
Minato sensed the gaze. Turning his head and realizing it was Hiruzen looking at him, he responded with a warm smile—like a little sun.
Hiruzen felt relieved and shook his head slightly.
Someone as warm and pure as Minato could never associate with cold and calculating people like Uchiha Ren and Orochimaru.
How could he even suspect Minato?
Hiruzen took a deep breath and cleared the distracting thoughts from his mind.
With the Uchiha clan now protecting Orochimaru, it was nearly impossible to use him as a breakthrough point to bring down Shimura Danzō.
Hiruzen's mind raced, yet he could not find any way to break the deadlock.
Was he really going to let Danzō go like this?
Hiruzen felt extremely unwilling.
Today he had paid too high a price. He had even been stripped of his position as Principal of the Ninja Academy, and his dignity had been trampled repeatedly.
If he still failed to bring Danzō down, then today's losses would truly be too great.
Moreover, if they could not strip Danzō of his position as a Konoha Elder, it would be extremely difficult for them to resist Danzō's inevitable retaliation afterward.
Before Hiruzen could think further, Shimura Danzō spoke first.
"Hiruzen-jōnin, you've caused enough trouble already. Do you actually have any concrete evidence?"
"If not, then please end this farce as soon as possible. We don't have time to indulge your nonsense."
Hiruzen's eyes darkened.
"Elder Shimura, why are you in such a hurry?" he said coldly. "The innocent will prove themselves innocent. If you truly did nothing wrong, what difference does waiting a little longer make?"
"Heh." Danzō sneered.
"Hiruzen-jōnin, you may be used to having nothing to do, but the village is currently rebuilding from ruin. Every jōnin present here holds important responsibilities. Every second they remain here is a loss for the village."
"If your nonsense causes the village to miss something important, can you take responsibility for it?"
Hiruzen was about to respond when Koharu Utatane, seated beside him, interrupted.
She gave Hiruzen a subtle look before speaking.
"That's enough. Let's end this matter here."
Before the meeting began, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Hiruzen Sarutobi had naturally discussed their plans.
Koharu knew that Hiruzen had already exhausted most of his prepared methods. Continuing to push the matter would serve no purpose—unless Hiruzen revealed something even more explosive.
But the four of them had worked together for many years. Any truly explosive secrets involving Danzō would likely implicate them as well.
It would be a case of injuring the enemy by a thousand while harming themselves by eight hundred.
There was no need to go that far.
Better to cut their losses now.
Although Hiruzen was unwilling, since Koharu had spoken, he had no choice but to give up—for now—and think of another plan after the meeting ended.
Koharu then turned to Danzō.
"Since Hiruzen-jōnin has not produced concrete evidence, Elder Shimura, will you participate in the election for the Fourth Hokage?"
Danzō nodded.
"Of course."
"In that case," Koharu continued, turning to the others in the meeting room, "the current candidates for the position of Fourth Hokage are Minato Namikaze and Shimura Danzō."
"Does anyone else have another candidate to recommend?"
Everyone in the meeting room shook their heads.
Seeing this, Koharu decided not to delay any longer.
"Then we will give Minato Namikaze and Shimura Danzō three days to prepare. The official election for the Fourth Hokage will begin on the morning three days from now."
"That concludes this meeting."
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