Chapter 1: Is the Mastermind Behind the Nine-Tails' Night the Third Hokage?

"Earth Style: Earth-Moving Excavation!"

Under the influence of the Ninjutsu, the collapsed ruins rose and fell; the architectural debris was lifted away in its entirety, exposing the corpses buried beneath.

Yamanaka Chujiu stepped forward, dragged the corpses out, performed a simple cleaning with Water Style Ninjutsu, and confirmed the identities of the deceased.

If the deceased had family, Chujiu would return the bodies to them.

If the deceased had no family left, Chujiu would store the bodies away using a Sealing Scroll; they were useful.

Besides the corpses, valuable items under the ruins—such as furniture, grain, and intact clothing—also had to be sorted out.

It was said this was to provide relief to families in need, but where it actually went, heaven only knows.

As for precious metals like gold and silver, or cash and banknotes, they were divided up by the ninja on the scene.

After all, one couldn't work on an empty stomach.

Once it was confirmed that the ruins had been cleared, the ninja would once again perform Earth Style Ninjutsu to bury the ruins deep underground and level the ground completely.

Yamanaka Chujiu put away his share of the money, along with a small bag of gold, shouldered the massive Sealing Scroll, and followed several companions toward the next ruin.

Another group of ninja arrived, bringing bricks, stones, and timber to begin rebuilding houses according to the blueprints.

Throughout all of Konohagakure, scenes of such post-disaster reconstruction were everywhere.

It was just that in some remote locations, the work was left to the inefficient villagers.

Today was the fifth day after the Nine-Tails attacked the village; Konohagakure was no longer a scene of total devastation, but an atmosphere of grief still permeated the air.

The respected Fourth Hokage had sacrificed himself.

The wife of the Third Hokage and the wife of the Fourth Hokage had sacrificed themselves.

Thousands of Konoha Ninja had sacrificed themselves.

Tens of thousands of Konohagakure villagers were buried in the ruins, becoming silent statistics of loss under this war.

But regardless, life had to go on.

Work continued until nightfall; the exhausted ninja and villagers stopped their work, those with homes returned to them, and those without headed to temporary shelters.

Yamanaka Chujiu, carrying the massive scroll, entered a hidden door silently, walked down a dim passage, and finally entered a spacious and bright laboratory.

Standing in the center of the laboratory was a ninja with a sinister temperament, fair skin, and flowing long hair: Orochimaru, one of the Konoha Sannin.

After the sacrifice of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, this ninja—who had competed with Minato Namikaze for the position of Fourth Hokage—was the one with the highest support in Konohagakure and the most promising candidate to become the Fifth Hokage.

Yamanaka Chujiu knew that Orochimaru would meet with failure.

Because the Third Hokage would be restored to power.

Orochimaru saw Chujiu, and a smile appeared on his face: "Chujiu-kun, how many corpses this time?"

Chujiu patted the massive scroll: "Exactly one hundred fresh corpses."

Orochimaru habitually stuck out his tongue and licked his cheek: "Good, enough for Manda to have a full meal."

Chujiu grinned: "Lord Orochimaru, you are becoming increasingly inhumane."

Orochimaru's snake-like pupils stared fiercely at Chujiu, as if to say: Why are you blurting out such uncomfortable truths?

Yamanaka Chujiu felt nothing from Orochimaru's stare and said calmly: "I suggest you hoard more while you can; the village will be cleaned up soon, and it won't be this easy to get so many fresh corpses again."

Orochimaru chuckled: "I believe you, go get them, but I won't pay in advance."

Yamanaka Chujiu clicked his tongue and changed the subject: "Lord Orochimaru, do you think you are going to become the Fifth Hokage?"

Orochimaru was still smiling: "Oh, is there a problem with that?"

Chujiu said: "Specific intelligence costs extra."

Orochimaru nodded: "If the intelligence is valuable, it can cost extra."

Yamanaka Chujiu said directly: "The intelligence is: the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, is already considering returning to the position of Hokage."

Orochimaru was dazed for a moment, looked at Chujiu, and said word by word: "Teacher Sarutobi, who abdicated, is restoring his rule as Hokage? Chujiu-kun, are you joking with me?"

Chujiu believed that Orochimaru simply couldn't accept it emotionally; at most, in a day or two, he would be able to set aside his emotions and understand it completely.

But after a day or two, Orochimaru's emotions would have settled, and getting him to pay wouldn't be as easy.

For the sake of his own wallet, he patiently explained:

"When the Fourth Hokage was in power, Sarutobi Hiruzen, in his capacity as Hokage Assistant, controlled the Mission Department, the Intelligence Department, the Sealing Squad, the Barrier Squad, and most importantly, the Anbu."

"That's the Anbu; if the Anbu, which is directly under the Hokage, couldn't be controlled, then the Fourth Hokage was just a puppet!"

"Sarutobi Hiruzen claimed to have abdicated, but nothing changed; he has always been the true Hokage."

"Lord Orochimaru, which do you think Sarutobi Hiruzen finds more unbearable: being mocked or losing power?"

The smile on Orochimaru's face vanished completely.

Indeed, while the Fourth Hokage was alive, Sarutobi Hiruzen was able to openly sideline the Fourth Hokage and hold all the power.

Now that the Fourth Hokage had sacrificed himself, could Sarutobi Hiruzen let go of his obsession with power and let Orochimaru take the seat and wield the power of the Hokage...

Impossible!

Orochimaru's expression grew increasingly grave, then suddenly, he laughed again.

"You are right; Teacher Sarutobi is no longer the 'Ninja Hero' who looks down upon the Ninja World."

"But it doesn't matter; I, Orochimaru, will not be treated as a puppet by anyone, even if he is my teacher."

Yamanaka Chujiu asked: "Lord Orochimaru, if Sarutobi Hiruzen does not relinquish power, will you give up the position of Fifth Hokage?"

Orochimaru was silent for a moment: "I will not fight for it, but I will not give it up."

"Everything will be left to Teacher Sarutobi to decide; I also want to see if the bond between master and student has reached its end..."

Yamanaka Chujiu shook his head and sighed: "As expected, when it involves power, there is no room for sentiment..."

He suddenly choked on his words, as if he had been frightened by something terrible.

Orochimaru was taken aback and followed Chujiu's line of thought.

A moment later, he too was startled.

The two looked at each other, but neither spoke.

Because from the perspective of a power struggle, whoever ultimately benefits is the mastermind behind the scenes.

Political matters can never be proven with evidence; one can only infer the identity of the culprit from motives and gains.

The Nine-Tails incident led to the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and his wife, and the retired Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, returned to power; he is undoubtedly the greatest beneficiary.

Therefore, why Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze died is truly impossible to say clearly.

Who can assert that the Third Hokage did not participate in the murder of the Fourth Hokage?

His suspicion is like a mountain standing in people's hearts, impossible to shake.

Yes, the Third Hokage's wife also sacrificed herself.

But this proves nothing at all.

Isn't it a bargain to trade a wife for the power of the Hokage?

Getting promoted, getting rich, and having your wife die, my friend!

After a long while, Orochimaru recovered: "Teacher Sarutobi is not that kind of person, but I have received Yamanaka Chujiu's reminder; do you want my thanks?"

Yamanaka Chujiu: "No need to thank me, you can pay me more."

Orochimaru: "Heh."