This kind of thing was normal.
To most people, Anko Mitarashi was nothing more than a pawn to threaten Orochimaru—a bargaining chip, not someone truly assigned to monitor him.
"Orochimaru-sama."
A silver-haired boy stood beside Orochimaru, speaking about the captive Anko. "She's still unconscious. Should we keep her locked up?"
"Send her away."
Orochimaru replied casually but then added another instruction. "Drop her off at the border of the Land of Fire. Konoha's shinobi will be waiting to receive her."
"Yes."
The silver-haired boy respectfully turned to leave.
"You really are soft-hearted."
Obito Uchiha, seated nearby, couldn't help but mock Orochimaru. "Those kids you brought back are all under your Curse Marks. That woman is useless to you now, isn't she?"
"..."
Orochimaru let out a small ugh, not bothering to expin the differences in his Curse Mark experiments. Instead, he simply responded, "Just an idle move on the board."
"Too many idle moves…"
Obito noticed Orochimaru's dismissive attitude and spoke coldly, "And you'll eventually lose sight of the board itself."
His tone carried the arrogance of a superior, enough to irritate anyone. However, Orochimaru was composed enough not to react.
The two of them needed each other.
This wasn't the time for conflict.
Not until they eliminated the threat of Shigen.
"This pawn is still quite valuable."
Orochimaru smirked before casually asking, "By the way, it seems we haven't received any updates from the Akatsuki in a while…"
"Hmph…"
Obito sneered, recalling how Bck Zetsu had criticized him. "Shigen leads the Akatsuki, yet all he does is waste time on pointless matters."
The Three-Tails Jinchūriki was dead.
Wasn't everything meaningless now?
Under Shigen's leadership, the Akatsuki was still the same as before—just a gathering of rogue shinobi, hoarding wealth and manpower.
Land of Fire – Border
A silver-haired boy carried Anko Mitarashi to the Konoha border outpost and left her there.
After he departed, a shadowy figure emerged beside Anko.
"As expected, her memories have been sealed."
The newcomer examined the Curse Mark on Anko's neck, his fingertips glowing faintly with chakra as he gently pressed against her skin, rousing her from her slumber.
"…Who are you?"
Anko blinked in confusion as she slowly regained consciousness.
"I am Shigen."
Shigen looked at the dazed woman, offering his hand to help her sit up. His gaze lowered slightly as he spoke, "Let me take you back to Konoha."
As long as he escorted Anko back to Konoha, the fog of doubt clouding Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind would be lifted.
Anko…
Was his perfect excuse to enter Konoha.
Konoha Vilge
The gates of Konoha looked the same as ever.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi received word that Anko had been safely returned, his shock was immeasurable.
He knew exactly what her return signified.
The old man personally went to meet Anko, desperate to learn what intelligence she had on Orochimaru.
And then—
He received an even greater surprise.
As the figure accompanying Anko lifted his straw hat, revealing a familiar face, Hiruzen's eyes widened in disbelief.
"…It's been a long time, Hiruzen."
That familiar voice reached Hiruzen's ears, sending him back to his youth.
"So you've become Hokage?"
"…Lord Shigen."
The Third Hokage's hand trembled slightly.
He had already suspected that Shigen had been resurrected by Orochimaru…
But to see him standing here, alive, before him—
It was a shock he couldn't prepare for.
This reunion, after forty years—
It felt like something out of a dream.
Yet, as it unfolded in reality, Hiruzen quickly composed himself.
He ordered Konoha's ANBU to keep this encounter a secret before personally escorting Shigen to the Hokage's office.
"I'm sorry…"
Hiruzen expressed his sincere apologies, especially for his failure to discipline his student properly.
"I never expected Orochimaru to disturb your peace."
"It's fine."
"I was merely deceived by him."
Shigen's demeanor was calm, showing no resentment. He even shifted the bme onto someone else.
"If not for a man named Itachi Uchiha revealing the truth to me… perhaps I would have remained in the dark."
"…Itachi?"
A wave of relief washed over Hiruzen.
He hadn't expected Itachi to py such a crucial role—guiding Shigen and helping Anko escape from Orochimaru's grasp.
Countless thoughts raced through the Hokage's mind.
Anko's abduction.
The connection between Obito Uchiha and Itachi.
The link between Orochimaru and Obito.
Hiruzen pondered how to extract more information from Shigen.
There was also the matter of his Rinnegan.
However…
Shigen still seemed like the same man from the past.
He openly disclosed everything about Orochimaru's modifications to the Impure World Reincarnation.
He even spoke candidly about how Obito was carrying out Madara's will.
Shigen even admitted to abducting Anko—
Expining that Orochimaru had cimed Konoha's higher-ups had ordered him to use the Curse Mark to strengthen Konoha's shinobi, though it had backfired. Anko was the first semi-successful test subject.
"That was Orochimaru acting on his own."
Hiruzen naturally refused to take the bme.
He solemnly expined, "Konoha never intended to use your Curse Mark, Lord Shigen. Those in the vilge who still possess it… are the ones who received your gift over forty years ago."
The truth was—
Konoha had never successfully studied it.
Only Orochimaru had cracked the secrets of the natural energy-based Curse Mark, but he had hidden his research from Konoha until the day he defected.
And now—
That treacherous student had the audacity to pin the bme on Konoha's leadership!
With overwhelming evidence, Shigen accepted Hiruzen's expnation.
However, he refused to reveal Madara's true pn.
"I cannot tell you about Madara's pn."
"This was something he entrusted me to keep secret… even from Hashirama."
"And the reason I have not undone the Impure World Reincarnation… is because I have learned that two more Shinobi World Wars have broken out since my death."
"I want to see… if Madara's pn can finally succeed in this era."
Wait…
That was way too honest!
Hiruzen felt a massive headache coming on.
Madara's pn was bound to be a catastrophe for the ninja world!
If Shigen were from another vilge, Hiruzen would have ordered the interrogation squad to step in immediately.
But against Shigen…
That wasn't an option.
Fortunately…
Hiruzen still had time.
He had gleaned that Shigen—now resurrected—pnned to remain in the world for a while.
Seizing the opportunity, he warmly invited Shigen to stay in Konoha, hoping to extract more information from him over time.
A neutral figure was difficult to handle.
Especially one as powerful as Shigen.
And so, Shigen settled in Konoha.
He seemed to have changed over the past forty years.
These days, he often wandered the vilge in a straw hat, observing the world with quiet curiosity.
It gave him ample opportunity to visit the marketpce…
And, more importantly, to encounter Naruto Uzumaki.
He could now observe Sasuke Uchiha up close.
And—
He could patiently wait for the opportunity to fulfill his mission.
Time passed.
Konoha welcomed an unfamiliar presence.
Yet, nothing seemed to change—
Because most vilgers rarely paid attention to strangers.
Except…
For one lonely blond boy.
When Naruto first saw Shigen at Ichiraku Ramen—
And when Shigen unexpectedly paid for his meal—
He felt an inexplicable warmth.
Even his chakra… seemed to stir with excitement.
Not just his own chakra—
Even the presence inside him softened.
"Thanks! I'm Naruto Uzumaki."
Naruto adjusted his goggles, wolfing down his ramen before cautiously asking, "I've seen you around a lot tely. Are you a Konoha ninja?"
"…Something like that."
Shigen pushed his own bowl of ramen toward Naruto.
"My name is Shigen. If you've ever heard of it—"
Naruto mumbled between bites, "Sounds like the main character of a bedtime story."
Hiruzen, eavesdropping from nearby, nearly fell out of his chair.
Mmm… Naruto, please don't ruin Konoha's image in front of Lord Shigen!
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Powerstones?
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