บท 106: Chapter 106: Retaliate

Uzushiogakure, the territory of the renowned Uzumaki clan.

This was the birthplace of Uzumaki Kushina, the future mother of Naruto, the protagonist of the original story. The Uzumaki clan was known for their powerful sealing techniques and long lifespans, and their village, Uzushiogakure, was located in the Land of Whirlpools, east of the Land of Fire.

Although the Land of Whirlpools was small, the Uzumaki clan's mastery of sealing techniques was unparalleled, to the point that it could be said the entire ninja world coveted their knowledge. It was precisely for this reason that Uzushiogakure became a target.

Orochimaru's thoughts quickly turned to the cause of Uzushiogakure's destruction. While many might suspect that Konoha had a hand in it, fearing the strength of the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, Orochimaru thought otherwise. He believed it wasn't Konoha's doing, but rather the result of the Third Hokage's philosophy his emphasis on peace and non-aggression.

Some might argue that Konoha could have conspired with other nations to destroy Uzushiogakure, afraid that the sealing techniques of the Uzumaki clan could one day threaten their own village. But Orochimaru dismissed this idea as nonsense. Why would Konoha, the closest ally of the Uzumaki, seek to destroy them when they freely shared their techniques with Konoha? Uzumaki Mito, the wife of the First Hokage and the former Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, was still alive in Konoha. No one in their right mind would dare attack the Uzumaki with such close ties to Konoha.

Furthermore, the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, while powerful, were not enough to pose a direct combat threat to Konoha. The Uzumaki were few in number, and no matter how advanced their techniques, they couldn't stand against Konoha's overwhelming military strength.

In the end, Orochimaru concluded that the destruction of Uzushiogakure was not directly Konoha's doing but was ultimately linked to the Third Hokage's leadership. The desire for peace that Hiruzen promoted had made Konoha appear weak in the eyes of other nations, emboldening them to act without fear of retaliation.

The Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques were coveted by many, and as long as the First and Second Hokage were alive, no one dared make a move. However, after the death of the First Hokage, things began to change. The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was still powerful enough to keep other nations in check, but after his death, and with Hiruzen's softer stance, the world began to see Konoha as vulnerable. Other nations took the opportunity to target Uzushiogakure, knowing Konoha's focus on peace would prevent an immediate response.

Orochimaru recalled the eventual Konoha-Iwagakure conflict, where Konoha gave up compensation in the name of peace. It was this kind of thinking that allowed enemies to grow bolder, leading to heavier losses for Konoha in the long run. The destruction of Uzushiogakure was just another example of the consequences of this peace-driven policy.

Back in the Hokage's conference room, the atmosphere was tense. The assembled Jonin and clan leaders were deeply concerned about the news.

"It's too late to save them now, but we cannot allow this to go unanswered!" Hiruzen said, his voice carrying a rare tone of severity. "We will investigate thoroughly, and those responsible will be brought to justice."

The room erupted in agreement, with many of the clan heads and Jonin voicing their support.

"Yes, we must find out who is behind this!"

"The Uzumaki clan deserves justice!"

"Hokage-sama, give the order, and we will move!"

Hiruzen nodded, seeing the urgency in their eyes. The Uzumaki clan's destruction had shaken the village, and now was the time to act.

"Orochimaru, Tsunade," Hiruzen addressed them once the meeting had dispersed, "the two of you will form one of the investigation teams. I'll make sure Jiraiya is informed when we locate him."

"Understood," Orochimaru replied calmly, while Tsunade nodded.

They were tasked with investigating what had happened to Uzushiogakure and discovering which nations or forces had been involved in its destruction.

---

As they left the Hokage's office and headed toward the village gates, Tsunade couldn't help but express her concern about Jiraiya. "That idiot Jiraiya's been off chasing this so-called prophecy for two years now. No one's heard from him. Do you think he's okay?"

Despite her harsh words, the worry in her voice was unmistakable. Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade had been teammates for years, and despite their differences, there was a deep bond between them.

Orochimaru, however, remained nonchalant. "Jiraiya won't die so easily," he said. "I wouldn't worry."

Orochimaru had long stopped worrying about Jiraiya. In both the world he knew from his memories and this world, Jiraiya was anything but weak. He always had a way of surviving, no matter how dire the situation. Orochimaru's thoughts, however, drifted to something else: the looming threat of the Second Shinobi War.

From what he remembered, the war was fast approaching. While he had relied on his own intuition to navigate life in this world, he couldn't help but use his memories as a guide for major events.

The thought of the impending war flashed through his mind briefly, but Orochimaru quickly dismissed it. His strength had grown significantly in recent years, and a war would merely be another test of his abilities.

That evening, as Orochimaru and Tsunade prepared to leave Konoha for their mission, an Anbu operative quietly brought a young red-haired girl to the village gates. The girl looked scared and uncertain, but the Anbu led her toward the Hokage's office with a firm grip on her hand.

"Hokage-sama, my apologies. I was only able to save this one child with a special constitution," the Anbu agent said, half-kneeling before Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The Third Hokage narrowed his eyes, a deep sadness flickering in them. "Only this one?"

"Yes," the Anbu agent replied, bowing his head. "The situation was too chaotic, and this was all I could do."

"I see," Sarutobi sighed. "You did what you could. I don't blame you for this." He glanced at the frightened girl before turning to one of his aides. "Take her to Lady Mito. Let her stay with her for now."

"Yes, Hokage-sama," the aide replied, gently guiding the young girl away.

As the girl was led out, Sarutobi looked out the window of his office, deep in thought.