Chapter 108 – Hiruzen Sarutobi Returns to the Village
Early Morning
Kazane had just finished his morning training. He gently set down the 47,100 kg dumbbell in his hand and wiped the sweat streaming down his body.
After a simple breakfast, he stepped out of the house.
It was time for the appointment with Orochimaru to continue testing the Eight Gates. He needed to pick up Might Duy first.
A few days ago, after demonstrating the usage of the Eight Gates to Orochimaru alongside Duy, Orochimaru had become completely obsessed with the forbidden technique.
Now, like clockwork, he summoned Kazane and Duy to the mountain behind the village every day to collect various combat data.
Sigh… Who knew when this forbidden technique would finally be fully improved by Orochimaru?
Kazane had just stepped out of his courtyard when he saw Genma Shiranui rushing toward him from afar.
Judging by his urgency, he was clearly looking for Kazane. Whatever it was must be important.
"Kazane! Lord Hokage has returned!"
Genma arrived by his side, catching his breath as he delivered the good news.
That was excellent news!
At that moment, Kazane remembered the Sealing Scroll Hiruzen owed him. The Hokage had promised it after returning from the Land of Rain, yet had delayed for this long.
Now that Hiruzen was back, Kazane decided he'd stop by the Hokage's office after his meeting with Orochimaru and collect that scroll.
That scroll contained numerous forbidden techniques researched by the Second Hokage. With Orochimaru's brilliance, he might just be able to build upon Tobirama's legacy and take it further.
Perhaps even the key to evolving the Eight Gates lay hidden within.
"That's good news, but… you didn't need to sprint all the way here just to tell me."
Kazane smiled, shaking his head as he glanced at Genma with mild confusion.
"The Third Hokage's return means the award ceremony will be held soon! I'm sure I'll be promoted to Chūnin! And you, Kazane… with everything you did on the battlefield, I wonder what reward the Hokage will grant you?"
Genma's eyes gleamed with excitement as he started fantasizing about showing off to his friends once he became a Chūnin.
"The Third will reward me, huh?"
But this time, Kazane didn't respond directly. He just stared in the direction of the Hokage's office, eyes deep with thought, and muttered quietly:
"If he doesn't try to suppress me… that'll be reward enough."
---
Hokage Office – Konoha
While Kazane and Might Duy were headed to meet Orochimaru…
Inside the Hokage's office, the four elders who stood at the peak of Konoha's political power had once again gathered.
Hiruzen Sarutobi shared everything that had transpired at the Five Kage Summit—the pressure from the three great villages, their demand that he hand over Hatake Kazane, and the threat of another great war if he refused.
His characteristic indecisiveness was on full display. Though he had been tempted by the offer during the summit, doubts began to plague him on the journey home.
After all, regardless of anything else, Kazane was still Orochimaru's disciple, a ninja of Konoha—and one of its top-tier combatants.
Once he finished speaking, silence fell over the room.
Everyone understood what was at stake. Konoha had just emerged victorious from the war.
If, at a time like this, the village handed over a shinobi who had achieved so much for Konoha, it would utterly crush the morale of the entire ninja force.
No one would be willing to sacrifice themselves for Konoha again.
And the elder who proposed such a plan might be condemned forever, nailed to the village's pillar of shame.
Eventually, it was Danzo who broke the silence.
"Hiruzen, the village cannot endure another war. For the sake of peace… I believe you should hand over Hatake Kazane."
Danzo sat calmly in his chair, voicing what he had wanted to say ever since the Five Kage Summit.
In Danzo's mind, no sacrifice was too great if it ensured Konoha's stability. If Kazane disappeared, it would not only defuse the external threat, but also suppress internal unrest.
He believed that without Kazane, Orochimaru would abandon any ambitions he may have been harboring.
"Danzo is right. For the village's peace, Hiruzen, you need to make a decision."
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane echoed Danzo's sentiment.
They had always feared that Kazane and Orochimaru would one day seize everything from them. Now that an opportunity had presented itself, they were fully on board, added to the fear that Kazane would pay them a visit eventually.
They hadn't wanted to be the ones to speak up first—but since Danzo had taken the lead, they readily voiced their support.
"But Kazane is a ninja of the village. If we do this… wouldn't it break the hearts of all our shinobi?"
Hiruzen was still hesitant. Despite the pressure from Danzo and the others, he couldn't quite let go of that thought.
"Hiruzen! Don't let your sentimentality throw the entire village into danger!"
"Sacrificing one Hatake Kazane could buy ten years of peace for Konoha. You must make a decision… Hiruzen!"
Danzo snapped, clearly irritated. Hiruzen always hesitated in critical moments.
If Sensei had chosen me as Hokage instead… this village would have been far stronger by now.
"Kazane is still a Konoha shinobi.
Let's convene a council of jōnin. Let all our shinobi decide this matter together!"
Backed into a corner, Hiruzen proposed a compromise. He still couldn't bring himself to make a final decision, so he pushed it onto the jōnin council.
"One day, Monkey… you'll pay for your hesitation."
Danzo's eyes burned with fury as he turned and stormed out of the room.
Sensei… you chose the wrong person.
If I were Hokage, this never would've happened.
---
Konoha – Rear Mountain
Two figures wreathed in blazing green chakra clashed at blinding speed.
With every collision, even the aftershocks shattered ancient trees nearby. It was as if the world around them was made of paper—only they were real.
"Alright, that's enough for today!"
A voice called out nearby. It was Orochimaru, notebook in hand, already filled with lines of detailed data.
The two fighters—Kazane and Might Duy—immediately ceased their sparring, allowing the green aura to dissipate from their bodies as they walked over.
"Orochimaru-sensei, any discoveries?"
Kazane asked softly as he reached Orochimaru's side.
If anyone in the shinobi world could improve the Eight Gates technique, it was this man—master of human biology and forbidden arts.