Naruto: Fourth Hokage Orochimaru

"Then you're telling me that you used the First Hokage's cells to integrate Mokuton into your body and that the experiment was successful, but there was an accident that destroyed all the research making it impossible to replicate?" Danzo asked, frowning deeply.

"That is indeed what happened," Orochimaru nodded with an innocent smile.

"You expect me to believe that?!" Danzo retorted, the vein on his forehead about to burst.

In the Hokage's office, a heavy atmosphere filled the room, the place was sealed with special barriers to prevent any leakage of information.

In the room, besides the Third Hokage Hiruzen, were Danzo Shimura, Mitokado Homura, Koharu Utatane, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade.

Everyone present watched the Sannin intently, who maintained a neutral expression in response to Danzo's implicit accusation.

Orochimaru, with his characteristic calm, crossed his legs and placed his hands on his knees before speaking: "Danzo-sama, I understand your frustration, however, as I said, the experiment was successful, but my base was suddenly attacked by Root ninjas, which caused the accident."

"That was because I received reports that you were conducting inhuman experiments!" Danzo replied once again.

Orochimaru looked at him coldly before continuing, "The accident was unfortunate, but I believe the results speak for themselves". he raised his hand, allowing a small branch to sprout from his palm before it disintegrated into specks of dust. "Isn't this proof enough?"

Orochimaru's goal was clear, I can use Mokuton, which means the experiment was indeed successful, the base was destroyed due to Root's negligence, so who are you to question me?

"Useless proof!" Danzo snapped.

"If the research was destroyed, how do you plan to apply this for the village's benefit? I think you hid the research to keep it from Konoha, Hiruzen, I told you, he can't be trusted!"

The third Hokage raised a hand, stopping the discussion before it escalated. "Enough, Danzo, Orochimaru has explained the circumstances, do you have any proof to the contrary?"

The elder advisor remained silent for a few seconds, choosing his words carefully, "I have no proof… yet, but it is clear that an invaluable opportunity has been lost due to his negligence."

"Negligence?" Orochimaru interrupted with a laugh of contained anger. "Danzo-sama, let me remind you that I was the one who took the personal risk of conducting this experiment."

"The responsibility and the danger fell solely on my shoulders, so if the experiment was destroyed, the one who suffered the greatest losses was me!"

"Damn it! I was the one who financed and ordered you to carry out the experiment! What losses are you talking about?!" Danzo roared, his bloodshot eyes glaring.

"Gotcha!" Orochimaru celebrated, a mischievous smile appearing on his lips.

Danzo squinted, but before he could retract his words, Tsunade slammed the table.

"Danzo, what did you just say?!" she exclaimed, standing abruptly, her voice roaring like a beast, making everyone in the room, including Hiruzen, tense up.

"Did you just admit that you financed that inhumane experiment using my grandfather's cells? The First Hokage? Do you even realize what that means?"

"That man sacrificed his life for this village, and you dare to profane his legacy for your twisted experiments!" Tsunade's voice cracked slightly at the end, reflecting a mixture of anger and pain.

Initially, she had restrained herself upon learning that it was her childhood friend and teammate who had conducted the experiment. She had planned to discuss it with him privately after the meeting, but hearing that old bastard Danzo proudly claim he financed and ordered the experiment ignited her blood.

Danzo, for the first time in a long while, seemed to falter. He crossed his arms and hardened his expression, but he didn't respond immediately, which only fueled Tsunade's rage.

"Not only do you dare to profane my grandfather's cells." Tsunade continued, advancing toward Danzo: "but you also admit it proudly in front of everyone! What kind of shadow-dwelling scum believes they can manipulate my family's legacy at will?"

Jiraiya, who had been observing silently until now, leaned toward Hiruzen and murmured, "This is getting out of hand, you might want to intervene before Tsunade kills him."

However, Hiruzen did not respond immediately, he was planning to see how things would unfold.

Danzo finally spoke, his tone as cold as a reptile's. "Tsunade, control your emotions, Hashirama Senju was, without a doubt, this village's greatest pillar, if we have the opportunity to replicate his power, wouldn't it be dishonorable not to do so? Everything I do is for Konoha's sake."

Tsunade clenched her fists, trembling with rage: "For Konoha's sake? Do you think sacrificing human lives and conducting monstrous experiments are acts of honor?"

"The sacrifices are necessary for progress," Danzo responded firmly. "Peace does not maintain itself, Hashirama understood that, which is why he built this village and made difficult decisions, I do the same, and I don't need your approval." Danzo said, standing up.

"Bastard, call him Hokage!" Tsunade roared, raising her arm and forming a fist, etiquette be damned.

"Enough!" Hiruzen finally stood up, raising his voice with an authority that silenced even Tsunade.

The room grew cold as the Third Hokage glared at both of them with severity.

"Danzo, your words confirm that you are willing to cross any line in Konoha's name, but let me make one thing very clear: this village's principles are not for sale, not even for results like Mokuton."

Danzo, though maintaining a neutral expression, was clearly upset by the reprimand and cursed silently, Hiruzen continued, his tone growing graver.

"Tsunade is right, Hashirama Senju founded this village to protect its people, not to use them as disposable tools, what you have done by funding these experiments is a violation of everything he stood for."

Koharu and Homura, who had remained silent until now, exchanged nervous glances, finally, Koharu spoke cautiously. "Hiruzen, while we cannot ignore the gravity of what Danzo has admitted, we cannot overlook the results."

"Orochimaru successfully integrated Mokuton once, even if the data was lost… perhaps there is a way to restart this project, maybe in a more ethical manner."

"Ethical?! I can't believe you're even considering that!" Tsunade yelled, glaring at Koharu. "How far has this council fallen to justify this?"

Hiruzen raised a hand to calm her, though his expression showed that he understood her outrage. "Orochimaru, I need you to answer clearly, is there a way to replicate your experiment without resorting to inhumane methods?"

"Sensei, as I said before, the research was destroyed in the incident, however…" Orochimaru paused dramatically, letting the silence heighten the tension. "I believe that with time and resources, many resources." Orochimaru emphasized. "I could rediscover the method, this time without… unnecessary sacrifices."

Tsunade scoffed disdainfully. "Unnecessary sacrifices? As if you care."

Orochimaru ignored her, directing his words exclusively to Hiruzen. "But I would need the village's full backing, and of course, I would have to work without external interference, that includes Danzo and his Root organization."

The statement was a direct blow to Danzo, who frowned even more, his jaw tightening with restrained fury.

Hiruzen sighed, rubbing his forehead, "Orochimaru, I cannot ignore what has happened, but neither can I deny the potential of what you have achieved, if I approve this, it will be under strict supervision, and any deviation will be dealt with severely." Hiruzen said, deciding to discuss the matter in more detail later.

Danzo stepped forward, pointing at Orochimaru. "This is a mistake, Hiruzen, Orochimaru is a danger, he has already proven that he cannot be controlled."

"Danzo, you yourself admitted your involvement in these experiments." Hiruzen replied harshly. "If anyone here has proven to be a danger to Konoha, it's you."

The silence that followed was overwhelming, Danzo, despite his frustration, knew he had slipped by admitting his participation, so he shot a murderous glare at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru had joined Root a year ago, just after he had dealt with another threat to Konoha: the White Fang, who also had the potential to become Hokage, as Konoha's guardian, Danzo had perceived this threat in time and managed to eliminate it.

But as a consequence, Hiruzen had sent his disciple Orochimaru to Root to keep an eye on him or potentially take control of the organization.

«Hehe… Hiruzen, you are too naive.» Danzo had murmured back then.

So he decided to tempt Orochimaru with Hashirama's cells, Orochimaru, consumed by greed and power, accepted, obviously, this was a plan to eliminate him as a future Hokage candidate, but it seems things spiraled out of control.

Hiruzen turned to Tsunade, "I understand your pain, Tsunade, I promise this council will take measures to ensure nothing like this happens again."

Tsunade crossed her arms and nodded in disgust but said nothing more, for now, she had made her stance clear.

Hiruzen then turned his gaze to everyone present and observed them before speaking, "Alright, let's leave this matter for later, now is not the time for internal division, we must address the main issue."

"I received information from the border, Kumo's ninjas are preparing to launch an attack in coordination with Kirigakure, there are also rumors that Iwa will support them, and Suna has been restless lately." Hiruzen said.

"What! Does that mean the retreat was just to regroup?" Koharu asked, alarmed.

Hiruzen nodded, "Exactly, I also received similar reports that Iwa allied with an organization from Amegakure, which has been destroyed, it is possible that both powers might enter the war."

'Akatsuki!' Orochimaru thought.

The information fell like a bombshell on everyone, plunging them into silence.

Hiruzen exhaled a cloud of smoke before saying. "That's why we must proceed with Orochimaru's plan."

"No, if we do that, we could lose our Jinchuriki!" Homura and Koharu objected.

"If we allow Kumo and Kirigakure to launch the first attack, we will be at a disadvantage, we must take preemptive action." Orochimaru stated, returning to the discussion.

"A preemptive attack?" Jiraiya asked. "What makes you think that won't accelerate the war instead of preventing it?"

Orochimaru locked eyes with Jiraiya. "The war is already here, Jiraiya, what I propose is minimizing our losses by targeting their weaknesses, we must proceed with the Konoha Fox Plan."

Everyone remained silent, if this plan went wrong, the losses would be too great, but if it succeeded, it could turn the tide of the war.

"I think we should try," Tsunade said, having regained her composure.

"Tsunade!" Jiraiya exclaimed, shocked, he didn't think Tsunade would still support Orochimaru after everything that had happened.

Tsunade looked at Jiraiya without saying a word, clenched her fist, and spoke, "Orochimaru is right, the war cannot be avoided, if the enemy villages do not suffer a devastating blow, they will not back down, and it will be impossible to sit down to discuss peace."

Hiruzen nodded: "Konoha cannot afford to face so many fronts at the same time, not without devastating losses."

Everyone nodded in agreement, though Danzo clenched his teeth but chose not to oppose.

'Damn it, I can't let Orochimaru succeed. If he does, his influence in Konoha will grow exponentially!' Danzo ground his teeth, a murderous look appearing in his eyes.