"That's exactly as it should be."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a drag on his pipe before speaking.
Orochimaru remained expressionless, curious to hear what his teacher would say.
"Senju Yukika and Senju Shōshu may not have fallen in battle," Sarutobi continued, voice steady. "I actually believe they were captured by the enemy."
"If that's the case, there's still hope."
"I assure you, if the Raikage uses them as bargaining chips, Konoha will move heaven and earth to secure their safe return!"
His words were so matter-of-fact they made Orochimaru chuckle.
Sarutobi's raspy tone betrayed his thinly veiled derision as he looked the younger man in the eye.
"Sarutobi-sensei… are you implying you anticipated Yukika and Shōshu would run into trouble?" Orochimaru asked.
Was he doubting me?
Sarutobi's eyelids flicked, ashes drifting from his pipe. Though calm, both he and Orochimaru knew that the latter's unilateral decision during the graduation exam had fractured the trust between them.
"I'm merely stating the facts. This mission was dangerous from the start—I never intended for Yukika or Shōshu to go."
"But ultimately, the one who allowed Yukika to graduate was you."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow.
He'd circled all the responsibility back to Hiruzen.
"A simple twist," Sarutobi murmured, "if you'd only shown the slightest discretion during that exam—if you hadn't publicly endorsed him as your disciple—we never would have agreed to let them shoulder this risk."
"I'd advise you," Konohamaru chimed in, "that time spent debating whether they're dead or alive could be better spent preparing to face Tsunade and Lady Mito."
Could anyone deny her point?
After all, Orochimaru had personally assured everyone of Yukika's strength—he'd guaranteed the boy could protect himself.
Now that things had gone awry, he should bear the responsibility.
In that way, not even Uzumaki Mito could criticize their actions.
And Orochimaru would carry the stigma of misjudging character—a mark that could have dire consequences later.
This was Sarutobi's plan all along.
From the very beginning, Orochimaru had stepped into his trap.
Sarutobi had shown what happened to those who disobeystood his orders and acted by their own whim.
As of today,
neither the Senju nor the disobedient Orochimaru posed any real threat.
Thinking this, Sarutobi's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
Konoha—it was no longer the Senju clan's era.
Orochimaru fell silent.
The mask had fallen, revealing the true face of his teacher.
So this is who you really are...
A scroll-bearing messenger ninja burst into the office, shattering the atmosphere.
"Lord Hokage!"
"We've just received word: Senju clan leader Senju Yukika and his cousin, Senju Shōshu, have returned to the village!"
"What!?"
In an instant, Sarutobi shot to his feet, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Um, Lord Hokage, according to Yukika himself…"
"He even managed to capture the Hidden Cloud's strategic asset…"
"...the Two-Tails Jinchūriki!"
The room fell into stunned silence.