A Transmigrator’s Story in the Hyuga’s Main Branch

168. The Raid Against the Hyuga Set in Motion (1)

A few days later, Danzo returned to Konoha. Inside one of the secret chambers beneath the Hokage's building and the mountain behind it, three figures moved with purpose: Orochimaru, Hiruzen, and Danzo.

Their faces were somber as they finalized the last details for the upcoming raid against the Hyuga clan, scheduled for the early morning hours when the village would still be shrouded in half-sleep.

Hiruzen walked slowly, weighed down by the gravity of what they were about to do, hands clasped tightly behind his back.

Orochimaru's gaze flickered with a strange curiosity, his movements calm but eager. Tapping his cane lightly on the stone floor, Danzo looked ahead with cold determination, his mind already locked on the outcome.

"Sarutobi-sensei, you should relax...", Orochimaru said after a short silence, his tone dripping with feigned politeness.

"I know what you're worried about, but the odds that the Rinnegan and the new mysterious spatial Mangekyo Sharingan users Danzo encountered in Amegakure are part of the Anti-Hokage faction are nearly nonexistent. With all due respect...",

A smirk curled on his lips, "If they held such power, this village would perhaps already be under their control... and your position, perhaps even life, 'sensei', certainly, would be nothing more than a memory..."

Hiruzen's gaze darkened, his sharp eyes flickering toward his former student, but he said nothing for a moment, the silence weighing heavily between them.

The veiled insult wasn't lost on him. Orochimaru no longer cared to mask his disdain—a long time of subtle defiance had blossomed into this near-open hostility.

Danzo, standing slightly ahead, shot a glance between the two, "Orochimaru is right, Hiruzen...", He said, his voice even but laced with a cold pragmatism,

"If those masked individuals had ties to the Anti-Hokage faction, we'd already be dead or exiled before we even got the chance to plot today's operation. The Uchiha, Hyuga, and their allies wouldn't have waited—they would have seized the moment."

Danzo had no choice but to brief Hiruzen and Orochimaru immediately after his return from his mission there to Konoha.

The encounter in Amegakure haunted him; if he couldn't stop those masked individuals from leaving on his first attempt, he doubted he'd fare any better alone in the future. He needed some 'allies'—whether he selfishly liked them or not.

Additionally, although he felt more certain, after some reflection, that those individuals were unaffiliated with any faction in Konoha and probably of some unknown origin, this didn't reduce the threat they potentially posed to Konoha.

Therefore, he informed Hiruzen of everything as a precaution, framing it as a necessary step to safeguard the village.

He needed the Hokage's cooperation if only to bolster Konoha's defenses and preemptively respond to any future encounters with these individuals.

Though increasingly isolated and clinging to his role as a mediator between factions, Hiruzen could still rally resources to prepare for any immediate threats.

On the other hand, Danzo's motives for sharing the information with Orochimaru were more self-serving. The rogue scientist was not only his most reliable ally but also the most capable of assisting in tracking down the elusive enemies globally.

And, if the time came to strike, Orochimaru's expertise would be invaluable in defeating them and preserving the powerful dojutsu they encountered.

Danzo had no intention of sharing the spoils evenly. The moment those eyes were within reach, he and Orochimaru would take what they desired—leaving Hiruzen powerless to intervene. The old Hokage's authority was slipping by the day, and Danzo understood it. 

Hiruzen's voice was low, but there was a weight of concern in every word, "It's not about whether we can decimate them this time around. With the overwhelming advantage we hold—our strength, the element of surprise, and the carefully chosen timing—victory is all but guaranteed.",

"Even our covert objectives are well within reach this time around. Great progress for our faction is all but expected today...", He paused, taking a slow breath, his old hands clasped behind his back.

"What worries me..." He asked, his gaze hardening, "Is what happens if they have aces we haven't accounted for? If, in the face of our attack, they retaliate more viciously than we imagined—more desperate, more reckless.",

"That kind of explosion could trigger something much worse than we expect. Civilians could pay the price, and collateral damage could spiral out of control before we even have a chance to contain it."

"If it comes to that...", Danzo said with cold certainty, "And they break through all of our defensive barriers and encirclements this time around, we can always summon Tobirama-sensei or even Lord Hashirama through Edo Tensei.",

"Their presence alone would ensure the village remains secure, no matter what happens. And if it's needed, Minato and his people can intervene—none of them would allow harm to befall the greater Konoha or its civilians."

Hiruzen's voice grew heavier, frustration seeping through his words, "That's what concerns me the most, Danzo! What if by the time we summon them, it's already too late, and some damage has been done? You don't care, but I do. I've failed this village in so many ways throughout my rule.",

"And now, I'm about to commit another grave act. Tell me, what do you think our sensei would say if he saw this for the first time? How harshly would Tobirama-sensei judge us?",

"And what would Lord Hashirama—who built this village on ideals of unity—think of the ruin we've let fester when he sees it? Unlike you, I care. I don't want them to witness this shame if possible, at least not until we manage to salvage and clear the situation a little bit in the future, hopefully."

Orochimaru chuckled, his grin curling with mockery, "Ah, so it's not really the civilians or some broken buildings that you're worried about, is it sensei? It's that you're afraid of a scolding from the dead...",

His voice dripped with sarcasm, "How fitting of you to be more afraid of judgment than of consequence."

Danzo gave a subtle nod, silently agreeing with Orochimaru's jab. His cold gaze flickered toward Hiruzen but remained silent.

However, internally, Danzo shared some of Hiruzen's sentiments. He wasn't particularly concerned about potential damage to the village—if it served the greater good, sacrifices were necessary.

The difference was that, unlike Hiruzen, Danzo embraced this reality without hypocrisy. His real concern lay elsewhere: if they reached a point where they had to summon Tobirama and Hashirama, it would signal the end of their ambitions regarding the Hyuga today. Whatever they had achieved by that point would have to suffice.

Danzo knew well that summoning their former teachers would shift the entire dynamic. Hashirama's overly pacifistic nature was the greatest threat—he would surely halt any further conflict once he appeared.

Even Tobirama, despite his pragmatism and the nudging of his older brother, would likely stop the operation to assess the situation himself. He wouldn't blindly support Danzo and Hiruzen just because they were his disciples.

The looming fear wasn't scolding—it was losing control. Danzo was fully aware that, while Orochimaru's genius made Edo Tensei more advanced, summoning the original creators—Tobirama, the founder of the technique, and Hashirama, one of history's strongest shinobi—would pose a risk they couldn't afford. If those two broke free from their control, they could easily shift the political landscape in Konoha.

Neither Danzo, Hiruzen, nor Orochimaru wanted to gamble with that kind of power, so they aimed to complete the Hyuga operation relying only on Danzo's two Uzumaki Edo Tensei and Orochimaru's also given, lesser, though capable, summons.

If it ever came to the point where they needed Hashirama and Tobirama, they knew the best option would be to stop the attack against Hyuga altogether.

This reminded Danzo of yet another concern: the absolute necessity of keeping Minato and his faction entirely out of this mission against the Hyuga. Danzo knew that Minato's ideology, filled with notions of unity and compassion, would never allow him to approve of such an operation.

Worse still, if Minato caught wind of it, he might attempt to intervene, jeopardizing everything. It was a shared thought as if he and Hiruzen were aligned on this matter, though with different ways of expressing it.

Almost as if reading Danzo's mind, Hiruzen turned his attention back to Orochimaru first. "Knock it off, Orochimaru. Don't forget that it was this village—and me—who allowed your research to progress. You'll still need us in the future if you want to prosper. Put some respect on that...", Hiruzen retorted, irritation flickering in his tone.

He then shifted the conversation to Danzo, bringing up the one topic that weighed heavily on both their minds: "Has your Root dealt with your part of Minato's pawns inside the village yet?" he asked pointedly.

They both knew the risks. Minato's growing influence was already becoming an issue—his ideological opposition to this plan made it clear he could never be trusted with any knowledge of it.

But what concerned them most was the small network of loyalists Minato had planted within the village, each carrying a Flying Raijin kunai, ready to notify him at a moment's notice. If those agents weren't detained temporarily, Minato could teleport back from the frontlines instantly and become a thorn in their side, undermining everything.

"Of course. That boy Minato is still far too green for matters like these..." Danzo hissed a sharp edge to his voice, "His pawns were easy enough to root out, and they are now under pretty heavy sealing marks temporarily. But he's becoming more brazen by the day, riding high on the victories and glory he's amassed during this war."

His expression darkened as he spoke, his disdain for Minato evident in every word. Danzo saw the younger shinobi not just as a growing threat to his ambitions but as an embodiment of everything wrong with the current generation.

At this point, Orochimaru couldn't help but interject with a sly grin, "Sarutobi-sensei... I bet you regret now how hard you pushed that guy his entire life—more than you ever did your own 'disciple.' Me...", He sneered, his words laced with venom.

It was another deliberate jab at Hiruzen, but beneath Orochimaru's amusement simmered deep resentment. Out of the three of them, he was the one most affected by Minato's rise to prominence.

It was Minato who eclipsed his brilliance, took command of his entire Western Front, and even recently drove him out of his last, hard-won stronghold in the Kusagakure as if he were 'liberating' the poor village from him in the end.

The mere thought of it made Orochimaru's blood boil. Minato had stolen not only his shine but also the loyalty of many subordinates he'd painstakingly recruited. Many deserted him after Minato's arrival, captivated by the younger shinobi's charisma and reputation.

Worse still, rumors—ones Minato had conveniently allowed to circulate—painted Orochimaru as nothing more than a sinister, criminal figure involved in unethical activities.

It had turned potential allies into enemies, stripping him of all his influence within Konoha's ranks as a Sannin.

Had it not been for Hiruzen and Danzo needing him now—for this operation against the Hyuga, and, more importantly, for his mastery over Edo Tensei on time—Orochimaru knew he might already have been labeled a rogue ninja.

Minato's mounting pressure on Hiruzen to punish him was no secret. Without the current alliance between Hiruzen and Danzo, Minato likely would have succeeded in having Orochimaru exiled or imprisoned by now. Or he would be perhaps even personally killed by the younger ninja in his prime power already. 

As these thoughts festered, Orochimaru's expression remained calm, but inside, he seethed with hatred. One day soon, when he grew stronger, he vowed Minato Namikaze would pay for every indignity—down to the very last insult and lost opportunity.

Meanwhile, Hiruzen also drifted into uneasy thoughts after hearing Orochimaru's taunt. He reflected on how badly his relationship with his former student had deteriorated over the years. There was no doubt in Hiruzen's mind now—Orochimaru hated him. And, as much as Hiruzen hated to admit it, perhaps Orochimaru had a point.

Even with Minato's flaws, as this current situation highlighted, Hiruzen had long believed that Minato possessed a far better character to lead the village as Hokage than Orochimaru ever could. Minato's strength, already surpassing his, too, only made the decision easier.

For years, Hiruzen covertly groomed Minato as his successor, slowly sidelining Orochimaru in favor of the younger, more charismatic shinobi.

More recently, Hiruzen even allowed Minato to steadily root out Orochimaru's influence on the Western Front and in Kusagakure thereafter, treating his once-prized pupil like a rat being flushed from his hiding places.

Hiruzen knew full well that Orochimaru's human experiments were vile—beyond any reasonable excuse. But the bitter truth was that he had allowed it.

His stamp of approval, albeit indirect, had given Orochimaru the freedom to operate as he pleased in the shadows.

And yet, part of Hiruzen also acknowledged that Orochimaru's descent into those dark practices had been fueled by his frustration.

Knowing he was no longer in the running for the Hokage seat, Orochimaru had doubled down on his pursuits, going further than he ever would have dared otherwise, all to prove his worth in the most twisted way.

However, even with these missteps, Hiruzen had never doubted his choice—Minato was the better candidate.

But recently, things had begun to shift. Minato had grown... distant. Where once the young shinobi had respected him without question, there was now a subtle defiance in Minato's demeanor, a coldness that hadn't been there before.

Hiruzen suspected Minato had learned about his involvement, or at least his tacit approval, of Orochimaru's experiments. That knowledge had poisoned their relationship.

Minato no longer seemed willing to follow Hiruzen's lead, openly challenging him on matters both large and small. The placement of his Flying Raijin-marked operatives throughout the village—an obvious power move—was just one example.

And Minato's ambitions didn't stop there. He had carefully cultivated his own newfound mini faction, even winning over rational, pragmatic clans like the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi—clans that had once been staunch allies of Hiruzen's.

Minato's prestige, raw talent, and battlefield prowess made him impossible to ignore, and the village, and most importantly, parts of Hiruzen's own previous faction, began to shift its loyalty; everyone began 'investing' in him over time.

The whispers among the people were growing louder by the day. Hiruzen could hear them everywhere he went—the villagers no longer saw him as the true Hokage.

They viewed him as an old man who had failed to prevent the war, a relic clinging to a position that no longer belonged to him. In contrast, they saw Minato as the savior who had cleaned up his mess, the hero who led them to victory. 

The worst part? Minato didn't seem to mind the rumors. If anything, it felt as though Minato silently encouraged them, letting the tide turn in his favor while subtly undermining Hiruzen's authority and challenging him for his position.

He even got his other two disciples, Jiraiya and Tsunade, to slowly distance themselves from him, which hurt him perhaps the most. 

That was why Orochimaru's mockery stung so deeply. He knew exactly where to twist the knife, and Hiruzen couldn't deny that it hit far too close to the truth.

That was also the main reason Hiruzen still found himself aligned with Orochimaru, tolerating his insolence despite the rumors of his twisted actions already circulating throughout the village. This partnership wasn't just about completing the current mission—it was a long-term calculation. Hiruzen knew he needed both Orochimaru and Danzo, armed with their powerful Edo Tensei summons, as a counterbalance against Minato's ever-growing influence.