Orochimaru is Targeted
Chi Yu was leaning against the wall of an old, run-down apartment building.
This building was where Naruto lived. Since Naruto was still very young and orphaned, Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged for an ANBU operative to watch over him from the shadows.
Strictly speaking, Chi Yu didn't need to be here—he had already stationed snakes to observe Naruto's surroundings and had even placed the ANBU under genjutsu to ensure absolute safety.
Still, Kushina Uzumaki remained uneasy. Though she had been thought dead by the world, she asked Chi Yu to check personally and confirm Naruto's condition.
Once satisfied, Chi Yu left the area and returned home.
When he arrived, Kushina was already using her communication ring to contact Miyuki Uzumaki. Nearly every day, Kushina updated Miyuki on Naruto's well-being, then asked after Miyuki's own safety. Chi Yu had grown accustomed to this routine.
As he washed vegetables at the sink, Chi Yu overheard their conversation.
> Kushina: "Miyuki, don't worry about Naruto. Chi Yu just checked—he's doing fine. How about you?"
Miyuki: "Everything's smooth here. I just came out of a gambling hall and I'm eating now."
Kushina: "Huh? A gambling hall? Don't tell me you were gambling?"
Miyuki: "Of course not! It was Shindai and the others. You know I'm hopeless at gambling."
Before Kushina could say more, other voices chimed in through the ring.
> Yahiko: "Hey, Miyuki, Chi Yu isn't with Kushina, right? He mustn't know we lost our money!"
Raiga: "Yeah! If he cuts off our funding, we're done for!"
Over the months, Yahiko, Raiga, and Pakura had also grown familiar with Kushina through Miyuki's constant calls.
Chi Yu's brow twitched. He wiped his hands with a towel, sat beside Kushina, and picked up the ring.
> Chi Yu: "Too late. I heard everything. Now talk—what happened?"
Yahiko (nervously): "Nothing big… just a small gamble…"
Ignoring him, Chi Yu asked Miyuki directly:
> Chi Yu: "Miyuki, who paid for your meal just now?"
Miyuki: "Me."
The others broke into a cold sweat.
Chi Yu sighed and rubbed his temples.
> Chi Yu: "So the funds I send every few months—you wasted them gambling?"
Yahiko: "N-No… just a little gamble!"
> Chi Yu: "How much do you even have left?"
Yahiko: "Plenty…"
> Chi Yu (sneering): "Plenty, huh? Then don't expect another coin from me."
The three panicked at once.
> Yahiko, Raiga, Pakura: "Wait! Don't cut us off—it was just once!"
Chi Yu's voice sharpened.
> Chi Yu: "I can't believe you idiots! I risk everything in Konoha to secure these funds—not just to make your lives easy, but to help you recruit and grow. Yet after all this time, it's still just the three of you, and now you waste money gambling?"
They shut their mouths tight, too afraid to argue.
Chi Yu exhaled and gave his decision:
> Chi Yu: "Fine. From now on, Miyuki handles the funds. Food and ninja tools only—no luxuries. If you want comfort, earn it yourselves."
The three sighed in relief. With Miyuki managing the money, they figured they'd still find ways to use it.
Miyuki nodded.
> Miyuki: "I understand."
Chi Yu warned them one last time:
> Chi Yu: "Get serious about your mission."
Yahiko, Raiga, Pakura (quickly): "We promise!"
Handing the ring back to Kushina, Chi Yu returned to preparing dinner.
---
One Year Later
Time passed, and Konoha slowly recovered from the war.
The village's structure had changed dramatically. The entire Uchiha Clan had been relocated to the outskirts, confined to a newly built compound. Except for those serving in the Police Force, Uchiha were rarely seen in the village center.
The so-called Konoha Defense Force, now heavily influenced by Danzō, began targeting the Uchiha at every turn. Even minor infractions, such as an Uchiha spitting on the street, led to arrest under the pretext of "insulting Konoha."
Fugaku Uchiha, the clan head, repeatedly sought justice from Hiruzen Sarutobi, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Instead, he was forced to pay bail after bail. Uchiha wealth dwindled, and their clan assets had already shrunk by more than half. Eventually, Fugaku ordered his people not to leave their district unless absolutely necessary.
Hiruzen, cautious of pushing too far, later instructed Danzō to ease the pressure once the village economy began improving. Danzō complied—but only slightly.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen's attention turned toward Orochimaru.
Once his prized disciple, Orochimaru had grown increasingly distant, ignoring orders and immersing himself in secret research. Hiruzen knew the danger: if Orochimaru's forbidden experiments came to light, his own reputation as Hokage—already weakened—would collapse.
To complicate matters, Hiruzen suspected Orochimaru still had hidden ties with Chi Yu. The two had worked together before, and Chi Yu's mere existence continued to trouble him like a thorn lodged in his throat.
Unable to strike at Chi Yu directly, Hiruzen decided Orochimaru would be the first to fall. Once Orochimaru was removed, Chi Yu would stand isolated within Konoha.
The problem lay in execution. Hiruzen knew his student well. Orochimaru's true danger wasn't overwhelming power—it was his mastery of forbidden jutsu and his endless escape techniques. Unless killed swiftly and decisively, Orochimaru would slip away and become an even greater threat.
For now, Hiruzen prepared to locate Orochimaru's hidden laboratory and dispatch ANBU to eliminate him once and for all.
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