Starting with the usurpation of Akatsuki, the ninja world was overthrown.

Chapter 227 A New Year, A New Dilemma

Chapter 227 A New Year, New Dilemmas

The new year brings new challenges for Konoha.

Not only is the recent hunt by Obito Uchiha after his turn to the dark side causing headaches for the higher-ups, but there are also numerous other problems both inside and outside the village that are suffocating them.

Therefore, when Minato Namikaze came to share the good news of his wife's pregnancy, the smiles on the faces of the old guys Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane were noticeably forced.

After finishing his work at Minato, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but add a few more cigarettes to his pipe. As he puffed out smoke, the wrinkles on his brows deepened.

Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi had almost finished his pipe of tobacco without saying a word, Koharu Utatane spoke up first.

"Hiruzen, say something! Shouldn't you try to think of a solution? Minato has become so arrogant since he found out he's pregnant. Judging from his expression, he wants to stay by Kushina's side for the next few months. Aren't you going to try to persuade him?"

For these old guys, the biggest problem and the most pressing dilemma is how to get Minato Namikaze into power!

In the original timeline, Minato's victory at the Battle of Kannabi Bridge paved the way for him to become Hokage, but in this current timeline, that path was cut off long ago.

It was a complete and utter break, with no doubt whatsoever.

With several veterans unwilling to replace the candidates, how to keep Minato Namikaze in power has become their biggest problem.

Not long ago, Hiruzen Sarutobi had hoped that Minato Namikaze would lead the negotiations with Kirigakure to gain some prestige.

Unfortunately, the results weren't very good...

"Hey, Minato, how did you end up negotiating the contract like that?" Mitokado Homura chimed in at that moment.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi merely gave his old friend a cold and weary look, without uttering a word.

Is this really Minato Namikaze's fault?

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew perfectly well in his heart: No!

It was because those old hands making decisions behind the scenes were too weak, and their thoughts were completely seen through by the enemy.

All bottom lines were clearly predicted.

But what good does understanding do?

Ultimately, they lacked the courage to restart the war.

Under such circumstances, no matter how eloquent Minato Namikaze is, the negotiations will not yield any results.

So, the last chance to boost Minato Namikaze's reputation before the New Year ended up being less than satisfactory.

Even after the peace talks with Kirigakure, the Uchiha clan's prestige in the village rose even more dramatically than Minato Namikaze's!

I don't know who taught them, but it seems that the Uchiha clan suddenly became enlightened after the Battle of Kirigakure. They learned to create momentum for themselves, claim credit, and promote themselves. They even learned to win over other ninja clans with whom they had fought side by side.

It made those old guys like Hiruzen Sarutobi worry so much that their hair was turning white.

"This can't go on. If Minato doesn't take action soon, Orochimaru will probably completely overshadow him," Koharu Utatane said worriedly.

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately put down his pipe and asked nervously.

"What has Orochimaru been up to lately?"

Xiaochun turned her head to look at him as she changed dorm rooms.

"What, Hiruzen, didn't you know? Orochimaru has recently asked the village for a lot of supplies. I bet he's planning something big in the next few months."

As an elder, Koharu Utatane has always managed the distribution of resources in the village, and she still retains this power even after Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped down.

Upon hearing her say this, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but take a deep drag on his cigarette.

The wrinkles on my forehead have deepened again.

At that moment, many dark and unspeakable thoughts even surged in the minds of these old men.

Meanwhile, what outsiders were completely unaware of was that a large portion of the supplies Orochimaru obtained from Konoha's logistics department were secretly and quietly transferred to the Land of Rain!

In this game, those still remaining at the poker table are all villains!

The truly kind and virtuous people have long been eliminated.

Therefore, Orochimaru doesn't care at all what the old folks in the village think of him now.

He has already prepared a way out for himself.

In the laboratory of the Land of Rain, Orochimaru and Hiruko collaborated again after a long time.

Although Hiruko was very disgusted by this, Orochimaru remained calm throughout.

One of the air conditioners even joked, "Hiruko, your skills seem to have declined. What's wrong? Is life in the Land of Rain too comfortable, wearing down your ambition?"

O

Hiruko, barely suppressing the urge to curse, said irritably, "Orochimaru, you should remember: this is my research institute!"

Orochimaru simply smiled and remained unmoved by the reprimands.

"But I brought these supplies and experimental materials myself. Stop arguing, it's time to add the fourth dose of medicine."

"you!"

Hiruko still found it hard to accept cooperating with the venomous snake that had abandoned him.

Not long after, Shiba Kiyokawa arrived at the research institute.

"How did it go?"

Orochimaru responded calmly, "There have been some breakthroughs in the first project, but it will take time to produce results. However, the second project has already been completed."

"Oh?" Shiba Kiyokawa immediately became interested.

His first research project was to study the evolution of white eyes.

Having read the original work, he naturally knew that the Byakugan, like the Sharingan, could continue to evolve, and its final form was no worse than the Rinnegan.

Back then, he received a pair of Byakugan from Hyuga Hideki, but only gave one to Chihiro, keeping the other one for future research.

Now Orochimaru has finally agreed to cooperate, and has even provided his own materials—several bodies of Hyuga branch families.

No one knew how Orochimaru obtained the materials. Shiba Kiyokawa didn't ask, and Orochimaru himself didn't say either. "Tell me in detail, what progress has been made on the first project?" Shiba Kiyokawa asked.

Orochimaru replied, "We have now verified your theory that the Byakugan does indeed have a greater than 90% probability of having a higher evolutionary form."

Unfortunately, I still haven't found a workable evolutionary path.

To be honest, I'd suggest you try transplanting one of your white eyes yourself.

After considering Orochimaru's suggestion, Shiba Kiyokawa ultimately declined.

"No, Orochimaru. Do you remember what I told you not long ago?"

Orochimaru thought for a moment before remembering, "You mean, don't rely too much on ninjutsu, and don't always follow the Sage of Six Paths' old path?"

Shiba Kiyokawa nodded, "Yes, whether it's the Sage's Eye Rinnegan or the possible evolution of the Byakugan, the source is the Sage of Six Paths."

But do you remember my warning? To forge new paths, we shouldn't always rely on the legacy of the Sage of Six Paths.

This was the warning that Shiba Kiyokawa gave Orochimaru after returning from the Land of Demons.

Now that we've been identified as allies, there's no need to be stingy with sharing information.

More importantly, in Shiba Kiyokawa's view, Orochimaru's wisdom and scientific research talent played an indispensable role in opening up new paths!

Orochimaru gave Shiba Kiyokawa a deep look, then suddenly smiled.

"I thought you were joking at first, Qinghe-kun, but I didn't expect you to be serious."

"Heh, you're already aiming for the level of the Sage of Six Paths? Don't you think that's a bit too early?"

Shiba Kiyokawa shrugged. "You have to aim high, don't you? I've been dreaming of overthrowing the ninja world for two years now."

Orochimaru couldn't help but burst into a series of laughs.

He probably thought Shiba Kiyokawa was joking again.

Little did they know that some truths are often revealed unintentionally in a joking tone.

Shiba Kiyokawa then deliberately changed the subject.

"Now let me see your second project, for which you have already achieved results."