Naruto: Dual-Pupil Uchiha

"Yes!"

Kimimaro glanced at the three of them, Hayashi, Genya and Orochimaru, before silently nodding, seemingly accepting the reality with ease.

He knew that if Orochimaru really made such a decision, it meant there were no other choices left, and there was no way to keep Wood Ox behind. 

Orochimaru would only abandon him if that were the case.

Of course, his gaze also turned towards Genya and Shisui. His mind was clear; it was these two who had altered the outcome of the situation.

Especially when he saw the sword in Genya's hand—Samehada. 

This was the weapon of that shark-like man, and now it was in the hands of the people on the opposite side. This could only mean one thing.

His expression grew serious.

Kimimaro knew that if he didn't want to leave with these people, it wasn't possible anymore. Orochimaru couldn't stop them.

"No, I won't leave!" The restrained Jugo shook his head. He didn't want to leave and didn't want his fate controlled by these strangers whose identities he didn't know.

"Jugo, shut up!" Kimimaro spoke up. "I'll leave with you!"

Kimimaro's tone was reassuring. Although he was younger than Jugo, Kimimaro held the dominant position in this relationship, and Jugo had always listened to him.

"But…" Jugo hesitated. Even if his life was thrown away, he didn't care, but Kimimaro shouldn't be handing his fate to someone else.

Kimimaro's life was more important than his own.

"Are you not going to listen to me?" Kimimaro looked at Jugo, speaking slowly and clearly.

Jugo heard Kimimaro's words and hesitated for a moment, but then nodded seriously. "I'll listen to you!"

With that, the two of them decided their fate.

Genya also nodded. Thankfully, they agreed. If not, he would have had to intervene, which might cause tension.

Now, it was time for him to handle his own matters.

"The task is done. Do you have anything else?" Orochimaru looked at Kimimaro after his instructions were finished, his tone turning serious. "If there's nothing else, you may leave."

Kimimaro and Jugo, one chosen as a vessel and the other as a test subject, were now being dismissed, which made Orochimaru uncomfortable.

"Don't be so hasty. I still have something to discuss with you!" Genya said calmly, seeing how eager Orochimaru was to send them off.

"Then get to the point. I don't like wasting time," Orochimaru replied, now more serious. He felt that the leader of the Atsukara in front of him was far from ordinary, and talking too much might only lead him into trouble.

"There's nothing urgent, but I want to discuss a potential collaboration," Genya said softly. 

Orochimaru harbored hatred for Konoha and the Third Hokage, so in the future, he would plan to destroy Konoha.

Now, Genya wanted to join forces with Orochimaru to eliminate some of the pests in Konoha.

For example, the stubborn higher-ups in Konoha, the Sarutobi clan, and the Shimura clan. Under the protection of their power, they had rotted away completely. 

If not fixed and rebuilt, even if his father became Hokage, the corruption would only grow worse.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was the main culprit!

"Cooperation? What kind of cooperation could there be between us?" Orochimaru frowned, thinking about the connection with the "Atsukara" organization. 

He had no ties with them and hadn't even heard of them before. Now they were asking him for cooperation. 

"We don't seem to be on the same path."

"Quite a lot!" Genya glanced at Orochimaru, then turned to look at Kimimaro. 

"For example, I'm currently researching cursed seal techniques and need your technical support. Of course, in return, I'll provide you with some cell fusion techniques, like the ability to fuse Uzumaki cells."

"Also, I can form an alliance with you. If you're ever attacked, Atsukara can help you!"

"Even when the time comes to overthrow Konoha, we can lend a hand. We could even help you expose the secret dealings between the Third Hokage and Danzo!"

Genya continued speaking one point after another, and Orochimaru listened carefully.

Though he wasn't openly showing interest in the first two offers, when he heard the third, Orochimaru's eyebrows raised slightly. Clearly, it caught his attention.

Overthrow Konoha and expose the ugly dealings between the Third Hokage and Danzo.

This was something he had always wanted to do.

In the past, the Third Hokage had led the Anbu into his lab, publicly accusing him in front of the villagers of Konoha, and eventually forced him to leave while placing a bounty on his head.

But the truth was, every experiment he had conducted had been approved by the Third Hokage, and in fact, many of them had been directly supported and guided by him.

Yet that time, the Third Hokage pushed all the blame onto Orochimaru, never giving him a chance to explain, condemning him and ruining his reputation.

He couldn't accept it.

Why should he carry all the blame while the Third Hokage, the true mastermind, was adored by the villagers, portraying the image of the great Hokage?

Orochimaru wanted to tear down the Third Hokage's mask and expose their crimes to the light. That would be the greatest judgment for the Third Hokage.

"So, how about my offer for cooperation?" Genya kept his eyes fixed on Orochimaru's subtle expressions. 

When he mentioned exposing the Third Hokage's crimes, it was clear that Orochimaru was somewhat moved.

So he wasn't in a hurry and let Orochimaru think for himself.

A long time passed!

Only then did Orochimaru speak: 

"Overthrowing Konoha, exposing Sarutobi Hiruzen's crimes—what makes you think you can do that? Sarutobi Hiruzen's image in Konoha is that of a kind and gentle Hokage. Even if you present all the evidence to the civilians, they probably won't believe it!"

As a disciple of the Third Hokage, Orochimaru naturally knew how skilled Hiruzen was at disguising his true nature.

If he hadn't experienced it firsthand, he wouldn't believe that Sarutobi Hiruzen could be such a sinister person. 

Everyone says that Orochimaru is cunning and malicious, but compared to Sarutobi Hiruzen, that's nothing.

Even with undeniable evidence, Hiruzen could easily shift the blame to someone else. 

The Root's Danzo was just a scapegoat set up by Hiruzen.

So Orochimaru knew clearly that if Konoha was to be overthrown, the first person who had to die was that hypocritical man.

"What makes me think I can do it?" Genya repeated Orochimaru's words, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth. 

"What if I bet the entire honor of the Uchiha clan to cooperate with you? If we fail, the Uchiha clan won't have a place in Konoha anymore!"

Bet the honor of the Uchiha clan?

Orochimaru's expression froze when he heard Genya's words. His previously relaxed demeanor instantly turned serious. He looked at Genya and asked slowly, word by word:

"Who exactly are you? If we're going to cooperate, you need to show your sincerity. Betting the Uchiha clan's honor—can you actually do it?"

To represent the Uchiha clan wasn't something just anyone could claim. 

It wasn't something that any random person could say without meaning it.

****

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