The night wind laughed, "I don't believe you."
Orochimaru stared at Takayama Haru. "Are you messing with me? You're saying that even the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, and the legendary Uchiha Madara are still alive?"
Before Haru could respond, Orochimaru shook his head. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Uchiha Madara died long ago at the hands of the original Hokage..."
He stopped mid-sentence, recalling a secret not many knew.
After the Entudani Battle, Senju Ma secretly took Uchiha Madara's body and stored it in a hidden underground chamber. When he returned later, the body had disappeared.
This was something Orochimaru had seen with his own eyes in the final intelligence left behind by the Senju.
Swallowing nervously, Orochimaru muttered, "No way... After all these years? The First and Second Hokage have been dead for so long... And Uchiha Madara is still alive?"
Orochimaru looked at Haru with suspicion. Who exactly was he? How did he know all this? Wasn't he supposed to be a spy?
Despite his rebellious nature and descent into becoming a mad scientist, Orochimaru still had some loyalty to Konoha and hadn't completely turned away.
"By the way, Haru, I have some information you might find interesting."
Orochimaru pulled out a thick file and handed it to Haru.
As Haru flipped through the pages, his eyes lit up.
The document exposed the core families of the Junmei and Mito clans—the Shimura clan and its future heirs, Shinto Jun and Mito Ryosuke. It detailed years of them stealing others' accomplishments, faking missions, and buying their way to success.
They rose rapidly in rank—from genin to jonin within five years—by hijacking credit for others' missions and bribing officials.
Haru thought to himself: No wonder the jonin of Konoha are so inconsistent in strength. It turns out some cheated their way up the ranks.
Jonin positions come with power and prestige. Many ninjas from ordinary families, despite being talented, were robbed of their rightful achievements.
Entire squad accomplishments were often monopolized by these core family members. Even graduation exams and ninja qualification tests were manipulated.
The Shimura, Dormitory, and Mito clans had a first-generation ninja pass rate of over 90%, while ordinary families hovered around 40%. Their graduates often took one to three years to become official ninjas, while the elite clans passed in the first month.
Complaints were made, but the powerful families always settled things with money.
Now, everything was laid bare in this thick file—names, data, evidence.
Haru marveled. This was like a free gift with purchase. Orochimaru not only helped monitor the group but handed over this huge scandal as well.
If these falsified military merits were exposed, it would cause an uproar in Konoha.
Konoha was a village of ninjas, where every ninja hoped to advance through the ranks—from genin to chunin to jonin—by completing C, B, and S-rank missions. It was their honor and their safety net for retirement or returning to battle in old age.
And now, the three major clans had corrupted the system.
This evidence could place the Shimura, Dormitory, and Mito clans on the pillar of shame in Konoha.
...
The next morning at the Ninja Academy.
Obito pointed accusingly at Haru's shadow clone. "Haru-sensei, it's another clone today, isn't it?"
The shadow clone blinked. "How did you know?"
Obito shouted, "You don't respect us!"
Rin pressed her lips together tightly.
Kakashi didn't say much. He knew how busy elite ninjas were—especially those as strong as Haru. Even his own father had just returned from a mission and was already gone again.
At least Haru left a shadow clone. If it hadn't vanished yesterday, they wouldn't even have noticed.
"What's wrong with a clone? Did it eat your lunch?" Haru flicked Obito's forehead.
"If you don't come, I'm not attending class!"
Rin nodded in agreement.
The shadow clone sighed and grabbed Obito.
"You? Skipping class? You're so weak—what right do you have to complain? Beat me, and I'll make my real self teach the class."
Obito was hoisted into the air, flailing and shouting, "I swear, I, Uchiha Obito, will defeat you!"
An hour later...
Obito was half-buried in the ground, only his head sticking out, looking thoroughly defeated.
Haru crouched down and smirked. "Weren't you going to defeat me?"
At that moment, a kunai attack came out of nowhere.
"Hmph!"
Haru smiled and used teleportation to dodge Rin's sneak attack.
Kakashi had predicted Haru's move and launched an immediate counter with his right hand—
Lightning Style: Chidori!
Knowing this was only a clone, Kakashi didn't hold back.
Obito grinned smugly, thinking Kakashi would finally hit their teacher.
But the next second, his smile froze.
Kakashi's Chidori passed through Haru's afterimage—he had moved so fast that only an illusion remained!
Suddenly, a dark energy appeared inside Kakashi and grabbed him.
Kakashi responded by stabbing back with his lightning-charged hand.
Boom!
The shadow clone vanished in a puff of smoke.
Team Seven cheered, and Rin praised Kakashi, "You're amazing!"
Obito pouted jealously. "Rin, it was my sacrifice that distracted the teacher!"
Kakashi smiled under his mask.
Suddenly, a hand shot from the ground and pulled Kakashi in, leaving only his head exposed.
The shadow clone reappeared, grinning.
"Haru-sensei, you cheated!"
"Cheated? That was a substitution jutsu. Didn't you see it?"
"Ugh, I give up!"
The shadow clone laughed. "Lack of skill is nothing to be ashamed of. You've already made great progress. Even high-tier endurance techniques wouldn't hurt me."
"I only used one hand and didn't even need Earth Style. You still couldn't touch me."
With that, Haru pulled both students out of the ground.
Kakashi complained, "Sensei, you used an Earth Blade!"
Despite the complaints, Haru was pleased with their progress. Their frustration fueled their determination to train harder.
Team Seven had improved greatly in just a few days.
...
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned at Danzo, Mito Menyan, and the head of the Sensai clan, Sensai Xiaoming.
"Hiruzen, what are you going to do about Haru?"
"From the Kirigakure mission alone, he's clearly a threat to Konoha! He wants to destroy the peace we've worked so hard to achieve!"
"And the death of Elder Koharu is still suspicious."
Danzo glared at Hiruzen. Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe and said, "I know what I'm doing. You're dismissed."
"Wait—Haru killed Mito Ryosuke last night. That's murder!"
"Yes! Elder Koharu's death was strange, and Shinto Jun was hospitalized after being attacked by Haru. Lady Tsunade said his leg is gone!"
Mito Menyan and Sensai Xiaoming added their complaints.
Sarutobi glared at them coldly. "Enough. I was there. It was the Kirigakure delegation's fault. Ryosuke and Jun sacrificed themselves for Konoha."
The three were shocked. Sarutobi was protecting Haru.
"Thanks to their sacrifice and others, we succeeded in negotiating peace with Kirigakure. Konoha got what it deserved."
Sarutobi sighed. Haru's actions now burdened him as Hokage.
Danzo grunted. "Hiruzen, think about this. Is it worth letting Haru destroy everything we've built?"
Just then, the door burst open.
"Come in."
Haru entered with Uzumaki Mito. Sarutobi's eyelid twitched—he sensed trouble.
Danzo, Mito Menyan, and Xiaoming scowled at Haru.
"Uzumaki-sama, Haru, what is it?" Sarutobi asked wearily. He thought, Please don't stir more chaos...
Haru glanced at Danzo but said nothing.
"Danzo, Menyan, Xiaoming—you may leave. I'll handle this."
"Very well, Lord Hokage," Danzo sneered, brushing past Haru.
After that day, the three great clans officially severed ties with Uzumaki Mito.
Outside the Hokage building, Mito Menyan whispered, "Danzo, are we really waiting for the Chunin Exams?"
Danzo scoffed, "The exams? Let them think that. We'll strike when the mission from Kumogakure arrives."
"Kumo has an embassy here?"
"Heh, Airao and the Amber Bottle are in Konoha. Kumo won't let this slide. When they return, we'll make our move."
"Can we do it?"
Danzo said coolly, "Menyan, you're a Jinchuriki. Besides, we have powerful backers."
...
Back in the Hokage's office, Sarutobi rubbed his temples. "What now?"
Haru handed him the copied files from Orochimaru, plus administrative records verifying the data.
"Lord Hokage, this is evidence of cheating in ninja exams and promotions by the Shimura, Dormitory, and Mito clans."
Sarutobi's expression darkened as he read.
His hands trembled. He had long suspected shady dealings, but not on this scale.
"Stealing missions, buying credits—how dare they?!"
He slammed the desk. A moment ago he had tried to appease the clans, but now he saw no reason to.
Once this got out, their reputations would be destroyed.
Uzumaki Mito asked, "This is just the evidence we have. Who will take responsibility for the rest that hasn't been uncovered? Who let this happen?"
"If this continues, is Konoha still Konoha?"
Sarutobi's body trembled.
He looked at Haru and said grimly, "With Shikamaru unavailable, Haru, I'm assigning this task to you. Anyone who resists—execute without mercy!"
He handed over the highest-level authority badge of the Anbu Black Ops.
As Haru left the office, Konoha's Black Ops began full mobilization.
Minato Namikaze's real body left the Ninja Academy, leaving only a clone behind.
The Senju and Uzumaki clans, long hidden in Konoha, revealed themselves. Even members who had changed names stepped forward.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru led squads to the Shimura, Mito, and Junmei clan lands.
Even Danzo and Mito Menyan, just returned home, sensed something was off.
"What is Sarutobi planning?!"
"Does he really want to force us into rebellion?!"
"What is the meaning of this, Lord Hokage?!"
The three clans thought it was Sarutobi's doing.
But in truth, with the help of Uzumaki Mito and the Senju, Haru now wielded authority nearly equal to the Hokage.
Today would not be a peaceful day in Konoha.