"Aphrodisiac," Kirito uttered lightly.
As the words fell, Kakashi and the others felt their hair stand on end. A shudder ran through them as the mental image of Sarutobi Hiruzen, Mitokado Homura, Shimura Danzo, and Utatane Koharu—four elderly leaders—engaging in a sordid revelry flashed through their minds.
With a loud bang, it was as if several volcanoes erupted simultaneously in their minds, leaving them stunned and their brains blank. Moments later, Kakashi, Might Guy, and Moonlight Hayate scrambled to a corner and began vomiting on the spot.
Morino Ibiki, known for his steely nerves as the captain of Konoha's Torture and Interrogation Corps, fared slightly better, but even he felt his scalp tingle. Staring at Kirito as if he were the devil incarnate, Ibiki stammered, "Fujiwara Kirito... you… have such a vicious heart."
Kirito responded with a smile, appearing more amused than ashamed. "I'm deeply honored to be recognized by you, Captain Morino."
After a while, Kakashi, pale but composed, pulled his mask back on and asked, "Even if this scandal embarrassed Hokage, this alone wouldn't be enough to force him to step down. Why would he?"
"True," Kirito replied, his smile fading. He reached into his robe, casually pulling out an eye-catching photograph, and tossed it to Kakashi like a playing card. "The scandal alone wouldn't suffice. But when you see this, you'll understand."
Kakashi caught the photo, and as he glanced at it, cold sweat broke out across his face. "What is this…?"
"How does it feel?" Kirito asked with a smirk. "Creepy, isn't it? Now imagine what the Second Pillar would do if he saw this."
Might Guy, curious, walked over. "Kakashi, what did he show you?"
Gekko Hayate and Morino Ibiki leaned closer, eager to glimpse the photo, but Kakashi quickly tucked it away. Kirito chuckled. "No need to hide it. It's already public knowledge among Konoha's clan heads. Some of them have leaked the information anyway—it's impossible to conceal now."
After a moment's hesitation, Kakashi handed over the photo. The reaction was immediate. Might Guy, Hayate, and Ibiki turned pale and began to sweat profusely.
"Kirito, what is your purpose in telling us this?" Kakashi asked, his voice steady despite the unease in his eyes.
"Patience, Kakashi. I'll explain everything." Kirito leaned back, his expression calm. "These incidents have already been exposed, and you must understand their significance."
"Sarutobi Hiruzen's actions were not isolated. Danzo may be selfish and a terrible person, but at most, he was just a scapegoat for Hiruzen. The root cause lies with Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage himself."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle before continuing. "This is why Hiruzen had no choice but to step down. His actions as Hokage left him no room to escape responsibility. In many ways, he was the true architect of the chaos in Konoha."
Might Guy hesitated before asking, "Then why would Lord Hokage agree to the Sand Ninja's request to advance the Chunin Exams?"
Kirito's smirk returned. "Two words: seeking death."
"Seeking death?" Kakashi and the others echoed in confusion.
Kirito nodded. "Sarutobi Hiruzen values his reputation above all else, even his life. He's old and knows his days are numbered. After everything he's done, he's realized that he can't take his reputation for granted anymore. To him, dying as a hero to protect Konoha—just like the Hokages before him—is the ultimate goal."
Kirito's voice grew colder. "The Chunin Exam was his stage. He planned to fight his former disciple, Orochimaru, in a grand battle and die as a hero in the eyes of the village. He wanted to take all the darkness of his life with him to the grave, ensuring his legacy remained untarnished."
"That's why he allowed the Chunin Exams to continue, even knowing Orochimaru's intentions. He dragged Konoha into chaos for his own selfish desires, ignoring all objections. When challenged, his response was likely the same tired phrase, 'I believe in you.'"
The room fell silent. Even Kakashi, with his usual composure, couldn't help but frown. He exchanged uncertain glances with the others, doubt creeping into their expressions.
Kirito continued, his tone almost mocking. "The only problem? My interference. His carefully constructed reputation crumbled in a single night. His plans were ruined when I forced his resignation ahead of schedule."
"He's desperate now. Once Tsunade takes over as Hokage, his death will lose its significance. It won't carry the same weight if he's no longer Hokage. That's why he agreed to Sunagakure's request—to accelerate the Chunin Exams and stage his final act before Tsunade arrives."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "And where does Orochimaru fit into this?"
Kirito's smirk grew wider. "Orochimaru is giving his teacher a dignified death."
"Dignified?" Kakashi and the others repeated in disbelief.
Kirito sighed, his voice adopting a lecturing tone. "The master-disciple relationship is one of the most complex in the ninja world. It's twisted, filled with contradictions, but undeniably real. Even Orochimaru, for all his crimes, has a shred of respect for his teacher."
"Orochimaru didn't return just for Sasuke or Konoha. Part of him returned to fulfill his master's wish for a dramatic and dignified end. The Chunin Exam isn't just about Konoha's future; it's the stage for a morbid master-disciple farewell."
As Kirito's words sank in, the gravity of the situation became clearer. The four men looked at each other, struggling to reconcile their loyalty with the unsettling truths they had just heard.
(End of the Chapter)
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