Ryuma Aburame, surrounded by many parasitic insects, silently left the orphanage.
Orochimaru's guess was not wrong.
Ryuma Aburame, under Danzo's orders, wanted to find Yakushi Nono first, before she knew about it, and use everyone in the orphanage to threaten her.
Based on Danzo's understanding of Yakushi Nono, who had not lost her kindness and treated the orphanage as her home, she would definitely agree to return to Root.
Then Danzo planned to immediately send Yakushi Nono out of Konoha, so Hiruzen Sarutobi would have no way to deal with him.
But Danzo was still one step too late.
After Ryuma Aburame returned to Root, he reported the situation to Danzo.
Danzo's face was so gloomy it looked like he could eat someone.
"Shindai... that Magnet Release brat from Hidden Sand Village? Was he also involved?"
Ryuma Aburame replied, "Yes, it sounds like those so-called money-making schemes were thought up by this child named Shindai."
Danzo speculated, "So, it seems that because of this brat's plan, Hiruzen wanted to protect Yakushi Nono, because for these plans to proceed smoothly, Yakushi Nono, as the orphanage director, must implement them. Hmph, what an ungrateful brat!"
Although Danzo didn't know that the main reason for Orochimaru's betrayal was Shindai, it didn't stop Danzo from already hating Shindai.
Danzo was very anxious now, because the reason he could live so freely, doing whatever he wanted without consequences, was because Hiruzen Sarutobi was very lenient with him; as long as it wasn't a huge scandal known to the entire village, Hiruzen Sarutobi would turn a blind eye.
If Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, abdicated and the Fourth Hokage took over, then his good days might be over.
After all, why would the Fourth Hokage indulge him? At that time, his power in Konoha would definitely decrease, and his situation would worsen.
Originally, Orochimaru was Danzo's trump card; as long as Orochimaru succeeded, his carefree days could continue.
But now... now that it's clear Orochimaru won't be running for Hokage, no matter who becomes Hokage later, his situation won't be good.
That surge of anger in Danzo's heart flared up again.
Danzo thought for a long time. The current situation was extremely unfavorable for him. He needed to be more stable and low-key, see who Hiruzen Sarutobi would choose as the next Hokage, and then lie dormant and look for another opportunity... Inside the orphanage.
Shindai explained his money-making plan in detail to Yakushi Nono.
"So, for the charity event, you must raise enough funds. Therefore, your speeches must be deeply moving and resonate with everyone, finding every way to make them open their wallets and donate to you.
Once you have the funds, everything will be much easier. Opening a shop and so on can be done in one go. So, regarding the content of your speeches, you can start thinking about it now."
Yakushi Nono nodded and replied, "I understand. I will carefully consider the content of the speeches."
Shindai stretched, "Well, that's about it. After eating my fill, I want to sleep. I'm so sleepy now, so I'm heading back first. Oh, and Kabuto, I'm going to open a shop later too. As my little brother, you'll have to come and help me!"
Yakushi Kabuto patted his chest and promised, "Big Brother Shindai, I definitely will! But... what kind of shop are you going to open later, Big Brother Shindai?"
Shindai said mysteriously, "You'll know when the time comes. Maybe, when you're an adult, you'll even become my customer~"
"Hmm? I'll become your customer? And I have to be an adult?"
Yakushi Kabuto thought about it but couldn't figure out what Shindai intended to sell.
Orochimaru knew a little about this matter. When Shindai was bragging to him, he mentioned his 'grand ambition,' the so-called adult puppet shop.
Orochimaru felt that Jiraiya and Hiruzen Sarutobi would absolutely love Shindai's adult puppet shop.
Shindai also told him that if his temperament hadn't been unsuitable, he would have asked him and Jiraiya to endorse the adult puppet shop together.
Although Orochimaru had little shame now, for something so embarrassing, even if Shindai and Jiraiya took turns tormenting him, he would absolutely never agree.
"Sister Yakushi Nono, Kabuto, I'm leaving now. Is Lord Orochimaru coming with me?"
Orochimaru refused Shindai, saying, "No, I still have something to discuss. You go ahead."
"Alright."
Shindai left with a big belly.
Yakushi Nono was waiting for Orochimaru to tell her something.
After sitting for a while, Orochimaru stood up and said, "I'm leaving too. Yakushi Nono, you should find some time to go to the Hokage Building and talk to Teacher Hiruzen about this. However, even if you are to start a fundraiser, it should probably be after the war has completely ended."
Yakushi Nono:???
Is that all? Even if Orochimaru hadn't said anything, she would have gone to the Hokage Building tomorrow to talk to Hiruzen Sarutobi and finalize it.
It seemed more like Orochimaru was avoiding Shindai?
Shindai arrived at Minato Namikaze's house and found Uzumaki Kushina and Pakura chatting and laughing.
Shindai asked curiously, "What are you two talking about?"
Uzumaki Kushina said unceremoniously, "None of your business."
Shindai pouted, "Hmph, as if I really want to know. I don't want to know. I'm sleepy, so I'm going to sleep on the sofa. Pakura, you can go to my room to sleep later."
Pakura agreed, "Okay, I understand."
For the next few days, besides getting daily necessities for Pakura, Shindai acted like a street loafer, taking Pakura to wander around Konoha.
Pakura gradually became familiar with Konoha and was no longer as reserved as when she first arrived. Pakura's mood also gradually improved.
And while Pakura was happy, Rasa in Sunagakure was not.
The Jonin he sent out had not returned, and Hidden Mist Village also said they hadn't killed Pakura, that she had escaped.
Rasa felt that it shouldn't be. Even if the Mist Village Ninja hadn't killed Pakura, the four Jonin he sent out should have completely overwhelmed and killed Pakura.
After all, Rasa had even specifically sent a Jonin who was skilled in Sealing Techniques and could seal Pakura's Scorch Release flames. Pakura couldn't possibly have been a match for those four.
If they failed, then why hadn't Pakura returned to Sunagakure yet?
This made Rasa a little anxious.
If they had truly failed and Pakura had returned, Rasa wouldn't have been so anxious. What made him anxious was not knowing what Pakura's situation was, whether she was dead or alive, otherwise he wouldn't even know how to react.
However, there was also good news for Rasa. Although Hidden Mist Village failed to kill Pakura, it was after all their own problem that they couldn't kill Pakura, so they still agreed to a reconciliation with Sunagakure.
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