"No way, absolutely not!"
"This Ninjutsu is a desecration of the deceased!"
"When Tobirama-sensei developed this Ninjutsu, Hashirama-sensei already stated that research and development in this area is not allowed; it is absolutely forbidden."
"Even Tobirama-sensei classified this Ninjutsu as a forbidden technique."
"This is a provocation against humanity."
"..."
When Orochimaru proposed the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, Hiruzen opposed it without a second thought.
Orochimaru was not angry, though.
In the past, Orochimaru thought he might have an argument with Hiruzen.
But now, Orochimaru was not in the mood for that.
He couldn't say he had no feelings for Konoha; he still had feelings, just not as much as before.
Therefore, Orochimaru felt that presenting his idea was enough.
As for whether it would be adopted, that was Hiruzen's concern.
"Sarutobi-sensei, this is the only way I can think of to save Konoha. There is no other."
Danzo, standing nearby, pondered for a moment.
"Hiruzen, I think Orochimaru's point is not without merit."
"We are at a critical juncture for Konoha's survival."
"If we can't find a way to break the deadlock, Konoha might very well become the first major Ninja village to perish."
"Konoha will be erased from the Ninja world."
"All of our Ninjas will be displaced and become wandering Ninjas."
"The villagers have nowhere to go."
"Setting aside the casualties, if we reach the Spirit World, what face do we have to meet Lord Second and First Hokage?"
"Thinking about it... If I were already dead and Konoha faced such a great disaster, I wouldn't mind if Konoha's descendants brought me back through Impure World Reincarnation to fight for Konoha. Even if I died, I would still want to protect Konoha."
"I wouldn't ignore the village for the sake of my own soul's peace."
"That would be too selfish."
"Koharu, Homura, what about you?"
Danzo looked at the two.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged glances.
"We would naturally be willing."
Danzo was using moral coercion in this instance.
Not wanting to agree would imply a lack of love for Konoha and selfishness.
Naturally, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu could only answer that they were willing.
Moreover, at this moment, neither of them was dead.
The ones to be brought back through Impure World Reincarnation would be the First Hokage and the Second Hokage.
"Jiraiya, what about you?"
Danzo turned to Jiraiya again.
"After you die, will you still have Konoha in your heart? Will you be willing to fight to protect Konoha? Or would you rather watch Konoha be destroyed, even though you have the ability to protect it?"
Jiraiya had just come back to his senses.
"I..."
Jiraiya wanted to say that the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu was wrong.
But with so many premises presented by Danzo, he couldn't bring himself to say that.
"I am willing to give everything for Konoha."
Jiraiya didn't answer directly but instead said something like that.
However, in this context and atmosphere, Danzo could take Jiraiya's answer as a willingness.
"Hiruzen, what about you?"
Danzo's gaze returned to Hiruzen.
"If you were already dead..."
"Konoha faces a great disaster."
"The younger generation of Konoha, Shinnosuke, Asuma, Kakashi... all facing life-threatening dangers, would you be willing to break your soul's slumber to protect them?"
Hiruzen fell into silence.
When Orochimaru proposed the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, Hiruzen had directly opposed it.
However, Danzo had now changed his approach.
The situation transformed.
It was no longer about manipulating the souls of the deceased.
Instead, it was about the souls of the deceased witnessing the plight of their successors and, unable to bear it, sacrificing their own slumber.
Changing the way something is framed can completely alter its meaning.
"Orochimaru, how much do you know about the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu?"
After a long while, Hiruzen turned to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Not much, just that this Ninjutsu summons the souls of the deceased from the Spirit World in a manner similar to Summoning Jutsu. The specific details are unclear."
"If you want me to study this Ninjutsu, you must provide me with all the research materials of the Second Hokage."
"Otherwise, it will take a considerable amount of time, and I can't even guarantee success."
Orochimaru said.
Hiruzen fell silent again for a while.
"Orochimaru, to use the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, you must agree to a few conditions."
"What conditions?"
Hiruzen listed them one by one.
"First, respect the will of the deceased. If they do not wish to be brought back through Impure World Reincarnation, then it must be immediately undone."
"Second, you must not forcefully control the deceased."
"Third, Orochimaru, you will take on the position of Konoha's Fifth Hokage."
The first two points were within Orochimaru's expectations.
He understood Hiruzen.
However, Orochimaru did not anticipate that the third condition would involve him succeeding to the position of Hokage.
Orochimaru couldn't help but show a look of shock.
"Sarutobi-sensei, what did you say?"
Not only Orochimaru, but Danzo, Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Jiraiya all displayed expressions of surprise.
None of them expected Hiruzen to make such a decision.
They all thought that Hiruzen would want to pass down the position of Hokage himself.
Previously, Orochimaru had no opportunity to succeed as Hokage.
The same was true now.
Hiruzen said.
"My age has indeed caught up with me; I am no longer capable. Otherwise, I wouldn't have stepped down from the position of Hokage. Due to the special circumstances these past few days, I will act as a proxy for a short time."
"However, with my energy, I can no longer continue as Hokage."
"Orochimaru, you will take on this position of Hokage."
"Due to the special circumstances, there will not be a grand succession ceremony; everything will be kept simple. However, once you succeed as Hokage, you will have all the rights of the Hokage."
"If you find it acceptable, I will convene a meeting of the village clans tonight."
Orochimaru still found it somewhat hard to believe.
He had worked so hard previously, only to lose out to Minato Namikaze.
No, he didn't even get a fair chance to compete.
Orochimaru thought the position of Hokage was already out of his reach.
But unexpectedly, it was now being offered to him.
For a moment, Orochimaru's feelings were quite complicated.
However, after thinking for a while, Orochimaru understood.
That is, after considering the matter, Hiruzen felt that apart from the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, there was no other method to save Konoha; this was the only solution.
Konoha's situation was dire.
Hiruzen did not want to take on the responsibility of using the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
That's why he was letting Orochimaru succeed him as Hokage, so that he could bear that responsibility himself.
Orochimaru looked at Hiruzen and thought to himself,
—Sarutobi-sensei, you really are something else. When there's good news, you don't think of me, but when things are bad, you're willing to hand the position of Hokage over to me. The difference in treatment is too obvious.
—But I will take the position of Hokage.
Orochimaru knew that the position of Hokage was not something good; it was essentially a hot potato.
However, succeeding to the position of Hokage was something Orochimaru had thought about before.
Additionally, he could rightfully study Senju Tobirama's Secret Jutsu and forbidden techniques.
He would also gain access to the village's resources.
This was simply too wonderful.
"Sarutobi-sensei, I am willing."
Orochimaru nodded firmly.
"I will notify everyone now and dismiss the meeting."
The others left one after another.
Jiraiya seemed to still be immersed in thoughts about Minato Namikaze and the Nine-Tails incident; he was not very concerned about the new Hokage situation, and he appeared somewhat lost.
Long ago, Jiraiya had heard from Gamamaru about the prophecy of the Child of Destiny.
Jiraiya thought it would be Minato Namikaze.
A genius emerging from among the common Ninja.
He had a sunny and positive personality.
His charisma was incredibly strong.
Having a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki as a wife, just like Senju Hashirama in his time.
At a young age, he developed the Ninjutsu Rasengan on his own.
With the Flying Thunder God Jutsu, no one could stop him.
If this isn't the Child of Destiny, then who is?
Jiraiya believed Minato Namikaze was the one who would save the world.
Thus, Jiraiya gave Minato Namikaze his full support.
But unexpectedly, at such an early age, Minato Namikaze died.
He died so abruptly.
This caused Jiraiya to question his life for a time.
Where was the promised Child of Destiny?
As night fell, the Konoha Elders gathered.
In addition to the Elders, the heads of various Ninja clans were present.
Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, Nara Shikaku…
"Bang!"
The door to the meeting room closed.
Hiruzen looked around the room.
"The Nine-Tails incident is an extremely terrible event for us in Konoha, making our already dire situation even worse. We have lost Minato, and the other Ninja villages are eyeing us hungrily."
"Moving forward, we must work together even more closely to withstand the invasions from other Ninja villages."
"We need everyone to give their all."
"During this difficult time, Orochimaru has come up with a potential solution, possibly our only way out. However, Orochimaru needs time, and we must all work together to support this."
"But if Orochimaru's method can succeed, then we in Konoha will surely be able to weather this storm."
"We will not be crushed."
"There is no need to surrender."
"We in Konoha will achieve victory in this war."
The crowd was not very convinced.
After all, the situation in Konoha was really too bad.
However, it was Hiruzen who spoke these words.
Hiruzen's reputation in Konoha was well-established.
In their hearts, the people began to feel a glimmer of hope.
"I propose that Orochimaru succeed to the position of Fifth Hokage. Do any of you have any objections?"
Previously, Orochimaru was a competitor against Minato Namikaze, each with their own supporters.
Minato Namikaze won, and Orochimaru lost.
But that time, it was Hiruzen and Jiraiya who strongly supported Minato Namikaze.
Now, however, both Hiruzen and Jiraiya had become supporters of Orochimaru.
Thus, after Hiruzen made this proposal, almost no one opposed it.
Many might think that Jiraiya would be a better choice, but Jiraiya had never considered becoming Hokage.
"Well, since no one has any objections, I hereby announce that from today, at this moment, Orochimaru will be our Fifth Hokage."
With that, Hiruzen gestured for Orochimaru to take the main seat, stepping aside.
As Orochimaru stood there, a rather subtle feeling arose within him.
Hiruzen took the lead, saying, "Salute to Hokage-sama."
Everyone echoed in unison,
"Salute to Hokage-sama!"
One person couldn't help but ask, "Hokage-sama, may I ask what method you have found? How much time will it take to complete?"
Orochimaru glanced at Hiruzen.
Hiruzen remained silent, his eyes focused on the ground, as if he hadn't noticed Orochimaru's gaze.
Orochimaru cleared his throat and replied, "The specific method will be revealed in due time. I won't need too long; I will do my best, but I also need everyone to give their all."
"The village belongs to all of us."
"I believe that everyone present hopes the village can get through this difficulty."
"The upcoming period will be the most challenging."
"The news of the Nine-Tails incident will surely intensify the attacks from villages like the Hidden Mist."
"I hope everyone can gather themselves and overcome the sorrow caused by the Nine-Tails incident. We don't have time to dwell in pain; we must face the external enemies with a better state of mind."
"But I believe that Konoha will surely be able to repel them."
"I have that confidence too."
"Let's end it here for today, meeting adjourned."
Everyone left.
Orochimaru watched the backs of the departing crowd and couldn't help but mutter a few words to himself.
— I didn't expect that just after taking over as Hokage, things would change for me; this kind of rhetoric comes so easily.
"Orochimaru, congratulations."
Danzo didn't leave with the others.
"Danzo-san, taking over as Hokage right now doesn't seem like something to congratulate me for. Isn't it precisely because this is a mess that Sarutobi-sensei handed it to me?"
"But all things considered, it is still the genuine position of Hokage."
Danzo added silently in his heart.
— The Hokage position I've always dreamed of.
"I hope my method can succeed," Orochimaru said softly.
That night, Orochimaru had Hiruzen take him into a secret room in the Hokage Building.
This secret room contained Senju Tobirama's "legacy."
Research materials, secret jutsu...
The relatively important "legacy." Things like the Sword of the Thunder God that Minato Namikaze requested last time, which Hiruzen took out for Kakashi to use, is not in here.
"Orochimaru, are you really sure you want to use the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu?"
Hiruzen asked again.
"Sarutobi-sensei, this is the only way to save Konoha. But if you truly think it won't work, then let's just fight to the end; perhaps we might still have a chance."
Orochimaru directly threw the question back to Hiruzen.
Hiruzen: "..."
"Let's do it your way, Orochimaru."
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