"Assistant Hokage... You are Lord Danzo, who assists Teacher Hiruzen!"
Orochimaru said in surprise.
Assisting Hiruzen... Danzo Shimura narrowed his eyes. Orochimaru's words stung him. If he had spoken those words a little earlier than Hiruzen Sarutobi, perhaps he, not Hiruzen Sarutobi, would have become the Third Hokage!
No, there is no 'perhaps.' If he had spoken those words earlier, it would definitely have been he, Danzo Shimura, who became the Third Hokage, not Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"You are right, but you got one thing wrong. I am the Assistant Hokage, the one who assists the Hokage."
Danzo Shimura corrected, the meaning in his words very clear. He didn't care if the child in front of him understood his meaning, but if he didn't say it, he would feel very uncomfortable, and what he said was the truth.
He, Danzo Shimura, was indeed the one who assisted the Hokage. If Hiruzen Sarutobi were no longer Hokage, he naturally would not assist him.
"Lord Danzo, are you here for training? Or do you have an important mission?"
Orochimaru made herself appear to have a hint of inappropriate curiosity, then tried hard to suppress it, her gaze shifting to the two Root guards behind Danzo Shimura.
"Orochimaru, I have come for you."
A smile appeared on Danzo Shimura's face.
"For me?"
Orochimaru was slightly stunned, a hint of surprise and confusion in her eyes.
Oh, for Six Paths Sage's loincloth!
Why is this old schemer Danzo Shimura targeting me? I haven't been an attention-seeker in front of him, have I?
He's not trying to recruit me, is he? Or train me to be a Root Ninja?
Orochimaru would never consider joining Root. In her opinion, joining Root was worse than taking some of her designs and fleeing to Kumogakure. If they saw her talent, as a rare talent, she believed Kumogakure would certainly not shortchange her on funding.
"Orochimaru, your parents sacrificed themselves for the Village. They are Konoha's heroes, and you are a hero's child, and a genius rarely seen in decades!"
Danzo Shimura looked at Orochimaru's moved expression and continued, "I believe that in the future, you too will become a hero who protects the Village."
After a period of observation, Danzo Shimura found that Orochimaru was a very opinionated person. Though young, she had her own understanding of certain things. To change the mind of such a person required a slow approach, not haste.
It was precisely for this reason that he adopted this method to reduce Orochimaru's resistance towards him.
Danzo Shimura extended his hand to his guard, who respectfully placed a scroll in his hand.
"These are my insights into Wind Release and Wind Release Ninjutsu suitable for you. As a welcoming gift, I sincerely hope that in the future, you will become a hero like your parents, Orochimaru."
Danzo Shimura said sincerely, placing the scroll on the ground. His two guards and his figure distorted and disappeared.
Heroes like my parents, dying without any value just like them?
Orochimaru scoffed inwardly, looking at the scroll on the ground.
Is this Danzo Shimura extending an olive branch to me?
Orochimaru walked over and picked up the scroll from the ground. She looked at the scroll in her hand and opened it to read.
She knew exactly what Danzo Shimura was planning. Joining Root was out of the question, but there was no harm in taking good things that were offered. Danzo Shimura had already revealed his identity, so she would simply assume that Danzo Shimura, as the Assistant Hokage, was working hard to cultivate excellent Ninja for Konoha.
As for Root?
What kind of strange organization is that? I've never even heard of it!
"Lord Danzo, Orochimaru is reading the scroll you left."
"Very good."
Danzo Shimura listened to the report from the Root Ninja and revealed a determined smile.
Hiruzen, thank you for discovering such an excellent child. I truly look forward to seeing your expression when you find out she has voluntarily joined Root.
The next day, at the training ground.
"Wind Release: Night Wind."
Orochimaru extended her hand and flicked her finger towards the grass in front of her. A small hurricane appeared, swirling up the weeds on the ground.
"Orochimaru, is this the Wind Release Ninjutsu you developed?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the small hurricane that appeared out of nowhere, his face full of shock.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had been somewhat skeptical when Orochimaru told him she had developed a Ninjutsu, but he never expected her to develop such a powerful Wind Release Ninjutsu.
More importantly, considering Orochimaru's age and the fact that this Wind Release Ninjutsu required no hand signs—it was a no-sign Ninjutsu!
How old was she? She had already developed her own Ninjutsu, and a no-sign Ninjutsu at that. Even more importantly, she was training in all five elemental releases. Given enough time to grow, her future achievements would be immeasurable.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was certain that if Orochimaru could grow, she would definitely become a great Ninja who surpassed him, and perhaps her achievements could even surpass the Second Hokage or even the First Hokage.
"By infusing Wind Release Chakra into the air, I can create a hurricane wherever I want, following the air's movement." Orochimaru explained the principle of Wind Release: Night Wind, her brows slightly furrowed, her gentle, calm face showing a hint of distress as she said, "However, this Ninjutsu requires a certain level of mastery over Chakra nature transformation... It would be a pity if only I could use it."
"Orochimaru, you've already done well enough. Take your time. With your current age and talent, I believe you can perfect Wind Release: Night Wind."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Orochimaru with emotion; he saw the fiercely burning Will of Fire in her.
"Teacher Hiruzen, I still have many things to do, and many Ninjutsu to learn!"
Orochimaru felt that her time was insufficient and wanted to use the Shadow Clone Technique for everything she did.
"Cough, cough..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed lightly, wanting to advise Orochimaru not to overwork herself and to know how to balance work and rest. But Orochimaru clearly had her own plans, so he found it difficult to say anything.
"Speaking of which, Jiraiya has gone to Mount Myōboku to train again. I wonder how much he will have grown by the next time he returns."
"Teacher Hiruzen, do you know where Shikkotsu Forest and Ryūchi Cave, two of the Three Great Sage Locations, are?"
Orochimaru suddenly asked. When choosing a summoning animal, choosing from the Three Great Sage Locations was undoubtedly the best option.
"Shikkotsu Forest and Ryūchi Cave... Orochimaru, do you want to contract a summoning animal?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi saw that Orochimaru was interested in contracting a summoning animal, thinking that her trip to the Land of Tea had piqued her interest in them.
"A powerful Ninja cannot do without a powerful summoning animal. Teacher Hiruzen, your Enma is a very powerful summoning animal and can even transform into an adamantine staff."
Orochimaru's eyes held a hint of longing.
"Orochimaru, the locations of the Three Great Sage Locations are not secret, but very few people can enter them to train, and even fewer can walk out alive. Whether it's Shikkotsu Forest or Ryūchi Cave, they are too dangerous for you right now."
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not want Orochimaru to take risks. If she was willing, signing a summoning contract with Enma was not out of the question, even though Enma was the Sarutobi Clan's ancestral summoning animal.
"Teacher Hiruzen, you worry too much. I will consider going to Shikkotsu Forest or Ryūchi Cave for training only after I have gained some strength."
Orochimaru had no intention of going now. In her opinion, going to Shikkotsu Forest or Ryūchi Cave now was no different from seeking death.
"Then, Orochimaru, let's test the power of Wind Release: Night Wind! Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi breathed a sigh of relief, deliberately slowing down his hand signs. He clapped his hands on the ground, and Earth Release Chakra flowed into the earth, causing a sturdy earth wall to rise from the ground.
How can I subtly make Teacher Hiruzen discover that scroll?
Orochimaru stared at the earth wall, but in her mind, she was thinking about how to disrupt the relationship between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura.
I'm just a child obsessed with Ninjutsu; I don't understand you adults' affairs!
The main idea is that I want all the benefits and none of the responsibility!