Chapter 4 Hiruzen, let me explain!
Is the teacher serious? Is he going to pass the title of Fifth Hokage to him?
Is this still the same teacher he knew, who had grown old and weak, and who was so hesitant to make a decision?
Or perhaps it's because they're too old and genuinely feel their strength and willpower are failing them.
So after surveying the entire Hidden Leaf Village, he felt that only his disciple could inherit this position and shoulder the pressure that he could no longer bear.
Seeing the obvious fatigue on his teacher's face, Orochimaru thought it was the latter.
The teacher is really getting old.
"...Teacher, do you really think I'm suitable?" Orochimaru asked, his voice seemingly laced with something.
The Third Hokage nodded silently.
I wasn't entirely sure at first, since in this village that values martial prowess, becoming Hokage would likely require extremely strong martial skills.
However, being a Hokage's disciple doesn't guarantee sufficient fighting strength. There are countless examples of powerful teachers with weak disciples.
However, the moment Orochimaru arrived, he sensed a sense of danger, which confirmed to him that Orochimaru was indeed powerful enough and that his personal strength met the requirements.
As for the other point, what about the personal prestige of the village leader?
Since his confidants compared Orochimaru to the administrative advisors and elders, it shows that Orochimaru also enjoys considerable prestige in the village.
In other words, he is fully qualified to succeed as Hokage.
In addition, there's his status as his disciple.
That would undoubtedly be the best choice for successor.
"Oh."
Orochimaru laughed as if mocking someone.
"Teacher, don't you think this kindness comes a little too late?"
Something's not right.
The third generation secretly became wary.
He asked calmly, "Where are you late?"
"Danzo won't stand idly by; he wants to be Hokage more than anyone else."
Who is Danzo?
Hmm, it seems to be the person in charge of the training department for the secret service.
Previous reports on the surveillance of the Uchiha clan primarily came from this 'Anbu Training Department'.
Even a lot of important intelligence comes from this 'Anbu Training Department', which shows the importance of this department in Konoha.
Is being in charge of such an intelligence agency a form of espionage politics?
However, Orochimaru implied that the head of this department could, to some extent, stand up to the Hokage.
This means that Danzo was not only the head of the 'Anbu Training Department', but also a senior figure with many years of experience in Konoha.
In other words, a member of the village's elders? A high-ranking member of Konoha?
It's not surprising that some of Konoha's high-ranking officials aspire to become Hokage.
But.
"I am the Hokage."
The third generation said.
Orochimaru shook his head.
"Teacher, you should know what Danzo did?"
I have no idea.
But I still pretended to know.
"You should know that I am working for Danzo."
So, Orochimaru is Danzo's man?
The Third Hokage, somewhat confused about the situation, started to have wild thoughts.
"The situation in the village is very delicate right now. If you appoint me as the Fifth Hokage, Danzo will never let it go. He will expose what I have done for him. The villagers, who have just experienced the tragedy of the Nine-Tails, will never agree to let someone like me succeed as Hokage."
"..."
Therefore, Danzo had something on him.
This leverage ensured that Orochimaru would not inherit the Hokage position.
With the Fourth Hokage having just died, it should have been time to discuss the succession to the next Hokage. Danzo was probably plotting to take advantage of this opportunity to become the Fifth Hokage.
But is Danzo really suitable to be Hokage?
If he is not suitable, Orochimaru will be unable to become the Fifth Hokage because Orochimaru has leverage over him.
So who else is there in the village?
Are we really going to let this old man keep going?
The third generation took another drag of their cigarette.
finally.
"Is the leverage only in Danzo's hands?" he asked Orochimaru.
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru's heart stirred again, but he still nodded in affirmation.
"Yes, teacher."
"Then, could we strike first?"
"You mean..."
"Take Danzo into custody and then destroy the evidence."
He spoke softly, taking another drag of his cigarette.
Orochimaru's eyes widened slightly, looking at his teacher with some surprise, wondering when he had suddenly become so decisive.
Is he really getting old? Or is it that the situation forced him to make such a decision?
Why must we be so determined to push him into the position of Fifth Hokage?
So, is he really going to succeed as the Fifth Hokage?
His current plan is... The reason he cooperated with Danzo, and even did something that the villagers would never forgive if revealed, was to sever ties with the ninja village.
He had even anticipated that Danzo, who wanted to become Hokage, would definitely use this kind of thing against him to eliminate any possibility that might hinder him from becoming Hokage.
At that point, the teacher will have no choice but to deal with him and cut him off.
He had prepared for all of this long ago.
Now that he had made such preparations, his teacher, who looked incredibly old, placed the position of Fifth Hokage before him once again—a dream he had long since lost and which he now considered a distant and unattainable ambition.
He had thought he had long since seen through and understood everything, but at this moment...
Thump, thump, thump.
He admitted that his heart was beating a little fast.
After all, things haven't reached that point yet, and he still finds it hard to part with this place, as evidenced by the arrangements he made that forced him to give it up.
It is precisely because it is so irreplaceable that we are forced to give it up.
And now, he seems to have some reasons that he can't give up.
"..."
In addition, the teacher looked so old and tired.
His disciple was somewhat soft-hearted.
Teacher, you've really given me a tough problem.
"...Danzo is not so easy to control." He said in a somewhat gloomy voice, "If we really want to take action, we must be quick and not give him a chance to react."
As he spoke, a chilling aura enveloped the surrounding area.
The people in the surrounding shadows dared not move.
The Third Hokage immediately understood Orochimaru's meaning.
Danzo had placed his subordinates around him, and since their whereabouts were not guaranteed, his conversation with Orochimaru would reach Danzo.
Since that's the case.
"I'm entrusting everything to you, Orochimaru."
"Yes, teacher."
Swoosh.
Orochimaru vanished instantly.
Soon, two ANBU ninjas were dragged out and thrown in front of the Third Hokage.
Meanwhile, the other ANBU ninjas nearby also tacitly refrained from making any rash moves, their hearts filled with uncertainty as they awaited the impending change in the world.
Soon after, Orochimaru arranged for his trusted men to monitor the Anbu guards protecting the Third Hokage.
Then, with the full support of the Hokage, he gathered reliable people from all sides and spread various false information to cover up his true intentions.
For example, if they discover spies from other villages or that someone is rebelling, they can, according to the Hokage's orders, order the Root to assist in the investigation in order to divert the Root's strength.
Next, the Hokage invited Danzo, the elder of Root, to the Hokage's office to discuss the rebellion and disturbance caused by collusion between insiders and outsiders that night. He also sent a message that the Hokage was very unhappy and wanted to hold Danzo, who was in charge of Root, accountable for not discovering it in time. Was Root just sitting around doing nothing?
Danzo was also furious upon receiving the notification.
He considered himself a representative of Konoha's hardline hawks, and he felt it was his dereliction of duty to fail to investigate the collusion between the village's insiders and outsiders, which led to the commotion in the village that night.
He had no doubts.
The position of Hokage is just too tempting!
This is his closest chance to become Hokage! He is so focused on this that he neglects everything else.
This was indeed quite outrageous, and Danzo began to reflect on his actions, realizing that even if he coveted the position of Hokage, he could not neglect his responsibilities.
More importantly, the fact that the root department handled things poorly this time will put him in a very passive position.
With the Fourth Hokage gone, what a wonderful opportunity it was for the next Hokage! It would be such a shame if he couldn't inherit the Hokage position because of his own negligence!
So, you need to calm down a bit.
Also, when I meet Hiruzen next, I need to explain things to him properly.
End of this chapter..