Aoba put on a smile that was neither a smile nor a smirk. Coupled with his appearance, he resembled Orochimaru, giving off an indescribable sense of allure.
It must be said that this aura didn't require Aoba's deliberate disguise. Simply taking on Orochimaru's appearance made it naturally appealing.
Orochimaru's appearance gave off an unusual feeling from the start.
After his cryptic remarks, the Third's expression changed drastically, his anger barely concealed.
By this point, Aoba already felt that the Third had remarkable self-control. Had it been someone else, they might have lost their temper long ago.
Yet, even now, the Third maintained an uncommon composure despite appearing visibly angered. He managed to suppress his rage.
It seemed the Third cared deeply about Orochimaru!
Aoba immediately came to this conclusion.
This wasn't just his speculation; it was a feeling he had while watching the Naruto anime before.
During Orochimaru's attack on Konoha, the Third felt a lot of regret. Reflecting on the past, he still felt remorse for sparing Orochimaru initially, though there wasn't much intense regret.
At that time, Aoba knew that if given another chance, the Third would still hesitate to strike Orochimaru, even if it meant dying at his hands. He didn't want to be the one to end his beloved disciple's life.
Some of Jiraiya's words hinted that, during their time as the Three Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru was still the most cherished in the Third's heart.
So, seeing Orochimaru standing there now, Aoba realized that if anyone else had spoken the words just now, the Third might have had a different reaction long ago.
But precisely because Aoba knew that Orochimaru's presence could profoundly affect the Third, he chose to appear as Orochimaru.
After appearing as Danzo once before, using Orochimaru's image would have a much more substantial impact on the Third. This would plunge the Third into a state of profound despair, a state of having no one to turn to.
However, sympathy or kindness wouldn't be forthcoming, as might make right. The Third had his thoughts, and because of his incompetence, Konoha had become what it was now. Incompetence was a sin.
"Since you won't let me become Hokage, then I can't let you continue either. Your era should come to an end. This is not only good for you but also Konoha. You have no idea what this world has become."
Aoba spoke in Orochimaru's tone, recalling Orochimaru's attack on Konoha during the Chunin Exams.
He had read in some analysis posts that after leaving, Orochimaru had created the Village Hidden in the Grass. Upon venturing out, he discovered that other villages were increasing their military capabilities while Konoha remained stagnant. Despite this, Konoha was oblivious and lacked practical improvements.
The fundamental reason for Konoha's stagnation was the Third's inadequacy.
Replacing the Hokage was the only way for Konoha to become stronger.
Aoba, now speaking as Orochimaru, expressed the intention to force the Third to step down as Hokage. Mixing past and future events, he made it seem like something happening now that would only occur many years later. However, the Third was unaware of these events and could easily mistake Aoba for Orochimaru.
"If you've decided who to pass the title of Hokage to, I might be able to assist you in this matter."
Aoba continued, knowing that the Third's reaction would be the same whether now or during the Chunin Exams. He wasn't willing to relinquish the position of Hokage unless he died.
So, Aoba trusted the Third. He hadn't thought beyond the marriage; passing on the title was not something the Third needed to consider. He wanted to remain Hokage until death, and what happened after his death was not his concern.
"Orochimaru, do you know what you're saying?"
The Third's brows furrowed, his anger evident. Despite this, he refrained from saying anything overly harsh to Orochimaru.
In truth, the Third didn't expect Orochimaru to help him in any way. He understood that Orochimaru wasn't easy to manipulate, even more challenging than Danzo.
The Third could handle Danzo better, keeping the blade pointed outward to avoid harming himself. The sharp edge was merely a deterrent and formality, posing no real threat. But Orochimaru was different; his thoughts were unpredictable. While the Third admired Orochimaru, he couldn't indeed manipulate him.
"You haven't decided, have you?"
"It's okay; I've thought about it for you."
"If you're unwilling to pass the title of Hokage to me..."
"Then pass it to Minato Namikaze. At least he's a disciple of Jiraiya, carrying on the same lineage."
"That's all. I came here just to hear your thoughts. Now I know."
With that, Aoba turned and left without lingering, leaving the Third bewildered.
The Third watched Aoba's departing figure, wanting to call out to him but unsure what to say. While he wanted the man to leave, his departure left him feeling uneasy.
A sudden sense of loneliness washed over him.
His respected teacher had left.
His comrades-in-arms, who fought alongside him, had left one by one.
Even his most trusted Danzo had betrayed him at this moment.
And of his three disciples, only Orochimaru remained in Konoha, now standing against him.
At that moment, he looked around and found no one he could trust.
A wave of indescribable loneliness swept over him.
...
Meanwhile,
Root Headquarters.
The ninja who had been sent on the assassination mission against Minato Namikaze had returned.
After wandering around outside and finding nowhere to go, they decided to return to Root. Even if Danzo wanted to punish them, they accepted it.
Aoba stood before them.
He still wore the mask, mimicking the appearance of Root ninjas. Beside him stood a reincarnated version of Danzo.
Seeing this, Aoba had already guessed their intentions. Once Root accepted them, they would return to Konoha. They had been brainwashed by Danzo since childhood, lacking survival skills outside Root and unaware of life's purpose.
Root ninjas were merely obedient machines, accepting missions from various countries, assassinating targets, and receiving payment. They were emotionless tools, prioritizing missions above all else.
These Root ninjas had returned to seek refuge, hoping to redeem themselves.
"We don't want to leave."
"Danzo-sama, give us a chance."
"We will make amends for our actions."
"No matter the mission this time, we will complete it properly."
"Danzo-sama, please don't drive us away."
The Root ninjas spoke one after another, their anxiety evident. They saw this as a rare opportunity to return to Root and be accepted once more.
"How do we proceed?"
Their eyes were focused on Danzo, each breath becoming rapid. They realized this was their last chance to return to Root.
"Make Konoha boil!"
Aoba's voice, distorted, echoed. Pointing to Aoba, he said, "In the coming days, follow his orders. Spread the documents you've obtained, ensuring everyone in Konoha knows. Your task this time is simply to spread the information. If you fail, there won't be another chance."
"Yes!"
Excitement filled the Root ninjas. To them, Aoba seemed flawless, and the tasks seemed incredibly simple.
Root ninjas usually assassinate other ninja. Now, they were asked to distribute flyers and spread information, an unexpectedly easy task.
"From now on, follow him."
With these words, Danzo left. His body vanished into the darkness. As he departed, the Root ninjas visibly relaxed, each looking relieved. They had been given a chance to redeem themselves.
"Follow me."
Aoba's gaze swept over them. He had just performed a little act with Danzo, but he made he made all the decisionsin advance. There was no problem at all, not even with Danzo's words.
Then, Aoba walked toward the depths of Root Headquarters, with the ninjas following behind.
When they reached a room, Aoba produced a stack of papers and presented them to the ninjas.
"The stories on these papers are what you'll spread throughout Konoha."
"I hope you won't expose yourselves while spreading this information."
"Make it seem like a casual leak."
"It would be best if the villagers passed the information among themselves."
"That's all."
"Let Konoha boil."
Aoba handed the papers to the Root ninjas. These were stories he had prepared in advance, primarily based on actual events involving Danzo. Only a few were fabricated stories related to the Third.
This was a common tactic Aoba used. By mixing mostly actual events with a few fabrications, people wouldn't discern what was false.
Aoba believed that once these stories spread throughout Konoha, the entire village would be shaken!