"Orochimaru, you must give me an answer today!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, exuding a strong presence. His words carried a hint of threat: "Konoha is in turmoil and urgently needs a Hokage to unite everyone's goals."
The concealment of the Fourth Hokage's cause of death and the decision to support Danzo's rise to power had created significant divisions within Konoha.
The people were anxious, and many ninjas were privately questioning whether the Will of Fire was truly correct, which put him in a difficult position with public opinion.
If this continued unchecked, the 'hearts' he had worked so hard to unite would soon shatter.
So, in these turbulent times, it was essential to quickly appoint a Hokage to manage the chaos.
After careful consideration, Sarutobi ultimately chose Orochimaru over Minato Namikaze.
It wasn't just because he was his 'disciple'; it was because he understood Orochimaru's character well. Orochimaru was ambitious, unconventional, and didn't mind the 'darkness' of political processes, aligning with Sarutobi's own style and thoughts.
Minato was great, but he was too kind, always wanting to solve problems with noble methods.
The issue was that not everything could be resolved with such methods; otherwise, what was the purpose of Danzo and ROOT's existence?
If it weren't for timing issues, Sarutobi had initially planned for Minato to succeed him as Hokage and then let Orochimaru take Danzo's position, with one in the light and the other in the dark, complementing each other while steering Konoha back on track.
But now, that idea was shattered.
Minato was adamant about not wanting to become Hokage and had no leverage against him.
In the end, Sarutobi had no choice but to choose Orochimaru.
Knock, knock.
Sarutobi lightly tapped his pipe and cleared his throat, softening his tone a little: "Orochimaru, you are my disciple. I know your abilities well and have always believed in you. Konoha needs a Hokage, and you are the most suitable candidate. So, I hope you won't refuse again."
Pressuring him outright wasn't the right choice; a balance of carrot and stick always worked better.
Clearly, Sarutobi thought this approach might change his 'disciple's' mind.
"Ha, is this a final ultimatum, Sensei?"
Orochimaru, twisting his fingers, narrowed his snake-like eyes as he scrutinized the once-respected teacher. "I'm curious, why do you think you can threaten me with mere accusations of human experimentation? Sarutobi-sensei."
Bang!
A palm slammed down on the thick wooden table, leaving an imprint.
The loud noise intensified the already tense atmosphere in the room, filling the air with a chill.
Sarutobi's expression darkened, his brow furrowing as he glared at Orochimaru. Anger tinged his deep voice: "Watch your words, Orochimaru. I'm not threatening you; I'm just stating facts. Human experimentation is forbidden. You've violated Konoha's laws, understand?!"
"Ha~"
Orochimaru scoffed inwardly. "Sarutobi-sensei, you should have your share of experiments too, right?"
Violation of the law?
At this point, bringing up the issue of breaking the law is a bit ironic. When he asked for the Wood Release experiment back then, why didn't he say anything about it?
Oh, now that there's a need, he brings it up, huh?
"First of all, I am the Hokage."
Sarutobi Hiruzen said calmly, "Secondly, I did not authorize you to conduct human experiments. Everything was a deal made between you and Danzo without the Hokage's official command."
"Oh, understood."
Orochimaru nodded nonchalantly, as if he had anticipated this response.
He learned something new: anything risky should be kept under wraps. That way, if something goes wrong later, he can pass the blame to someone else.
"Orochimaru, I remember you were a good kid in the past."
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't want to worsen their relationship, so he softened his tone a bit, saying, "Although I don't know what changed your mind, becoming Hokage would not bring you any harm. For instance, no one would be able to restrain your thoughts anymore. Do you understand?"
His reminder was subtle, but Orochimaru still grasped it.
As long as he agreed to take the Hokage position, in the future, whether it was human experiments or soul-related research, he wouldn't face any restrictions regarding funding, personnel, and so on.
It must be said that Sarutobi Hiruzen was truly skilled at understanding people's hearts; he always had a way of using words to break down a person's defenses.
At one moment, Orochimaru felt tempted.
But once he calmed down again, he couldn't help but sneer inwardly—what a pity. He was no longer the person he used to be.
"Since my teacher has said this..."
Orochimaru chuckled softly, a hint of sarcasm flashing across his pale face. "If I refuse again, that would be too inhumane."
"That's the choice of a smart person, Orochimaru."
Sarutobi Hiruzen finally felt relieved. In fact, he was worried that pressing too hard would cause Orochimaru to resent him.
However, in terms of the outcome, he was quite satisfied.
"The inauguration ceremony for the Fifth Hokage is set for three days from now."
Since his goal had been achieved, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't want to stay any longer. He patted Orochimaru on the shoulder and said, "Do your best. I believe you can become a Hokage who surpasses me!"
With that, he hurried away, needing to report back to the Second Hokage.
Watching Sarutobi Hiruzen's disappearing figure, the coldness in Orochimaru's eyes deepened, almost taking on a tangible form. Finally, a cold smirk appeared on his lips. "Hokage. Heh, what a boring political game. How does it feel, this performance?"
"It is quite dull," came a sudden voice from the room, revealing the presence of White Fang.
"What's the situation over there?" Orochimaru asked, glancing at him.
Dressed in combat gear, White Fang had reattached his short blade and was surrounded by a strong killing intent. His expression was neutral as he shook his head and said, "As you expected, 'over there' is under tight surveillance. Ordinary infiltration methods can't get through."
"That's normal, considering it's the Second Hokage," Orochimaru said without surprise. "He's known for his caution and sharpness; he wouldn't leave any openings. It looks like we'll have to wait until three days from now."
"What do you plan to do?" White Fang inquired.
"Very simple. I'll draw their attention," Orochimaru replied casually. "During the Hokage's inauguration ceremony, everyone must attend. I will create a big disturbance, and that will be your chance."
"Can you get away?" White Fang asked, showing a hint of doubt since three Hokage would be gathered that day.
"Don't worry about me," Orochimaru said with a slight smile. He lightly tapped his fingers and continued, "I'm quite skilled at staying alive. Besides, I've already consulted Mr. Adam in advance."
Noticing that everything seemed to be under Orochimaru's control, White Fang felt a stir in his heart. "Did that being agree to help?"
"No, just a mere mortal. Would Mr. Adam personally intervene against them?" Orochimaru said with a mysterious smile. "In any case, don't worry about my safety. Once you find the 'Blasphemy Slate,' leave immediately."
"Understood," White Fang replied, pausing for a moment before nodding. "Then let's meet at the designated location after the task is completed."
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