After the meeting ended.
Hyuga Satoru found Orochimaru.
The two smiled at each other and went to the rooftop of the Hokage building.
From there, they could overlook most of Konoha, witnessing the village's revitalization after the war.
"Satoru, congratulations! I never expected you could get the Hyuga's decaying windmill turning again."
Orochimaru stepped up to Satoru, gazing out at the distant village with a hint of nostalgia.
He had always seen Konoha as a rotten windmill, with the Hyuga being the most decayed. But Hyuga Satoru had become the wind that moved it.
Satoru smiled.
"It's not just the Hyuga. In the future, this wind will sweep across the entire ninja world."
"Orochimaru, have you ever heard this saying?"
"What saying?"
"A single spark can start a prairie fire. Right now, the Hyuga is that spark."
Orochimaru took a deep breath, his eyes showing a trace of shock as he looked at Satoru.
He suddenly felt that Satoru was playing a grand game.
Then he smiled lightly and shook his head.
"The old man is already overwhelmed by just the Hyuga's issue. If he knew your goal was the entire ninja world, I can't imagine how shocked he would be."
Is this what they call vision?
Orochimaru felt a bit of admiration.
The decaying upper echelons of Konoha had their sights set solely on the village, basking in the glory of being the foremost of the five great ninja villages.
But Satoru had set his sights on the entire ninja world.
Satoru's smile widened.
If Orochimaru knew his true goal lay beyond the stars, how much more shocked would he be?
He turned to look at the distant sky with a hint of amusement.
"Orochimaru, I have a dream."
"Starting with the Hyuga, gradually encompassing the entire ninja world, making this stagnant world start to move."
"Isn't it interesting, Orochimaru?"
Satoru's smile deepened as he looked at Orochimaru.
At that moment, the sun seemed to merge with Satoru's face. Orochimaru suddenly felt that Satoru was glowing.
That light seemed to shine into his heart, making something deep within his soul start to burn.
"So, Orochimaru, become Hokage!"
"Only by becoming Hokage can you stand behind me and witness a different world together."
Orochimaru took a deep breath.
It took him a long time to digest Satoru's words.
"So, this is the reason you came to find me?"
Hokage?
Becoming Hokage?
Orochimaru felt a bit emotional.
How could he not want to be Hokage?
The status of Hokage carried immense advantages.
Second, Hokage Tobirama Senju could conduct all sorts of forbidden experiments and live experiments without hesitation and was even hailed as a master of forbidden jutsu.
But he, Orochimaru, had to conduct his experiments in secrecy, even collaborating with Danzo just to secure funding—how miserable!
Why?
Because Tobirama was Hokage!
For the sake of more convenient scientific research in the future, he had to secure the position of Hokage!
"Hokage is a position I must secure."
"So, Satoru, realistically, what do you think are my chances of becoming Hokage?"
Hearing Orochimaru's question.
Satoru breathed a sigh of relief.
He had indeed been worried that Orochimaru might decline with some philosophical excuse about chasing his own wind.
After all, ensuring that Orochimaru becomes the next Hokage aligns most with his interests.
They were both science-oriented, with a shared path for development.
Minato, the naïve idealist, would only become a puppet of Hiruzen Sarutobi, used to control him if he became Hokage.
Orochimaru was the best candidate for his goals. If Orochimaru became Hokage, it would greatly advance the timeline of achieving his objectives.
As for running for Hokage himself...
Satoru had carefully considered it. If he ran for Hokage, it would inevitably lead to conflict with Hiruzen's faction.
The only option would be a coup!
Orochimaru might choose to watch, but Jiraiya and Tsunade would undoubtedly side with the Hokage faction. Even if he won the battle...
What would remain would be a ruin.
Sitting in the Hokage's office, overlooking a ruined Konoha, would not serve his interests.
With that in mind, Satoru glanced at Orochimaru and shook his head slightly.
"Orochimaru, while I very much want you to become Hokage, to be honest, your chances aren't great."
"Why do you say that?"
Orochimaru's eyes flashed.
Satoru sighed, "Because the current Hokage faction will not support you becoming Hokage."
"Why, Satoru?"
Orochimaru was puzzled. As Sarutobi Hiruzen's disciple, he was naturally part of the Hokage faction.
Logically, his becoming Hokage should align with their interests.
"Because this is politics, Orochimaru."
Satoru rolled his eyes.
"Who do you think is easier to control as Hokage: you or Minato, the naïve idealist?"
Orochimaru's face darkened.
In some ways, he indeed hadn't thought that deeply.
He knew Sarutobi Hiruzen's personality well—he wasn't one to relinquish power easily. Considering that, it seemed his path to becoming Hokage wouldn't be smooth.
"Moreover..."
"Orochimaru, do you really think your little actions have gone unnoticed by Sarutobi Hiruzen?"
Satoru rolled his eyes again.
"Your ambiguous dealings with Danzo and those unethical experiments you conduct in secret—if even I noticed, do you think Hiruzen, the old fox, hasn't?"
Orochimaru awkwardly scratched his head.
He felt like he had no secrets before Satoru as if he was being stripped bare and played with.
"Ahem..." Orochimaru coughed awkwardly. "Satoru, you're right. So, what should I do to become Hokage?"
Satoru smiled, "Don't worry about that. During the Jounin vote, I'll ensure all the Hyuga Jounin vote for you. But that alone won't be enough."
"Just the Hyuga Jounin votes won't be enough to surpass the Hokage faction. So, Orochimaru, in these two months, you must do everything possible to change your image."
"Win over more Jounin votes!"
The Hokage election involved both high-level appointments and Jounin votes.
In theory, the one with the most Jounin votes should become Hokage, but there were always manipulations.
In the original story, Orochimaru likely had more votes than Minato. Still, Hiruzen insisted on choosing Minato, and the high-ranking officials of the Hokage faction favoured Minato, making the Jounin vote a mere formality.
To ensure the Hokage faction had no grounds for objection, Orochimaru needed to win overwhelmingly!
"Orochimaru, let me remind you."
Satoru's eyes narrowed.
"If you want to be Hokage, during this time, you absolutely cannot let any negative news about you leak out. You must sever all ties with Danzo."
"Even if you can't create a public-friendly persona like Minato, you must at least establish a positive image."
"I understand! I understand!" Orochimaru responded quickly.
Danzo was no longer necessary. Since he had started working with Satoru, he had barely contacted Danzo.
Besides, once he became Hokage, he could allocate as much funding as he wanted to his projects. Who needed Danzo, then?
Satoru smiled, looking directly at Orochimaru.
"Don't worry, I have more tricks up my sleeve. As long as you cooperate, no one can take the Hokage position from you."