"Starting today, I will resign as Hokage. The new Fifth Hokage will be succeeded by Orochimaru!"
Hiruzen looked around and announced this in front of everyone.
As soon as these words were spoken, it quickly sparked a heated discussion among those present.
Some people agreed, some disagreed. However, many were very shocked.
They didn't understand what was wrong with the Third Hokage. Would the position of Hokage suddenly be handed over to a traitor who attacked Konoha?
This is very strange!
"Sarutobi-sensei, Orochimaru, you, you…"
Jiraiya stared at Hiruzen, then at Orochimaru, whom he hadn't seen for years, and blinked wildly.
Not long after he returned to the village, he heard that Orochimaru had launched an attack and stabbed Konoha in the back.
He wanted to rush and stop his friend from making further mistakes.
Why was he now witnessing Orochimaru's succession as Hokage?
It couldn't just be an illusion, could it?
The Third Hokage was also an illusion master, so it wasn't easy to be deceived.
The others were just as shocked. They were all startled by this sudden event and couldn't comprehend the reason behind it.
"Hiruzen, do you want to think it over again?"
"Although Orochimaru is also your student, he has long been wanted by the village."
Homura and Koharu both disagreed.
They didn't care who replaced the Hokage position. It would be difficult to relinquish power from their hands. However, allowing a rebel ninja to become Hokage in such a childish manner would severely tarnish Konoha's reputation, and it wouldn't be easy to explain to the Land of Fire.
They still hoped Hiruzen would be more careful.
"There's no need to think it over, I have made my decision!"
Homura and Koharu exchanged glances. Seeing how determined Hiruzen was, they stopped trying to dissuade him.
After all, setting aside his identity as a traitorous ninja. In terms of strength, qualifications, and achievements, Orochimaru was the most suitable to take over the position of Hokage. Twelve years ago, if Minato hadn't appeared out of nowhere, he would have been far too charming and easy to control.
The position of Hokage had long been held by Orochimaru.
And everyone was not foolish. Looking at this situation, they could all more or less guess it.
There was another hidden reason for today's attack; otherwise, Orochimaru and Hiruzen wouldn't be able to stand together harmoniously.
After Hiruzen confirmed again, everyone was even more shocked and suspicious.
Only Anko stood outside the crowd, initially dazed and full of disbelief. Then she was incredibly happy and jumped with joy.
As a student, after Orochimaru betrayed Konoha, she was bullied and criticized by many of her peers; she even tried to die with Orochimaru in the previous Chunin Exam to atone for this mistake!
Who would have thought that the situation would turn around now?
Orochimaru-sensei would actually succeed in becoming Hokage?
Had he also transformed from the student of a rebel ninja to the student of a Hokage?
Happiness came too suddenly, didn't it?
❀❀❀
With a thin smile, Orochimaru glanced at Anko behind the crowd.
He couldn't help but laugh and shook his head.
This girl had grown up and was still restless.
But it didn't matter; after all, she was currently his only student, even if her talent and obsession weren't as good as Sasuke's. However, Orochimaru still missed his old student.
At that time, even after Anko refused to escape from Konoha with him, Orochimaru didn't kill her. Instead, he erased part of her memories so she could continue living in Konoha.
Moreover, only a few could withstand the Heaven's Curse Mark, and even Kimimaro could only withstand the Earth's Curse Mark.
Going forward, as the student of the Fifth Hokage, Anko could still play a role.
"Alright. Is there anyone who objects? If not, the two consultants will issue a notification as soon as possible and inform the entire village."
Hiruzen urged again, wanting to hand over the position to Orochimaru as quickly as possible.
Otherwise, the next time Tobirama-sensei came, he might have to be hanged and whipped.
As for why only two Hokage advisors were needed to sign it, Danzo didn't need to intervene.
It was only natural because Danzo himself was just the Hokage Assistant.
To be frank, it was a small part of the Hokage's power that was inherent to the Hokage.
So don't look at Danzo's actual power. However, in major matters, he had no voting rights at all, and Hiruzen could take over all his authority with just one command.
However, his chances of becoming Hokage seemed to be about to crumble.
Danzo was also a bit anxious.
He was sure he could live longer than Hiruzen, but he was even more certain that he might not be able to live longer than Orochimaru!
If Orochimaru really took the position of Fifth Hokage, he would have no hope in this life.
"I object!"
Danzo stepped out of the crowd using his cane and rejected it with a cynical expression.
"I object to this person taking over as Hokage. What qualifications does this traitor of Konoha have to be Hokage?"
"Don't forget that today's attack was also planned by this person. He caused so many casualties in the village; what qualifications does he have?"
"Hiruzen, how can you be sure that Orochimaru won't rebel against the village again? How can we be sure that he won't sell the entire village after becoming Hokage?"
Danzo was still scheming.
From the perspective of justice, he used the name of the village to criticize Orochimaru in an attempt to seize his legitimate legacy.
And this also became a concern for some Konoha ninjas. After all, Orochimaru had once rebelled against the village; he was indeed very tainted.
Without clearly explaining this, no one could guarantee whether he would rebel against the village again.
Hearing this, a sharp glint appeared in Orochimaru's eyes.
In recent years, after he defected to Konoha, he had secretly collaborated with Danzo for interests and intelligence needs.
Although he had long known that this old man had grand ambitions, until now there had actually been no conflict of interest between them. But now it was the greatest sin to prevent himself from becoming Hokage and surpassing Sarutobi-sensei!
'Danzo… I must find a way to do this quietly!'
With Hashirama's cell and the Sharingan transplanted onto him, it wouldn't be easy to kill him.
He had to find a safe and secret way to eliminate this person!
Orochimaru had doubts about Sarutobi-sensei, but that didn't mean he could tolerate someone else dominating him.
As for handing over the position of Hokage?
He could be the successor of the Hokage appointed by the First and Second Hokage.
Danzo was just an old man; what was this?
Even though he had betrayed Konoha and independently opened the Otogakure village with acceptable power. But if he could return and inherit the largest village in the ninja world, wouldn't that be wonderful?
The legacy of Konoha and its superior geographical location were all here, and its future was far brighter than the small Otogakure village.
Just by sitting in the position of Hokage, Orochimaru could stir up a greater wind and make the entire ninja world active!