"Next, as long as I can achieve another great merit on the Hidden Cloud battlefield, my military achievements will be the most significant. By then, if I proceed steadily and continue with my plan, the probability of becoming the Fourth Hokage will be very high."
"Once I become the Fourth Hokage, the Root will no longer be a subordinate department of the Anbu and will have equal status with it."
In the Root Base, Orochimaru was depicting a bright future for Shimura Danzo.
Shimura Danzo was promoting Orochimaru's ascent to Hokage not because he favored him, but because there was cooperation between them.
Shimura Danzo pushed Orochimaru to rise, and Orochimaru, in turn, would support Shimura Danzo after becoming Hokage.
"Hmm, Jiraiya lacks ambition and certainly cannot compete with you, while Tsunade is even more self-indulgent and doesn't need to be concerned," said Shimura Danzo, nodding.
In fact, painting a rosy picture is one of Shimura Danzo's best skills; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to persuade many Root members to risk their lives for him. Shimura Danzo controls his subordinates not through Ninjutsu, but through preventing leakage of information.
However, at this point, what Orochimaru said was not just empty talk, according to Shimura Danzo's analysis, Orochimaru had a greater chance of becoming Hokage than Jiraiya or Tsunade.
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen had a tendency to favor Jiraiya, Jiraiya himself simply had no such aspirations. Hiruzen tried several times to give Jiraiya opportunities for merit, but Jiraiya just didn't want it.
"To achieve great merit faster, I hope, Danzo, you can send Mokgetsu as my assistant again. With him, we can certainly recreate the great victory on the East Coast battlefield," Orochimaru said, taking advantage of Shimura Danzo's approving expression.
This was Orochimaru's real intention, to go to battle with Mokgetsu.
In order to prevent his intentions from being exposed, Orochimaru didn't investigate much and just asked Danzo casually with a legitimate reason.
Because Shimura Danzo was very cautious, Orochimaru didn't gain any useful information and couldn't determine if Mokgetsu's refusal that day was his own decision or Danzo's order.
So Orochimaru changed his approach because he believed that regardless of the reason, as long as he could take Mokgetsu to the battlefield, everything could be resolved eventually.
As long as he could replace Danzo's place in Mokgetsu's heart, all problems would be easily solved.
Shimura Danzo remained calm on the surface, but inside, he felt that Orochimaru was still harboring ulterior motives.
"I can dispatch other elite members to assist you, but not Mokgetsu. I have other important plans for him," Shimura Danzo refused Orochimaru.
He could voluntarily send Mokgetsu to help Orochimaru gain merit, but Orochimaru actively taking Mokgetsu away was not acceptable.
However, since they were closely cooperating, Shimura Danzo didn't speak too harshly and used the excuse that Mokgetsu was engaged in other plans.
"I see, what a shame." Orochimaru's expression remained unchanged, seemingly unperturbed by it, but his mind quickly connected all the events.
Orochimaru thought, "Shimura Danzo must have discovered something, so he doesn't want Mokgetsu-kun to have too much contact with me."
It must be some important arrangement that was considered more significant than his battlefield merit, which related to the Hokage position.
Moreover, Orochimaru, not being conceited, believed that with his performance on the East Coast battlefield, his image as a mentor and superior in Mokgetsu's mind should be positive and not be directly rejected.
Orochimaru had often demonstrated strategy and strength, spoke well on behalf of Mokgetsu's student to the higher-ups, and frequently had heart-to-heart talks with Mokgetsu, so Mokgetsu's impression of him should only be good, not bad.
Orochimaru kept thinking it must have been something Shimura Danzo did.
Next, Orochimaru didn't bring up Mokgetsu's issue again and continued talking about their plan for the Fourth Hokage.
Orochimaru believed in his ability, and he would eventually influence Mokgetsu.
Moreover, with Mokgetsu's current strength, Shimura Danzo wouldn't be able to bind him forever; there would be many opportunities in the future, so there was no need to linger on this issue.
But Orochimaru still noted this matter, planning to settle the score with Shimura Danzo once he became Hokage.
After Orochimaru left the Root Base, Shimura Danzo showed a pensive expression.
Being a cautious person, having said there are plans for Mokgetsu, he had to find something for Mokgetsu to do to avoid Orochimaru accidentally discovering the matter.
"Let him train in the Root for a period," Shimura Danzo thought of a good idea.
Despite valuing Mokgetsu's strength more, Shimura Danzo hadn't forgotten Mokgetsu's unique teaching abilities.
The more Shimura Danzo thought about it, the more he felt it was a great idea, as it not only dealt with Orochimaru but also strengthened the Root Ninja's abilities.
Then Shimura Danzo went to find Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Orochimaru had to get past Shimura Danzo to take Mokgetsu to the battlefield because Mokgetsu was a member of the Root.
Shimura Danzo also had to follow procedures to mobilize Mokgetsu, first seeking approval from Sarutobi Hiruzen since Mokgetsu was no longer officially a Root member.
Shimura Danzo walked towards the Hokage Building's Hokage Office with a gloomy face.
The fact that he required Sarutobi Hiruzen's consent to use his own subordinates made Shimura Danzo quite displeased. Shimura Danzo felt that Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't easily agree this time, expecting to go through some hassles since he had clashed with Sarutobi Hiruzen in the last high-level meeting.
Shimura Danzo knew Sarutobi Hiruzen too well; Hiruzen wasn't a magnanimous person and would definitely retaliate, which was why Shimura Danzo predicted the outcome and already felt frustrated.