Half an hour later, Orochimaru entered the Hokage Building.
The shinobi in the building one after another avoided Orochimaru, pressing themselves against the corridor walls.
The aura around Orochimaru was even colder and more sinister.
One of the medical ninjas identified that the smell on Orochimaru was that of a preservative.
Orochimaru entered the Hokage's office, saw Danzo was also there, and casually sat down on a sofa to the side.
"Did you need something? I'm very busy."
Danzo felt much more comfortable inside; it turned out Orochimaru had this attitude towards Sarutobi Hiruzen as well, it wasn't just directed at him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen said: "Recently, some people in the village have been growing restless, acting recklessly and ruthlessly, to the point of being utterly lawless.
Shimura Sumi and Sarutobi Yutaka, both about to be promoted to Jōnin, died on the eve of their promotions."
Orochimaru was taken aback. Such a thing happened?
These two had some commonalities; both were Tokubetsu Jōnin about to be promoted.
Judging by the Sandaime-sensei's meaning, it didn't seem to be an assassination by another hidden village, but the more vile act of assassination by someone from the same village.
Many possibilities crossed Orochimaru's mind.
After the last Jōnin Platoon meeting ended, Orochimaru had told Tsunade that she wasn't ruthless enough, that she didn't understand power struggles were a life-and-death matter, not just shouting a few angry words in the Jōnin Platoon meeting.
A Senju Tokubetsu Jōnin nominated by Tsunade had died under mysterious circumstances. Although Orochimaru hadn't looked into it, he knew that death was no accident.
He never expected to hear such extreme news today: Shimura Sumi and Sarutobi Yutaka, two prospective Jōnin, had been killed.
Orochimaru also felt it didn't seem like Tsunade's doing; she wasn't that kind of person. He said:
"Why call me here? To investigate these two deaths?
I won't go.
Such missions are the most time-consuming. My research has entered a critical phase."
Orochimaru looked at Danzo, implying you know about this; the Hashirama Cell research was about to enter the transplantation phase.
Through transplanting Hashirama Cells, one might obtain the power of the Shodai Hokage, the God of Shinobi.
"I'm not asking you to investigate the two death incidents." Sarutobi Hiruzen said:
"There is a force lurking in the darkness within the village, conspiring to disrupt the village's current order, bringing chaos and darkness to the village.
I have decided to suppress them, first by cutting off their hope.
Orochimaru, you should strive to become the Yondaime Hokage, not indulge secret techniques and power."
"Huh? The Yondaime Hokage?"
Not only was Orochimaru surprised, but Danzo also slowly rose from the sofa, staring intently at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen continued:
"Some young people in the Senju clan are still shouting about wanting to become Hokage. Hatake Sakumo also previously had talk about wanting to become Hokage.
We must suppress their arrogance. It is precisely because they think have hope that they resort to unscrupulous means.
To this end, I have decided to groom you to become the Yondaime Hokage."
After the initial flicker of interest, Orochimaru immediately understood: Hiruzen-sensei wasn't grooming him to become Yondaime because he valued him, but to block the path of those others, setting him up as a stumbling block for everyone else.
He didn't point out Hiruzen-sensei's intention, instead saying:
"In the Ninja Academy, six out of ten children have yelled about wanting to become the Hokage of Konoha when they grow up.
When those children grow up, they naturally understand they are far from the Hokage's seat and will only mock their former overestimation in their hearts.
Wanting to become Hokage is just a fantasy for many.
Jiraiya shouted about becoming Hokage, Nawaki shouted about it, Kato Dan shouted about it, Hatake Sakumo shouted about it during his Ninja Academy days.
What does that prove?
Hiruzen-sensei, don't be so tense. Wanting to become Hokage is not a crime.
I'm not very interested in becoming Hokage..."
As he spoke, Orochimaru's voice trailed off.
He saw a large scroll, moved from the Sealing Room – Konoha's Scroll of Seals.
Even Orochimaru wasn't qualified to casually browse the Scroll of Seals.
The Scroll of Seals contained the secret techniques and forbidden techniques collected by the Sandaime Hokage, and recorded all the research of the Nidaime Hokage.
The position of Hokage seemed somewhat attractive now. The accumulated secret and forbidden techniques of Konoha were very tempting.
Sarutobi Hiruzen followed Orochimaru's gaze to the Scroll of Seals, made no comment on it, and continued:
"Orochimaru, among Konoha shinobi aged 20 to 30, you are the only one with the strength to rival Hatake Sakumo.
Hatake Sakumo's strength is too great.
Last week, we executed several Sunagakure spies. They came to investigate information on Hatake Sakumo, to find out when he would leave the village. Suna's Advisor Chiyo wants to ambush Hatake Sakumo."
"Oh? There's such a thing?" Orochimaru said. "Then why not leak the information to Chiyo?"
Then Orochimaru immediately realized: "Oh? Don't tell me you're afraid that Chiyo might also be killed by Hatake Sakumo, handing him a great achievement for nothing?"
The reason why schemes and plots are underhanded is because one lacks the strength to confront directly.
Facing Hatake Sakumo's White Fang Short Sword, any long-renowned shinobi could be defeated.
Chiyo is an old puppet woman, at a significant disadvantage against the White Fang.
Someone with great fame but whose abilities are countered easily becomes a stepping stone for the White Fang.
Sarutobi Hiruzen said: "The Daimyō of the Land of Wind, the Daimyō of the Land of Rivers, and even the Daimyō of the Land of Fire were all surprised to hear that Hatake Sakumo killed Toci.
Before encountering Hatake Sakumo, Toci had been a troublesome Sand shinobi for all three countries; he had used puppets to assassinate several nobles from the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers.
Thanks to Toci, Hatake Sakumo also gained prestige with the Daimyō.
Orochimaru, Jiraiya is unreliable, Tsunade now only has eyes for the Senju clan.
Only you can step forward to oppose Hatake Sakumo."
Orochimaru took one last look at the Scroll of Seals and said: "I don't care. If you need me to, I can compete for the position of Yondaime Hokage."
Orochimaru got up and left.
Danzo stared at Sarutobi Hiruzen and said: "Do you truly intend to help Orochimaru ascend to the position of Yondaime Hokage?"
"Danzo, the Hokage is not only an honor but also a responsibility. Look at me, clearly not yet 50, but I look as old as 60. Danzo, you are not suited to be Hokage." Sarutobi Hiruzen said:
"Have you seen the ANBU records on Copper Fox? You are just like him, acting extremely, absolutely incapable of stepping into the sunlight.
You are too impulsive. How could you rashly kill the Senju clan's Tokubetsu Jōnin?
Almost killing Shinma was also a terrible move.
Now they have retaliated; both Shimura Sumi and Sarutobi Yutaka have been killed by them.
The problem now is that it's uncertain whether it was Tsunade, Hatake Sakumo, or the Uchiha clan who did it.
I have some doubts. Although these three factions have become opposing troublemakers, each one doesn't seem likely to do such a thing."
Danzo thought to himself, now that something has happened, you call it a terrible move.
When it succeeded so many times before, why didn't you say I was extreme?
Danzo ignored that and asked, "Who do you think carried out the killings? Tsunade? White Fang? Or the Uchiha clan?"
***
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(End of Chapter)