So, let’s set a small goal first: beco the chief Gold Debt Collector under the chamber of comrce!
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Konoha Year 46, early February.
When it was still snowing, Hidden Rock and Hidden Cloud suddenly reached a truce agreent.
Hidden Rock returned the corpse of the Third Raikage, and Hidden Cloud compensated Hidden Rock.
Thus, the conflict between Hidden Rock and Hidden Cloud ended, but the Third Ninja War did not co to a close.
A few days after the truce with Hidden Cloud, Hidden Rock imdiately deployed three thousand ninja to the Land of Grass, setting up to have a decisive battle against Konoha.
Lacking resources, Hidden Rock intended to gamble everything for a quick and decisive conclusion with Konoha.
anwhile, Hidden Cloud reinforced the troops in the Land of Hot Water, deploying thousands of ninja there who were previously fighting against Hidden Rock, led personally by the Fourth Raikage, to invade the Land of Fire in force.
Under Akimichi Torifu’s leadership, the Konoha squad suffered continual defeats, and only managed to barely withstand further advances from Hidden Cloud thanks to reinforcents of Uchiha and other elite ninja. But the losses were still significant.
Compared to Konoha’s decline in the Land of Hot Water, Hidden Cloud was unstoppable, especially with their leader, the Fourth Raikage, personally on the battlefield, greatly boosting their morale and giving considerable pressure to Konoha.
While the outside world was in chaos and war, a certain dark corner of Konoha was filled with tranquility.
The dimly lit laboratory was equipped with various experintal devices.
A figure stood expressionless at the experint table, holding a surgical knife, skin pale, eyes vertical like a snake, dissecting animal corpses on the table.
Soon, he looked at the laboratory door, where soone entered without knocking.
Their presence was filled with a sombre and cold aura.
The right half of the face was wrapped in bandages, wrinkles had increased compared to before, indicating life hadn’t been great recently.
"Why are you not in Root Base, coming here to look for trouble? Or are you here to see make a fool of myself, Danzo?"
Orochimaru set down the surgical knife, wiped the blood unintentionally stained on his hand with a white handkerchief, his snake eyes focused on Danzo, voice magnetic and hoarse.
"The front line against Hidden Cloud suffered defeat, and many Jonin recomnded you go to the Hidden Cloud battlefield at the high-level eting earlier. Congratulations, Orochimaru."
This seemingly congratulatory statent felt like a jarring noise to Orochimaru.
He laughed sinisterly, licking his tongue.
"Don’t make laugh, Danzo. You should know that the more they support , the more Teacher Sarutobi fears my presence. The older one gets, the more afraid they are of being forgotten by the world. Teacher Sarutobi does not want to step down."
Though it’s ti for him to retire, dissatisfaction with Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi’s pacifist policies had existed within the village for a long ti.
Thus, after this war, his teacher Hiruzen Sarutobi might have to step down even if he doesn’t want to.
But he is unwilling to let go of his power, or of Konoha, believing only his balanced policies can bring stability to Konoha, therefore he needs a Fourth Hokage who will listen to him.
Even if disobedient, a Fourth Hokage who is powerless but reputable can work as well.
But the unfortunate part was, Orochimaru was not part of this plan.
Being one of the Sannin, he possessed not just prestige but his own followers.
The power he lacked for becoming Hokage was only the control of Anbu.
And Anbu’s power had long been infiltrated by the Yuanfei Clan completely, with the most powerful Minister and Deputy Minister being all Sarutobi Clan ninja, achieving unmatched dominance.
Given this situation, the more support he received at high-level etings, the more it forced Hiruzen Sarutobi to abandon him as a pupil.
Orochimaru foresaw that the position of Fourth Hokage was increasingly farther from his grasp.
"Orochimaru, aren’t you angry?"
Danzo inquired.
"Angry?" Orochimaru sneered coldly, "It’s rely a tedious political struggle. Whatever I, Orochimaru, want, I will take for myself, not acquire through others’ handouts. Even if that person is my ntor."
Hiruzen Sarutobi certainly taught many things, the expertise and accomplishnts he achieved in ninja techniques couldn’t have been possible without Teacher Hiruzen Sarutobi’s elite education.
But this didn’t an he would follow Hiruzen Sarutobi’s arrangents to walk through his own life.
"Even if you want to fight for the Hokage position using your own strength, the other two of the Sannin probably wouldn’t support you, especially Jiraiya."
"Jiraiya, is it? Since childhood, he’s accustod to having Teacher Sarutobi arrange his life, especially in major events, he never opposes Teacher Sarutobi’s propositions. Rather than living his own life, he’s living a life others arranged for him. Though he is a friend, this is precisely why I despise him."
"Then how about supporting to beco Hokage?"
Danzo’s eyes revealed ambitious flas.
"Support you?"
Orochimaru was montarily stunned.
Gazing at Danzo’s face with growing wrinkles, he shook his head.
"Ten years ago, you had still a chance for competition, but now... you’re too old."
Turning back to continue his research.
"Leaving aside Hokage matters, I hope you assist in completing a research project."
Danzo wasn’t angered, he turned to invite Orochimaru; he appreciated Orochimaru’s intellect and top-tier research capabilities.
"What research?"
"Wood Style."
Danzo uttered the term.
Orochimaru’s actions paused, turning to give Danzo a deep gaze.
"The Wood Style project has been forbidden by Teacher Sarutobi for many years. You should know, if private research on Wood Style is exposed, what kind of end you would face."
"I understand Hiruzen more than you, even if the matter is exposed, he wouldn’t act against . Plus, I’ve already arranged an absolutely unforeseen critical pawn by his side."
Danzo spoke with confidence.
Orochimaru pondered for a mont, then spoke to Danzo: "I understand, I can research Wood Style for you, but I want a portion of Hashirama’s Cells as the reward for research."
Danzo furrowed his brow, ultimately nodding, agreeing to provide a portion of Hashirama’s Cells as Orochimaru’s research reward.
Compared to the finished Wood Style, a portion of Hashirama’s Cells was nothing significant.
Once Orochimaru successfully researched Wood Style... Danzo coldly smirked within.
Involving the most revered pupil in the village with forbidden, taboo research, if this were to surface, how would you step down, Hiruzen?
Danzo was sowhat eager to witness the opponent’s expression of anguish and regret.
If unwilling to relinquish the Hokage position, one must be forced to do so.
From this mont onward, Danzo’s sole task was to use his own thods to rescue Konoha, thoroughly rectify the stale conservative thoughts of Konoha’s faction.
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