The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Orochimaru who had come back to report on his duties. In his hand was a detailed list of supplies and armaments, which was half the amount originally agreed upon.
"Thank you for your hard work, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru was wearing a green combat uniform, and he just laughed lightly at Sarutobi's condolences: "It's just a gift. If you have nothing to do all the time, people will get moldy."
When Sarutobi heard this, he said, "Didn't you do something big this time?"
Orochimaru said: "Now that we have encountered it, we naturally cannot stand idly by."
Sarutobi raised his eyes and glanced at Orochimaru, then picked up a letter in his hand and gestured: "The daimyo has sent a letter, and the content is mostly praise for you, saying that if we in Konoha reuse talents like you, the war will be over soon.
will win."
Orochimaru looked as usual when he heard this and said: "I met Minato on the front line. His appeal is very strong. Only with him can we lead Konoha to victory."
Sarutobi smiled: "Do you think so highly of him?"
Orochimaru said: "Jiraiya really has a good student."
Sarutobi's eyes moved slightly, he looked at Orochimaru and suddenly asked: "What do you think about Minato becoming the Fourth Hokage?"
Orochimaru's expression remained normal: "Are you already thinking about resigning before the war is over?"
"Always think about the future. The Daimyo thinks so highly of you, and you think so highly of Minato. Is there any reason why this war cannot be won?"
"The position of Hokage belongs to those who can do it. Minato does have this ability."
Sarutobi had been staring into Orochimaru's eyes, and until he said these words, the snake-like eyes still did not convey the emotion he expected.
He said slowly: "Orochimaru, you must have had a student like this before. If you could put yourself in his shoes, he would also be very happy."
Orochimaru's eyes turned cold and he said calmly: "If there's nothing else, I'll leave first."
After Orochimaru left, the office became quiet again.
Sarutobi fumbled under his desk for a while and took out a pipe. As he was lighting up, he caught a glimpse of the daimyo's letter on the table.
In this letter, in addition to the complimentary words for Orochimaru, the daimyo also expressed his dissatisfaction with Konoha's border defense for allowing a team of Iwa ninjas to sneak in like this.
But as soon as Sarutobi learned the news after the incident, he sent people to investigate the entry and exit information on the Fire Country border. It was during the war, and the Fire Country and Konoha had extremely strict control over border defense.
The news is that there is nothing unusual at the border.
Sarutobi sensed that something was wrong, and then felt that it was pointless to investigate further. If any bad results really came out, he would not be able to report it to the daimyo. Could he tell the daimyo that Konoha is currently fighting for power over the position of Hokage?
Orochimaru, I still underestimate your ruthlessness and ambition...
Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke, which was so thick that it lingered in front of his eyes.
…
The first thing Orochimaru did when he returned to his residence was to ask Anko to find Zhen.
After Hongdou trotted away, he calmed down again and sat motionless in the living room alone.
It's so sad, Orochimaru, still can't let go of these useless feelings?
After closing his eyes for a long time, a ninja dressed as an ANBU suddenly appeared in the living room, wearing a patterned mask and half-kneeling on the ground.
"Lord Orochimaru." He handed over a scroll with both hands.
Orochimaru seemed not to have heard, and sat there quietly without raising his eyelids. A python slowly crawled out from his sleeve, crawled in front of the ANBU and opened his mouth to hold the scroll in his mouth.
"Danzo-sama sends his regards."
The ANBU lowered his head and then disappeared from the spot again.
Half an hour passed before Hongdou came belatedly with Zhenshan.
The moment he walked into the living room, he immediately felt the cold aura around Orochimaru.
Anko didn't seem to notice it, and jumped up to Orochimaru's side to take credit: "Orochimaru-sama, I brought Zhen."
Orochimaru smiled and touched her little head: "Zhen and I have something to talk about. You can go out and play for a while first."
"Eh?" Anko's little face was puzzled, and she turned to look at Shin on the side, wondering when did Shin and Lord Orochimaru have such a good relationship.
In Anko's impression, only Orochimaru-sama needed to be avoided when she was talking to other adults, and she would be sensible enough not to disturb him.
But what should they avoid between them...
"I know." Hongdou obeyed and left, but before leaving, he couldn't help but look at the same person.
I really didn't ask why Orochimaru's mood was a little wrong, but he said: "In the past two days, the village has been talking about Orochimaru-sama saving the daimyo."
Orochimaru didn't respond, but just threw him a scroll with his backhand.
If you really open it up, the content inside actually contains some information about exchanges with some royal ministers of the Kingdom of Fire. It probably means that these ministers have accepted the benefits sent by the root.
These ministers are probably not fools. If they dare to accept bribes like this, what they bring back is not all goodwill.
Seeing this appalling content, Zhen looked calm and said, "The war is almost over."
Orochimaru glanced at him: "How do you know?"
"Konoha can't afford to fight anymore, and the same goes for Iwagakure."
Orochimaru said: "So what, do you think Iwagakure will stop?"
The war between the two countries, Fire and Earth, was extremely brutal. Nowadays, the war has almost lost its original meaning. Most people on the battlefield are fighting for hatred.
"So we need an opportunity for the two countries to cease the war. At that time, Konoha will hand over a peace treaty."
Orochimaru frowned slightly when he heard this: "Isn't this just like losing the battle?"
Zhen said: "It only needs to be modified. The villagers will not think so. The Hokage will take this opportunity to resign and support the fourth generation to succeed."
Orochimaru's eyes flashed and he continued to ask: "What is the opportunity you are talking about?"
"Lord Orochimaru, have you forgotten why this great ninja war started?"
Orochimaru's thoughts raced: "Sunagakure!"
Zhen took advantage of the situation and said: "The Fourth Kazekage has been on the throne for so long, the interior of Sunagakure Village should have stabilized. With their alliance, Iwagakure will definitely stop."
"Would Sunagakure be willing?"
"Sunagakure is also in urgent need of peace. They will not allow the Three Kingdoms of Fire, Earth and Wind to become unbalanced."
Orochimaru stopped talking and sat down to think.
"Lord Orochimaru needs to go to the Kingdom of Wind to win this ally for Konoha."
"No!" Orochimaru said suddenly, interrupting Zhen's words.
"That's not enough!"
Zhen was slightly startled when he heard this, but found Orochimaru sneered and said: "I must appear with reinforcements at the moment when Konoha's life and death are at stake, in order to bring me enough prestige."
Zhen's expression became calmer, and he said: "I'm afraid Iwagakure doesn't have the strength to push Konoha to that point right now."
"Iwagakure has no ability, why don't we just give them this ability!"
"Lord Orochimaru, if you become Hokage, those ninjas on the front line will be considered your family."
Orochimaru was unmoved: "They want to support another Hokage. Does this count as a betrayal of me?"
He already understood that the hearts of those ninjas could not turn towards him in such a short period of time, no matter what he did.
Therefore, a path of bloodshed must be found.
"Doing this will bring chaos to Konoha and the entire Fire Nation." Zhen continued.
Orochimaru also calmed down and said in a hoarse voice: "Chaos is a ladder!"