"As long as I can achieve another major victory on the Kumogakure battlefield, I'll have the most war merits. Then, as long as I proceed steadily with the plan, my chances of becoming the Fourth Hokage will be very high."
"Once I become the Fourth Hokage, Root will no longer be subordinate to the Anbu. It will hold equal status with them."
Inside the Root base, Orochimaru was painting a picture of their bright future for Shimura Danzō.
Shimura Danzō was not supporting Orochimaru's bid for Hokage because he found Orochimaru pleasing. They had a partnership.
Shimura Danzō would push Orochimaru into the Hokage position, and once Orochimaru became Hokage, he would repay Shimura Danzō in kind.
"Mm. Jiraiya has no ambition, so he certainly can't compete with you. Tsunade has sunk into self-indulgence, so there's no need to care about her," Shimura Danzō said with a nod.
In truth, making empty promises was one of Shimura Danzō's greatest skills. Otherwise, he could never have fooled so many Root members into working themselves to the bone for him. Shimura Danzō did not control his subordinates through Ninjutsu; the Tongue Curse Eradication Seal merely prevented them from leaking intelligence.
But for now, what Orochimaru said was not empty promises at all. In Shimura Danzō's assessment, Orochimaru's chances of becoming Hokage far surpassed those of Jiraiya and Tsunade.
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi showed signs of favoring Jiraiya, Jiraiya himself had no interest in the position. Several times, Hiruzen Sarutobi had tried to give Jiraiya opportunities to earn merit, only for Jiraiya to refuse.
"To achieve great merit faster, I hope you can send Mu Yue to serve as my assistant again, Danzo. With him there, we'll surely be able to recreate the great victory at the East Coast Battlefield." Seeing Shimura Danzō's approving