Getting By in the World Depends on Three Things

Orochimaru glanced at the researchers, then at the surroundings.

Sure enough, it seemed Danzo had been researching Hashirama Cells for quite some time.

He had probably begun his own research at the same time Orochimaru received the Third Hokage's orders. Orochimaru's experimental data could conveniently be supplied to him as well. What an old fox.

Cursing the old man's craftiness under his breath, Orochimaru walked over to the coffin on the experimental table.

Taking a closer look, who else could it be but Hashirama? That old man had some nerve—he had dug up the entire coffin.

Not only the First Hokage's, but Tobirama's and Mito's as well. Orochimaru even spotted coffins bearing the Uchiha and Hyuga crests.

Worthy of Danzo indeed. He had been the one to set the precedent for grave-robbing. Now there was nothing left for Orochimaru to do.

In the Ninja World, a ninja whose grave had never been dug up was hardly anyone important.

"Ling, this is Orochimaru. From now on, he will be your superior."

Danzo spoke to a female researcher, then looked at Orochimaru.

"From now on, she will be your assistant. Tell her whatever you need, and she will fulfill your requests immediately."

Orochimaru looked at the female researcher. Though she wore a mask and revealed only a pair of narrow eyes and brows, her sharp gaze made it clear that she was a capable woman.

Calling her an assistant was putting it nicely. Put bluntly, she was there to monitor Orochimaru's every move.

"It seems Lord Danzo has made quite the investment. You've got me itching to get started!"

Say what people wanted to hear, say what ghosts wanted to hear. Orochimaru likewise put on an expression of great interest.

"Hmph! I hope you do not disappoint me!"

With that, Danzo turned and left first. The female researcher named Ling stepped forward to hand over the work to Orochimaru.

It was no different from his previous research. The only slight difference was that progress was a little faster, though it all remained within Orochimaru's control.

"Since I can't avoid it, I might as well continue researching Hashirama Cells. It will be useful for my future research anyway."

Since he was here, he might as well settle in. Research was research whether he did it at home or here; it was merely a change of environment.

Orochimaru had no lingering concerns and began making preparations.

Just as Orochimaru returned to the 996 corporate grind, a debate erupted in Konoha over whether missions or comrades were more important.

The cause was Konoha's war god, Hatake Sakumo. While carrying out a mission, he had chosen at a critical moment to turn back and rescue comrades trapped in danger, thereby missing his best chance to complete the mission and ultimately causing it to fail.

To civilians, it was merely a matter of choice. But to Konoha's upper ranks, such behavior was a challenge to their authority.

Ever since the Third Hokage took office, the Will of Fire had been promoted without pause for over twenty years.

What was the Will of Fire? Dedication, sacrifice, obedience.

But Hatake Sakumo's actions had shaken their rule. If everyone followed his example and prioritized comrades over missions, wouldn't Konoha descend into chaos?

Of course, there was nothing wrong with saving comrades. But no one would be foolish enough to openly argue against it. Even those who knew he had done the right thing remained silent.

Yet as Konoha's White Fang, a ninja renowned alongside the Sannin, a man who had completed hundreds of S-rank missions during his career and earned half a Hokage's sleeve through military merit alone, he possessed immense prestige in the village.

Under normal circumstances, even if no one stepped forward to support him, no one should have stepped forward to condemn him either.

But things developed in a direction no one could have imagined. Not only did his comrades come forward to denounce him, even the ninja whose life he had saved turned around and criticized him.

Getting by in the world depended on three things: being cowardly enough, breaking faith and abandoning righteousness, and selling out your brothers! When necessary, you could even look after your brother's wife.

During this period of Hokage succession, Orochimaru would not believe for a second that no one was pushing things from behind the scenes.

The Hatake clan was small, with only Sakumo and Kakashi, father and son. They did not have the numbers and influence of the other clans in the village. Naturally, people chose the softest persimmon to squeeze.

Moreover, Hatake Sakumo was powerful, and precisely because he was powerful, he had earned half a Hokage's sleeve through military merit alone. Yet he belonged to none of the upper ranks' factions.

If he stepped forward to compete for the position of Hokage, he would likely receive tremendous support from the civilians. But that did not serve Konoha's upper ranks' interests. What kind of nonsense would it be for some outsider to suddenly become Hokage?

There were plenty of people who did not want to see that happen. Not only Danzo, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the other Konoha higher-ups, but the major clans also did not want anyone outside their circle to become Hokage.

Just look closely at Konoha's past Hokage and it became obvious. The Hashirama brothers; then the Third Hokage, who was a disciple of the First and Second Hokage; the Fourth Hokage, Jiraiya's disciple and likewise the Third Hokage's granddisciple; then the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, also a disciple of the First Hokage and the Third Hokage.

There was no need to mention those who came later. Kakashi was Minato's disciple, while Naruto was Kakashi's student and also Jiraiya's disciple.

So someone like Hatake Sakumo, whose candidacy did not serve their interests, could never become Hokage. Now that they had the chance, if they did not get rid of him, when would they?

Forget Hatake Sakumo—even if Uchiha Madara emerged, he would never become Hokage. Looking at the candidates for Hokage, Uchiha Madara was not part of this chain of interests at all. All those years of scheming had truly been wasted.

Things unfolded much as Orochimaru had expected. Before anyone noticed, public opinion had shifted in a direction unfavorable to Hatake Sakumo.

Orochimaru had already noticed quite a few hidden forces at work. Not only were Konoha's upper ranks deliberately fanning the flames, but even the major clans that had once associated with the Hatake clan had begun to distance themselves.

Konoha's White Fang, a war god of his generation, ultimately could not withstand the immense pressure of online abuse and committed suicide in his own home.

Orochimaru found the outcome regrettable as well. A legend of his generation had become a sacrifice to politics. Before profit, what did it matter if the village's strength weakened somewhat? Sacrifice one person to protect the interests of more people, and everyone was happy.

"People who play politics really do have filthy hearts!"

Standing atop Hokage Rock, Orochimaru looked down over Konoha below. He had thought he might be able to involve himself in this matter, but the system showed no reaction.

It seemed that, just as in the Original Work, this matter had not involved Orochimaru, so it had not triggered the plot.

"Then does that mean Hinata Hyuga's future kidnapping and the Uchiha massacre have nothing to do with me either?"

Thinking of this, Orochimaru let out a heavy sigh.

He had thought he could keep lying low in the village until the final ending. Who would have expected the system to be so good at judging people by the situation?

People and events unrelated to him could not trigger the plot at all. That also meant that if he wanted to continue growing stronger and making progress, he had to follow the original course of events.

Wasn't his entire life being arranged by the system down to the smallest detail?

"Forget it. Things will work themselves out when the time comes. I'll deal with it then!"