Orochimaru

Konoha, Fourth Training Ground. Uchiha Gen arrived ten minutes early and rested against a large tree that provided shade.

Eight minutes later, Uchiha Gen opened his eyes and saw a figure emerge from the ground beneath the shade of a tree several meters away.

Long black hair, vertical golden pupils, purple eyeshadow extending to the sides of his nose, pale skin, a pale yellow kimono, and a purple rope belt. He wore a faint smile, exuding confidence and composure, yet also a cold, mysterious air.

"Lord Orochimaru."

Uchiha Gen straightened up and bowed, neither servile nor overbearing.

"You're Gen, right? Anko told me you wanted to take me as your master?"

Orochimaru looked Uchiha Gen up and down with interest. His hoarse voice carried a gloomy undertone, like the hiss of a great snake.

"Yes."

"Heh heh..."

"I know you're the son of one of the Uchiha Clan's Twin Stars. You have outstanding talent, and your strength is passable enough. But why should I accept you?"

Uchiha Gen's expression did not change. "Because the Uchiha Clan can help Lord Orochimaru become Hokage. We can provide Lord Orochimaru with financial support and all kinds of resources."

"Heh heh... So you mean that if I refuse, the Uchiha Clan will fully support Minato Namikaze?"

Before his words had even faded, an immense killing intent erupted from Orochimaru and pressed down on Uchiha Gen. Uchiha Gen frowned slightly, but returned to normal in an instant.

Lord Orochimaru's killing intent was indeed terrifying. Ordinary people could even be scared to death on the spot.

Even most ninjas could not withstand it and would fall into illusions, losing their composure. But he was no flower raised in a greenhouse, nor was he an ordinary ninja.

"The Uchiha Clan will not fully support anyone, nor will we offend anyone."

"To be honest, Shisui Uchiha has already earned Senior Minato's approval and joined Team 7."

"If his future performance satisfies Senior Minato, he will officially become Senior Minato's disciple."

"Oh?"

Orochimaru withdrew his killing intent and raised a brow. He was somewhat surprised, wearing a smile that was not quite a smile as his voice turned teasing.

"Your Uchiha Clan certainly has a good plan."

"As long as the apprenticeship succeeds, you won't lose no matter who becomes Hokage. Still, this kind of behavior is truly displeasing."

Hearing Orochimaru's dissatisfaction, Uchiha Gen remained expressionless. "The Uchiha Clan is not one of those small clans. We have no need to stake everything on a single gamble; we only need to take the most stable path."

"The Uchiha Clan has enough strength and foundation to keep a foot in both camps."

Orochimaru did not refute him. The foremost noble clan in the ninja world truly had the strength to make multiple choices. In every respect, they were beyond comparison to small clans.

"Does Minato know about this?"

"Senior Minato does not know for now."

"Aren't you afraid I'll tell him?"

"With Senior Minato's broad-mindedness, he may be displeased after learning of it, but he definitely will not go back on his word."

Uchiha Gen's implication was naturally that he was not afraid of Orochimaru leaking the matter.

"Besides, with Lord Orochimaru's pride and confidence, you would disdain doing such a thing."

"Heh heh... It seems you've studied me quite thoroughly?"

Orochimaru sneered. His red tongue flickered like a snake's, his eyes narrowing as he looked exceptionally dangerous.

A chill ran through Uchiha Gen's entire body. He felt as though he were being watched by a venomous snake with its body coiled, tongue flicking, fangs bared, ready to launch a fatal ambush at any moment.

Uchiha Gen raised his vigilance to its utmost. Orochimaru was quite temperamental and unpredictable, after all. Yet his face showed no abnormality as he said, "I wouldn't dare. Human nature is ever-changing."

"Anyone confident that they can completely control human nature is not far from death."

Once he finished speaking, the dangerous feeling of being pierced in the back disappeared.

"It seems you are not some self-righteous fool who believes he can scheme against and control everything."

"I appreciate that about you."

"Based on what I know of Fugaku Uchiha, these ideas should not have come from him. You are the one behind all this, aren't you?"

"Lord Orochimaru is truly perceptive."

"This is the perfect time for a change in Hokage. It would be a pity not to take the opportunity to do something."

"As the saying goes, if Heaven grants an opportunity and one does not seize it, one will instead suffer blame; if the time arrives and one does not act, one will instead suffer misfortune."

"Our Uchiha Clan is hardly welcome among Konoha's current higher-ups."

"Since we are unwelcome in the old era, we can only hope to be welcomed in the new one."

Orochimaru silently repeated the famous sayings Uchiha Gen had spoken several times and found them quite reasonable. When an opportunity came, it had to be seized!

As for the Konoha higher-ups' attitude toward the Uchiha, Orochimaru considered himself fairly well-informed.

Back then, the three of them had received plenty of such indoctrination.

However, he, Tsunade, and Jiraiya were not the type to blindly follow what others said. They had their own thoughts, so they had not been affected much.

His teacher's attitude was not too bad, but that fellow Danzo was quite prejudiced against the Uchiha Clan.

"It seems the Uchiha Clan has produced an extraordinary figure."

Looking at the young man before him, Orochimaru could not help but sigh.

The Uchiha Clan members he had encountered were all excellent fighters, but when it came to social dealings or grasping the political situation, they were a complete mess.

"Lord Orochimaru flatters me. I merely enjoy reading more to broaden my horizons and thinking more in my spare time."

"Heh heh, is that so?"

"Very well. I am willing to make this deal with the Uchiha."

"I need your Uchiha Clan to provide me with a large amount of money."

"As long as your support for Minato does not exceed the money you spend on me, that will do."

Relying solely on Danzo for research funds was truly not a good thing. With a new source of funding, his research could progress faster, and he would not be so passive.

As for the Uchiha Clan's support for Minato, Orochimaru did not take it too seriously.

First, although Minato Namikaze had achieved outstanding military merits, his rise had ultimately been too recent, and his foundation was insufficient.

Although Minato Namikaze was Jiraiya's disciple, Orochimaru was also Jiraiya's companion. Given Jiraiya's temperament, he would most likely support neither side.

The best-case scenario would be Tsunade standing aside out of consideration for Jiraiya.

If Tsunade helped him, Minato Namikaze would basically have no chance of winning.

As long as his teacher did not abandon him and personally endorsed Minato Namikaze, Minato's chances of taking the position would increase considerably.

Second, he was no longer as eager for the position of Hokage as he had once been. He had already found a greater goal. Running for Hokage was merely to settle an old obsession.

If he succeeded, all the better.

If he failed, it was no big deal.

Learning every ninjutsu, achieving immortality, and exploring every truth of the ninja world—those were the goals he now pursued throughout his life!

"Rest assured, Teacher Orochimaru. I will certainly relay your conditions to the young clan leader. There should be no problem."

Uchiha Gen immediately took the opportunity to address him as teacher.

Orochimaru nodded slightly. "You will be responsible for delivering the money from now on. Now, let me see your strength..."

"If you satisfy me, I will make time to guide you in the future."

"If you do not satisfy me, then this will be nothing more than a transaction. You will have the title, but none of the substance."

Uchiha Gen said solemnly, "I will strive to earn your approval."

There were still quite a few things he wanted from Orochimaru. Without gaining his approval and trust, that would not do.

Moreover, Orochimaru was exceptionally skilled at training disciples. Anko was the exception.

Because she had not left Konoha with Orochimaru, and because Orochimaru's defection had affected her, no powerful ninja had been willing to teach her.

She had also suffered a severe blow due to Orochimaru's defection and what he did before leaving.

During the years when her strength should have grown most rapidly, she had fallen into decline and neglected her training. That was why she had ultimately become only a Special Jonin.

Orochimaru disdained fools, but he was appreciative and generous toward geniuses.

For Anko to have caught Orochimaru's eye, she was undoubtedly a genius. If she had developed normally, becoming a Jonin would not have been difficult at all, and she would have had a good chance of reaching Kage level.

Sasuke was the true demonstration of Orochimaru's teaching ability!

Please keep reading and add this to your favorites!!!