Young Master, Please Become Hokage

Despite his efforts to flash a "kind" smile, it was impossible to hide the predatory aura within it.

Just seeing him made people uncomfortable, let alone being stared at by him.

Yet, such a being possessed a distinguished identity.

Orochimaru was not only Hiruzen Sarutobi's disciple but also held the title of "Sannin."

Ino Yamanaka pondered for a few seconds before immediately inviting Orochimaru inside.

Orochimaru waited for a moment, and then Akira Sarutobi emerged from the bathroom after finishing his morning training and changing his clothes.

"Mr. Orochimaru, what brings you here?"

Akira Sarutobi sat down, facing Orochimaru across the table.

Different Hokage worlds had different historical trajectories.

In the manga, Orochimaru had no connection to Senju Nawaki.

The TV anime, however, created an original master-disciple relationship, casting Orochimaru as Senju Nawaki's teacher.

This subtle difference, leading to a divergence in perception, was something Akira Sarutobi had been carefully mindful of since arriving in this world.

In the world Akira Sarutobi inhabited, Orochimaru had no master-disciple connection with Senju Nawaki.

Therefore, Akira Sarutobi and Orochimaru were not very familiar with each other.

"Heh heh, it's like this..."

Orochimaru presented himself as kindly as possible.

It was no easy feat for someone as proud as him to show goodwill.

As the beloved disciple of his old father, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Orochimaru was renowned throughout Konoha as a genius and had every right to be arrogant.

Orochimaru then took out two papers from his sleeve and placed them on the table: "This is your and Ino Yamanaka's Jonin Qualification Scrolls..."

Akira Sarutobi glanced at them.

Similar to Chunin, upon passing the assessment, Jonin would receive a qualification scroll as proof.

This was a symbolic item, merely a formality.

"Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Orochimaru..." Akira Sarutobi nodded slightly and instructed Ino Yamanaka to put away the qualification scrolls.

"Well then, next, Akira Sarutobi... come with me to the Jonin information room..."

Orochimaru stood up, extending the subsequent invitation.

Akira Sarutobi knew that just as becoming a Chunin involved receiving Konoha vests and a series of identification documents and supplies.

Becoming a Jonin would also grant corresponding benefits and resources.

A ninja village's training system would spare no effort in nurturing its ninjas.

The acquisition of resources was also a way to win hearts and attract talent.

Leaving with Orochimaru, they strolled through the streets of Konoha, and before long, Orochimaru began to speak: "Heh heh... Young Master Ryo, first, congratulations to you both on becoming Jonin..."

After some pleasantries.

Akira Sarutobi didn't believe Orochimaru was merely acting as a messenger; if that were the case, they could have simply found any random extra to lead the way.

Clearly, Orochimaru had other intentions.

Not long after, the three arrived at the Jonin information room.

Located on a street adjacent to the Hokage Building, it appeared somewhat deserted.

Early in the morning, there weren't many people around.

Following a dark alley, they eventually arrived before a door at the end.

The two Konoha ninjas on guard nodded at Orochimaru and unlocked the door.

A room filled with scrolls was revealed before Akira Sarutobi's eyes.

Now that they had become Jonin, the pathways to learning ninjutsu were naturally much more comprehensive than those for Genin or Chunin.

"So many scrolls... is this the kind of resources Jonin can obtain?"

Ino Yamanaka stepped forward first, immediately beginning to examine the scrolls that had been perused countless times by those before them.

But soon, the girl, after flipping through them, revealed a look of disdain.

"Tch... all trash~~!"

Ino Yamanaka casually tossed a scroll back onto the shelf, her pretty face completely losing interest.

"Young Master, I thought we'd find some powerful ninjutsu, but after a closer look, they're all common goods..."

"You two can choose any scroll from inside."

It was then that Orochimaru began to explain.

Saying this at this moment, coupled with Ino Yamanaka's previous reaction, made the situation somewhat awkward.

Looking at Orochimaru, whose lips curved into a smile and whose eyes held a benevolent gaze, Akira Sarutobi walked over and silently began to browse the scrolls on a few shelves.

Things that can be obtained for free should be taken.

It's better than getting nothing.

With this mindset, Akira Sarutobi began to choose seriously.

"Hehehe..."

Orochimaru stood to the side, observing Akira Sarutobi's actions.

He greatly admired Akira Sarutobi's neither servile nor overbearing demeanor and steady mindset.

Finally, Orochimaru made a decision, or rather... revealed the true intention of his visit.

"Young Master Ryo, what do you think of this scroll?"

He took it out from his sleeve, walked over, and handed it to Akira Sarutobi.

Looking at the scroll being handed over, Akira Sarutobi immediately understood that this was Orochimaru's personal stash.

Orochimaru, who aspired to master all ninjutsu in the world, naturally had a rich collection of scrolls.

Compared to the common goods on the shelves like "Great Breakthrough (Wind Release)" and "Earth Run (Lightning Release)," the jutsu Orochimaru treasured were the real treasures.

Akira Sarutobi took it without a word and unrolled it.

At a glance, he recognized the value of this scroll.

Sometimes, the power of a jutsu cannot be judged solely by its rank. The strength of some ninjutsu can be exaggerated to a monstrous degree.

This scroll given by Orochimaru came from the Land of Rice, a jutsu from a certain secret clan.

This scroll was a taijutsu, not circulated in the shinobi world or Konoha, making it a very rare technique.

"If I recall correctly, in the original work, only Jirobō, one of the Sound Four, learned this taijutsu."

Punching through rocks, lifting several tons of stone with bare hands, sending Choza flying with a palm strike after the Partial Expansion Jutsu...

These feats demonstrated the power of this taijutsu.

It was a purely violent taijutsu.

The difficulty of the jutsu was only C-Rank, learnable by anyone.

However, one needed a special physique to truly unleash its power. Otherwise, it would just be ordinary taijutsu when performed.

For the Sarutobi Clan, blessed with Innate Divine Strength, learning this taijutsu would be like a fish in water, allowing them to unleash its full power without issue.

Seeing the eager look in Akira Sarutobi's eyes, Orochimaru knew his goal had been achieved.

As Akira Sarutobi asked his question, Orochimaru formally stated his intention: "Young Master Ryo, I only hope... if the village holds an election for the next Hokage, you will lean towards me..."

So that's how it is.

Akira Sarutobi understood.

Orochimaru had always considered himself the best candidate for the Fourth Hokage.

This strange self-confidence was only shattered in the original work when Minato Namikaze rose to power.

He wanted to win me over with a powerful scroll... it wasn't impossible.

But the problem was...

"I'm sorry, Mr. Orochimaru, I cannot accept this scroll."

Akira Sarutobi handed the scroll back, not accepting Orochimaru's proposal.

Seeing Akira Sarutobi's decisive rejection, Orochimaru was not surprised, as his years of observation had already made him aware of Akira Sarutobi's neither servile nor overbearing nature.

"Hehehe... Young Master Ryo, do you perhaps believe I cannot become the Fourth Hokage?"

Orochimaru spread his hands, not taking back the scroll, and asked with great curiosity.

Just as Minato Namikaze had supporters like Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura behind him, Orochimaru also had Danzō as his backer.

"How should I put it... If we go by facts, Sakumo-san has the greatest chance of becoming the Fourth."

Akira Sarutobi stated his judgment.

Even the Sannin were like hazy figures before Konoha's White Fang.

Orochimaru clearly knew this about himself.

He smiled, unfazed: "Then... if Sakumo-san has no intention of running for Hokage, among the other candidates, how about leaning towards me?"

Orochimaru proposed a possibility, yet it contained a great deal of information.

His golden, slit-pupiled eyes stared intently at Akira Sarutobi.

Akira Sarutobi met his gaze without flinching, then withdrew his outstretched hand: "No problem."

A moment later.

Akira Sarutobi and Ino Yamanaka listened to the sound of the door closing and locking behind them, their gazes following Orochimaru as he departed.

"Young Master, what Lord Orochimaru said just now, the information contained within it is immense..."

Ino Yamanaka always felt that what was just said hinted at many things.

"Mhm."

Akira Sarutobi nodded and put away the scroll.

Chapter Nineteen: Danzō: Hiruzen, your son has the potential for Anbu.

More than ten minutes later...

Akira Sarutobi and Ino Yamanaka arrived at a breakfast shop.

Orochimaru's visit meant they didn't even have time to prepare breakfast.

Ino Yamanaka ate with relish, constantly looking up to steal glances at her young master.

Last night's experience flashed through her mind. Recalling how her young master, who only knew how to train like a cultivation machine, could also show such a side, Ino Yamanaka's cheeks couldn't help but feel a flush.

Meanwhile, Akira Sarutobi, sitting opposite Ino Yamanaka, was lost in thought.

Hokage...

His goal was to become Hokage and then correct Konoha, and even this Shinobi World.

But if he considered his and Minato Namikaze's young age.

The most likely candidate for the position of "Fourth Hokage" should be the long-renowned Konoha's White Fang, Kagami Uchiha.

Kagami Uchiha currently had extremely high public support, even surpassing the Sannin. If nothing unexpected happened, he would definitely be the next Hokage.

However, according to the thinking and arrangements of the higher-ups, and the hints from Orochimaru's words this morning, it was highly probable that Kagami Uchiha would still tread the path of suppression and persecution, just like in the original work.

And the best way to bring someone down was to ruin their reputation.

This point could be seen from Kagami Uchiha's experiences in the original work.