Orochimaru's Modesty

The conference room in the Hokage's Office was filled with the village's upper echelon.

The heads of the major clans, such as Hyuga Hiashi, Uchiha Fugaku, and Nara Shikaku.

As well as renowned jonin like Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Namikaze Minato, and others.

Seated to the Hokage's left and right were the two Hokage advisors and Shimura Danzō.

They had gathered here to discuss the Mist Ninjas who had been continuously harassing their borders.

This great shinobi war had not ended; it had merely entered a lull. Both Konoha and Iwagakure had suffered severe losses, but the other three of the Five Great Shinobi Villages still retained their strength. No one could predict how things would unfold in the future.

"Who do you all think would be best suited to take charge of the Mist Ninjas?" Sarutobi sat at the head of the table, looking at those on either side.

The people present exchanged looks, yet no one took the initiative to speak.

There were only two candidates for the position of commander-in-chief: Minato and Orochimaru. Everyone present understood that perfectly well.

Yet at this moment, no one was willing to be the first to voice their support.

Seeing that no one spoke, Sarutobi looked toward Jiraiya, whose arm was still suspended in a sling at his right.

"Jiraiya, what do you think?"

Jiraiya looked somewhat awkward at that. Naturally, he wanted to support his own disciple.

But Orochimaru was sitting right across from him, and what had happened before still filled him with guilt. He found it difficult to answer Sarutobi's question now.

"How about... I-I go?" he stammered.

Sarutobi was rather speechless. "Enough. In your condition, don't go get yourself killed out there."

Jiraiya immediately gave an awkward laugh. "I said I wanted to go, but you won't let me."

Sarutobi could not be bothered with his attempt to dodge the question and turned his gaze toward the others.

Fugaku and Hiashi sat in their respective seats with their eyes closed, as though they heard nothing happening around them.

"I nominate Minato," Shikaku suddenly said.

"Everyone should know how Minato performed in the battle against the Stone Ninja. It was precisely because Minato was there that we were able to win again and again. In this war against the Mist Ninjas, Minato will certainly be able to lead us to defeat the enemy as well."

Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction, his gaze sweeping over the others. "Does anyone else have a different opinion?"

With Shikaku taking the lead, quite a few others spoke up in support of Minato.

Orochimaru's expression remained unchanged. Whenever someone spoke, he merely cast them a glance.

"I think Lord Orochimaru should take the position."

At last, a different voice emerged in the room.

That person's reason was that Orochimaru had brought reinforcements during the previous battle against the Stone Ninja. He even claimed that if Lord Orochimaru had led them from the beginning, they would have won against the Stone Ninja long ago.

Quite a few people supported his words as well.

Listening to the voices supporting Orochimaru in the room, Danzo could not help but curl his lips into a smile.

Fortunately, those supporting Minato and those supporting Orochimaru did not get into an argument. They merely stated their own views. Though each had their own supporters, they still respected the other candidate.

Sarutobi sighed inwardly at the sight. He had anticipated this situation long ago.

He naturally wished for Minato to serve as commander-in-chief, but he also knew that doing so might provoke dissatisfaction from some people. Orochimaru had saved Konoha, and everyone owed him a debt of gratitude.

He looked toward Orochimaru and found that Orochimaru was looking at him as well.

After a moment's consideration, Sarutobi spoke. "Orochimaru, what do you think..."

"I think Minato should lead us into this battle," Orochimaru interrupted before Sarutobi could finish.

The conference room erupted in an uproar. Everyone present was utterly shocked. Were those really words that should have come from Orochimaru's mouth?

Danzo's brow immediately furrowed, and his gaze darkened. He had specifically reminded Orochimaru earlier to fight for this position, yet Orochimaru was now handing it over to someone else!

Minato sat there in a daze for a long while. Once he recovered, he hurriedly said, "No, compared to Senior Orochimaru, I'm still lacking..."

"Minato, there is no need for you to be modest," Orochimaru said with a faint smile.

"You have always fought alongside everyone on the front lines. The comrades in the village trust you more as well. I believe you can definitely lead everyone in repelling the Mist Ninjas."

Sarutobi, Jiraiya, and the others familiar with Orochimaru looked as though they were meeting him for the first time. Every one of them stared at him in astonishment.

Sarutobi pondered for a long time, yet still could not figure out what Orochimaru might be plotting.

Orochimaru then looked toward Jiraiya and asked, "Jiraiya, what do you think?"

Jiraiya snapped out of his daze. "I... agree with you."

Orochimaru's gaze swept across everyone present once more. "Compared to Minato, I am not suited for this position. There is no need for you all to nominate me. I believe Minato can do better than I can."

Everyone exchanged looks. If the occasion had allowed it, they would have already begun whispering among themselves.

Sarutobi gave a light cough, then made his decision.

"Since Orochimaru has said so, Minato, the Mist Ninjas will be entrusted to you."

Minato stood and bowed. "I will give it my all!"

After the meeting ended, Orochimaru left directly, completely ignoring Danzo's incomparably cold gaze.

Watching the people gather in twos and threes to discuss something in hushed voices, Orochimaru's heart was filled with disdain. These people would never guess what he was going to do.

They all held high positions, yet in Orochimaru's eyes, their political sense was pitifully lacking.

In this regard, he completely surpassed them.

When he had that thought, he had already excluded himself from their ranks.

Orochimaru believed that he merely disdained considering such matters or associating with people like them. Besides, now that Zhen was there to offer him strategies, that was enough.

As for Minato, he left the Hokage's Office together with the three members of Ino-Shika-Cho.

Shikaku was still frowning as he pondered Orochimaru's unfathomable actions today.

It was common knowledge that Orochimaru coveted the position of Hokage as well. What had made him change so drastically?

"Could it be..." Shikaku suddenly thought of something and muttered to himself.

"What is it?" Minato asked.

Shikaku's expression shifted as he spoke quietly to Minato. "Have you forgotten why we kept suffering defeats during the battle against the Stone Ninja?"

The moment he said that, the expressions of the others changed.

Minato frowned slightly. "Shikaku, if that is what you think, then you are assuming that Orochimaru-senpai was involved with the traitor."

Shikaku's meaning was clear. The reason Orochimaru had given the position to Minato was that he intended to secretly make some moves from the rear and cause Minato to stumble on the front lines.

Then he would play the savior once again and reap all the rewards.

"Minato, this is a grave matter. We cannot afford to be careless," Shikaku said.

But Minato said, "If Senior Orochimaru truly did it, then we must produce evidence. When that time comes, the Hokage and all of Konoha's comrades will naturally judge this criminal. Without evidence, it is all nothing but baseless speculation. We cannot treat it as fact and use it to guess at someone else's thoughts. Since I have taken this position, I will naturally do everything I can to bring victory to the village!"

Shikaku could only smile bitterly at that. Minato could say the pretty words; the rest was still up to them.

Please, vote for me and help this poor kid!