Shinobi World.
Land of Fire, within Konoha Ninja Village.
After Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju had successfully driven back Aramaki and accepted the welcome and celebration of all Konoha ninja and civilians at the gates,
they finally sat down in the quiet Hokage's office to speak with Orochimaru, who had just taken office as the Fourth Hokage.
Besides that,
Jiraiya, as Hiruzen Sarutobi's disciple and currently the strongest living fighting force in Konoha, had also been given a seat.
"You said you've already sent a delegation to Loulan to seek peace?"
Tobirama Senju looked expressionlessly at Orochimaru behind the desk.
Tobirama Senju was not very familiar with Orochimaru.
Only after being summoned by Impure World Reincarnation had he learned roughly who the man was through his introduction, followed by an exchange of intelligence regarding Aramaki.
But he had not expected that, in just a few days,
Orochimaru would become Konoha's Fourth Hokage.
This made Tobirama Senju, who had always been suspicious by nature, wonder whether the man was an ambitious schemer harboring some sinister purpose.
Yet Tobirama Senju did not reveal a hint of what he was thinking.
Hashirama Senju, sitting beside him, had smiled and said a few words at first before handing control of the conversation over to his younger brother.
Because Hashirama Senju knew Tobirama Senju was better at these matters than he was.
"Yes."
Dressed in Hokage robes, Orochimaru remained calm beneath Tobirama Senju's oppressive gaze.
"Although I'm sorry to have done something that may seem shameful while you two were fighting the enemy, as Hokage, I must prioritize the safety of all Konoha's people."
Over the next ten minutes or so,
he calmly laid out his analysis of the World Government's strength and his judgment that the entire Shinobi World would find it difficult to