After an overjoyed Mitarashi Shiun went home to pick out a house with his wife, the two returned to the shop. Only then did Orochimaru say helplessly, "I never agreed to take on a student."
"Taking this student will help you become Hokage," Ling Tian said, watching Shiun leave.
"Does this have something to do with Shishō?"
Orochimaru knew Mitarashi Shishō, who was the same age as him. The man was known as a ninja without weaknesses, but in Orochimaru's eyes, he had no particular strengths either.
Ling Tian looked straight at him. "Never underestimate anyone. That's a basic rule for any ninja. Snake Lord, has the title of Sannin already made you look down on everyone?"
Orochimaru smiled. "Idle Fish Lord, what exactly is so special about Shishō, then? What makes you think so highly of him?"
He did not take it very seriously. What potential could a man who had only become a jonin in his twenties possibly have?
"I've only ever seen two people who had talent and were willing to spend their early years studying extensively for the sake of their future."
Ling Tian sighed. "One was the Second Hokage. Though Water Style was his greatest strength, he was also known as an all-round ninja. The other was the Third. He was unremarkable early on, but once he reached Kage Level, he stood among the very best."
Orochimaru smiled, unconvinced. The Second had already reached Kage Level at twenty and killed Uchiha Izuna, who was also Kage Level. The Third had been an elite jonin at twenty, too, and that was only because studying too many things had held him back. Otherwise, he would already have been Kage...
At that thought, his eyes narrowed again.
Seeing that he had caught on, Ling Tian said calmly, "What, did you remember? The Third is known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, yet none of you three students inherited his ninjutsu. Have you never wondered why?"
Tsunade excelled at Medical Ninjutsu and the Monster Strength Fist, but the less said about her talent for ninjutsu, the better.
And Jiraiya? He had devoted himself to practicing the Toad Clan's ninjutsu and thought little of what the Third had to offer. It was not that the Toad Clan's ninjutsu was stronger than the Third's, only that it suited Jiraiya better.
As for Orochimaru, his story was a tragedy.
He was too clever and had ideas of his own, so he ended up with no one willing to dote on him.
Of the three, one had her clan's teachings and the legacy of the First and Second Hokage, while another was spoiled like a beloved son by one of the Three Great Sage Lands...
And Orochimaru?
He had even had to develop techniques like Hidden Shadow Snake Hands himself.
Ryūchi Cave had no obligation to teach those who signed a contract with it.
In that respect, Orochimaru was stronger than Tsunade and Jiraiya by no small margin.
Ling Tian understood all of this, and through his explanation, Orochimaru came to realize it ahead of time as well.
At that moment, Orochimaru's distinctive snake eyes radiated danger.
My dear teacher certainly seems to have raised a fine student!
Aching inside, Orochimaru asked with an unreadable expression, "What should we do?"
Ling Tian looked at him with a faint, knowing smile. "You believe me now?"
Orochimaru said nothing. He still needed to investigate further, but that did not stop him from assuming the worst for now.
Ling Tian said, "If you want to become Hokage, I'm eighty percent certain the Hyuga and Uchiha will support you. Together with your subordinates, that will be enough."
Ling Tian paused briefly before continuing, "As long as you show your strength, we only need to bring Torifu Akimichi out, and the Ino-Shika-Cho will definitely support you. At that point, will the rest even matter?"
With White Fang and Dai's support, Torifu Akimichi would certainly not mind coming out to serve as an Advisor.
Even if he had no desire for power, could he really ignore his clan?
"Why choose me?"
Orochimaru was puzzled. "If you've already arranged everything, why choose me?"
Then he added, "Idle Fish Lord, if you truly want to work with me, don't lie to me."
Ling Tian glanced at him and said coldly, "My older brother may be powerful,
"and he has the ambition, too, but he lacks the ability to serve as Hokage. As for me, do you think anyone would agree to make me Hokage?" "And the Three Advisors, regardless of whether their strength qualifies them, are nothing but bloodsuckers left over from the old era, just like the Third. How would making one of them Hokage be any different from having the Third in charge now? At least the Third is strong enough, even if he clings to power."
"As for the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan, never mind the other clans. Whichever one became Hokage, the other would never agree."
Hearing this, Orochimaru ventured, "Tsunade and Jiraiya..."
"They aren't worthy."
Ling Tian cut him off before he could finish.
"Tsunade's strength barely qualifies her. She's one of the Sannin, a direct student of the Third, and she still benefits from the Senju Clan's legacy. Unfortunately, she's all bust and no brains. The Senju have already declined, the higher-ups keep suppressing them, and their clansmen have died under suspicious circumstances. Yet she still wants nothing and strives for nothing. Is she fit to be Hokage?"
"And Jiraiya is the successor of Mount Myōboku, the strongest fighting force among the Three Great Sage Lands. He's also a direct student of the Third, and his strength is on par with yours. Being a civilian-born ninja works in his favor, too. Unfortunately, he has little ambition and limited ability. The Leaf Village gave him life, raised him, and trained him. And once he'd made something of himself? He went off to draw smut."
Ling Tian sneered. "The Third has shown quite a few times that he wants Jiraiya to become Hokage, hasn't he? Have you ever considered why?"
"Because he thinks highly of him."
Orochimaru sneered.
"Isn't it because Tsunade has the Senju Clan behind her, while you, Orochimaru, aren't easy for him to control?"
Ling Tian continued, "Jiraiya has no interest in becoming Hokage, lives as he pleases, and has no ties to any other ninja clan. Doesn't that make him the perfect puppet, the ideal Hokage to mentor the next generation of Sarutobi Clan ninja?"
"That teacher of yours has rotted. He's become a bloodsucking parasite corrupted by power."
Orochimaru remained noncommittal. "You still haven't told me why you chose me."
The analysis was excellent, but what concerned him most was why Ling Tian had chosen him.
Even if you brothers can't become Hokage, wouldn't choosing a puppet be better?
At those words, Ling Tian smiled again, delighted.
He looked at Orochimaru. "If I said it was because you have talent, strength, ambition, vision, ability, and the charisma to match, would you believe me?"
As he finished, he spread his arms and tilted his head back to gaze at the sun, longing in his voice. "The Leaf Village is too small. It's not enough. What I want is the entire Shinobi World."
"The Leaf Village is too small."
Deeply shaken, Orochimaru stared at the madman before him.
Yes, a madman.
The entire Shinobi World was something even the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha had failed to conquer. What was he, if not a madman?
Ling Tian looked back with a brilliant smile. "This Shinobi World is far too chaotic. Snake Lord, are you interested in ending this age of turmoil with me?"
As he spoke, he clenched his fist. "I want ninety-nine percent of this Shinobi World all to myself."
Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, who would become the Shinobi World's greatest villain in the early years to come, whose mere flick of the tongue would one day make Sakura scream and leave Sasuke paralyzed, was stunned speechless by those words.
"Snake Lord, give it some thought. Right now, you're the only person in the entire Leaf Village qualified to join me in ending this age of turmoil and ushering in an age of prosperity."
With that, Ling Tian left.
Orochimaru is taken care of. Time to go home and brainwash my older brother.
Before you continue