How many sincere words were spoken in the tone of a joke.
From the moment Uchiha Mai announced his candidacy for Fourth Hokage, he and Orochimaru had already become enemies. Naturally, Orochimaru did not spare him any courtesy, and his words carried a sharp, confrontational edge.
Of course, they had not torn their faces apart. Everyone was still eating from the same pot in Konoha. Unless there was a conflict that truly could not be reconciled, there was no need to start screaming at each other.
Orochimaru understood that, and so did Uchiha Mai. They would compete fairly, each relying on their own abilities.
The atmosphere at the dinner table became somewhat awkward. At the critical moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped in to smooth things over. "Mai's popularity did not come entirely from holding concerts.
"He has a good image, great strength, and an outstanding record. It is perfectly normal for Konoha's people to like him. The people's will matters, and we must respect the choice of Konoha's citizens.
"Besides, we are all Konoha ninja. Everyone contributed during this Ninja World War, so anyone can run."
With Sarutobi Hiruzen muddying the waters, the atmosphere at the table eased considerably.
But Uchiha Mai had no intention of letting Sarutobi Hiruzen brush the matter aside so easily. Determined to face Orochimaru head-on, he said coldly, "So what if someone contributed?
"What use is it to keep talking about the past? Past achievements can only prove that someone did well in the past. A Hokage election is about the present and the future. This is an investment in the future.
"Strength, ability, and potential are what matter most.
"If we are going to talk about contributions to Konoha, then people should be ranked according to their respective contributions and achievements. We cannot just say