Call Me Lord Hokage

Orochimaru, unaware he was being spoken of by a minor nobody in the village, walked towards his residence under the dim lamplight. However, he was soon blocked by two figures.

"Croak croak!"

"Hiss hiss hiss!"

A frog as tall as a man was facing off against the giant python Orochimaru had assigned to guard his home, right in the middle of the road. Both stared intently at each other, bodies tensed and ready to spring, as if they were about to collide in the next second.

Seeing this, Orochimaru paused, surprised to be meeting two of his dear friends one after another today.

"Yo, Orochimaru, long time no see. I heard Tsunade beat you up. Are you alright?"

Jiraiya, with his white hair and a light green shirt and pants paired with a red jacket, leaned against a shadowy corner, his tone as cheerful as ever.

Orochimaru didn't immediately respond to Jiraiya. Instead, he walked straight through the gap between the frog and the python, opening his front door.

"Are you going to keep hiding in the corner, crying for Minato Namikaze, or are you going to come in for a drink and a chat, Jiraiya?"

His hoarse voice drifted through the empty street. There was no immediate reply. Only after Orochimaru's figure disappeared behind the door did Jiraiya, walking out of the shadows with wooden sandals and a hint of sadness in his eyes, emerge.

"You're still as calm as ever, Orochimaru. I suppose having gone through the Nine-Tails' Rampage, you can answer the questions in my heart."

Senba had miscalculated again. He thought that after being recognized by Tsunade, he would be quickly summoned by the main family. To his surprise, more than half a month had passed, and he still hadn't heard anything.

Just as he was convinced his plan had failed, a letter regarding the clan's Soul Requiem Festival was delivered to him by the main family.

"Cough cough cough, Senba, many people in the clan lost their lives in this disaster. So, to appease everyone, the main family is holding this gathering to purify the disaster. Cough cough cough."

Miki, bedridden and unable to get up, held Senba's hand and looked at his face with cloudy eyes, speaking softly. "Normally, I should be the one to go. After all, once we die, the clan will cease to exist."

"But I can no longer move, and, cough, cough cough!"

"Grandpa, don't worry. I won't disgrace the family," Senba said softly, gently patting the old man's back as he comforted him, though this was also what he desired.

Miki's aged hand gripped Senba's arm. For a moment, the cloudy eyes seemed to brighten considerably. Looking at his grandson's familiar yet slightly unfamiliar face, a tear seemed to well up in the corner of his eye.

"Senba, go and see them. See them, and let them know that even though the Senju Clan is no more, the connection in our bloodline still exists. You are the best proof. Cough cough cough..."

Seeing his grandfather coughing uncontrollably from excitement, Senba quickly calmed him down. After watching him slowly fall asleep, Senba gently lifted his feet and slowly left.

He walked into the courtyard and looked up at the clear sky, letting out a sigh of relief in his heart. The day had finally come. If this still didn't work, he would probably have to defect from Konohagakure in the future, otherwise, the secret of his body would be discovered sooner or later.

Thinking of this, Senba flipped up his right sleeve and looked at the inner side of his forearm. Yesterday, while clearing debris, he had accidentally cut himself with a sharp object, leaving a long, narrow wound. Now, only a faint scar remained. If Danzo found out about this, it would be disastrous.

As Senba pondered the matter of the Senju clan's Soul Requiem Festival, on a hospital bed in Konoha Hospital, a ninja who had lost his legs and looked gaunt reached out with trembling hands and picked up a beast-shaped mask. It was his hope to become a ninja again.

"The past you is dead. Think of a codename for yourself, so it's easier to refer to you."

"Bitter Ape. My codename will be Bitter Ape."

"Whatever."

In the still dim Hokage's Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply as he looked at the grim-faced Shimura Danzō before him. He was already overwhelmed with dealing with the village's post-disaster affairs and really didn't want to see Danzō.

But he had no choice but to see him. If this old friend wasn't kept in check, he would do unpredictable things. Just now, the ANBU had reported finding Root members in the hospital.

"So, Danzō, I've agreed to your recruitment of personnel at the hospital. Is there anything else?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a moment to light his pipe and asked while smoking.

"Hizuzen!"

"Danzō!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes fixed on Danzō, sharp as an eagle's. Amidst Danzō's confused gaze, he pointed to the Hokage hat placed on the desk and said solemnly:

"In formal settings, you should address me as Lord Hokage."

Danzō's single eye showed a mixture of hatred and disbelief. Ever since Hiruzen Sarutobi became Hokage, he had always called him by his name. Why was he putting on airs today?

Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally understood Danzō's look. However, as he was in his second term as Hokage, he was no longer young and vigorous. Coupled with the current extraordinary times, he had to give everyone an impression of impartiality, to reassure them and make them believe in him.

And towards people like Danzō, Koharu, and Mito, who were usually on equal footing with him based on seniority, he had to show a certain attitude. Moreover, according to the ANBU's report, some bad news was secretly circulating in Konohagakure.

Angered by Hiruzen's attitude, Danzō glared with his bloodshot left eye, his chest heaving. After a few minutes of composure, he gritted his teeth and asked fiercely:

"Lord Hokage, are you aware that the Senju clan members are holding a clan meeting? What do they want at this time? Could it be that seeing Tsunade has returned, they have some ideas? I propose sending people to monitor their movements."

"There's no need."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's casual tone, yet with an unquestionable air, only fueled Danzō's anger further. He slammed the table. "How can you be so sure they're not a problem? If something goes wrong, it will be too late. Konohagakure cannot endure any more turmoil."

"If I say there's no need, I naturally have my reasons. Lady Momoka has invited me to the Senju Ancestral Home tomorrow to attend their clan meeting together. Anything that needs to be discovered can be found out on the spot, so there's no need for secret surveillance."

"What? I didn't know about this?"

Seeing Danzō's confused look, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't speak. He merely glanced at the Hokage hat beside him, his meaning self-evident.

This scene was a fatal mockery to Danzō.

"Bang!"

Watching Danzō slam the door and leave, listening to his angry footsteps, Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head, took a puff from his pipe, and continued to process documents. It was another sleepless night.