Orochimaru Was Cheerful and Sunny

Danzo was furious.

He knew there was a spy working for Orochimaru in Root, because he had spies among Orochimaru's subordinates, too.

The test subject, Kinoe, wasn't anything special, either. After several years in Root, all the experiments he could assist with had been done, and all the data that could be collected had been gathered. His value had long since been wrung out of him.

What truly angered Danzo was Orochimaru's undisguised attitude. He was being so brazen, so blatant, that it was obvious he didn't take Danzo seriously.

Orochimaru was furious, too.

That idiot Danzo had no idea what a test subject representing the success of the bloodline transplantation experiments meant to him.

In mathematical terms, breaking through from zero to one was far more significant than going from one to a hundred.

If he'd known about the Wood Release boy sooner, he wouldn't have turned to developing Living Corpse Reincarnation and gone down the crooked path of stealing the bodies of other bloodline users. Wouldn't it have been better to strengthen his own body?

Communication between two angry people was ineffective and low-quality, so the Genie had taken over Orochimaru's consciousness from the very beginning.

The disrespect was meant to provoke Danzo. It served two purposes: first, to accommodate Orochimaru's feelings; second, an angry person was far from rational, and even if he suppressed his emotions, his judgment would still be affected.

"Orochimaru" lowered his legs from the desk and sat up straight. Just as Danzo was about to lose his temper, he spoke.

"Tonight, the Fourth Hokage died, and the Hokage Position is vacant once more."

Danzo's expression suddenly froze. His dry right hand tightened around his cane.

"Jiraiya will be back soon."

A playful smile appeared on "Orochimaru's" face. "Who do you think is most likely to succeed as Hokage? Jiraiya, you, or me?"

Danzo replied coldly, "There won't be another Hokage."

With the village reeling from a major upheaval, everyone would prioritize stability. The most likely outcome was for the Third Hokage to take office again.

"Oh, you mean the Old Man."

"Orochimaru" shook his head. "But that would only be a temporary measure. The village needs a Hokage—one in the prime of his life, with his strength at its peak."

Danzo's gaze sharpened. The words "in the prime of his life" had struck a nerve.

After Tsunade's departure, the White Fang's suicide, and Minato's death tonight, the village had only two Kage Level fighters in their prime: Jiraiya and Orochimaru, two of the Sannin.

As for the younger generation of shinobi—Kakashi, Asuma, Shisui... Would they need five years or ten to come into their own?

The Third Hokage couldn't serve as acting Hokage for that long.

And Jiraiya had no interest in the position. Orochimaru really was the most likely to become Hokage.

Danzo's expression finally changed. He said in a chilling voice, "Orochimaru, you want to become Hokage? Don't be ridiculous. Hiruzen and Jiraiya would never support you."

"No, they will."

"Orochimaru's" expression softened, and he smiled with the warm radiance of sunshine. His cold aura vanished without a trace.

"Because I'll deceive them."

What... There was actually a way to do that?

Danzo's composure crumbled. His eyes widened like some insignificant nobody's, and the cane in his hand snapped with a crack.

Orochimaru—the "Orochimaru" who had always worn his malice on his face—had actually learned to act?

And his acting was so convincing.

Even knowing the other man was putting on an act, Danzo found his impression of Orochimaru wavering ever so slightly. He had no doubt Orochimaru could fool the Third Hokage and the others.

This was troublesome. An Orochimaru like this was far too troublesome.

"Orochimaru" was pleased with Danzo's reaction. Imitation was one of the Genie's specialties.

And Tanjiro Kamado, the saintly host from his previous world—if he wore Tanjiro's expression and exuded his warmth, who could confidently say Orochimaru had a black heart?

Danzo's gaze grew increasingly dark.

Setting strength aside, Orochimaru's contributions to the village were plain for all to see. Ultimately, the reason he'd failed back then was that he'd looked like a bad guy and made no effort to hide it. He couldn't compete with Minato's cheerful, sunny image, so few Special Jōnin or higher had chosen to give him their vote of confidence.

If Orochimaru turned his image around like this, he might truly win the Hokage Position one day.

After a brief silence, Danzo asked, "Orochimaru, state your terms."

Danzo wasn't stupid. He knew Orochimaru hadn't brought up the Hokage Position at this moment because he truly intended to compete for it. He was showing off his leverage to force Danzo to compromise.

But Danzo had no choice but to compromise. Leverage was leverage because it carried real weight.

"Orochimaru" held up one finger. "First, you'll hand over that Wood Release boy to me and erase every trace of him from Root."

Danzo nodded impassively. This demand was expected. He didn't much mind losing a shinobi whose value had already been wrung out of him.

"Second, I want all of Root's research data on the First Hokage Cells."

Danzo hesitated, then agreed. Copying knowledge wouldn't cost him anything, and if it could eliminate the threat Orochimaru posed to the Hokage Position, it was well worth it.

As for giving his enemy an advantage?

Danzo knew Orochimaru's talent for research. With his abilities, he'd soon come up with something more valuable. These files would merely save him some time.

"Lastly, give me two hundred million ryō."

Danzo's expression changed dramatically. "You're asking for the moon. Impossible."

"Orochimaru" smiled. "The Wood Release boy and the research data on the First Hokage Cells—if you hadn't hidden them from me back then, I'd have both already. These two demands are just what I'm owed."

"The last one is compensation. Two hundred million ryō shouldn't be much for someone who controls Root, should it, Lord Danzo?"

Danzo flatly refused. "Root doesn't have that much money, and I can't come up with two hundred million ryō, either."

"Then how much can you come up with?"

"Orochimaru" tilted his head, his smile fading as his gaze turned cold as ice. "Danzo, you're not thinking of sending me away without paying any price at all, are you?"

Danzo's face darkened, and he said nothing. A dangerous atmosphere began to spread through Root's conference room.

After a long pause, Danzo took a step back and slowly spoke. "I can't come up with two hundred million ryō. The most I can give you is one hundred million."

A glint flashed in "Orochimaru's" eyes. "You cut it in half just like that. Danzo, you've got some nerve. I can agree, but you must give me the full one hundred million within three days."

Danzo said gravely, "In exchange, you can't participate in the Hokage election in any way."

"Orochimaru" readily agreed. "No problem."

The deal was done, and silence settled over the room again.

"Orochimaru" had gotten what he wanted. He immediately stood up and left without hesitation.

As he stepped over the threshold, "Orochimaru" suddenly spoke.

"Danzo, I know you have dirt on me."

"But you'd better not get any crooked ideas."

"If you destroy my foundation in Konoha, I'll swallow my pride and beg the Third Hokage, beg my teacher, to protect me."

"In exchange for becoming the next Hokage's shadow."

"Don't doubt that I can do it. You're as shady as they come, yet you've managed to stay in Konoha just fine."

"And with you as an example, I'll do an even better job."

"Heh. When Konoha has a second Root, do you think there'll still be a place for you?"

"..."

The voice faded into the distance, then disappeared completely.

Danzo watched the direction Orochimaru had left in, his expression darkening.

He hadn't intended to expose Orochimaru's crimes, and he wouldn't dare. That would be tantamount to exposing himself, especially since Orochimaru didn't care about the Hokage Position. Danzo would be the only one to suffer.

But even so, he couldn't let himself take this loss without getting anything in return.

Danzo pressed the mechanism on his desk. A Root shinobi entered at once, and Danzo ordered, "Investigate. Check everyone who knew Kinoe existed, and pull out every one of Orochimaru's spies."