After leaving the Hokage Building, Orochimaru wore an amused smile.
Ever since witnessing Minato's talent, he had been restless inside, as if a beast were trying to break free from its cage.
He hadn't deceived Hiruzen Sarutobi.
By now, he had no attachment whatsoever to the Hokage Position.
Because in Minato, he had seen an impossible possibility.
A transformation into something stronger, more exceptional, a higher form of life—a glimpse of a path to immortality!
That restlessness had reached its peak when he learned that Minato had killed Danzo!
Was Danzo really some weakling?
Not at all!
Under normal circumstances, a standard Konoha jonin should have mastered at least one Chakra Nature Transformation, and possessed enough chakra to perform three or four A-rank techniques.
Orochimaru had now mastered four Chakra Nature Transformations, and he was close to completing Wind Release, the only one he had yet to learn. Even among jonin, he was unquestionably elite.
But Orochimaru knew very well that, at least for now, he was no match for Danzo.
Though he had always considered Danzo short-sighted and narrow-minded, the man had indeed surpassed him in combat experience and ninjutsu.
And yet Danzo had been killed by a five-year-old child!
It seemed absurd, but Orochimaru knew that Danzo hadn't died because of a gap in experience or ninjutsu. He had been crushed by a higher level of power...
Orochimaru had experienced Minato's Laser. It was a speed no human could react to.
But that alone shouldn't have been enough to kill Danzo. Orochimaru himself could think of more than one way to counter it.
Danzo's death meant he had been unable to control, attack, or interfere with Minato. He hadn't even been able to escape.
That also meant Minato must have established an absolute speed advantage.
If Orochimaru himself