When Uchiha Yato finished speaking, one person present was exceptionally excited.
That person was none other than Orochimaru, the Cold Lord, one of the Legendary Sannin.
Everyone present was intelligent, and they all understood exactly who Uchiha Yato meant by needing someone to analyze this "friend."
Surely no one actually thought this so-called friend was a person, right?
(Just a little wordplay. Please don't mind it, everyone.)
Setting aside the relationship between Orochimaru and Uchiha Yato, there was the matter of the research capabilities required.
Among everyone present—and indeed throughout all of Konoha—if Orochimaru claimed to be second, no one would dare claim to be first in research.
More than Orochimaru's relationship with Uchiha Yato, it was Orochimaru's research ability that had earned everyone's unanimous recognition.
Orochimaru did not stand on ceremony and stepped forward directly.
"My laboratory can be used to study the issues involved and how it can be applied."
"Of course, I hope Lord Hokage can provide the necessary funding and personnel."
Orochimaru's eyes shone as he spoke. After all, this was far from the first time he and Uchiha Yato had colluded.
But this time, the two of them had openly put on a coordinated act before all of Konoha's higher-ups.
Uchiha Yato put on a troubled expression.
"Then it can't be helped. I'll have to trouble Senior Orochimaru to work harder."
"When the time comes, take whatever funding you need directly from the logistics department."
Only then did Uchiha Yato reveal—or rather, expose—his true intentions.
He was using this matter as justification to take money openly from Konoha's logistics department.
Though he had become the Fourth Hokage, the one authority he had yet to exercise was control over money.
Uchiha Yato had deliberately said this in public. This was a power grab.
It was not