(Starting today, at least 3,000 words a day... probably...)
"Your story? Go ahead. I'm all ears."
Orochimaru recalled his progressive life.
"Like most Hidden Leaf Village youths of that era, my parents died in the war, and I became an orphan at a young age...
Not long after my parents died, the Third Hokage took me in as his disciple.
The Third Hokage actually treated the three of us fairly well. That was undeniable.
Like every child of the Hidden Leaf Village, my dream was to become Hokage and achieve progress.
So every day, I thought about how to make progress."
Orochimaru paused here.
"After working day after day, I earned the title of one of the Three Sannin. By then, the war had ended, and the Third Hokage should have stepped down to make way for someone worthy.
Logically speaking, the position of Hokage had a high chance of falling to either Jiraiya or me. I believe Jiraiya told you about Tsunade's circumstances, and Jiraiya himself had no interest in the position.
So my chances of becoming Hokage should have been a sure thing. Even Danzo's chances weren't as high as mine. But then the Yellow Flash appeared out of nowhere.
He was outstanding. I acknowledged that."
Orochimaru grew somewhat despondent.
"Then came the Nine-Tails Rebellion."
Orochimaru gave a bitter laugh.
"To be honest, when I faced that suffocatingly powerful force, I was shaken as well. I don't know whether you know the final outcome, but the Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself to save the Hidden Leaf Village."
"Originally, I thought I had another chance. Who would have thought the Third Hokage would take the position again? How ironic.
But at the time, I still held fantasies about becoming Hokage, and under hints from the Third Hokage and Danzo, I