Orochimaru's Strange Behavior

Not only was Orochimaru himself barred from the battlefield.

Masaichi's application to head to the Hidden Cloud Village front lines was also rejected.

Danzo was even worse off. He had even noticed some ANBU keeping watch near the Root base.

Throughout Konoha Village, even Dai and Guy could see that the three-and-a-halfth Hokage, the King of Scapegoats, and the dog-headed strategist were being targeted.

Hiruzen Sarutobi just wanted to ask what those three had been doing behind his back lately?!

How was it any different from rebellion?

If it had been Minato, he absolutely would not have acted like this.

Orochimaru... it was not that his teacher was playing favorites. It was that he had willingly fallen into depravity.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had already prepared himself for Orochimaru to flip the table.

Everything was going according to his expectations.

Minato had now become the representative of Konoha's young ninja. With his support from the sidelines, and with Ino-Shika-Cho's current clan heads having long ago been instructed to get close to Minato.

Minato had grown strong! And when one grew strong, changes followed!!

Come, Orochimaru!!

Let your teacher see how much loyalty you had toward Konoha.

But...

Orochimaru showed no reaction or made no move, and that terrified Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He had imagined Orochimaru questioning him again, learning the truth and directly summoning Manda to give Konoha a good hit, even fighting his own teacher.

The only thing he had never imagined was Orochimaru doing nothing at all.

The office next door had been left empty. Orochimaru had been holed up in the laboratory for several days and had not gone into the office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was deeply worried, always feeling that Orochimaru was holding back something huge.

That afternoon, Orochimaru came and asked Hiruzen Sarutobi a question. "Between Minato and me, who matters more?"

Masaichi had asked that question before, and he had asked it too, but he needed a definite answer.

"Of course you do." If one looked closely, they could see a trace of unease in Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Is that so?"

But you have not been fair at all. You did not treat my student Masaichi and Minato's student Kakashi the same way.

You even encouraged Minato's reckless student Obito, telling him to measure himself against the Hokage and strive to become one. He is an Uchiha!

Yet you alone never treated my student that way.

Orochimaru naturally knew how much grievance Masaichi had suffered under Hiruzen Sarutobi. He should have become famous and achieved great things, yet his accomplishments only circulated among a small number of people.

Then may I conclude that you favored those connected to those you loved, and disliked those connected to those you disliked, Teacher?

"Orochimaru, your teacher knows that I have treated you unfairly in many ways concerning the position of Hokage, but this was a decision I made after great difficulty. Minato is more suited to become Konoha's leader."

Hiruzen Sarutobi listed many examples of how outstanding Minato was.

"Heh heh, I see. What an excellent young man, Teacher Sarutobi." Orochimaru's snake-like eyes met Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged gaze. Whether he was being sarcastic or something else, he turned and left.

The position of Hokage... I could choose not to have it, but... you could not refuse to give it to me.

I hoped it was as you said, that you had only considered things from Konoha's perspective.

Orochimaru had been acting mysteriously lately, and Masaichi had no idea what he was doing.

The only thing he knew was that Orochimaru had gone to see Tsunade some time ago.

Was he seeking Tsunade's support to become Hokage?

If you wanted Tsunade to support you becoming Hokage, you might as well make a few plans according to my policies. I loved telling the truth.

Masaichi was not the only one who thought so; Hiruzen Sarutobi thought the same. He had wondered what Orochimaru would do.

What a relief!

So he was preparing to ruin his plan to make Minato Hokage.

My student is rather naive, isn't he? How could Tsunade possibly support you in becoming Hokage?

He suddenly smiled in relief.

From then on, Minato's path to becoming Hokage encountered no more setbacks.

To cut off the Hidden Rock Village's supply route, Konoha sent Minato's Team to destroy Kannabi Bridge.

When Masaichi heard the news, he did not know how many times he sang "Preference" while bathing.

The Third Hokage wanted Minato's Team to make a collective appearance in the Ninja World.

With Minato's strength, this mission would not be difficult to complete.

But Obito had caught Madara's attention. With Madara interfering, Minato could not possibly arrive in time to rescue him.

Before they set out, Masaichi came to see Minato's Team off, with Kushina beside him.

With a single exchanged glance, Minato and Kushina communicated a great deal.

It was clear that the two loved each other deeply.

And if Minato died, Kushina would probably follow him even without having children, because Minato had come from hardship, so she would wait for him.

"Ah! Masaichi, this great man is going to accomplish something earth-shattering! Once I succeed, with my prestige, it seems even the Third Hokage will have no choice but to personally hand the Hokage position to me."

There it was, planting a flag before battle. Obito, it seemed you really would not be coming back.

Obito, go on. While you are gone these next few months, I will definitely take good care of little Rin.

Masaichi had already made plans to ensure Rin did not suffer the slightest injury, unless Madara crawled out of the ground.

But Obito definitely could not be saved. Kannabi Bridge was located in the Hidden Grass Village, and beneath the Hidden Grass Village was Old Man Madara's home. So close by, he really would be slapped to death.

"Huh? Masaichi, are you coming on the mission with us too?" Rin suddenly looked behind Masaichi in confusion.

"Hm?" Masaichi turned around and saw Orochimaru, dressed in combat gear with a pack on his back, arriving with Anko.

"Stop standing around. Let's go." Orochimaru gave Masaichi a "gentle" smile.

It looked gentle, but it was actually chilling.

Masaichi could tell that his teacher was currently the embodiment of negative energy...

Teacher was going on a mission with Minato's Team?

Was there a part like this in the original story?!

No idea.

Yet at that moment, they were already traveling with Minato's Team on their mission.

During a rest stop.

Masaichi stared intently at Orochimaru and Minato. If the two started fighting, he would definitely help his teacher. They could directly kill Minato, then disguise it as Minato's suicide. If Kushina investigated after they returned to Konoha, then Kushina could kill herself too, firmly concluding it was a lovers' suicide.

It would also give him another chance to get in contact with the Nine-Tails and give Konoha a Perfect Jinchūriki. Thinking about it, the future was beautiful.

But could the two of them, with Anko dragging them down, defeat Minato's Team?

By the campfire.

Rin and Anko were gossiping, occasionally glancing toward the boys.

Kakashi was dozing with his eyes narrowed.

Obito was actually sitting with his back to everyone, reading a book.

"Teacher Sarutobi thinks very highly of you, Minato-kun." Orochimaru sounded like an elder praising a junior.

Minato could not see the hidden meaning behind it and humbly replied, "Yes, Senior Orochimaru. I still need to keep working hard."

"Mm."

After Orochimaru responded, Minato could only smile awkwardly. What exactly had happened between Orochimaru and his teacher?

From Minato's perspective, he wholeheartedly worked for Konoha, was not blinded by profit, and treated others kindly. As for making him Hokage, the people around him had been arranging it without telling him. He himself did not even know.

Minato did not know how to continue the conversation either. Ah... could someone tell me what happened? Or could someone come save me? Tasuki.

"Holy shit! Obito, when did you awaken your Sharingan?!" Just then, Masaichi's sudden cry drew everyone's attention.