"Congratulations, Jiraiya. No, I should say, Lord Fourth Hokage." Orochimaru did not have many friends, but that idiot Jiraiya counted as one.
"Orochimaru, it would have been so much better if you became Hokage," Jiraiya said helplessly.
"If you don't want to be Hokage, you could forfeit automatically like I did. At worst, just bring Tsunade back," Orochimaru said.
"Heh, why do you think the old man came looking for me? Wasn't it to persuade me to become Hokage?" Jiraiya said helplessly.
"Konoha has already rotted away. Can you change it?" Orochimaru asked.
"I don't know, but probably not. You know it too—I'm not suited to be Hokage." Jiraiya gave a bitter smile.
"So Danzo was right. What Sarutobi-sensei needed was merely a puppet like you." Orochimaru shook his head.
"Where the leaves dance, fire burns. The fire's light illuminates the village and lets new leaves sprout." Jiraiya murmured, "The first time I heard it, my blood boiled. But hearing it now only sends a chill down my spine."
"War has filled all that is beautiful with cruelty." Orochimaru sighed as well.
"Actually, we can't blame Sarutobi-sensei entirely. He has his own difficulties. I'll announce it tomorrow, and then you'll understand." Jiraiya still tried to ease the conflict between Orochimaru and the Third Hokage.
"Oh, really? Then I'll wait and see." Orochimaru spoke disdainfully. Whatever difficulties the Third Hokage had, they did not change the fact that master and disciple had become estranged.
Of course, Orochimaru was not stupid enough to openly fall out with him.
But expecting Orochimaru to trust the Third Hokage again would be difficult.
After all, he had truly considered Uchiha Chuan a friend despite their difference in age.
Yet the Third Hokage had caused the deaths of the Uchiha Clan, sparing not even the children.