"I've been Hokage for more than twenty years, from my teens until now, in my forties.
"All that time, I've been on edge, afraid something might happen to the village. I plan to retire in a few years.
"Stay in touch with Konoha's major clans over the next few years. Right now, you're the best candidate for the Hokage position.
"Sakumo's work in ANBU keeps taking unexpected turns. He's unlikely to become Hokage now.
"Minato may be Jiraiya's and Fugaku's disciple, but he has no great achievements in battle. Konoha has always valued merit. Unless another Shinobi World War breaks out and Minato accomplishes something extraordinary, he won't be able to compete with you.
"Fugaku is an Uchiha ninja, after all. If he took the position abruptly, many clans might not accept it.
"And there's been no talk these past few years of him competing for the Hokage position."
"Teacher, don't underestimate Fugaku. He's hardly made a move in recent years, but he's grown harder and harder to fathom.
"It's not just Fugaku. Even Uchiha Jin gives me reason to be wary.
"Fugaku keeps growing stronger. Perhaps he no longer cares about becoming Hokage. That may be why he's backing Minato, to create an opportunity for the next generation of Uchiha."
The Third Hokage nodded, tacitly agreeing with Orochimaru. He, too, found Fugaku increasingly difficult to read, both in his thinking and his strength.
"Teacher, I'll be training in Ninjutsu outside the village for the next two days. If you need me, leave a letter at my home. I'll return every evening."
The Third Hokage suspected nothing. To him, Orochimaru was still the gifted, hardworking, somewhat solitary child he had always known.
Early the next morning, Orochimaru left home and headed out of Konoha.
From atop a tall building in