The Nine-Tails' Attack dealt Konoha a devastating blow. The losses it caused this time were even greater than those inflicted when Madara Uchiha brought the Nine-Tails against Konoha all those years ago.
Even in the end, they never learned the identity of the person who had come to wreak havoc, nor did they learn where he had gone afterward.
All they knew was that Konoha had lost the Fourth Hokage in this battle, along with a great many ninja.
For a time, the situation in Konoha grew unstable, and anxiety spread through the village. After all, so many people had died, including the Hokage himself. Many began to worry about Konoha's future.
Of course, while some grieved, others rejoiced. Not everyone was worried. On the contrary, some were positively thrilled.
At Root, when Danzo learned that the Nine-Tails' Attack had killed or wounded a great many Anbu Ninja and shinobi clan ninja, and that even Konoha's youngest and most popular Hokage, the Fourth Hokage, had died, he nearly jumped for joy.
"Hahaha! Good, good! This is wonderful!"
Danzo listened to his subordinate's report, his spirits soaring.
"Now that the Fourth Hokage is gone, and that old fool Hiruzen Sarutobi has stepped back from the front lines, I'll take the position of Fifth Hokage."
He had already given up on pursuing the Hokage position. After all, he was getting old, while the Fourth Hokage was still so young. If he waited for the Fourth Hokage to step down, he would probably die before that day ever came.
He had never expected the Fourth Hokage to sacrifice himself during the Nine-Tails' Attack. Surely it was his turn to become Hokage now.
No, there seemed to be one other suitable candidate.
"Orochimaru!"
A cold gleam flashed in Danzo's eyes. For an instant, killing