"Have Orochimaru come here."
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved a hand, calling for the ANBU to summon Orochimaru.
"Yes, sir!"
Whoosh!
The Cat-Faced ANBU answered from the shadows, then vanished from the Hokage's office.
Meanwhile, on Konoha's busiest main street, the Sannin had gathered at a business owned by the Akimichi Clan, which was also Konoha's most luxurious dining establishment.
The Barbecue Restaurant!
"I really didn't expect that brat from the Hatake Clan to be so strong at his age. That Uchiha kid was no match for him! Orochimaru, even you weren't that strong back then, were you?"
Jiraiya brushed oil onto the grill as he spoke to Orochimaru.
"I've got my eye on that brat. He's the perfect person to inherit my monstrous strength. Orochimaru, stop trying to get your hands on him! Otherwise..."
Tsunade clearly ignored Jiraiya as he spoke, looking at Orochimaru with a hint of menace.
"That will ultimately depend on what our teacher decides. Still, I'm very interested in him."
"I really want to understand how he trained his body. Tsunade, I'm sure you noticed his strength. The child from the Uchiha Clan couldn't fight back at all once they exchanged blows. That was pure physical strength, wasn't it? I didn't sense any chakra flowing."
Orochimaru clearly paid no attention to Jiraiya's question either. Instead, he answered Tsunade with a grave expression.
"Enough, you two! If you want to talk, at least answer my question first!"
Seeing Orochimaru and Tsunade ignore his question and carry on their own conversation, Jiraiya grew furious. His face flushed as he interrupted them.
Whoosh!
"Lord Orochimaru, Lord Hokage wishes to see you."
The Cat-Faced ANBU's arrival shattered the harmonious atmosphere between the three.
"It seems the matter has already been settled!"
Orochimaru looked at Tsunade across from him, a playful yet sinister smile spreading across his face. With that, he vanished from the Barbecue Restaurant alongside the Cat-Faced ANBU, leaving behind an enraged Tsunade and a disgruntled Jiraiya.
"Damn it, can't you people just listen to me for once?"
Jiraiya looked at Tsunade in exasperation, completely missing her clenched fist and furious expression.
"Damn it! Shut up!"
With Jiraiya chattering away in front of her, Tsunade furiously swung her fist, sending him flying.
Konoha
The Hokage's office
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the window, watching the setting sun outside and Orochimaru hurrying toward him, then exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.
"Lord Hokage, Lord Orochimaru has arrived."
"Let him in!"
He turned and sat down in his chair, a thoughtful expression settling over his face.
"You wanted to see me, Teacher? Is there something you need me to do?"
Facing the contemplative Hiruzen Sarutobi, Orochimaru, who had been his student ever since graduating from the Ninja Academy, could hardly fail to understand what he wanted. Still, he pretended to know nothing.
"Danzo came to see me just now. He wanted me to hand Chihane Hatake over to him, saying he could train him into someone stronger than the White Fang. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter."
"Teacher, Danzo is far too ambitious. Although Root's ninja are nominally a branch of the ANBU, in reality, they only obey Danzo's orders! You've been too tolerant of him! With Chihane Hatake's talent, handing him over to Danzo would certainly make him the sharpest blade in his arsenal. For the sake of harmony in the village, I believe you must consider this very carefully."
When Orochimaru heard that Hiruzen Sarutobi was considering handing Chihane over to Danzo, even though he knew it could never happen,
he still couldn't help feeling a tremor of unease. "Let's not discuss Root anymore. I believe Danzo also has Konoha's best interests at heart. Since you think that would be inappropriate, how would you feel about taking Chihane under your wing? Are you confident you can train him into an outstanding ninja?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi found Danzo, the Darkness of Konoha, very useful. Whenever anything unpleasant happened, he could shift the blame onto him, so naturally, he had no wish to discuss him further. But seeing that Orochimaru truly cared about Chihane put Hiruzen Sarutobi at ease, and he posed the question softly.
"Yes, Teacher. If you entrust Chihane Hatake to me, I'll train him into a powerful ninja!"
Although he had expected it, Orochimaru was still pleased to see that Hiruzen Sarutobi really intended to entrust Chihane to him, and he promptly gave an affirmative answer.
"Orochimaru, you should know that you're the one I value most out of the three of you. Neither Tsunade nor Jiraiya is suited to succeed me. I intend to leave Konoha in your hands in the future, but you don't yet have the experience to take this position. I called you here today because I was already planning to entrust Chihane to you. I believe he'll become a great asset to you someday."
Hearing Orochimaru's affirmative answer, Hiruzen Sarutobi visibly relaxed before speaking softly.
He had recently noticed that Orochimaru and Danzo were growing closer, and he would never allow anything in Konoha to slip beyond his control! Danzo alone couldn't cause much trouble, but with this gifted student of his at Danzo's side, things could easily escape his grasp.
Thus, using Chihane to drive a wedge between them was one of Hiruzen Sarutobi's main objectives.
"Yes, Teacher. Rest assured, I won't let you down."
Even with his aloof disposition, Orochimaru couldn't help growing excited at Hiruzen Sarutobi's words. He looked moved as he answered firmly.
"All right, I believe in you. Go back and make your preparations! Give some thought to how you'll train Chihane."
Just as Orochimaru understood Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood Orochimaru very well. Feeling that he had achieved the first part of his objective, he sent Orochimaru away. After all, he would be very busy today.
"Yes, Teacher. I'll take my leave, then."
This visit to the Hokage's office had far exceeded Orochimaru's expectations. Feeling that he could now begin making plans for quite a few things, he gave Hiruzen Sarutobi his reply.
With that, Orochimaru turned and left the Hokage's office.
"Have Jonin Minato come here."
Standing by the window, Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Orochimaru disappear from view, then waved his hand. The Cat-Faced ANBU vanished from the Hokage's office once more.
"Lord Third Hokage, you wanted to see me?"
At Hiruzen Sarutobi's summons, Minato Namikaze soon entered the Hokage's office.
"Minato, I'm planning to have you take a few students from this year's graduating class. What do you think?"
Hearing Minato Namikaze's voice, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained facing away from him, gazing at the setting sun outside the window. He exhaled a mouthful of smoke and spoke softly.
"Lord Hokage, just make the arrangements. I'll follow whatever you decide."
Minato Namikaze gave a sunny smile and answered cheerfully. Hearing him say that he would follow whatever was decided, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately felt that this was a true inheritor of the Will of Fire. The scales in his heart unconsciously tipped a little further toward Minato. Still, he spoke kindly. "I'm planning to entrust Obito Uchiha of the Uchiha Clan to you."
"That way, when you succeed me as Hokage, the Uchiha Clan won't have too many objections. Of all Konoha's Jonin, you're the one I have the highest hopes for. I believe you won't let me down."
Before you continue