For the next few days, Kenichi Amamiya focused on improving his strength. He had a persistent feeling that something major was about to happen, and strengthening himself was definitely the right call.
Meanwhile, his teacher Orochimaru showed no sign of surfacing during this time. Even their daily experimental work had come to a halt.
But Kenichi Amamiya knew this was only the tranquility before the storm. Unless the Third died now, there was no way his teacher Orochimaru could become the Fourth Hokage.
Sure enough, when he heard people on the streets discussing Minato Namikaze becoming the Fourth Hokage, Orochimaru finally appeared before Kenichi Amamiya.
"Kenichi, let's go. It's time for experiments." Orochimaru looked the same as ever, but Kenichi Amamiya could sense that he was not in a good mood. A trace of barely concealed anger lurked in those eyes.
Kenichi Amamiya rarely saw his teacher wearing such an expression. But this was clearly not the time to ask questions, so he said nothing and silently followed Orochimaru.
"Kenichi, you're a smart person. I want to ask you—what do you plan to do in the future?" Orochimaru asked calmly as they walked through the woods.
He did not elaborate, but Kenichi Amamiya understood what he meant.
Although Minato Namikaze becoming the Fourth Hokage was still only a rumor, Konoha's higher-ups all knew that the next generation Hokage would be Minato Namikaze, not Orochimaru.
The announcement of Minato Namikaze taking office as the Fourth Hokage would come soon enough.
It would not take long. Minato Namikaze would soon become the village's new leader—though whether he would be a puppet or a Hokage with real authority remained to be seen.
"Teacher, I want to follow in your footsteps." Kenichi Amamiya was honest. Orochimaru knew quite a few of his secrets. Strictly speaking, they were tied to the same rope now.
He could not easily break away, and Danzo knew about him as well. If he stayed behind, he would have to face that Old Silver Coin, Danzo.
Hearing Kenichi Amamiya's words, Orochimaru nodded. But he did not stop walking and simply continued onward.
"You're very smart. I plan to leave this rotten, foul-smelling village. If you don't leave with me, there's a good chance they'll settle the score with you as my scapegoat," Orochimaru said casually.
He knew his disciple was intelligent, not at all like a child but rather exceptionally mature. That was precisely why he was willing to take him along.
As for Mitaraishi Anko, the best choice was to make that pitiful girl forget him.
Kenichi Amamiya obediently followed Orochimaru. He knew that what Orochimaru said was indeed true.
To be honest, Kenichi Amamiya did not really want to leave Konoha. The resources here were simply too abundant. But he had no choice but to leave.
Once the research into the First Hokage's Cells became public, even if only the upper echelon learned of it, it would still be a tidal wave Kenichi Amamiya could not withstand.
Konoha would definitely have to give the Senju Clan an explanation. Tsunade, one of the Sannin, would not completely ignore it either. But Orochimaru would run, Danzo would shift the blame—so who would take the fall?
Whoever had no backing and no strength would naturally be the one to take it.
In the end, when you were out making a living, it was always the underlings who took the blame. And Kenichi Amamiya was a fine scapegoat.
"I can already guess what comes next. Danzo will definitely make you join Root under the pretense of letting you redeem yourself through merit, then control you and continue those experiments." Orochimaru had arrived at the entrance to the secret Underground Laboratory.
Kenichi Amamiya followed his teacher into the Underground Laboratory. This was the place where he had spent the second-longest amount of time in Konoha.
"If circumstances force it, I'll probably have to be thrown out and killed to quell everyone's resentment." Kenichi Amamiya shrugged. It was precisely because he had considered this possibility
that he decided to leave with Orochimaru.
Danzo was not an excellent leader. Throwing out his subordinate to take the blame when something went wrong was exactly the kind of thing he would do.
At the very least, if he followed his teacher, he would not die, would not receive the Tongue Curse Seal, and would not be used as a scapegoat.
"You're very smart." Orochimaru smiled. He did not like talking to Idiots. It was troublesome and exhausting. Communicating with smart people was much simpler.
Jiraiya was that idiot. Earlier, he had actually tried to comfort him and tell him not to feel too upset.
Who was upset?
Over the mere position of Fourth Hokage?
"...Teacher, you seem to be feeling a little unwell?" Kenichi Amamiya glanced at Orochimaru and cautiously asked.
"You're mistaken." Orochimaru's expression turned cold. Kenichi Amamiya gave an "oh" and followed behind him expressionlessly.
But Kenichi Amamiya wanted to laugh a little inside. As expected, Teacher Orochimaru was still Teacher Orochimaru. It was obvious that he cared deeply about becoming the Fourth Hokage, yet he still acted as though he did not care.
"That Rejection you mentioned has now officially been incorporated into future experimental procedures. If you have any other unique ideas, you can tell me," Orochimaru said casually as he picked up an Experiment Log and flipped through it.
Kenichi Amamiya nodded. It seemed that although Teacher Orochimaru had not brought him here lately, the experiments had not stopped. They had continued all along.
Danzo was probably getting anxious too, wasn't he?
That was perfectly normal.
It had to be said that although Hiruzen Sarutobi had stepped down from being a qualified ninja, he truly was an outstanding politician.
He was exceptionally underhanded and shameless, with superb methods.
His suppression of Danzo had been extremely effective. As long as Sarutobi lived, Danzo had been beaten down so thoroughly that he could barely raise his head.
"Teacher, can you give me these failed test subjects?" Kenichi Amamiya saw the Experiment Log as well, and his eyes gleamed with desire.
Good heavens, Root truly was Root. In such a short time, they had gathered eighty-two test subjects.
These were the ones who had survived after Kenichi Amamiya proposed Rejection. Without his suggestion, these guys would have long since died at the hands of the First Hokage's Cells.
"I want fifty. The rest are yours." Orochimaru did not care much. They were merely expendable materials. He had his own project now, so he took a portion for himself.
"Thank you, Teacher." Kenichi Amamiya licked his lips. Thirty-two test subjects were enough, and this time, he finally would not have to worry about whether they would die.
Even if they died, it did not matter. He could just replace them. Besides, truthfully, they were not that easy to kill.
Yang Release Chakra could instead make their lungs more active. It was practically healing the sick and saving lives.
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