Orochimaru looked at him deeply and did not persuade him again.
"Okay then. But, Little Chen, mark my words--"
His voice became low and serious.
"This world is far more complicated than you think. Konoha's peace is nothing but false prosperity built on countless corpses. One day, you will understand that the so-called protection is nothing more than the mercy of the strong towards the weak."
"By then, if you change your mind, you can always come to me."
"I haven't fully understood the spell you gave me yet. When I do, I'll have someone send it to you."
After saying that, his figure disappeared deep into the mine.
Senju Chen was left alone, standing at the entrance of the cave, looking at the entrance swallowed by darkness.
"Teacher, you are right."
Senju Chen whispered to himself, his eyes becoming dark.
"This world is indeed complicated. But that's why it's interesting, isn't it?"
He turned around and headed in the direction of Konoha.
Behind him, the deep laughter of Orochimaru came from the mine, drifting in the night wind.
When we returned to Konoha, it was almost dawn.
Senju Chen sneaked back to the family home quietly, as if he had never left.
He lay on the bed and closed his eyes, but his mind was racing.
The defection of Orochimaru is undoubtedly a huge blow to Konoha.
One of Sannin, Third Hokage's direct disciple, Konoha one of the most promising Hokage candidates... Such a person actually conducted human experiments and even defected.
This incident was enough to make Konoha's reputation among Shinobi World fall to the bottom.
And for the upcoming Hokage election, the impact will be even greater.
As soon as Orochimaru left, the situation that was originally a tripartite confrontation instantly turned into a fight between two powerful forces.
Shimura Danzō and Minato Namikaze.
According to the development of the original work, the winner in the end should be Minato Namikaze.
But that old silver coin Shimura Danzō will not give up so easily.
However, Danzo has been studying conspiracies all his life, and this time he got involved in it.
He didn't understand that although sometimes conspiracy could lead to temporary gains, the top leader of a village had to stand in the sunshine.
His intention to expose Orochimaru was to eliminate a competitor and increase his chances of winning.
But now, although Orochimaru is gone, Danzo's own situation will not be much better.
Although his behavior of exposing Orochimaru seemed to be for the sake of the village, in the eyes of many people, it was more like a despicable political method.
After all, Orochimaru is still the disciple of Third Hokage and the hero of Konoha.
By doing this, Danzo is undoubtedly slapping Third Hokage in the face.
Moreover, the timing of his revelation was too coincidental.
It happened to be at the critical moment of the Hokage election, and it happened to be after he Senju Chen had lobbied the various clan leaders and expressed his personal support for the teacher Orochimaru.
This made many people wonder whether Danzo had known about Orochimaru for a long time, but had just kept it hidden until the most appropriate time to bring it out.
If this is really the case, then Danzo's scheming is terrible.
"Oh, Danzo, Danzo, you are just too smart."
Senju Chen turned over, closed his eyes, and prepared to catch up on some sleep.
But just when he was about to fall asleep, a slight Chakra fluctuation suddenly appeared within his range of perception.
He opened his eyes suddenly and his body instantly entered a fighting state.
But the next second, he relaxed again.
Because he recognized the owner of Chakra.
"Come in, Anko."
His voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard outside the door.
The door was gently pushed open, Mitaraishi Anko poked half of his head in, and looked at Senju Chen carefully.
"Chen-kun, you... haven't slept yet?"
Her voice was hoarse and her eyes were red, obviously she had cried.
Senju Chen sighed, sat up, and patted the place beside the bed.
"Come and sit."
Anko hesitated for a moment, then walked in and sat obediently by the bed.
She lowered her head, clutched the corners of her clothes tightly with both hands, and her shoulders trembled slightly.
"Teacher, did he... really do those things?"
Her voice was very small, with a hint of disbelief and a hint of despair.
Senju Chen was silent for a moment, and finally nodded.
"Hmm."
This word is like the last straw that breaks the camel's back.
Anko couldn't bear it any longer, and tears rolled down his eyes.
"Why... why would a teacher do something like that..."
She choked with sobs, her voice full of pain and confusion.
"The teacher is obviously so powerful and can become Hokage, why..."
Senju Chen didn't speak, just stretched out his hand and gently rubbed her hair.
He knew that what Anko needed at this moment was not an explanation, but companionship.
For her, Orochimaru is not only a teacher, but also one of the most important people in her life.
Orochimaru's defection may have dealt a greater blow to her than anyone else.
"Anko, listen to me."
Senju Chen's voice is very soft, but it has a soothing power.
"Teacher, he... just chose a different path. This path is wrong and evil in the eyes of many people. But for the teacher, this is the only way for him to pursue the truth."
"We don't need to understand him, nor do we need to forgive him. We just need to remember that he has taught us many things, and that is enough."
Anko raised his head and looked at Senju Chen with tearful eyes.
"But... but everyone in the village is saying that the teacher is a traitor and a devil..."
"Then let them talk." Senju Chen's tone suddenly became tougher, "What other people think of the teacher is their business. But in our hearts, the teacher will always be the teacher. No one can change this."
He paused and his eyes became serious.
"Anko, remember, you are Mitaraishi Anko, not an accessory of Orochimaru. The teacher's choice does not represent your choice. You have your own way to go."
Anko looked at him blankly for a long time, and finally nodded heavily.
"Hmm!"
She wiped her tears vigorously, and her heartless smile appeared again on her face.
"Chen-kun is right! I don't care what others say! The teacher will always be my teacher!"
Senju Chen smiled and said nothing more.
He knows that Anko's current strength is just a result of force.
When she goes back and is alone, she will probably cry secretly for a long time.
But there is nothing we can do about it.
Growth is inherently accompanied by pain.
A week goes by in a blink of an eye.
Hokage The day of the election has finally arrived.
On this day, the entire Konoha fell into a strange silence.
There were almost no ordinary villagers on the street. All Jonin gathered in the conference hall of the Hokage building.
As the representative of the Senju Clan, Senju Chen is also eligible to participate in voting.
Wearing a formal ninja uniform with the Senju Clan clan emblem embroidered on his chest, he walked slowly into the conference hall.
The hall was already full of people.
The patriarchs of Shikaku Nara, Chōza Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Ino-Shika-Cho Clans gathered together.
Uchiha Fugaku was sitting in the corner with a few Uchiha Clan and Elite Jonin, expressionless.
Hyuga Hiashi, the patriarch of the Hyuga Clan, is sitting in the front row, with Byakugan's blood vessels looming at his temples.
There are also Aburame Clan, Inuzuka Clan, Kurama Clan...
Konoha Almost all the famous families sent representatives.
Sitting on the rostrum at the front was Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was about to abdicate, and two advisory elders.
As for Shimura Danzō...
Senju Chen glanced around and found the gloomy figure in the corner.
Danzo is dressed very formally today, but his face is terrifyingly gloomy.
Danzo himself also discovered that although his plan succeeded in getting rid of a competitor, the village's senior officials became more distant from him. The people he had attracted before had recently begun to treat him as if they were away from him.
As a result, some of the negative news about Minato Namikaze that he prepared could not be released because no one would believe it.
"Everyone."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, his hoarse voice echoing in the hall.
"Today, we gather here to select Fourth Hokage from Konoha."
"This position is related to the future of Konoha, the safety of Land of Fire, and the fate of every Konoha Ninja."
"So, I hope you will consider it carefully and cast your sacred vote."
After saying that, he sat down.
There was a brief silence in the conference hall.
Then, a voice sounded.
"Lord Third, I nominate Minato Namikaze!"