"Yuan-kun, you're not wrong. Tsunade and that Jiraiya fellow are the only ones in the village suited to succeed as Hokage. And I'm even more suitable than they are."
Faced with his student's question, Orochimaru showed none of an elder's modesty.
Uchiha Yuan knew that for his teacher Orochimaru, becoming Hokage would let him conduct research without restraint, become a second Tobirama Senju, or even a Hokage who surpassed Tobirama Senju.
"Then congratulations in advance, Sensei!"
Only then did Kurama Shion and Hyuga Ryo understand.
If Orochimaru truly became Hokage after the Fourth's death, then the political investments made by their clans would have paid off completely.
At that time, their lives would become easier as well.
"Congratulations, Sensei!"
"Congratulations, Sensei!"
Only Mitaraishi Anko stood there in a daze for quite a while before she understood what was going on.
"Alright, it's too early for congratulations. Let's handle the real business first."
Orochimaru felt nothing at his students' flattery. Becoming Hokage was merely a means to make his research more convenient, not his ultimate goal.
"First, Yuan-kun, the medicinal herbs I asked you for."
Uchiha Yuan presented the scroll containing the sealed medicinal herbs.
Busy robbing Obito's home, he naturally had no time to gather herbs himself. Uchiha Yuan had therefore long ago commissioned the affiliated Ninja Cat Clan to purchase a large batch from the Red State Merchant Ninja.
It had nearly drained all his savings.
"Yuan-kun, I know you didn't gather the herbs according to my instructions. I even specifically arranged for Root to take away that old grandmother you've always cared for."
"I know that old lady is the grandmother of Uchiha Obito, the 'Sharingan Hero.'"
"Yuan-kun, you don't have many relatives in the village. That old lady is very important to you, isn't she?"
As he inspected the quality of the herbs, Orochimaru spoke as though no one else were present.
At this point, he practically admitted indirectly that he had orchestrated every incident from behind the scenes. Wasn't such candor itself a warning to Uchiha Yuan?
The atmosphere that had only just become cheerful was instantly shrouded in gloom. Uchiha Yuan did his best to keep his expression unchanged.
In this era, shinobi were tools.
Orochimaru's methods suited a shinobi, but not a normal human being.
"Sensei, I'll do my best to awaken my Sharingan."
Orochimaru did not press further. Only after confirming that the herbs were correct did he speak emotionlessly.
"I summoned you here this time for a very important mission. From now on, you'll act together with me."
At the mention of a mission, Mitaraishi Anko was the most excited.
During the Third Shinobi World War, Orochimaru Squad had mostly carried out research, gathered supplies, and handled similar tasks. There was no danger, and naturally no excitement either. She had long been bored out of her mind.
Uchiha Yuan glanced at the boisterous girl. Compared to the composed Hyuga Ryo and Kurama Shion, Mitaraishi Anko was practically a child.
Perhaps Orochimaru truly raised her as a daughter. He had spoiled her rotten.
Just then, with a bang, a pale green signal flare trailing fire shot up into the air.
This was not a style commonly used by Hidden Leaf Village shinobi, yet Orochimaru recognized it at a glance.
"Alright, the other side has sent their signal. Follow me to the Fire Temple first."
Along the way, Uchiha Yuan felt somewhat uneasy. Last night, he had intercepted no fewer than five Fire Temple monk shinobi escorting Nine-Tails Chakra.
Though he still did not know whether Orochimaru's mission had anything to do with that Nine-Tails Chakra, Uchiha Yuan believed he had acted swiftly and cleanly at the time, without exposing any information about himself.
Even if he stood before the Fire Temple monk shinobi who had returned alive, the man would not recognize him.
A quarter of an hour later, in an abandoned courtyard near the Fire Temple.
Disguised as pilgrims, Uchiha Yuan and the others saw a group of bald monk shinobi gathered around a massive wooden fish, burning incense and chanting sutras.
The design of that massive wooden fish looked familiar. Last night, Uchiha Yuan had dismantled several of them.
After Orochimaru spoke with Kazuma, a blue-robed monk shinobi with long hair, his expression turned ugly.
There were more than half fewer massive wooden fish than expected. It would not delay what came next, but Orochimaru was clearly dissatisfied.
Uchiha Yuan, Hyuga Ryo, Kurama Shion, and Mitaraishi Anko stared at the massive wooden fish surrounded by the monk shinobi.
They could all sense an ominous, vicious aura filling its interior.
Accompanied by Kazuma, Orochimaru walked toward the massive wooden fish around which the monk shinobi sat.
Before leaving, he did not forget to instruct his students.
"Alright, you lot should watch carefully. This is one of the few chances you'll get to observe the creation of a Jinchuriki up close."
At those words, Uchiha Yuan, Hyuga Ryo, Kurama Shion, and Mitaraishi Anko all grew tense.
The sealing of a Jinchuriki was one of the village's secret matters. They had only heard of it and had never witnessed it up close. Orochimaru's words meant they could observe a Sealing Technique being performed at close range.
This was an unprecedented opportunity.
Uchiha Yuan widened his eyes. Soon, he discovered that the final strand of Nine-Tails Chakra remaining at the Fire Temple seemed different from the ones consumed by the Demonic Statue Fragment.
It was far too violent.
The monks seated around the massive wooden fish wore solemn expressions. As they chanted, the massive wooden fish placed at the center trembled continuously, as though silently howling.
At the same time, boundless malice spread soundlessly through the courtyard.
The monks closest to the wooden fish were affected, and fanatical crimson gradually filled their eyes.
Before long, two monk shinobi could no longer suppress their boiling hostility. They rose and began fighting the surrounding monks.
Fortunately, Orochimaru acted in time, preventing a tragedy.
Watching this, Uchiha Yuan secretly shook his head.
When the Demonic Statue Fragment had consumed Nine-Tails Chakra before, the latter had been as obedient as clay in someone's hands, completely unable to resist the Demonic Statue Fragment.
But the situation before him was steadily worsening.
Terrifying cracks appeared across the shell of the massive wooden fish. A miniature orange fox leaped out, twisting its body violently as it bared its fangs at those around it.
The chanting monks seemed to have suddenly been struck by invisible hammers. Their eyes turned red as they attacked one another.
This time, Orochimaru merely watched coldly.
Kazuma had never experienced such chaos either. He shouted for the monk shinobi not to stop chanting the sutras no matter what, but more and more monks could no longer hold on.
Ambushed by their companions and mentally affected by the Nine-Tails Chakra, the defenses created by their chanting were like a sheet of white paper, easily stained a vivid crimson with blood.
Hostility began brewing within Kazuma's chest as well.
"Don't let it affect you, Kazuma! Bring up the Jinchuriki you prepared."
Orochimaru's tone remained utterly calm.
"I understand, Lord Orochimaru."
Kazuma was powerless to do anything about the tragedy around him and could only follow Orochimaru's instructions.
He turned and shouted toward the courtyard entrance.
"Kudo, come over! No matter what happens, you only need to obey my—no, Lord Orochimaru's orders."
Before you continue