Chapter 98: Sarutobi-sensei, you wouldn't want to

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Orochimaru's indifferent expression, and the anger in his heart surged up instantly.

But he still suppressed it.

Now is not the time to fall out with Orochimaru.

Having just achieved a glorious victory, Orochimaru was deeply adored by the Konoha Ninja.

The most serious problem was that the Fourth Raikage he defeated was precisely the person Sarutobi Hiruzen was trying to appease.

Currently, the gap in prestige between the two was completely overwhelming.

If the Third Hokage dared to fall out at this moment, it would be truly hard to guess which side the Konoha Ninja would stand on.

A smile appeared on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face once again, and his tone was even gentler: "Orochimaru, you've returned."

"On this expedition to Kumogakure, you performed a monumental feat, winning unprecedented glory for Konoha."

"On behalf of Konohagakure, I thank you!"

Orochimaru smiled, his tone equally gentle, but it sounded disdainful no matter how one listened:

"Sarutobi-sensei, there is no need to be so polite."

"Compared to the First Hokage, who could summon four former Kage to gather in Konohagakure with a single command, I still have a long way to go."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression sank slightly.

Orochimaru's attitude clearly showed he did not hold him in his eyes; he neither respected him as the Hokage nor regarded him as his teacher anymore.

But he still had to suppress his fire and continue to smooth things over: "Regardless, you have performed meritorious service for Konoha."

"Konoha will not treat its heroes poorly; I have decided to promote Yamanaka Chujiu to Jonin and award you both the Highest Honor Medal of Konoha."

"Additionally, the village will provide another reward as the bonus you deserve."

"By the way, why didn't Yamanaka Chujiu come over?"

Orochimaru said with a smile: "Many thanks for the Hokage's kindness; I will gladly accept the bonus and the medals, and I also thank the Hokage on Chujiu's behalf."

"That child Chujiu doesn't like crowds and hates being watched, so he went to handle his own affairs."

Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Orochimaru, secretly surprised in his heart.

How old is Yamanaka Chujiu?

Only fourteen or fifteen years old, yet he can be so steady and not greedy for vanity at all?

No, that shouldn't be it.

How could a child be so difficult to deal with?

It must be that Orochimaru calculated something to keep Yamanaka Chujiu separated from him, so as not to be pulled into his own camp.

A glimmer of light flashed in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes; in that case, he would have to make proper contact.

He withdrew his gaze, looked at Orochimaru, and his tone became serious:

"Right now, the ninjas of Konoha all adore you, and some even think you should immediately become the Fifth Hokage."

"I know you also want to be Hokage, and I do not wish to stop my most outstanding student from becoming Hokage."

"But I need you to give me a promise; you must guarantee that after you, or after Yamanaka Chujiu, the new Hokage will be my child or my grandchild."

"As long as you agree, I will make you an Elder of Konoha right now, grant you power exceeding that of Danzo, and begin arranging the succession for the Fifth Hokage."

For the first time, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke of his own selfish motives; he felt exceptionally awkward, and every word felt dry and unfluent.

But he still clearly expressed his meaning.

Orochimaru did not answer immediately, just staring fixedly at his teacher.

The atmosphere in the Hokage Office gradually became heavy, the air seemingly solidifying into concrete.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared dead at Orochimaru, his gaze filled with majesty and coercion.

Orochimaru's answer would determine the political direction of Konohagakure and, to a large extent, the fate of the Sarutobi Clan.

Orochimaru looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, his eyes filled with increasingly intense disappointment.

After a long while, he laughed softly: "Sarutobi-sensei, I will not give up the position of Hokage."

"If you won't give it, then I will take it myself."

"Orochimaru!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen roared: "How can you have no sense of the big picture?"

"The Hokage of Konohagakure is not so easy to be!"

"Even if you have performed the greatest of deeds, you cannot bypass me, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and become Hokage yourself—it is absolutely impossible!"

"As long as you agree to my request, we master and student can live in peace, and you can get everything you want; why won't you agree?"

Orochimaru smiled slightly: "Because the position of Hokage is not yours, Teacher, but Konohagakure's."

"Sarutobi-sensei, you often say that it is not because one becomes Hokage that one gains everyone's recognition, but that one must gain everyone's recognition to become Hokage..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand irritably, cutting off Orochimaru's words: "I don't want to hear your grand principles; those are my own words!"

"I am only asking if you agree to my request!"

"If you refuse, then don't blame me for being impolite!"

"Impolite?"

Orochimaru stood up abruptly, his golden slit pupils filled with disdain and mockery: "Sarutobi-sensei, have you not been impolite to me before?"

"Why was the Fourth Hokage able to take office?"

"Was it not because you deliberately suppressed me, shelved me, and wouldn't let me continue to lead the Konoha Ninja?"

"In order to suppress me, at least three thousand Konoha Ninja died!"

"Teacher, have you been infected by Shimura Danzo?"

"Why do you think that simply by relying on the status of Hokage, you can grasp all power and force me, Orochimaru, to bow my head?"

"When did you become so naive, Teacher?"

"Sarutobi-sensei, the reason I allowed you to shelve me was out of respect for you; I didn't care about the power of the Hokage, so I deliberately cooperated with you!"

Orochimaru walked in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen, his entire body radiating a terrifying, oppressive aura.

His tone was even more bone-chillingly cold: "But now, I am no longer willing to cooperate with you, nor will I be kidnapped and bound by your emotions any longer."

"We ninja respect power above all; whoever has the greater strength has the power to control everything."

"Two months after the Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself, you, Sarutobi-sensei, fully exposed your own weakness; you have neither the strength nor the courage to face the Fourth Raikage."

"When the Cloud Ninja played dirty, your subconscious reaction was to compromise."

"You are no longer able to protect Konohagakure; Konoha should be protected by me, and I will lead Konoha back to the throne of the Ninja World's hegemon."

"I will make Konoha great again!!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression sank completely, and a flash of killing intent crossed his eyes.

He had not expected Orochimaru to be so arrogant, daring to openly reject his demands and even turn around to challenge his authority.

"Good, very good!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice was icy, his body trembling slightly from anger.

"Orochimaru, you covet the position of Hokage; this is you betraying Konoha!"

"Betraying Konoha?"

Orochimaru laughed out loud: "I, Orochimaru, would betray Konoha?"

"Sarutobi-sensei, go ahead and announce to the Konoha Ninja that I, Orochimaru, am a missing-nin; go on, do it!"

He sneered, mocking: "No, you wouldn't dare."

"Sensei, you wouldn't dare say: the one who defeated the Cloud Hidden Army, conquered Kumogakure, forced the Fourth Raikage to surrender, and brought a massive amount of war reparations to Konoha... is a missing-nin!"

"You wouldn't dare say it!"

"The Konoha Ninja and the villagers are not fools; if you lie on this topic, everyone will immediately know who the one truly betraying Konoha is."

"Sarutobi-sensei, you wouldn't want people pointing their fingers at you and asking..."

"'Why did the Third Hokage betray the village'... would you?"