For thirty years, orchestrating events from behind the scenes, he gathered Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Izuna, the Uzumaki Clan, his own Chakra and cells, and possibly even the cells of the First Hokage and Kekkeigenkai from other Hidden Villages, creating the ultimate monster, Uchiha Aomi—
The true Nine-tails of Konoha!
In this situation, Sarutobi Hiruzen had come to terms with it. Since he wasn't capable enough, he should promptly and decisively hand over power to his teacher. What was he still pondering?
If he clung to power now with dirty hands, the image of Shimura Danzo, turned to a pulp by Aomi, missing an eye, an arm lost, and imprisoned under a double seal, would always chill Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart.
The reckoning from his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no confidence in enduring it.
"Master Aomi, Orochimaru and Hiruko have arrived..." Uchiha Hachida quietly walked over and whispered.
Aomi nodded, gesturing for the two to sit down.
For these two genius scientists of Konoha, Aomi had the intention of recruiting them, and today's Root foresight meeting was also to let these two see the splendor of the Root.
Orochimaru smiled and nodded at Aomi.
Although dissatisfied with the Third Hokage's arbitrariness in the position of Hokage, ignoring him, an accomplished disciple, and forcing Tsunade to take the role of Hokage Assistant while making Aomi the Root Leader, even attacking Shimura Danzo in his urgency.
Previously, Orochimaru thought Sarutobi Hiruzen could never truly punish Shimura Danzo in his lifetime...
But the reality surprised him. To support Aomi, his teacher went to the extreme of imprisoning Shimura Danzo, making room for Aomi in the upper echelons.
With mixed feelings, Orochimaru also looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with newfound respect.
Though his interests were affected, Orochimaru felt some relief, as his teacher was no longer the muddled, indecisive old man due to age, finally regaining a trace of the decisive splendor of a Ninja Hero.
And for Aomi, Orochimaru's feelings were even more complex.
On one hand, Orochimaru viewed Aomi as the best container for his pursuit of immortality, wanting to achieve his dream of replacing his idol Senju Tobirama with this perfect body by catching him off guard.
On the other hand, Aomi was a competitor for the Hokage position, and Orochimaru was vying against Aomi in his heart.
But Aomi's attitude towards him took Orochimaru by surprise.
After taking over the new Root, Aomi sent an invitation to Orochimaru, extremely polite and respectful in words, expressing that Orochimaru was an exceptional genius and scientist in Konoha and the Ninja World in the past hundred years, and that he looked forward to collaborating with him.
Without a hint of coercion, completely different from Shimura Danzo, Aomi warmly invited Orochimaru to attend meetings in the Root, to see the current research equipment and facilities and future development directions.
If he found it agreeable, they could work together, and conditions could be negotiated.
If it felt constraining, even visiting for some guidance would be welcome.
This made Orochimaru feel very comfortable.
One must know, Aomi wasn't just Aomi; he could be regarded as half of Senju Tobirama.
Orochimaru had always idolized Senju Tobirama, referred to in another timeline as "the Second Hokage I respect the most," consistently maintaining respect as a scientific successor.
In the present, with Aomi holding such power, his polite and warm attitude made Orochimaru sigh at the vast difference in the working style and strategies of these two Root Leaders.
Next to Orochimaru, Hiruko, feeling uneasy, greeted Aomi and sat reservedly to the side.
Hiruko, a ninja of the same era as Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade, was now also a Jonin of Konoha.
But he wasn't satisfied with just being a Jonin; he sought to attain the power level of the "Sannin." To break through his talent's limits, Hiruko developed the Chimera Jutsu.
The so-called Chimera Jutsu was a combined Ninjutsu capable of merging a ninja or a summoned beast with one's own body, even fusing Kekkeigenkai.
In another timeline, Hiruko wanted to meld five Kekkeigenkai at once to achieve a perfect undying body.
Yet before the outbreak of the Third Ninja World War, Hiruko still appeared to be a nondescript, obscure Jonin in Konoha.
But Aomi's warm invitation still arrived at his home.
After some hesitation, never truly valued by Konoha's upper echelons, Hiruko, with an anxious heart, came to the Root.
Aomi glanced at Hiruko and said softly, "I welcome the two seasoned Jonin from the village, for the Root's Third Ninja World War deployment meeting, to the site for guidance and spectating."
"Everyone, welcome with applause."
Enthusiastic applause erupted, all the ninja clan elites in the Root, from Uchiha and Hyuga to Yamanaka, Ino-Shika-Cho, and Kurama...
Each person looked at Hiruko with a strange yet respectful gaze.
To be invited by Leader Aomi, although just an ordinary Jonin, certainly had his own excellence!
Feeling awkward, Hiruko waved his hand, a bit nervous in the face of everyone's respectful gazes, although he was a Konoha Jonin, all present were elites from various ninja clans, not something a civilian ninja like him could compare to.
Orochimaru also enjoyed it very much, yet he naturally clapped his hands lightly, responding to everyone.