"Correct!" In the conference room, Hiruzen nodded.
"Next, I will propose to you all the candidate for the Fifth Hokage!"
"Who is it?" Kazunari and Torifu quickly asked, though they already had their suspicions.
But then, Hiruzen became evasive: "No rush, allow me to say a few more words!"
Hiruzen continued: "Each era has its own mission!"
"The mission of the First Hokage's era was to end the Warring States period and ensure peace!"
"The mission of the Second Hokage's era was to succeed the First and establish the village's structure!"
"When it came to me, the Third Hokage, my role was to carry on the legacy and open up the future, ensuring a prosperous era!"
"After the brutal Great Ninja Wars, Minato, the Fourth, was supposed to bring new life to the old tree!"
"But as you have seen, Minato was strong, but not enough against a monster like Yuki Sora!"
"Therefore, the Fifth Hokage must face one problem: how to ensure the village's survival under Yuki Sora's oppression!"
"Moreover, he must, to a certain extent, not fear Yuki Sora's pressure!"
"Fortunately, our great Konoha happens to have just such a person!"
Hearing Hiruzen's words, Koharu, Homura, and the others also began to have an idea.
It was the same old story… their Konoha might lack many things, but it was a land of outstanding people, a divine place for 'pulling powerful cards'.
In Konoha at this moment, there was precisely one person who perfectly met the criteria!
"Is it... Orochimaru?" The impatient Torifu spoke that man's name.
Hearing Torifu's words, Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction: "Correct! It is my beloved student, Orochimaru!"
"Orochimaru? But he's missing, isn't he?" Homura said urgently, not even having time to mock Hiruzen for praising himself even now.
"Orochimaru did go missing, during the battle with Danzo."
"However, 'missing' does not mean 'dead'!"
As he spoke, Hiruzen looked towards the door.
"Come in, Orochimaru!"
Following Hiruzen's words…
Creak!
The sound of the heavy wooden door being pushed open echoed.
Then, a man with a pale complexion, waist-length black hair, golden, snake-like eyes, and an overall aura of cold, sinister strangeness entered.
In the past, the self-proclaimed righteous elders would have had a thing or two to say upon seeing Orochimaru's eerie style.
But now, seeing the sinister Orochimaru was like seeing their savior… they were overjoyed to the point of tears.
"Excellent! For Konoha's future, it is precisely a Hokage like Orochimaru who can lead Konoha forward!"
"Fifth Hokage, welcome!" Homura stood up directly.
However, Orochimaru wasn't particularly fond of his sudden change in attitude.
After all, this person had always been one of his main critics before.
"Enough, Elder Homura. Save your words. I can become Hokage, but there is something I must inform you of in advance!"
Orochimaru gave everyone a cold glance, then slowly took out two scrolls.
On these two scrolls were written the characters [First] and [Dan].
Bang!
Then, the scroll marked with [Dan] was gently placed on the table by Orochimaru.
Looking at this scroll, Koharu frowned slightly: "What does this mean? Explain, Orochimaru."
"Simple!" Orochimaru shrugged, surprisingly casual.
Anticipating their reactions, he even couldn't resist sticking out his long tongue, giving it a perverted lick across his lips.
Orochimaru said: "Didn't Sensei say that in the coming era, we must have someone capable of facing Yuki Sora, or at the very least, have some confidence?"
"My research isn't fully complete yet, so frankly, I don't have that right now."
"However, there is one research project that, after Danzo's death and by building upon his work, I completed very quickly!"
Orochimaru looked at everyone excitedly: "Honored Elders, do you know what research got the Second Hokage reprimanded most severely by the First Hokage?"
"The time the Second Hokage was reprimanded most severely by the First..."
Hearing Orochimaru's words, the disciples of the Second Hokage present fell into recollection.
Fortunately, although it was long ago, it concerned the Second Hokage, so their memories were quite vivid.
At the time, this matter had caused quite a stir in the village for a while.
Therefore, they quickly remembered.
And consequently, they were shocked!
Koharu looked at Orochimaru in shock: "That technique!"
Homura immediately scolded: "Orochimaru! You are tampering with a forbidden territory!"
"Yes, it's too evil, Orochimaru!" Torifu agreed!
Hiruzen remained silent.
The remaining Kazunari, watching everyone's reactions, fell into deep thought.
Why did he feel like there was a party he hadn't been invited to? Was he being subjected to some kind of bullying?
Kazunari quickly looked at Orochimaru.
Fortunately, Orochimaru soon revealed the answer!
Orochimaru looked at the group: "Honored Elders, it's just the Edo Tensei, isn't it?"
"Is it really such a big deal?"