"Alright then, Jiraiya it is," Hiruzen said, "And you'll need to select suitable members for the Jonin team. I'll have Shikaku Nara assist you."
Shikaku's father, Nara Shikashige, had already grown old and pushed his son into the limelight.
As a gesture of appreciation for his loyal subordinate, the Third Hokage wanted to give Shikaku Nara an opportunity to gain experience and recognition.
"Fine," Orochimaru replied, glancing at Shikaku standing quietly nearby. He didn't reject the suggestion.
He did indeed need someone to help handle some of the more tedious matters.
"Since the sea is the Mist ninjas' primary battlefield, I want the village to assemble a small, but highly capable, elite unit to be stationed along the border," Hiruzen continued.
"This unit will be composed of selected members from the different clans. I ask for everyone's cooperation."
The village needed to be well-prepared for a potential war before it actually began, and stationing people along the border to guard against sudden attacks was a part of that preparation.
This unit needed to be made up of elite forces and would be led by Orochimaru to the front lines.
Upon hearing the Hokage's request, representatives from each clan agreed to provide their full support.
After leaving the Hokage's office, Nawaki curiously asked, "Xin, Minato, do you think we'll be sent to the front lines?"
"Who knows? That depends on what Lord Hokage and Orochimaru decide," Minato replied uncertainly.
Even though Jiraiya and Orochimaru were their mentors, there was no way to know until they were actually selected.
"Maybe," Xin said.
He had no idea whether their squad would be chosen and sent to the front lines. However, during the meeting today, he noticed something-Orochimaru seemed to be striving for something.
This was unlike Orochimaru's usual demeanor.
Orochimaru had some desire for the position of Hokage, but he never actively fought for it. In the original story, even when he found out that the Third Hokage had chosen Minato, he didn't say a word. He simply continued down his darker path.
But now, Orochimaru was trying to attain something-something he didn't care for in the original story. It was strange.
Could it be that Orochimaru decided to give it his all and fight for the position of the Fourth Hokage?
The thought amused Xin.
Well, people change, after all. Perhaps Orochimaru had seen things differently now.
Although, to Orochimaru, becoming Hokage was probably still less interesting than his research.
"What do you mean, 'maybe'?" Nawaki asked, looking at Xin walking ahead of him. "Minato, what do you think Xin is trying to say?"
Is it what I think it is?
Minato also found Xin's use of "maybe" a bit telling.
...
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