"That's a shame." Mei feigned disappointment. "Well then, since you've made yourself clear, I won't bother you any longer. I'll take my leave."
"Not seeing you off," Orochimaru responded indifferently.
As he watched her walk away, something stirred in his memory.
Didn't this woman end up single her entire life?
"Alone forever, huh?" Orochimaru muttered to himself. "Too capable for any man in Kirigakure to match her? What a waste..."
But he didn't dwell on it.
He tilted his head back and gazed at the snowflakes falling from the sky.
His mind drifted elsewhere.
Moments later, Tsunade and Mikoto appeared behind him.
"What are you thinking about?" Tsunade asked.
"Nothing. Let's go."
Orochimaru turned and left with them without elaborating.
---
Meanwhile, in Konohagakure.
In the Hokage's office, Minato sat frozen, his face filled with disbelief.
"Me? The city lord of the Land of Frost?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sandaime Hokage, nodded with a smile.
"That's right," the old man said. "Orochimaru specifically requested you for the position."
Minato was completely lost.
How could this happen?
The newly established central city in the Land of Frost was set to become the beating heart of the entire ninja world.
The person who controlled that city would effectively control the flow of information, resources, and power.
And Orochimaru, one of the strongest, most elusive figures in the worldbchose... him?
"Lord Orochimaru... chose me?" Minato asked again, still doubting his ears.
Hiruzen chuckled. "That's right. This was Orochimaru's personal decision."
The Sandaime no longer wore the melancholy expression that had weighed him down for so long.
Everything he'd feared hadn't come to pass. In fact, things were turning out far better than he'd dared hope.
The ninja world was finally moving toward peace.
Though part of him still carried guilt over how he'd treated Orochimaru in the past, he was relieved to see his former student walking a righteous path.
Minato took a deep breath and bowed his head slightly.
"I'm flattered," he said. "But since Lord Orochimaru trusts me so much... I'll do everything in my power to live up to that trust."
"I'm sure you will," Hiruzen replied with satisfaction. "While this announcement will be made public later, I wanted you to be mentally prepared in advance. The road ahead will be rough."
Minato's blue eyes hardened with determination. "I'm ready."
Minato Namikaze was nothing if not adaptable.
The initial shock had already passed.
Now, his mind was racing through the implications of his new position.
First and foremost, he had no established power base.
If he were to manage a city that housed the elite of the ninja world, he'd need allies.
"I believe in you," Hiruzen said encouragingly.
The old Hokage was just as surprised as Minato. He couldn't fathom why Orochimaru would choose this particular young man, someone he'd had no past interactions with.
But knowing Orochimaru's meticulous nature, there had to be a solid reason.
And Minato's principles certainly aligned with the ideals Orochimaru claimed to hold.
So, Hiruzen didn't question it any further.
---
News of Minato's appointment spread quickly.
The ninja world was shocked but no more so than the residents of Konoha themselves.
Yet, before the village could fully process the announcement, another bombshell dropped:
Tsunade had resigned as Hokage.
"What... Hokage-sama is stepping down?"
The news left even the Sandaime momentarily speechless.
"Tsunade... are you serious?" Hiruzen asked when she appeared before him, paperwork in hand.
"I was never interested in the job in the first place," she said casually. "The ninja world won't see another major war anytime soon, not with Orochimaru overseeing things. So, I figured, why not step down and enjoy life?"
The old Hokage gave her a complicated look.
The battle for the position of Hokage had once consumed the village.
But now, with Orochimaru's unification efforts succeeding, the role had lost much of its significance.
The era of powerful independent villages was over.
The Hokage was no longer the most powerful figure in the world.
"Where is Orochimaru now?" Hiruzen asked.
"He's here in the village," Tsunade answered with a sly smile. "But knowing him... he's probably busy with something 'important.'"
---
Elsewhere, in the Uchiha compound.
Mikoto stood in front of Orochimaru, her eyes filled with emotion.
He was the man who had taken both her heart and body.
But before she could say anything, the sound of footsteps echoed behind her.
A group of Uchiha clansmen arrived, led by Uchiha Fugaku himself.
"Lord Orochimaru," Fugaku greeted respectfully. "It's been a long time."
"Indeed," Orochimaru replied with a faint smile.
The clan head's eyes narrowed slightly.
Orochimaru's reputation had already spread across the entire ninja world.
But for him to appear here, within the Uchiha compound, was unexpected.
"To what do we owe the honor of your visit?" Fugaku asked cautiously.
Orochimaru didn't bother with preamble.
"Lead your clan to the new city and take charge of the military forces," he said, his tone calm but the words shocking.
The entire group stiffened in disbelief.
"Us? The Uchiha?" Fugaku asked, voice faltering.
The Land of Frost's central city would become the political and military core of the ninja world.
Only the strongest, most trusted ninja would be stationed there.
For Orochimaru to hand the city's military operations over to the Uchiha was almost unfathomable.
Why?
The clan had been sidelined for years, relegated to law enforcement duties that most considered glorified security work.
This appointment was a monumental shift.
Fugaku's eyes drifted toward Mikoto, standing beside Orochimaru.
Was this because of her?
"Not interested?" Orochimaru asked, his smile never wavering.
"Of course we are!" Fugaku quickly corrected himself. "But... what about the Hokage?"
Managing the city's military would give the Uchiha more influence than they'd ever had in Konoha.
Would the village even allow it?
"There won't be any issue," Orochimaru said dismissively. "Just convince your clan to cooperate."
"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru!" Fugaku bowed deeply.
One of their own had brought them unimaginable power.
He couldn't help but think:
Is this what they mean when they say 'one person's success lifts the entire family'?
Orochimaru turned to leave, then paused.
"You'll be coordinating with Hatake Sakumo for the details," he added.
"Hatake Sakumo?" Fugaku was startled. "Why him?"
A voice responded before Orochimaru could.
"Because he's the next Hokage," came the unexpected answer.
Fugaku's head snapped toward the source of the voice.
"Hokage-sama?"
***
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