After Sarutobi Hiruzen finished speaking, the conference room fell into a brief silence.
Choosing the Fourth Hokage was an extremely serious and important matter, a transfer of power not to be taken lightly. Every opinion voiced required the utmost caution.
"I propose that my student, Namikaze Minato, succeed as the Fourth Hokage."
In the quiet, Jiraiya spoke slowly.
He glanced over at Orochimaru.
Orochimaru sat calmly, expression unreadable, offering no response to Jiraiya's gaze.
Kaede sat quietly in the corner of the table, holding a teacup, sipping gently without a word, simply observing the room.
Silence lingered.
None of the clan leaders spoke, and no whispers filled the air.
"Jōnin Minato is indeed well-suited to be the Fourth Hokage."
Finally, someone broke the silence, Homura Mitokado, an advisor seated beside Hiruzen.
Following Homura Mitokado's lead, Koharu Utatane also voiced support for Minato, and one by one, the elite Jōnin began sharing their opinions.
Still, some remained silent, their eyes flickering toward Kaede and Orochimaru. Everyone knew the significance of those two in this room.
Uchiha Fugaku watched Kaede closely.
The other clan heads held back, hesitant to reveal their stances immediately.
Then, under the gaze of all present, Orochimaru rose and offered a faint smile.
"…I support Jōnin Minato as Hokage."
His words sent the room into a hush.
The clan leaders looked toward Orochimaru. Seeing no hint of jest on his face, they exchanged glances, sighed, and one after another spoke up.
As the clan heads expressed their views, Hiruzen looked at Orochimaru, who returned the gaze. Their eyes briefly met in silent understanding.
Orochimaru smiled lightly, a relaxed, almost carefree smile, as if he had finally let something go.
Hiruzen's eyes flickered with a brief trace of guilt and regret, but it vanished quickly. He took a deep breath, stood, and said, "It seems most opinions are aligned. In a few days, I will formally report Minato's succession to the Daimyo."
With Hiruzen's words, Minato stood and began addressing the attendees, pledging to lead Konoha to prosperity.
Kaede did not listen. He only looked at Orochimaru.
"Still have no choice but to disagree with my sensei's decision…" Kaede muttered quietly to himself.
He could guess why Orochimaru made this decision.
In this era, Minato's achievements had outshone Orochimaru's, earning more support, including Hiruzen's. If Orochimaru wanted to contest the Fourth Hokage title, it meant opposing Hiruzen, a costly conflict.
Orochimaru had given up.
Not in front of the Third Hokage, but in front of his former Sensei.
….
Konoha Headquarters
Rooftop
Orochimaru left the conference room and came to the rooftop's edge, overlooking most of Konoha, a village flourishing once again after the war.
"You gave up after all…"
Kaede appeared behind him.
Orochimaru didn't turn, staring down at Konoha.
"Hiruzen chose Minato. I respect his decision, just as you respect mine."
His voice was calm, almost detached.
"Hokage is just a title, you know, like leaves falling and withering in the fire… Eternal life, that is what humanity should truly pursue."
Orochimaru's tone was light.
Kaede sighed.
He understood that Orochimaru had completely let go of Konoha, of Hiruzen. What he spoke now were the last traces of lingering feeling.
From this moment on, Orochimaru would become the cold and terrifying force the ninja world feared.
"If you want to become Hokage, you can try."
Orochimaru finally turned around, a glint shimmering in his eye that vanished with the wind. He looked at Kaede, smiled briefly, then vanished in a flash.
Kaede watched him disappear, then looked up at the sky.
"Hokage, huh…"
Kaede had no intention of vying for the Fourth Hokage title.
Not because of his age, in absolute strength, that wouldn't matter. His reasons were twofold: Kakashi was Minato's student, and he had learned the Flying Thunder God Technique from Minato.
Though now, it wouldn't be difficult for Kaede to master that technique on his own, so it wasn't a huge favor. Still, he would not oppose Minato becoming Hokage.
And more than that, he knew Minato becoming the Fourth Hokage was only the beginning.
"I won't oppose you as Hokage, but I won't stand with you either. If Konoha can no longer accept me, that will be when I begin cleansing this place."
Kaede murmured to the sky, then vanished in a flash.
….
Half a month later
With the recognition of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and the completion of the formal ceremony, Namikaze Minato officially succeeded as the Fourth Hokage, publicly announced to the people of Konoha.
Only a small number of Orochimaru's loyalists voiced opposition, but when it became known that Orochimaru himself supported Minato, those dissenting voices quietly faded.
Unlike the violent internal struggles that accompanied Hiruzen's succession, this transition was peaceful and almost uneventful.
On the day Minato formally became Hokage, Orochimaru did not attend. He stayed in his own base conducting experiments and paused only briefly upon hearing the news.
"This outcome should satisfy you, Hiruzen-sensei…"
"But…"
"Konoha likely won't find peace for long."
The village was unstable.
Danzo controlled Root, loyal only to himself; two advisors managed Konoha's finances; Hiruzen would never entrust all of the Anbu to Minato, maintaining control over the village.
On the surface, it seemed balanced, but any small disruption could topple everything.
And Kaede…
Was the unbalanced variable.
Orochimaru had seen this clearly, but none of it concerned him anymore. His only goal now was to attain eternal life.
==========
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