He could not sense a trace.
Refusing to accept it, Orochimaru switched through several sensing methods in a row, yet still found nothing of Kageyama Kokugetsu.
"Orochimaru-senpai, with my stealth and assassination, I should be entitled to call you senpai too, right?"
Following the voice, Orochimaru looked up. Kokugetsu stood on the canopy overhead, his presence and chakra returning as if someone had turned on a lamp.
"Heh. You qualify," Orochimaru said. "Your stealth would be hard-pressed to find many rivals across the shinobi world. Given time, you will make a name that ANBU and Konoha will both take pride in."
Such techniques were frightening. The slightest carelessness, and even a Kage could die without knowing why.
Kokugetsu laughed. He dropped from the canopy so Orochimaru would not need to crane his neck. Politeness never cost a thing.
At this point, none of the Sannin had yet perfected their signature arts. Their bodies were at a peak, but their strength was not at its zenith. In this era, if Sarutobi Hiruzen truly steeled himself, he could still kill Orochimaru. The snake was not yet the cockroach that refused to die. Truthfully, at present he might not even beat Kakuzu, though saving himself would be no problem.
"To be frank, I came to ask a favor," Orochimaru said.
"Please."
"I want to borrow a Byakugan to study."
Acknowledging Kokugetsu's strength, he hurried to add, "Rest easy. Eye transplants are minor work to me. I will return it intact."
Kokugetsu's smile tilted. "I'm curious why you did not ask sooner."
"I heard rumors about the Hyūga affair," Orochimaru said calmly. "Only hearsay without proof, but judging by the clan's reaction, it seems believable. That does not match your usual conduct or reputation. If it spreads…"
"It will sting a little and nothing more," Kokugetsu said, unruffled. "Reversing it won't be hard."
This one was far more mature than his age. Not easy to sway.
"I value reputation, but I am not attached to it," he said. "If necessary, I can discard it. I once heard a pair of lines. Would you like to hear them?"
Orochimaru's interest lit. "By all means."
"Fame is dung that the virtuous scorn. Deeds that outlast the ages are hewn through killing."
Orochimaru savored the words and smiled. "Kokugetsu-kun, you resemble me a little. I am finding you more and more appealing. Back to business. Will you lend the eye?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Kokugetsu said easily. "You admire me, and I admire you."
He was not handing over his own eye. A costless kindness was easy to grant.
"You admire me?" Orochimaru chuckled. "Interesting. Very interesting. Kokugetsu-kun, I feel as if you know many things."
"Observe more. Learn more. Knowledge is power."
"Well said. Since you are so generous, I will not be stingy either. I owe you a favor. Collect whenever you wish."
"Excellent. Come by my place tomorrow and pick up the eye."
"Good. I have matters to attend to." Orochimaru paused. "You seem unconcerned with the hat. Even now you are thinking about research."
"If I can have it, good. If not, it is no great matter," he said. "I have found something far more interesting than the Hokage's seat."
He vanished.
"So glib," Kokugetsu murmured. "The Third did not choose you. How could that not disappoint, after decades of work surpassed by a junior."
He shook his head and lay back down, book in hand, to enjoy his idle hour.
The next morning Orochimaru visited. Kokugetsu handed over the Byakugan on the spot. Orochimaru was surprised but said nothing, snatched it up, and hurried off.
Ten days later he returned it. Kokugetsu checked it, found all well, and put it away.
Half a month later the Fourth Hokage selection formally began. Konoha's top brass traveled to the Land of Fire's capital for conference. There were six, the highest posts in the village: Konoha's F4, the ANBU Commander Sarutobi Shinnosuke, and the Jōnin Commander Nara Shikaku. The F4 and ANBU Commander needed no explanation. The Jōnin Commander held high standing with modest power.
At the capital, Shimura Danzō was routed. The other five all backed Namikaze Minato. The Land of Fire and Konoha are partners. The daimyō's check is economic—subsidies and mission allotments. In Konoha's affairs he does not rule by fiat. The Hokage's will leads, unless the rest of the leadership opposes in concert.
Once past the daimyō, Hiruzen convened the jōnin confidence vote the day he returned. Word having spread, nearly all jōnin came back to the village. Those on missions left proxies. More than fifty percent passes, but a narrow margin leaves a shaky seat. Seventy percent is considered solid. In his own time, though Tobirama named him Third Hokage, Hiruzen barely crossed the line in the jōnin vote. To stabilize his position, the roles of aides and advisory elders were formalized.
Minato won eighty-five percent. An overwhelming mandate.
With the two most important steps done, the last was the handover ceremony. This one was grander than the version seen in the tale, and spectators glimpsed only a corner. As part of the security management, Kokugetsu saw the fuller splendor. Not only shinobi and villagers, but envoys of the Land of Fire, representatives of other nations and villages, and many who came just to witness.
One ceremony, and Konoha's economy ticked up. Once the delegations returned home, the border grew very quiet. No one dared make trouble under the eyes of a rising legend in his prime.
Peace and prosperity for the Land of Fire and Konoha meant hardship for Sunagakure. While Suna was weak, old enemies in Iwagakure and, across the sea, Kirigakure bared their fangs, bleeding Suna with small wars. When the bleeding left them faint, the two would harvest their profit.
In the original tale, after the Nine-Tails calamity, Konoha too was bled for years by Kumogakure and Iwagakure. Those two suffered, but Konoha suffered more, and its recovery slowed.
Peace had come, but shinobi could not sever themselves from war. Only its scale and intensity changed. ANBU were closer to war and farther from peace than most.
As his missions piled up, Kageyama Kokugetsu's name began to appear on the rolls of every village.
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