"Unfortunately, Hiruzen-sensei would never agree to my suggestion. Danzo-sama, why don't you compete with Hiruzen-sensei for the Hokage position?"
Orochimaru spread her hands. The methods she thought of would absolutely not be adopted by Hiruzen Sarutobi, given his upright character. He wouldn't compromise until it was absolutely necessary.
"Hokage? Forget it. The Hokage position is more suitable for your teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Someone like me isn't suited to be Hokage."
Danzo Shimura waved his hands repeatedly. Are you kidding? He would absolutely not become Hokage. Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi begged him, he wouldn't do it.
If it weren't for these special times, he wouldn't even want to be Assistant Hokage. Wouldn't it be better to be like Akimichi Torifu?
Isn't a wife, children, and a warm home more appealing?
Hiruzen Sarutobi kept pressuring him daily with, "Danzo, you are the Assistant Hokage."
"Orochimaru, don't think too much. I truly don't want to be Hokage."
Danzo Shimura felt it was necessary to make things clear, lest Orochimaru think he wanted to be Hokage and do something unnecessary. If he were truly forced into being Hokage, he'd have nowhere to cry.
"Is it that bad? The Hokage position is the dream of so many Ninja. Danzo-sama, how can you be so without dreams?"
Orochimaru looked at Danzo Shimura in confusion. What was going on? The 'Darkness of Konoha' from the original story, who was obsessed with the Hokage position to the point of madness, now didn't want to be Hokage and even disdained the position.
"Dreams? My dream now is to retire as soon as the war ends!"
Danzo Shimura slapped the lamp again. He didn't want to be Assistant Hokage for another day, even if it meant Uchiha Hikaji from the Uchiha clan took the position, he wouldn't mind.
You haven't been affected by Kotoamatsukami, have you?
Orochimaru was startled. She seriously suspected Danzo Shimura had been affected by Kotoamatsukami.
"Danzo-sama, how are Root's injured Ninja recovering?"
Orochimaru took out a notebook and pen from her sleeve. This time, she came to Root not just to offer advice to Danzo Shimura, but more so to collect data. The Regeneration Technique was naturally first used on Root's Ninja.
One could say that Root's base was her experimental ground. With enough data, she would then consider promoting the Regeneration Technique in Konoha. Afterward, once the war ended, the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company would promote limb regeneration services in the Ninja World to earn a large amount of money.
"How about this, I'll have them come over for you."
Danzo Shimura was initially very surprised that Orochimaru could research such an amazing Regeneration Technique, but then, thinking about her research achievements, he felt it was only natural.
Soon after, Orochimaru collected the data and left Root's base. The regenerated limbs from the Regeneration Technique had no flaws; they were identical to the original limbs. The only difference was that the regenerated limbs had not been trained.
For example, if a person lost their left arm, the regenerated left arm's muscles could not be the same as the long-trained right arm; it would feel very awkward. This required long-term training to make the arm muscles coordinated.
For those who were permanently disabled, or even forced to end their Ninja careers, this small drawback was not a drawback at all.
Tsunade stood far from the Spiral Tower, gazing at it. Not long after the Spiral Tower was built, Grandma Mito, despite Tsunade's objections, resolutely moved in. Nawaki also followed Grandma Mito into the Spiral Tower.
"Tsunade, what are you thinking about? Do you want to go see Grandma Mito?"
Orochimaru saw Tsunade looking at the Spiral Tower, walked beside her, and patted her shoulder.
"No."
Tsunade shook her head, took Orochimaru's hand, "Orochimaru, were you just at Root's base?"
"Collecting data for the Regeneration Technique."
Orochimaru showed Tsunade the notebook in her hand.
"Orochimaru, you're truly amazing, developing such an incredible Medical Ninjutsu."
Tsunade thought of Orochimaru's Regeneration Technique and expressed her heartfelt admiration. It was something she could never achieve.
"The Regeneration Technique has nothing to do with Medical Ninjutsu. It's a clever use of the Zero-Tails Cells' vitality to stimulate continuous cell division. To be precise, it's a type of Regeneration Technique."
Orochimaru corrected her. She didn't consider her research a Medical Ninjutsu.
"But isn't it still applied in the medical field?"
Tsunade's cheeks puffed out slightly.
"Alright then, let's just say the Regeneration Technique is Medical Ninjutsu…"
Orochimaru looked helplessly at the earnest Tsunade.
"Let's go, it's time to go home."
"Mm, home."
Tsunade's face broke into a radiant smile. She was currently living at Orochimaru's house, and almost every evening involved a battle of wits with Uchiha Hikari to snatch the sleeping spot on the bed.
Hokage Building
"Hiruzen, if we don't want to be attacked, we can only take the initiative. Only then can we seize the advantage!"
Danzo Shimura relayed the plan Orochimaru had told him. He believed Orochimaru's plan was highly feasible. Even if other Shinobi Villages attacked Konoha, they would fight individually, not as a united front.
"No, Danzo, once a war starts, how many people will die? Have you thought about that?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew there was truth in Danzo Shimura's words, but the thought of the cost of war made it difficult for him to make a decision.
"War is inherently accompanied by sacrifice! Haven't you, who participated in the First Shinobi World War, understood this yet? This is a war that must be fought! At this point, Hiruzen, can't you see clearly?"
Even though he had mentally prepared himself before coming, Danzo Shimura was still furious at this moment. He wished he could kick Hiruzen Sarutobi out of the Hokage position, take over to issue all commands, and then return the Hokage position to him.
"It is precisely because I participated in the war that I know its cruelty."
Hiruzen Sarutobi put his pipe to his mouth, took a deep puff, and closed his eyes, seeing the battlefield covered with corpses. It was because he had experienced cruel wars that he knew the preciousness of peace.
"Coward!"
Danzo Shimura knew he couldn't persuade Hiruzen Sarutobi, and angrily slammed the door as he left.
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a long time before letting out a sigh.
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