"Hokage?! Chigusa, that joke isn't funny. I'm not interested in being Hokage."
Orochimaru wouldn't waste her time being a Village leader, even if many people in Konoha now wanted her to succeed the Third Hokage as the Fourth Hokage.
"I'm very busy. I'm not suitable to be Hokage."
Given Hiruzen-sensei's age, he could probably be Hokage for at least another 40 years, right?
By then, he would be nearly 80 years old. With a little effort, it wasn't impossible for him to continue... In Orochimaru's mind, the troublesome position of Hokage was more suitable for Hiruzen-sensei. If not, then Minato Namikaze could take over after he was born and grew up.
So many people thought so highly of the Hokage position because they were limited by their horizons. What was so great about being Hokage?
Didn't you still have to grovel to the Daimyo for funding?
"Oh, I already knew you weren't interested in being Hokage."
Uzumaki Chigusa's red eyes narrowed. Orochimaru had shown her disdain for the Hokage position more than once.
"Chigusa, to be honest, my sense of belonging to Konoha isn't high."
Orochimaru sat on a tree branch, swinging her legs, looking down at the seawater below.
"Eh? Orochimaru, you were born and raised in Konoha. Why do you feel that way about Konoha...?"
Uzumaki Chigusa, sitting next to Orochimaru, looked at her in disbelief.
Orochimaru wasn't from another Village who came to Konoha; she was a native Konoha person, a disciple of the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen. How could she not have a sense of belonging to Konoha under the influence of the Will of Fire?
"It might be related to my tendency to overthink. I've read many books, all kinds of books and scrolls. The more I know, the more thoughts I have. Konoha's Will of Fire is just a slogan used to gather people's hearts..."
Orochimaru paused here, then continued, "I will go to the battlefield for Konoha simply because Konoha has people I care about and value. Without them, Konoha is just a Village where I live."
"Konoha was established in the Land of Fire... And Konoha, in the end, is nothing more than the military force of the Land of Fire. During the Warring States Period, they were mercenaries hired by Daimyo, retainers, and castle lords of various countries. It's the same in modern times: taking on missions and earning rewards."
"It's just as you said, but this is the Ninja World!"
Uzumaki Chigusa mistakenly thought Orochimaru was in a bad mood because of this, and gently stroked her head.
"Chigusa, I'm not a child anymore. Don't treat me like one."
Orochimaru pushed Uzumaki Chigusa's hand away, saying annoyedly. She disliked nothing more than being treated like a child, and even more disliked having her head patted.
"Yes, yes, yes, Orochimaru is already an adult now! After all, you've been quite mature since you were little!"
Uzumaki Chigusa's mind conjured an image of Orochimaru as a child. She placed the basket on her lap, tidying the herbs, and said, "Orochimaru, you're in a bad mood because of this, huh...?"
"This is just how the world is. As long as the Ninja system exists, you, I, and everyone else can only accept this world and strive to survive. If you hadn't come to rescue us back then, Uzushiogakure wouldn't have had so many survivors."
Uzumaki Chigusa held an herb, looking at the red fruit on it with a hint of recollection in her eyes. She offered the herb to Orochimaru, "In short, the more you think, the more painful it gets, so don't think so much! Want to try some?"
"Sweet and sour, but you'll be rushing to find a restroom after eating them."
Orochimaru pushed away the herb Uzumaki Chigusa offered.
"I'm not in a bad mood because of this. I've known what kind of world this is for a long time. I'm in a bad mood because..."
Orochimaru hesitated for a moment, then still brought up the matter of Uchiha Hikari, Tsunade, and Hyuga Mio confessing to her.
"Confessions?!"
Uzumaki Chigusa's hand trembled, knocking over the basket on her lap. She instinctively reached out to grab it, then fell from the tree branch.
Orochimaru jumped down from the branch, extended her hand, and a white snake emerged from her wide sleeve, coiling around Uzumaki Chigusa. With swift movements, it grabbed the basket and caught the falling herbs, without missing a single one.
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