Shindai saw Uzumaki Kushina, who glanced at Shindai, greeted him, and then her gaze fell upon Pakura behind Shindai.
Uzumaki Kushina's eyes immediately lit up as she excitedly asked, "Oh… you must be Pakura, right?"
Pakura was stunned: "How do you know me?"
Uzumaki Kushina said with a smile, "Shindai told me about you. You're his only friend in Hidden Sand Village. You have birch-colored and green hair, so you're easy to recognize. I didn't expect Shindai to bring someone directly to Konoha after a trip out. But… isn't the relationship between Hidden Sand Village and Konoha very tense right now? Is it okay to bring Pakura back?"
Shindai explained, "Pakura won't be returning to Sunagakure. From now on, she'll be a Konoha villager and will live at my house."
"So that's how it is."
Uzumaki Kushina saw that Pakura was bandaged, with some red faintly seeping through, clearly indicating an injury.
Therefore, Uzumaki Kushina guessed that Pakura must have given up Sunagakure for some reason and returned to Konoha with Shindai.
Because she was worried about affecting Pakura's mood—after all, something unpleasant must have happened for Pakura to make such a choice—Uzumaki Kushina didn't ask further.
"This child is…" Uzumaki Kushina looked at Yakushi Kabuto.
Shindai introduced, "Ah, this is my little brother, Yakushi Kabuto."
Yakushi Kabuto greeted him somewhat nervously, "H-hello."
Uzumaki Kushina raised an eyebrow: "Oh, you're doing well, you've even taken on a little brother."
Shindai urged, "It's getting late, Sister Kushina, quickly grab the money and come with us!"
Uzumaki Kushina asked blankly, "Money? Why do I need to bring money?"
Shindai pulled Pakura and Yakushi Kabuto in front of him: "It's Pakura's first time in Konoha, and also my little brother—my first little brother, no less! You have to show some appreciation! I've already decided, a barbecue meal will do. Hurry, hurry, I've been craving it for a long time!"
Pakura, who wasn't as thick-skinned as Shindai, had already lowered her head, her cheeks a little red.
How embarrassing!
Yakushi Kabuto looked at Shindai in disbelief: "Didn't you say you were treating me?"
Shindai replied, "That's right, Sister Kushina is treating me, and then I'll take you to eat. Isn't that the same as me treating you?"
Yakushi Kabuto was a bit confused by Shindai.
He racked his brain, still thinking, wasn't this Uzumaki Kushina's treat?
Suddenly, he didn't want to be Shindai's little brother anymore, wondering if he could back out.
Under Shindai's urging, Uzumaki Kushina, with a dark expression, went into the room to get the money and set off with the three of them.
...
At this time, at the Root base.
Orochimaru arrived at Danzo's office.
Danzo said to Orochimaru, "I heard from Hiruzen earlier that he seems to be planning to find a successor for the Fourth Hokage position after this war ends. Orochimaru, I intend to recommend you to become Hokage. Hiruzen, on the other hand, will probably recommend Jiraiya to become Hokage. Compared to Jiraiya, your chances of winning are greater.
As long as you win and become Konoha's Fourth Hokage, you won't need to worry about managing Konoha; I will arrange everything for you, and you can continue to focus on your research."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Do you want to strengthen your power after supporting me to ascend? Don't worry, Jiraiya will not become Hokage. Sarutobi-sensei has no intention of making Jiraiya Hokage."
For Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi not intending to choose Jiraiya as Hokage was indeed good news.
Because this meant Orochimaru had no opponent.
Danzo joyfully confirmed with Orochimaru, "Has Hiruzen already spoken with you and wants you to succeed as Hokage? That would be truly excellent! With my and Hiruzen's recommendation, your position as Hokage will be a sure thing!"
Orochimaru replied, "Sarutobi-sensei did just talk to me about this, but it wasn't about wanting me to succeed as Hokage, and I have no interest in becoming Hokage. I came here this time to leave Root; I want to join Sarutobi-sensei's Anbu."
Danzo froze; this news was so sudden that he couldn't process it immediately.
After Danzo processed it, he slammed the table and stood up, staring at Orochimaru with intimidating eyes and questioning, "Are you planning to betray me?!"
Orochimaru calmly said, "Betrayal? It hardly seems like betrayal. Root is inherently an Anbu training department, so there's no problem with me joining Anbu. Moreover, I am not loyal to you; we are merely in a cooperative relationship."
Danzo angrily said, "Orochimaru, you and I are in the same boat now! If you follow Hiruzen, will he support your research like I do?"
Orochimaru said without changing his expression, "Sarutobi-sensei indeed cannot unconditionally support my research as you do, but there are pros and cons to both. Although your support for my research allows me to conduct it without restraint, you cannot provide me with an ideal research environment. Moreover, once my research is exposed, I would be forced to flee.
However, Sarutobi-sensei can provide me with that research environment, with some restrictions as constraints, allowing me to conduct my research with peace of mind. After weighing the pros and cons, I chose Sarutobi-sensei."
Danzo's face was extremely grim: "So, you and Hiruzen have already discussed this?"
Orochimaru admitted, "That's right, since Sarutobi-sensei supports my decision, there's no need for me to stay in Root, nor to continue cooperating with you."
Danzo was so angry that veins bulged on his neck and forehead.
Orochimaru was the most promising candidate to become the Fourth Hokage, and more importantly, Orochimaru didn't value the Hokage's power.
Once Orochimaru became Hokage, his power would reach its peak.
Then, finding an opportunity, he would have Orochimaru step down, and he would succeed as the Fifth Generation Hokage, with everything falling into place naturally.
He had always believed that Orochimaru was deeply tied to him, but he never expected Orochimaru to turn against him at this crucial point.
Danzo threatened Orochimaru, "I know many things about you! Don't you forget it!"
Orochimaru said indifferently, "So what? Since Sarutobi-sensei and I have settled everything, these matters won't affect me at all. On the contrary, Danzo, don't you forget, I also know many things about you."
Danzo gnashed his teeth in anger, but Orochimaru ignored him and continued, "I've already informed you. Have someone cancel my Root files. Oh, and one more thing, you cannot touch Yakushi Nono. Sarutobi-sensei told me to tell you this."
After speaking, Orochimaru left Root.
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