Do you want to be Hokage, Orochimaru?

Land of Sound, Otogakure.

Orochimaru's Laboratory.

In the original timeline, although Tsunade eventually became the Fifth Hokage after the sudden death of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, it was a decision she made to prevent Danzo from destroying her grandfather's legacy.

Tsunade's relationship with the village worsened over time, especially after the tragic deaths of Nawaki and Dan, events that Natsuki suspected were manipulated by Danzo.

Whether Danzo acted independently or with the Third Hokage remains uncertain.

However, the results were severe: one of the Senju heirs died, another had hemophobia, and the Senju clan retreated into seclusion.

Meanwhile, the Sarutobi clan's influence remained strong, fueling Danzo's ambitions for the Hokage position.

Considering the potential beneficiaries, both Danzo and the Third Hokage appear as suspects in orchestrating these events.

With a sinister smile, Natsuki addressed Orochimaru, "Orochimaru, do you want to become Hokage?"

"Hokage?" Orochimaru contemplated the question.

He harbored no genuine obsession with becoming Hokage; his resentment stemmed from the Third Hokage's choice of Minato over him for the position of Fourth Hokage.

Orochimaru, aware of his own limitations compared to Minato, aimed to prove the old man's decision wrong and maintain his superiority.

As Otogakure grew and expanded, Orochimaru lost interest in serving as a village Kage.

His pursuit of truth and scientific research replaced any ambition for titles or positions.

"I have no interest in being Hokage," Orochimaru declared, shaking his head.

"That's nonsense, Orochimaru, you're too short-sighted," Natsuki retorted, shaking his head in disappointment.

"The resources available to you as Hokage would far surpass what you can obtain now. Jiraiya can only gather materials once, but imagine the possibilities if he was a Hokage."

Orochimaru's mind swirled with possibilities. Despite his single-minded focus on research, the possibility of access to the Land of Fire's abundant resources and knowledge intrigued him.

"What are your plans?" Orochimaru inquired, his pragmatism guiding his curiosity.

"With declining talent in Konoha, there are few possible successors for the Hokage position," Natsuki explained.

"Besides you, only Tsunade and Jiraiya are considered worthy candidates from the Hokage line. The Third Hokage is unlikely to pass on his power to anyone else."

Despite the Sarutobi clan's extensive ninja training, they lacked top-tier combatants. Promising individuals like Asuma had proven to be insufficient for the role.

"Jiraiya wouldn't accept the role of Hokage, even if he was offered," Orochimaru remarked, familiar with Jiraiya's personality.

Natsuki chuckled, "It's impossible even if he wants to."

Orochimaru couldn't suppress a smile upon hearing Natsuki's confirmation of Jiraiya's tarnished reputation.

"Indeed, that leaves us with Tsunade," Orochimaru concurred.

Natsuki pondered for a moment before posing a crucial question, "Firstly, how did Nawaki and Dan die?"

Orochimaru, familiar with the subtle implications behind the names, smirked sarcastically.

"Nawaki was the sole heir of the Senju Clan. Who stood to gain the most from his demise? How could someone of such status die in a mere accident?"

Natsuki nodded in agreement, recognizing the underlying motives at play.

"As for Kato Dan," Orochimaru continued, "his Spiritual Transformation Technique was invaluable for investigation. Yet, he met a sudden death after a period of intensive inquiry."

Natsuki clicked his tongue in acknowledgment. The insiders knew more about the circumstances surrounding Dan's death.

While his Spiritual Transformation Technique had significantly contributed to Konoha's operations, its vulnerability lay in leaving the physical body defenseless during its use.

Unfortunately, he fell victim to an attack while immersed in the spiritual illusion, surrendering to his injuries.

Orochimaru grimaced and contorted his tongue, "Only a select few were privileged to know Dan's whereabouts at that time. Besides us, Sandaime and Danzo were the only others who knew."

"Could it be that the Third Hokage is involved?" Natsuki inquired.

Orochimaru shook his head, "Unlikely, but he may have become aware of it later and aided in covering it up. Tsunade was also privileged to know the information, making her leave the village."

Although the Third Hokage may not have been the mastermind, his numerous dealings with Danzo contributed to a significant brain drain within Konoha.

It was a prime example of mismanaging a strong hand.

"Is Tsunade interested in the position of Hokage?" Natsuki inquired, seeking Orochimaru's insight into their former teammate's aspirations.

Orochimaru chuckled, "Tsunade, originally a princess of the Senju clan and granddaughter of the First Hokage, lacked nothing in her upbringing. She has little interest in Hokage's pursuits."

"However, if Konoha Village were to face bad circumstances, she might reconsider taking the Hokage position."

Orochimaru's deep observation of Tsunade's character reflected his deep understanding of her.

After all, she had returned to become Hokage in their previous lives for similar reasons.

Natsuki's gaze narrowed slightly, "As long as your pursuit of the Hokage title aims to strengthen Konoha, Tsunade-hime is unlikely to contest it."

Currently, Otogakure has evolved significantly from its humble beginnings.

Despite the unchanged land area of Land of Sound, its economy has experienced rapid growth.

During its darkest days, over a hundred Uchiha members became the backbone of Otogakure, and the succeeding surge in missions attracted numerous foreign ninjas to join their ranks, setting their influence in the ninja world.

While there is no formal ceremony in Otogakure, its leader holds sway without a formal shadow position.

With the Land of Sound's ongoing development, a future ceremony could be in the cards.

Furthermore, with the backing of the Daimyo of Land of Sound and the newly appointed Kage, Orochimaru stands a good chance of ascending to the position of Hokage.

Behind the scenes, Orochimaru remains hidden, with Kabuto Yakushi taking charge of governmental affairs despite his young age of around twenty.

Kabuto's remarkable talents and capabilities have played an important role in Otogakure's transformation from a desolate land to its current prosperity.

Orochimaru, immersed in technological pursuits, entrusts him with frontline decision-making responsibilities, and he has effectively managed village affairs with remarkable efficiency.

Now, some people have begun to address Kabuto as Kage-sama, but without an official ceremony, it is not considered formal.

Next is the third elder of the Uchiha clan. The top combat powers are Itachi and Shisui.

Following this, Uchiha and Orochimaru began recruiting some talents.

Initially, when numerous Uchiha members arrived at the Otogakure, many other ninja villages were skeptical and even feared that the Uchiha would attempt to seize power.

However, everything went smoothly in the end. The Uchiha clan diligently fulfilled their tasks and even collaborated with the Daimyo to promote catering.

Rumors circulated that even Uchiha members known for their temper managed to interact with each other normally, albeit somewhat coldly, which was quite unusual.

If Kabuto were to officially take over as the Kage of the Village, Orochimaru would simply withdraw and pretend to be a collaborator of the village.

Orochimaru maintained a good relationship with the Uchiha members who had fled, and he also received support from the Village.

External assistance was already in place.

All Orochimaru needed to do was return to Konoha Village and achieve some political successes, securing his position as the Fifth Hokage.

As for what kind of political achievements, there were various strategies to consider.

Previously, Natsuki had wanted to locate Tsunade. The comprehensive medical system in Konoha Village was established with Tsunade's support.

Now, there was an additional reason to find her.

However, if Tsunade disagreed, Uchiha was currently in dire financial straits, relying solely on funds and lacking their own development resources.

Natsuki resolved to make Tsunade to support Uchiha.

After a brief discussion with Orochimaru, he expressed his willingness to cooperate with Natsuki.

Though the Fourth Hokage was no longer in the picture, having the Fifth Hokage would be a satisfactory outcome.

Once the plan was roughly finalized, Natsuki shifted the conversation back to the Sharingan.