Chapter 171

After Hiruzen's words, the conference room fell silent.

The choice of the Fourth Hokage is an extremely serious and important topic concerning the change of power in Konoha. This is not a simple conversation, every word requires extreme caution and judgment.

"I suggest my student Minato, he will be a great Hokage.»

Jiraiya's voice rang out in the silence.

He looked at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru indifferently sat on the spot, not reacting at all to Jiraiya's look.

Yeruashi sat in the corner of the table, sipping his tea in a relaxed manner, he didn't say anything, calmly watching from the sidelines.

The conference room was quiet.

The clan leaders remained silent, no one whispering.

"Minato is indeed a suitable candidate for the post of Hokage.»

Finally, someone decided to express an opinion, it was the adviser to Hokage Homura.

Following Homura, Koharu also expressed her support for Minato, then the Elite Jounin present expressed their opinion.

But some of them continued to remain silent, looking at Orochimaru and Erase. All participants are well aware of the importance of Erase and Orochimaru, still not saying a single word.

Uchiha Fugaku also looked at Eroiche.

The heads of the big clans were in no hurry to express their opinion.

Suddenly, Orochimaru slowly stood up, drawing the attention of everyone present, and said with a smile, " ...I support Minato's candidacy.»

This suggestion caused the conference room to fall silent again.

The heads of the clans stared at Orochimaru, making sure that Sannin was absolutely serious, they looked at each other and began to talk about something quietly.

When the heads of the clans began to express their opinions, Hiruzen looked at Orochimaru, and Orochimaru at Hiruzen, their views crossed.

Orochimaru smiled.

His smile was very light and indifferent.

As if he didn't care about the question at all.

A trace of guilt flickered in Hiruzen's eyes, but it was only a faint trace, then he sighed and stood up: "It looks like we have reached a consensus, then in the next few days, I will go along with Minato to meet with the Daimyo to finally resolve this matter.»

After Hiruzen's words, Minato stood up and started talking about what would lead Konoha to greatness and so on.

Erase didn't listen.

He was looking at Orochimaru.

"In the end, you couldn't go against your master....»

Erase whispered in the heart.

He could guess why Orochimaru had made this decision.

In this era, Minato really shone brighter than Orochimaru and was able to get more support, including the support of Hiruzen. Since Hiruzen unconditionally supports Minato, in order to fight for the post of the Fourth Hokage, Orochimaru will have to go against his teacher.

Orochimaru decided to retreat.

He retreated not before the Third Hokage, but before his former teacher.

...

The Hokage building.

Roof.

Orochimaru left the conference room and went up to the roof, looking at Konoha, which began to flourish again after the end of the war.

"You still decided to give up...»

Erase appeared behind Orochimaru standing on the edge of the roof.

Orochimaru did not turn around, but continued to look at Konoha: "Teacher Hiruzen chose Minato, and I respect his choice as much as you respect mine.»

"Hokage...The Will of Fire...»

"Fallen leaves burning in flames...in comparison, isn't eternity something that a person should strive for?»

Sannin's voice was very calm and light.

Erase sighed.

He knew that by this point, Orochimaru had already completely discarded Konoha and Hiruzen, and now he was expressing the last remnants of emotion.

After that, the same cold and frightening Orochimaru from the original plot will appear.

"It's not too late...if you still want to become a Hokage...»

Orochimaru turned around and looked at Yeruashi with a smile, the hint of dampness in the corners of his eyes dissipated in the wind, and then he blurred and disappeared, using shunshin.

Erase looked after Orochimaru disappeared and raised his head, looking at the sky.

"Hokage...»

Erase decided not to compete, since the Fourth Hokage.

It wasn't that he was too young or anything, such restrictions could easily be crushed by absolute power. There were two reasons why he did not run for office and did not enter the fray. First, Kakashi is Minato's student. Second, he got Hiraishin no Jutsu Minato.

Although it wasn't difficult for the current Yoruashi to get Hiraishin on his own, and it wasn't too much of a debt, he still decided not to go against Minato.

And.

He understands perfectly.

Minato's becoming the Fourth Hokage was just the beginning.

"I'm not going to go against you, but I'm not going to take your side, Minato. If Konoha can't come to terms with my existence...I'll start my purge.»

Erase whispered, looking up at the sky, then his figure blurred and disappeared.

...

A couple of weeks later.

After receiving the recognition of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and settling all the formalities, the news of Minato becoming the Fourth Hokage spread inside Konoha.

As a result, only the most loyal followers of Orochimaru voiced their objections, but after learning that Orochimaru also supported Minato's candidacy, they immediately fell silent, the voice of the opposition completely dissipated.

Compared to the past.

When Hiruzen held the post of Hokage, it is unknown how many disagreements broke out and how much blood was spilled inside Konoha, this time the change of power went unusually smoothly, without causing any internal strife.

Orochimaru was not present at the inauguration of Minato. He was conducting experiments in his laboratory as usual, and when he received this news, he only paused for a moment.

"You should be satisfied with this result, Teacher Hiruzen...»

"However...»

"Konoha will not be calm...»

The insides of the current Konoha are too ugly...

Danzo has a Root that only obeys him, two advisors hold Konoha's finances in their hands, and Hiruzen will definitely not hand over all the Anbu forces to Minato and continue to control Konoha.

It would seem that everything is balanced, but in fact, as soon as something appears that shakes this delicate balance, everything will immediately turn upside down.

Erase may be a factor in this at any time.

It threatens the balance.

Orochimaru already clearly saw this, but he didn't pay much attention, because now he had only one goal, he longed for eternal life.