Naruto: Uchiha is not Raikage!

Chapter 344 Hokage Selection, First Speaker: Orochimaru Has Gone Mad, Wants Immortality!
Snapped!
Kiyoshi suddenly patted Minami's buttocks.

Xiao Nan covered her mouth in shock, her body trembling.

She was so nervous that she didn't dare to turn around, only daring to slowly look at the long gate behind her through the reflection in the glass.

After seeing that Nagato was still fast asleep, Konan covered the painful spot.

"What are you going to do?"

Xiao Nan suppressed her anger and spoke.

"Learn the 'Paper' Release ninjutsu."

Kiyoshi spoke up as a matter of course.

The expression on his face made it seem like he was stating a simple and easy-to-understand piece of common sense.

Pain can focus a person's attention. If Konan can improve her concentration, wouldn't she be able to better teach the "Paper" Release ninjutsu?

Xiao Nan suddenly felt a pang of regret; she shouldn't have gone to see Qing Si alone.

If there were more people, Kiyoshi certainly wouldn't risk ruining his reputation by doing these things.

Xiao Nan cautiously retreated, only to find herself with her back against a pillar, with nowhere left to go.

"Okay, let's get started."

Kiyoshi reached out and pressed down on Konan's neck.

Xiao Nan's pupils contracted, as if she wanted to do something.

Kiyoshi turned her hand around again, so that she was facing the glass and her back was to Kiyoshi.

Wow…

The curtains, rising and falling with their movements, covered them, leaving only a tiny gap.

Minami could still see Kiyoshi's face and the view behind him through the reflection in the glass.

She braced herself against the glass with both hands, her back forming a concave curve that outlined her graceful figure.

Kiyoshi grabbed Konan's short blue hair, and a white paper flower could be faintly seen between his fingers.

At this moment, it was mercilessly held in Qing Si's hand, like something that no one cared about.

"Konan, I've actually learned a little bit of the 'Paper' Release ninjutsu."

Kiyoshi formed hand seals and used chakra to create a strip of white paper.

The white paper formed shackles, binding Xiao Nan's hands, forcing her to brace herself against the wall at an awkward angle.

Xiao Nan frowned, clearly uncomfortable with her current posture.

This is practically interrogating her like a criminal!
"See? Haven't I learned it?"

Seiji smiled.

Then, he demonstrated other "paper" ninjutsu one by one.

Of course, the help of spirit beasts also played a role.

It wasn't the White Snake, but another spirit beast that was even more closely connected to Kiyoshi.

…………

Another half month has passed, and after this period of reflection, the day for selecting the Hokage has arrived.

One suitable person will be selected from among the Hokage candidates.

Orochimaru, are you confident?

In a dark laboratory, Shimura Danzo spoke to Orochimaru in a deep voice.

If the Hokage position were given to Kiyoshi Uchiha or Minato Namikaze, his status would be greatly affected.

A new broom sweeps clean, and his foundation lay in controlling the roots.

Since being removed from his position as leader of Root, he has only held the nominal title of Hokage.

Besides assisting the Hokage, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado each manage their respective departments.

He was the only one in command, with no authority to access any resources from the root organization except for a few loyal followers.

Although there are many checks and balances in the Hokage system, ultimately, the person with the most power is the Hokage.

Unless the newly appointed leader has an unstable foundation and lacks his own team.

The longer a Hokage holds the position, the more power and connections they can cultivate.

"Heh heh, the most likely candidate for Hokage is Minato Namikaze."

Orochimaru's tone inevitably carried a hint of emotion.

How could he not have genuine feelings for Hiruzen Sarutobi?

It's just that his teacher, Sarutobi, didn't think highly of him.

Orochimaru could foresee this situation to some extent; he and Minato Namikaze were both geniuses.

The difference lies in the former being positive and easy to control.

She was a deep thinker and always had a passion for experiments.

"Most likely does not mean certain."

Danzo Shimura snorted.

If he were truly the Hokage, he would only choose a successor like Orochimaru.

A character like Minato Namikaze is only suitable to be a tool called a ninja, not a "Kage" who leads everyone.

Where there is light, there is bound to be darkness. Minato Namikaze, because of his kindness, inevitably hesitated when confronted with darkness.

"Kiyoshi-kun, that's quite possible too."

Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth.

She thought of a man she longed for day and night.

If that perfect body were given to her, how dazzling would it be?
The thought that Kiyoshi not only possessed the perfect Uchiha bloodline but also various other bloodline limits made Orochimaru unable to suppress his desires.

She must have this body!

In her quest for immortality and even further, she even abandoned her true body and replaced it with her new one.

There's no turning back now.

She needs to continuously improve and perfect "Reanimation Jutsu" so that he can truly live forever in the ninja world.

"Just perform at your normal level then. I've been building momentum for you during this time."

Shimura Danzodo.

Some of the Root's spy ninjas remained loyal to him, making it easy for them to spread information.

Ordinary civilians are a bunch of stupid people; they don't know the real inside story, and all the information they receive is just what's being spread from above.

Among them, only those powerful ninja clans have the ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood.

……

It was morning.

The Hokage Building was once again packed with ninjas, so much so that it was impossible to move.

Besides the ninjas, there were also officials from the Land of Fire.

This time, His Highness the Daimyo also came here.

Even the daimyo of the Land of Demons came here to witness the birth of the new Hokage.

After all, the Five Great Nations are the five strongest nations in the ninja world.

The "Kage" of the five great ninja villages is the supreme ruler who reigns over countless ninjas.

Of course, "Shadow" can also be seen as a position similar to that of a general.

They took control of the army and handled wars on behalf of the daimyo.

The daimyo of the Land of Fire provides the economy for the ninja village, develops the country, and governs the nation.

Therefore, in most cases, although they are said to be equal, the "Shadow" actually has a lower status than the "Daimyo".

With the divine right of kings deeply ingrained for thousands of years, the ninjas also believed that it was only natural for the daimyo to rule the world.

Therefore, the status of others is naturally lower.

"Heh heh, Uchiha Kiyoshi is here too?"

The daimyo of the Land of Fire sat on a magnificent chair, with guards standing behind him.

The "Twelve Guardian Ninjas" hold a high position. As their personal protectors, they are responsible for ensuring the safety of the daimyo and also enter some confidential locations to prevent accidents from happening.

"Your Highness, Kiyoshi is also here."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly.

The fact that the daimyo was so concerned about Kiyoshi gave him a strange sense of unease.

How did Kiyoshi manage to cultivate a good relationship with the daimyo?

Could it be due to his medical skills?
Hiruzen Sarutobi thought for a while. The daimyo of the Land of Fire was of noble status and had never suffered from any serious illness. At least there was no need for Kiyoshi to be of use to him now.

"Ahem, Miroku, who do you think will be the next Hokage?"

The daimyo of the Land of Demons coughed as he spoke.

"I have no idea."

Miroku shook his head.

There were only three candidates for Hokage this time: Kiyoshi, Orochimaru, and Minato Namikaze.

None of the three of them are simple characters. Kiyoshi and Minato Namikaze are both considered rising stars in the Third Shinobi World War.

Even beyond the Land of Fire, it enjoys a great reputation.

Some ninja villages even gave their ninjas orders to run away as soon as they saw Kiyoshi or Minato Namikaze, without it being considered a mission failure and without any punishment.

Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin, is a figure of great renown among ninjas from other countries, having already made his name known during the Second Shinobi World War.

He was active in the Third Shinobi World War and had a high reputation.

"So...who do you hope it is?"

The daimyo of the Land of Demons inquired.

The Land of Demons has no ninja villages of its own, only a few guards who control secret techniques.

Every year, many missions are assigned to the ninjas of Konoha, asking them to help complete them.

If the new Hokage of Konoha adopts any new policies, it will inevitably affect and radiate to the surrounding countries.

Even the remote Land of Demons is no exception; it's just that it's remote, not that it's cut off from the ninja world.

"clear……"

Upon hearing this, Miroku bit his lip, and the first image that came to mind was Kiyoshi.

It wasn't that she supported Kiyoshi becoming Hokage; it was that Kiyoshi had a very deep impression of her.

Whenever Miroku hears Kiyoshi's name or anything about her, he can't help but think of Kiyoshi's face.

"I do not know."

After uttering a syllable, Miroku realized he had almost blurted out Kiyoshi's name and quickly said he didn't know.

"Yeah."

The daimyo of the Land of Demons seemed lost in thought.

As for Kiyoshi, it probably won't affect the Land of Demons.

He had conducted his own research and concluded that Uchiha Kiyoshi was a moderate, like Namikaze Minato.

Orochimaru's purpose remains unclear; no one knows what this ruthless genius is planning.

As everyone was lost in their own thoughts and waiting for the selection to begin, footsteps sounded outside in the corridor.

"Your Highness the Daimyo."

Kiyoshi's figure finally arrived inside as the Uchiha clan entered.

As the last few ninjas arrived, the atmosphere at the scene reached its climax.

Everyone is eagerly anticipating who will become the Hokage.

"Hehe, Kiyoshi, the things you gave me last time were pretty good."

The daimyo of the Land of Fire said, gently waving his folding fan.

"If Your Highness likes it, I have more here."

Kiyoshi handed the sealing scroll to the Daimyo in front of everyone.

The daimyo of the Land of Fire is an ordinary person and cannot open the sealed scroll.

However, his bodyguards can help the daimyo of the Land of Fire open the gates, so there's no need to worry about them not being able to use them.

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Kiyoshi-kun."

The daimyo of the Land of Fire smiled even more broadly.

As the ruler of the Land of Fire, he was accustomed to delicacies from land and sea and had enjoyed all kinds of earthly pleasures.

He was already used to many things.

The only thing I can't let go of is... life and death.

The happier a person is, the more they want to live longer.

Those who have nothing and are trapped in suffering are the ones who want to die, to the point of actively seeking death.

Kiyoshi is indeed a genius ninja who can create such a longevity-enhancing item. No wonder he has mastered three "Sage Techniques" at such a young age.

Such behavior is unprecedented and unparalleled.

"What did Kiyoshi send?"

Nara Shikaku, a representative of high intelligence, was momentarily surprised to find that Kiyoshi had given the daimyo of the Land of Fire something that made him so happy.

"Who knows."

Choza Akimichi waved his hand.

"I hope it won't affect the upcoming selections," Yamanaka Inoichi said softly.

The three races of pig, deer, and butterfly have a close relationship, and they talk to each other in hushed tones.

Because the three families all use extremely rare secret techniques, they have a history of joining forces to fight against enemies as early as the Warring States period, and the relationship between the three families is special.

Until one day, in order to foster a special bond between the three clans, the Sarutobi clan would act as witnesses and hand over the earrings to the members of the three clans. This was called the "Earring Oath," and swearing an oath to the earrings was a rule passed down through generations of the three clans.

Therefore, Hiruzen Sarutobi has a good relationship with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. This time, Nara Shikaku took the lead and got the other two tribes to bet on Minato Namikaze.

Minato Namikaze is clearly a member of the Hokage lineage, a grand-disciple of Hiruzen Sarutobi. Their investments can maximize the protection of the ninja clan's interests.

Seeking benefits for the ninja clan behind them is common sense for every member of the clan.

"Uchiha Kiyoshi, what are you doing?"

Shimura Danzo's eyes widened, and he almost uttered the word "bribe".

No, who would openly give a gift on such an occasion?

The Uchiha clan, born evil, are evil in the first place, and they don't care about the terrible consequences they bring!

"Is it not permissible for me to present a gift to His Highness?"

Qingsi smiled slightly.

Shimura Danzo paused, realizing that there was indeed no such regulation.

Never before had a ninja tried to bribe a daimyo like Kiyoshi did. This was partly because no one had anything to offer the daimyo, and partly because their thinking was limited to the ninja village, believing that the selection of Hokage was merely an internal matter for the village.

Kiyoshi's approach is truly novel.

"Heh heh, Kiyoshi-kun is indeed extraordinary. However, the matter of the Hokage is of great importance, and there are many things to consider."

Orochimaru smiled.

Her voice was deep and resonant, making it impossible to tell that it was a female body disguised as a male voice.

"The Hokage will only be Kiyoshi!"

Mikoto was the first to respond.

Her belly was starting to show; if she hadn't been wearing very casual clothes today, probably everyone would have known she was pregnant.

Some perceptive ninjas also noticed this, but remained unmoved.

The post-war period will see a surge in births, with a large number of people being born.

Many of the ninjas present were wives, and all of them were pregnant.

"Miss Mikoto, don't say that."

Kiyoshi's lips curled up slightly.

"it is good."

Mikoto nodded.

She is now extremely intolerant of any criticism or dissent, and cannot stand anyone saying anything bad about Qing Si.

This is precisely... proof of the depth of love.

Once the Uchiha clan invests their love, it will be incredibly intense, far surpassing that of other humans.

Of course, this love also carries the risk of getting out of control; it's a double-edged sword.

Fugaku listened in silence from behind, his fist clenching slightly in his sleeve before relaxing.

The Hokage candidate is Kiyoshi.

Now, Mikoto is also getting very close to Kiyoshi.

Especially looking at Mikoto's belly, Fugaku had a vague feeling that Mikoto might be pregnant.

Unfortunately, such a question would be too impolite, and Fugaku was afraid that Mikoto would find it offensive.

The more someone cares about another person, the more likely they are to feel inferior, thus imagining all sorts of terrible outcomes and daring not to act rashly.

This is the mentality of a simp.

In particular, Fugaku once used his eye technique to see a future.

"You're not fit to raise his child..."

These words remain like a poisonous thorn in Fugaku's heart to this day.

He...didn't dare to ask.

Anyway, this matter will eventually come to a conclusion with the passage of time, so why take the risk?

"Seiji."

Nohara Rin stood in the crowd, looking at Kiyoshi who was at the front.

She also became a Jonin, qualifying her to participate in such meetings.

Due to his status as a commoner, he could only be placed in some of the later positions.

Nohara Rin didn't say anything, but she was silently supporting Kiyoshi in her heart.

And outside the Hokage Building, Kurenai Yuhi, a Chunin, also looked tense.

She was very curious about what the outcome would be.

"Hey, Red?"

Sarutobi Asuma, who was in charge of patrolling the perimeter, was taken aback when he saw Kurenai Yuhi.

The best guards of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire are called the "Twelve Guardian Ninjas," but that doesn't mean there are only twelve of them.

Sarutobi Asuma is currently in the reserve stage, handling some miscellaneous tasks.

"Long time no see, Asuma."

Kurenai Yuhi said casually.

She was slightly surprised to see Sarutobi Asuma, but she was more interested in knowing Kiyoshi's fate, so her tone was somewhat indifferent.

The excited Sarutobi Asuma was oblivious to this, and began to tell the goddess about his experiences and some interesting stories from the past few days.

Kurenai could only respond to Sarutobi Asuma with "uh-huh," "yes," and "oh."

……

Inside the Hokage Building.

"Ahem... Let's begin the selection of the Hokage."

Hiruzen Sarutobi then spoke up, bringing the situation back under control as it began to escalate into chaos.

"I think everyone knows about the performance of the three Hokage candidates, so I won't go into too much detail here. The most important thing to become Hokage is the 'Will of Fire,' which includes..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi began his opening remarks.

This is the last time he will exercise the rights of the Hokage. Once a new Hokage is appointed and the succession ceremony is completed, these rights will be transferred to the new Hokage.

"Then, let the three Hokage candidates speak."

After Mitokado Homura and Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, he announced the real highlight of the day.

The secret service brought over a box and summoned Kiyoshi and the other two, asking them to draw lots.

Orochimaru was the first to speak, Minato was second, and Kiyoshi was last.

"Hehe, first place, that's a good omen."

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, life is far too fragile, and I have been searching for a way to achieve immortality."

Orochimaru's opening remarks left the other ninjas completely bewildered.

"I have now found the method."

As soon as Orochimaru finished speaking, she immediately looked at him with a look of astonishment.

Immortality?

Orochimaru, what are you doing?!

Danzo Shimura screamed inwardly, nearly squeezing the ninja tool sealing his right arm out of shape.

eternal life?

This kind of thing is best enjoyed in small circles; to actually talk about it is utterly rebellious.

Widespread immortality would only be a disaster!
"Orochimaru is still clinging to his old ideas."

Tsunade shook her head.

Originally, she didn't want to come to the Hokage selection ceremony and only wanted to wait for the succession ceremony later. But then she remembered that Kiyoshi was her disciple, so she made a special trip to come.

"Orochimaru has gone mad."

Jiraiya spoke up.

As Orochimaru's close friend, Jiraiya was also worried about Orochimaru's mental health.

He planned to take Orochimaru to a brothel later to show him his masculine prowess.

What should a ninja truly pursue?

eternal life?

Things that go against the natural cycle will not end well.

Everything has a price; nothing is possible without a price.

The desolation of immortality is enough to drive one mad.

"It seems that Kiyoshi has a similar idea."

Tsunade recalled the time when she and Jiraiya went to find Sakumo Hatake. Kiyoshi was also there then, and they even discussed this topic with Orochimaru.

She also told Kiyoshi that it's normal to die when it's time to die.

"eternal life?"

As expected, this topic attracted the attention of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

The daimyo of the Land of Demons, who had come to observe the ceremony, also cast his gaze in that direction.

"Orochimaru, how can you achieve the immortality you speak of?"

The daimyo of the Land of Fire.

He wasn't a ninja, so he didn't develop the same open-minded attitude of living in the present moment as a ninja.

Ninjas live a precarious existence; no one knows whether they will survive the next mission.

The only guarantee for ninjas is a pension, which allows them to leave a last bit of warmth for their loved ones after they die.

This resulted in ninjas having moral ethics that were actually different from those of ordinary people.

They are more open-minded than the average person, yet also very conservative.

"Change the body."

Orochimaru explained some of the principles behind "Reanimation Jutsu".

As long as the soul does not decay or perish, the physical body is merely a vessel.

If a ninety-year-old ninja were to replace the body of an eighteen-year-old ninja, he would become his eighteen-year-old self.

The drawback is that the body belongs to someone else and may not have the same habits as one's own former physical body.

"what!"

"Doesn't this mean someone has to be sacrificed?"

"This method is too evil and should be classified as a top-level forbidden technique, prohibited from being used by anyone."

The ninjas in the room began to whisper among themselves.

Immortality, they can treat it as a pipe dream.

However, "reincarnation" involves replacing one's body with another person's, which is destined to be stained with blood.

In theory, the amount of physical sacrifices needed to sustain a person's immortality is also... infinite.

"Enough, Orochimaru."

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned and was the first to interrupt Orochimaru to continue.

“Sarutobi-sensei, I’m doing this for Konoha’s sake. As long as one can live forever, even a genin, after hundreds of years of accumulation, will only become stronger than a jonin.”

Orochimaru frowned.

Being one step ahead is genius; being three steps ahead is madness.

These people... have such a narrow perspective that they simply cannot comprehend his advanced thinking.

"The next Minato Namikaze."

Mitokado Yan called out Namikaze Minato's name.

In his view, Orochimaru had essentially given up his qualifications.

Discussing forbidden techniques in public?

Or immortality?

To put it bluntly, isn't it just fear of death?

Ninjas are tools, and the most important thing is to be fearless of death. If everyone wants to live longer, then over time, they will fear death and dare not carry out high-risk missions.

Such an action is tantamount to undermining the very foundation of Konoha.

Danzo Shimura looked at Orochimaru with a mixture of disappointment and frustration, remaining silent for a long time.

"Alas, this method is indeed inappropriate."

The Fire Nation Daimyo shook his head.

If he were to achieve immortality through such a method, posterity would likely label him a tyrant.

And if you change bodies, who knows if that person will still be yourself?

The risk is just too great.

The daimyo of the Land of Fire preferred Kiyoshi's proposal.

(End of this chapter)