I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 387 The Five Kage Summit Arrives!

In the blink of an eye, several days have passed.

Danzo Shimura's sudden death did not cause the slightest ripple in Konoha.

Although this ninja of darkness held a high position in the village, he was unpopular and even despised by everyone.

Those ninjas who were unaware of Danzo Shimura's death were alright.

Most of the ninjas who learned that this old black root was dead were happy about it.

The very few ninjas who would feel sadness or even anger over Shimura Danzo's death are probably only the other two elders in the village—Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.

However, even Hiruzen Sarutobi did not take any action regarding Danzo Shimura's death.

Even if Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were filled with anxiety, anger, and fear, they could only suppress these emotions deep inside.

Even though the two elders already knew who the murderer of Shimura Danzo was.

However, they did not want to accompany Shimura Danzo to the Pure Land to kowtow and confess their sins to the previous Hokage.

Danzo Shimura's death was like a decaying leaf falling from a large tree, easily turned over.

As for the Root organization that he created, it was quietly integrated into the Anbu—or rather, returned to the Anbu—under Hiruzen Sarutobi's personal control.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had not yet decided on a specific course of action regarding the Root ninjas.

The darkness of Konoha, the darkness of the ninja, ultimately needs someone to support it.

Considering the upcoming election for the Fourth Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that he wouldn't be able to hold the position of Hokage for long.

He simply passed the problem of dealing with the root to the next Hokage.

Whether it's abolishing Root or sending new ninjas to rule over Konoha's darkness...

It's all up to the Fourth Hokage to handle!

After what happened to Root a few days ago, especially after being defeated head-on by Nara Rangsuke, Hiruzen Sarutobi's spirit has begun to wane.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's greatest hope now is to be able to select a suitable successor for the village.

"Minato Namikaze, Nara no Uehara... and, sigh, Orochimaru..."

……

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was secretly muttering his disciple's name in Konoha Village.

Inside a secret base within the Land of Fire.

Orochimaru is reviewing the latest intelligence information circulating within Konoha Village.

As one of the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru still has quite a few followers in Konoha.

For Orochimaru, obtaining the latest news about Konoha through these followers was a very simple matter.

"Shimura Danzo is dead, and Root has been merged into the Anbu..."

Orochimaru held a scroll of intelligence in his pale hand, and his narrow snake eyes gleamed with a cold light.

"You guys are something else, Nara Ranka and Tsunade!"

Even Orochimaru didn't expect that after attacking him, Nara Rinka and Tsunade would also attack Shimura Danzo!

They even killed Shimura Danzo!

Orochimaru licked his lips, tossed the intelligence scroll aside, and raised his new hands, spinning them around a few times.

Several days ago, Nara Rinka severed Orochimaru's hands, giving this legendary Sannin a very painful lesson.

However, Nara Rinka only severed Orochimaru's body, not his soul.

After a period of self-repair.

Orochimaru successfully repaired his hands—not by reattaching the original two charred and carbonized palms, but by using his advanced biological genetic techniques to clone two arms and transplant them.

"Hehe, speaking of which, I should thank Nara Rinka for finding such excellent material for me!"

Orochimaru stared intently at his two novices, whose deathly pale skin resembled that of bloodless corpses.

"Without those White Zetsu corpses, I wouldn't have been able to find this special material, 'White Zetsu cells,' so quickly."

"Compared to interstitial cells, white blood cells are like some kind of inferior clone."

"It has an affinity for Wood Release chakra, a compatibility with natural energy, and an activity and corrosiveness far lower than Hashirama's cells..."

"At least at this stage, leukocytes are a better fit for me than interstitial cells!"

Orochimaru's new arm is a bio-prosthetic limb created using White Zetsu cells.

This "White Zetsu Arm" is definitely less effective than the original, but it's still better than nothing.

"My primitive cells, White Zetsu cells, Hashirama cells, Sage cells... this is my path as a ninja!"

Orochimaru lowered his hands and looked at the strange and unusual research materials in the secret base.

"The next phase of the plan is to completely transform my own cellular tissues, using White Zetsu cells as a blueprint!"

The death of Shimura Danzo had a significant impact on Orochimaru's psyche.

He originally planned to secretly return to Konoha after successfully "repairing" his hands.

Leaving aside Nara Rinka and Tsunade's Wood Release, as well as cellular structures and such.

Many of Orochimaru's experiments still need to be conducted within Konoha Village!

Especially those research projects he collaborated on with Danzo Shimura.

Things like "Hashirama cells", "Eight-Tails Jinchuriki", "White Zetsu cells", and "Tailed Beast Chakra".

But now Danzo Shimura is dead!

Orochimaru's plans were thus significantly disrupted.

Without the help of Shimura Danzo and his Root organization, Orochimaru's many research plans would be severely affected, and might even come to a complete halt.

In that case, Orochimaru decided to make a clean break and abandon the related research in Konoha.

In any case, he had already made backups of the main research materials in advance.

Why risk your life to return to Konoha for something that isn't important?

Orochimaru made up his mind and entered a deep state of dormancy.

……

In the blink of an eye, almost another week has passed.

The long-awaited Five-Shadow Summit has finally arrived.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, along with Minato Namikaze and another ANBU ninja squad, embarked on a journey to the Land of Iron.

Half a month ago, during the battle with Root, Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Minato Namikaze to rescue Danzo Shimura, but unfortunately, he did not receive a response from Minato.

Influenced by this incident, Hiruzen Sarutobi also considered whether to change the attendants who participated in the Five Kage Summit.

In a sense, the "attendants of the Five Kage Summit" can almost be equated with the "successor favored by the Third Hokage".

After some thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to abandon the idea of ​​changing his follower.

Going back on one's word is secondary.

The key point is that, apart from Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't find a more suitable negotiation attendant.

There are several potential successors to the Hokage title in Konoha.

In reality, only three people are truly qualified to reach this position.

Minato Namikaze.

Orochimaru.

Nara takes the laurel.

In fact, Jiraiya and Tsunade were also very outstanding candidates for Hokage.

But the former was determined to support his own apprentice.

The latter remained steadfast in his commitment, cheering and advocating for Nara's success in winning the laurel wreath.

Given that he was not optimistic about Orochimaru's succession, Hiruzen Sarutobi could only choose a suitable follower from Minato Namikaze and Rinkazu Nara.

He can't possibly bring a bunch of ordinary ninjas who lack both strength and reputation to the Five Kage Summit, can he?

In that case, Konoha would lose both face and substance!

Minato Namikaze and the Nara Haruki.

In the end, Hiruzen Sarutobi still chose the former.

After a long journey.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and his group finally arrived in the Land of Iron.

The Five-Photon Summit is about to begin.

(End of this chapter)