Chapter 7: Land of Lightning's Culture

49 years after Konoha's establishment in February.

The news of the Fourth Hokage dying in an effort to seal the Nine tailed fox away again surprised everyone.

Not only where they surprised about the Nine tails rampage but also because Hiruzen Sarutobi who had long since retired as the third Hokage returned right to that position once again.

Yeah, the fourth died but what about Orochimaru?

Isn't he a suitable candidate for fifth Hokage?

Well, turns out he's not. At least according to Hiruzen Sarutobi, his character was not fit for Hokage.

And he, the old man, was more suitable. Yes, definitely.

What's more, wasn't there another kage-level ninja roaming about. Why don't you just ask him to come back?

…

…

In the secret research institute located under Orochimaru's residence.

Danzo leaned on a cane and looked at Orochimaru's back, and said in an deathly cold tone,

"That old fool Sarutobi took advantage of that brat Minato's death to regain his old political power. I couldn't beat him."

Orochimaru's eyes was locked onto the experimental chamber in front of him.

Several pipes and needles containing oxygen and nutrition was connected to the chamber.

There was a baby covered in needles floating inside one.

"Heh, what did you expect. A person like Hiruzen sensei letting go of power? Absurd, even when Minato was in office he still held onto some of it."

Orochimaru still kept face to face with the sleeping baby while he secretly ranted about how ridiculous the situation was.

When Hiruzen was picking between him and Minato what made him decide that Minato was the better man for the position.

Because Minato was stronger?

Yes, but strength is not the only deciding factor, things like experience and support were generally more important.

The real reason Minato ended up succeeding Hiruzen was that he was naive and easy to manipulate.

When Minato was in office he shared it with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Two Kage working together on the same rule.

The facade he used was that as a new Hokage he needed to make sure Minato became more familiar with the process and job they had.

The young civilian was probably the only candidate that wasn't aware of the Hokage's scheming nature.

If Orochimaru or Tsunade had been the Hokage instead then Hiruzen would get a punch to the face and stripped of all authority outside of the Sarutobi clan.

Looking at the babies floating in the Chambers, Danzo couldn't help frowning and saying,

"You have been taking too many test subjects recently. Hiruzen has started noticing the increase in missing children cases."

"You don't have to worry. I have plans and they won't affect you at all."

Orochimaru said without much care,

"And didn't you want me to transplant the first Hokage's cells into that deformed arm of yours? If that's the case don't bother me all the time as soon as something goes wrong."

Seeing Orochimaru playing the 'Hashirama Cells' card, he decided he had stayed long enough.

He left behind while saying "You're taking too many risks. You're crimes will be exposed at this rate."

After walking out of the laboratory and feeling the sunlight on his wrinkled skin, he couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"Orochimaru can't be trusted. As I expected, only I know what is best for Konoha."

However, as Obito said in the original book–

The roots should stay buried underground.

A mouse accustomed to the dark should not run out under the gaze of the sun.

They would be hunt down and trampled on.

"Danzo-sama, Lord Hokage is inviting you to go to the Emergency meeting room immediately. The meeting on Konoha's reconstruction work is about to begin."

An Anbu suddenly came to Danzo to inform him of the Hokage's order.

What a brilliant Body Flicker Technique!

Seeing this, Danzo couldn't help but feel a twisted sense of Jealousy and admiration for this Anbu Shinobi.

He knew the identity of this Anbu very well, Shisui of the Body Flicker.

Born from the Uchiha clan, he stood out as one of Konoha's greatest geniuses of the current generation.

It is a pity that Hiruzen had scouted and took him into his faction the moment he revealed promise.

The reconstruction of Konoha, was an urgent problem that arose from the Nine tails incident.

The acting Hokage proposed that the Uchiha clan which was originally located around the center of Konoha was moved over towards the Southern Border. Which 'coincidentally' was close to the Anbu base.

He really wanted to scoff at him. He wasn't even trying to hide the distrust to the Uchiha.

And letting him, the leader of Root, participate was nothing more than a formality and announcement of his decision.

"Hiruzen, wait and see! Someday, soon this old man will become Hokage!"

Although, he was upset at how he was being practically disregarded at the moment he didn't dare confront him head him.

After all, right now as the acting decision maker for the village he had much more influence among the clans and elite ninja backing him.

…

…

Compared to the chaos that was going on in Konoha, Kumogakure relatively more peaceful.

They were currently having a competition

The Island Turtle was a training dedicated to training high level ninja.

There was two snakes of lightning constantly shuttling around.

They were colliding against each other with a series of Boom's.

In reality these bouncing thunderbolts were A, the fourth Raikage and Hachiro.

On the higher ground of both sides spectating Villagers and Shinobi who had just returned from their missions watched on.

This was one of their customs, a duel between some of the strongest shinobi of the village.

Hachiro's right hand spun in the air, a violent thunder arc magnified in size taking on the shape of a dragon.

"60 million volts Thunder Dragon!"

"Look, that's brother-in-law's signature technique!"

Atsui shouted excitedly.

"Ha, you fool! I've seen that technique many times before!"

Fourth Raikage shouted in excitement.

A cloak made from Lightning chakra formed around him.

He stretched his right hand straight out in front of him before swinging it at the approaching Thunder Dragon.

"Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop!"

"Lord Raikage's attack seems stronger."

Darui who stood among the audience tried predicting the outcome of the fight before him.

"Hehe, here's a trick you haven't seen before, dear cousin~."

Suddenly, under his opponents puzzled eyes,

Hachiro pulled out a coin from his jacket and used his thumb to flip it up in the air.