Chapter 16: Hokage Grandpa! Hang In There! (2/2)

"Hand over the kidnapped Hokage Grandpa!"

"Hiss... you little brat."

The Anbu squad leader, fuming with anger after hearing the report, performed a Body Flicker Technique and lifted Wakaho by his collar.

The scene mirrored the one in front of the police headquarters yesterday.

Unfortunately, Obito and Shisui weren't here; otherwise, Shisui might have even awakened his Sharingan!

"Let go of me! Fight me one-on-one if you dare!"

"Behave yourself! Do you know how much trouble you've caused? Do you know where you are?"

"Ah!!! Will of Fire, grant me strength once more to defeat this guy!"

"Hokage Grandpa! Hang in there!!!"

"..."

The Third Hokage, sitting in his office, watched the "drama" unfold through the floor-to-ceiling window.

As the laughter in the office died down a bit, he spoke.

"Orochimaru."

"My clone is already on its way, sensei," Orochimaru responded with a smile.

"The children these days are truly full of energy..." the Third Hokage mused.

"And they are indeed quite bold," White Fang chuckled. "My son would never dare to do something like this, haha."

"This is a result of poor upbringing, Sakumo-senpai," Hiashi Hyuga, the only one who hadn't laughed, said sternly. "If this child continues like this, he'll cause big problems once he becomes a ninja."

"But he's still young, Hiashi..." White Fang waved his hand dismissively.

Thud thud thud—

The Third Hokage tapped his desk.

"Alright, let's continue, everyone."

"Compared to this child, Iwagakure and Kumogakure are clearly more troublesome..."

...

"I already told you! The Hokage-sama has not been kidnapped; he's in an important meeting!"

"Kid, don't look at me like that. Do you know how much trouble you've caused today?"

"If you weren't so young, you would be dead by now... Lord Orochimaru, you're here."

"Hmm."

Orochimaru's arrival interrupted the lecture.

Wakaho, who was tied up and sealed, immediately became obedient...

Why is Orochimaru here?

Can't keep acting dumb anymore, or it'll be too much.

Besides... at this point in time, Orochimaru hasn't turned into the mad scientist yet, right?

He hasn't started human experiments, nor has he become the slippery snake we know.

As the only one of the Three Legendary Sannin still residing in Konoha, Orochimaru is currently a top candidate for the next Hokage.

"Let me handle the child," Orochimaru said calmly.

"Yes!" The Anbu ninja answered respectfully and closed the door as he left.

"Looks like you know who I am, kid... you can relax now, right?"

Orochimaru smiled and swiftly untied Wakaho and removed the gag from his mouth.

"..." Wakaho didn't speak but nodded.

Orochimaru's smile widened, reminiscent of Gintoki's teacher before his awakening, with a maxed-out gentle demeanor.

And post-awakening... well...

"I've gathered some information... you want to graduate early, right?"

Wakaho nodded again, still silent, and then took out his application form.

Orochimaru didn't take it.

"You can hand it to the Hokage-sama yourself and see that he hasn't been kidnapped..."

Orochimaru reached out, intending to pat Wakaho's head.

Wakaho instinctively dodged.

No one.

No one is allowed to touch his head!

Orochimaru's hand hovered in the air, but he didn't seem upset.

"Relax, kid... you didn't hurt anyone, nor did you cause much damage. No one will blame you..."

"Let me tell you a secret," Orochimaru withdrew his hand, still smiling.

"Actually, I've wanted to do something like this for a long time..."

"..." Wakaho believed him.