Chapter 49: Troubles of Politics

Orochimaru's gaze was no longer as cold as before. It was like—A scientist who had spent his life chasing mysteries—Finally witnessing the truth of the universe. A kind of feverish obsession. He had seen his path forward.

Naïve ideals would always fade with maturity.

"Fourth Hokage, if you don't know how to handle Root's ninja—just leave it to me." "I've spent years in Root. I know exactly what needs to be done."

Orochimaru's voice was calm—Clearly, he was trying to win Minato's trust. But Minato Namikaze still wasn't sure if he could.

Ren Asakura suddenly gave a thumbs-up. "Don't worry, Fourth Hokage. After my careful… persuasion, Orochimaru has deeply realized how wrong his old path was. Now, he just wants to be a good person."

Minato didn't fully understand what had happened, but since Ren Asakura said so, he decided to trust it for now. Still, he asked, "And what exactly do you plan to do?"

He was asking Orochimaru.

"It's simple. The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal."

The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal—A special sealing jutsu used exclusively in Root. Danzo had placed this seal on the tongues of all Root members. Anyone who tried to reveal information about him would immediately become paralyzed, unable to move or speak. It was a tool of absolute control.

Minato nodded slightly. Orochimaru, as Root's second-in-command, knew a lot. And as a meticulous scientist, he had studied countless jutsu. Since he had spent so much time researching seals, it was natural that he had also dissected the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.

He had even studied countless types of jutsu in pursuit of his own form of immortality.

Very quickly, under Minato's watchful eye, Orochimaru reapplied the seal on all the captured Root ninja.

Now, everyone who had witnessed tonight's battle was completely under control.

Orochimaru looked at Minato and asked, "Fourth Hokage, what's your next move? Danzo's sudden death will make my teacher very unhappy. As Hokage, he might pressure you. Don't forget—most of ANBU is still under his control."

Ren Asakura sighed. "Ugh… politics. Such a pain."

Then, he made a cutthroat gesture across his neck.

The meaning was obvious. Just eliminate him.

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly. Right now, he still had respect for his teacher.

"Sensei may be power-hungry, but he hasn't reached that level yet. And there's still the matter of Root. Even if you absorb all of it, he will surely resist. He might try to pull Root's remaining members under ANBU and seize control."

Orochimaru, as one of the Three Legendary Sannin, was also a high-ranking figure in Konoha. He understood politics very well—otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to establish Otogakure after his defection.

Minato frowned slightly. "Since you're saying this, I assume you have a plan, Orochimaru?"

A smirk appeared on Orochimaru's face—dark and calculating.

"Talking to a smart man is always easier. We can work together. You give me control over Root, and I will become your blade in the shadows—just like Danzo once was to the Third Hokage."

Orochimaru hadn't seen the future, but this was the best way he could think of to handle Root.

A strong village always needed someone to do its dirty work.

And besides—his research had to continue. Root could provide the resources he needed.

It was a win-win solution.

Orochimaru was confident that Minato would agree.

But Minato shook his head.

He had seen the future.

Many powerful individuals would appear.

The existence of Root was becoming pointless.

Even if Ren Asakura personally guaranteed it, Minato still couldn't bring himself to trust Orochimaru completely. He knew exactly what kind of person Orochimaru was. Handing him that much power? Impossible.

Meanwhile, Ren Asakura was casually wandering through Root's base.

Politics were such a headache.

Let Minato and Orochimaru figure it out themselves.

Orochimaru thought for a moment, then spoke.

"Then what do you plan to do? Root can't just be ignored. If we do nothing, my power-hungry teacher will definitely seize control. And we need to act quickly—I suspect he's already sensed that something is wrong."

Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi had been best friends—One in the light, one in the shadows.

Right now, the Fourth Hokage was still alive.

All those disgraceful things the Third Hokage would eventually do hadn't happened yet.

Back in the day, Hiruzen had truly been an excellent Hokage.

Danzo's death—Hiruzen would definitely notice sooner or later.

It was only a matter of time.

Right now, Orochimaru's position was actually quite delicate.

He was the Third Hokage's student.

His most outstanding student.

Hiruzen had invested so much in him—Placed so many expectations on him.

He had even entrusted him to his best friend, Danzo.

Back when Orochimaru defected, the Third Hokage had the chance to capture him.

But because of sentimentality, he had let him go.

And back then, Danzo had pinned all his crimes on Orochimaru—Blaming him for everything.

Those crimes alone were enough to execute Orochimaru a hundred times over.

Because of this, if Orochimaru became Root's new leader—Hiruzen wouldn't just accept it, he would actually support it.

Because in his mind—Orochimaru was still his student.

And as someone obsessed with power, Hiruzen would assume Orochimaru would side with him.

Danzo had been his trusted friend.

Orochimaru was his most trusted disciple.

This was politics.

A game of power.

Minato thought deeply.

Right now, he already had the Uchiha clan on his side.

If he seized control of Root, the power-hungry Third Hokage would definitely react—Perhaps even mobilizing the Konoha Elders against him.

After all, those Elders were all Hiruzen's old comrades.

If they all pressured him together—Even as Hokage, he wouldn't be able to simply ignore them.

Finally, Minato made his decision.

"Orochimaru, we need to cover up what happened to Danzo. I'll help you become Root's new leader, but—those experiments you were doing before? They end here. Those things die with Danzo.

Human experimentation, Hashirama cells, Sharingan research— You understand what I'm saying, don't you, Orochimaru?"

Orochimaru nodded.

He had seen a new path forward.

Looking back now, he realized how foolish his old ambitions had been—Trying to recreate Hashirama's glory?

How shortsighted.

Staring into the past, trapped in old achievements—Never looking ahead. Never exploring the unknown.

He had been so stupid.

Even without seeing the future, Orochimaru could already predict—There had to be far greater forces beyond the Shinobi World.

The unknown.

The mysterious.

And that—was truly exciting.

°°°

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