Land of Fire, in the dense forest where Yamanaka Kei previously tested Wood Release.
With a large cloud of Chakra smoke rising, the enormous Manda appeared at Orochimaru's feet.
And more than that.
Thousands upon thousands of colorful snakes, each appearing extremely venomous, also crawled out of the smoke.
Like a tidal wave, amidst the scalp-tingling hissing and crawling sounds, they quickly filled the dense forest.
"I sought cooperation with Kei-kun with sincerity, yet Kei-kun is so arrogant, it's truly disappointing."
Under the Orochimaru-style Body Replacement Technique, Orochimaru emerged from the mouth of his original body, as if a python shedding its skin.
With a casual flick, he tossed the old skin, marked with the Flying Thunder God Technique Formula, into the surrounding writhing mass of snakes.
Allowing the venomous snakes to tear it apart and devour it, completely destroying the Flying Thunder God Mark on it.
As a disciple of the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, he already knew many forbidden techniques. After cooperating with Danzo, he learned almost all of Konoha's forbidden techniques.
Suddenly being brought here from the laboratory.
How could he not recognize that this was the Flying Thunder God Technique created by the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju.
Previously, because Jiraiya's disciple had learned the Flying Thunder God Technique.
He had also studied this ninjutsu for a period of time.
Although he couldn't master it due to his own insufficient spatial aptitude, he was very clear about its principles and combat methods.
This method of silently leaving a technique mark.
Might threaten those ninjas who don't understand this technique, but it can't threaten him at all.
"Such a big reaction, you really want to be Hokage?"
Yamanaka Kei looked at Orochimaru standing on top of Manda with a pained expression.
If it weren't for the power of Zero Frame Startup.
Allowing him to react quickly when Orochimaru made his move, and bringing him here, Experiment Base Number Seven would have been gone!
That's all money!
All built with a large amount of funds from Root!
"In Konoha, besides me, who else can sit in that position, Kei-kun?"
Orochimaru put one hand on his hip, looking down at Yamanaka Kei on the ground.
His teacher Sarutobi Hiruzen's strength has already begun to decline, and his thinking is rigid, his methods are weak, and he is hesitant, he is no longer suitable to continue serving as Hokage.
Among the younger generation.
In terms of battle merit, seniority, strength, potential, prestige...
Shouldn't the position of Fourth Hokage be held by him?
"How desperate would I have to be to become Hokage... I'm asking you, do you really want that position?"
Yamanaka Kei rubbed his forehead, ignoring the sea of snakes surrounding him, and continued to question Orochimaru.
He had been very serious about discussing cooperation with him just now.
He had presented his conditions while also offering sufficient benefits.
Didn't this guy want eternal life?
Ample financial support, a large amount of manpower assistance, the correct research direction, the secrets of the Senju and Uchiha, the ultimate origin of ninjas...
That should be enough sincerity!
And the three conditions he proposed.
First, Orochimaru was not allowed to rashly conduct human experiments until the research had stable results, and the candidates for human experiments should also be provided by Root, and not be captured privately.
Second, all research results must be shared and not kept secret.
Third, withdraw from the competition for the Hokage position, and don't secretly cause trouble in the future, but concentrate on research.
The previous part was going well.
But when the third condition came out, this guy thought he was threatening him, glared at him, and directly attacked.
Isn't that what wanting to be Hokage is?
But, is that kind of thinking Orochimaru's own wish?
Has this guy really thought it through?
"..."
Orochimaru's snake pupils narrowed slightly, turning into sharp and slender vertical pupils.
What...
was he thinking?
If the Hokage position was really that important to him, he wouldn't have gotten involved in forbidden human experiments, and he wouldn't have even explored those dangerous forbidden techniques.
If he really took that position as his ultimate goal, he wouldn't have used some methods that easily aroused the dissatisfaction of low-level ninjas in many great wars to quickly obtain victory in the war.
With his wisdom and understanding of human nature, it would be easy to gain greater prestige and more support.
But...
The image of Sarutobi Hiruzen patting his shoulder, saying that he looked forward to his future and would always watch him, appeared in Orochimaru's mind.
The image of Danzo standing beside him, promising to send him to the Hokage position, appeared.
Nawaki appeared, Anko appeared, and subordinates appeared one after another...
The picture flickered slightly...
*"Release!"*
Orochimaru put his hands together.
The memory scenes before his eyes, indistinguishable between truth and falsehood, shattered like a mirror.
The chakra of Manda within his body gradually receded, and the noisy voice of the other party came from his ears.
"Release! Release! Release! Orochimaru, you idiot, you actually fell for a Genjutsu! Hahaha~ This great one has helped you so much this time, two hundred sacrifices! You must give me two hundred sacrifices!"
"I'll send them to you later."
Orochimaru's face was gloomy as he raised a hand to wipe away the cold sweat that had seeped from his forehead due to the mental shock.
Previously, when Yamanaka Kei dealt with Oshiro En, he had tapped his arm with his fingers and directly cast a Genjutsu.
Just now...
Was it that gesture of supporting his forehead?
Such elusive Genjutsu techniques!
"Awake? Have you figured things out a bit?"
Yamanaka Kei looked at Orochimaru, who had awakened from the Genjutsu, and really wanted to give Manda a good beating.
He had already led Orochimaru into it, okay!
Just a little longer.
In the Genjutsu world, after a round of psychological suggestion, maybe Orochimaru himself would have given up the idea of becoming Hokage.
But this dead snake actually jumped out halfway and ruined things!
"Kei-kun thinks that the idea of becoming Hokage was forced upon me by others?"
Orochimaru's expression seemed as relaxed as before, but one hand remained on top of Manda's head, and his gaze no longer met Yamanaka Kei's eyes.
"Expectations, pressure, environment, experience, sunk costs, and what is to be expected?"
Yamanaka Kei thought for a moment and gave his answer.
"A pertinent answer. In that case, please, Kei-kun, show me the power to convince me to change my will, let me see that turning back in time is the best choice, otherwise..."
A sinister smile appeared on Orochimaru's face, and he licked his lips, issuing an attack order to the surrounding snakes.
He didn't care why Yamanaka Kei didn't want to become Hokage and wanted to stop him from becoming Hokage.
But since cooperation couldn't be reached, they would speak with their fists.
Let the victor dominate the loser's life!
Root, huh!
He was really looking forward to fully controlling its power and carrying out various research projects with all his strength!
"Tsk~ Just asking a side question, are Tagorihime, Ichikishimahime, and Tagitsuhime good-looking?"
"Would a powerhouse like Kei-kun still be obsessed with appearances?"
"A little. Beautiful things always make people feel happy. But asking you this is purely because I have a little hobby of collecting various Summoning Beasts, and fighting like this, if I don't take something back after the fight, I always feel like I've lost out."
"Heh heh~ If Kei-kun wins, I will personally take you to Ryūchi Cave, but if..."
"It's a deal, Orochimaru-kun!"
Rumbling~
"Roar~!"
Several hundred-meter-long Wood Dragons rose from beneath the earth's surface, roaring towards the sky!
A Wood Golem, several times larger than Manda, slowly used its arms to prop up its body buried beneath the ground from Yamanaka Kei's feet, like an ancient god supporting the sky, blocking the sunlight behind him!
The already lush trees around seemed to come alive in an instant, stretching their branches.
Several ancient trees, abnormally large, even bloomed with huge, brightly colored flower buds as their branches swayed and rustled!
Bang~
Manda didn't waste a word and immediately took the initiative to cancel the Summoning Technique, returning to Ryūchi Cave.
Fight?
Fight my ass!
It was born with a love for peace and couldn't stand the sight of blood!
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