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Shin was strolling through Konoha's food street. He hadn't left the village yet.
He was planning to stay for a few days; he had nowhere else to go. He didn't care what Hiruzen Sarutobi, Minato Namikaze, or the Konoha higher-ups thought.
He was strong enough to do as he pleased. He only cared about his own enjoyment, not their worries.
Shin saw Orochimaru sitting in a tavern and decided to join him.
Orochimaru noticed Shin and looked at him with interest.
"Orochimaru... are you drinking here all alone, feeling dejected?"
"Shin, what makes you think I'm feeling dejected?" Orochimaru asked with a smile.
"You lost the Hokage election to Minato Namikaze. Aren't you upset?" Shin looked at Orochimaru, trying to see his reaction. But to Shin's disappointment, Orochimaru's expression didn't change.
Perhaps he really didn't care about the Hokage position.
"The Hokage position is just a burden. My ambitions lie elsewhere." Orochimaru wasn't interested in the Hokage title. His goal was immortality. If he became Hokage, he wouldn't have time to research it.
"Aren't you afraid of being in danger here in Konoha, Shin?" Orochimaru asked.
Orochimaru shook his head. Even if they gathered all of Konoha's forces, they might not be able to defeat Shin. And even if they could, the price would be too high. Hiruzen wouldn't make such a foolish decision.
As for the new Hokage, Minato Namikaze—Orochimaru knew how much power he actually had. Although Minato was the Hokage, the real power was still in Hiruzen's hands. Minato's authority was even less than that of the two elders and Danzō.
"If you hadn't left Konoha, you might be the Hokage now," Orochimaru said suddenly.
"Haha." Shin chuckled. "Orochimaru, that's impossible. Even if I hadn't left, no one would elect me as Hokage."
He was from the Land of Whirlpools—an outsider. Hiruzen would never allow him to become Hokage. That was why he had tried to suppress Shin.
"Why did Hiruzen Sarutobi step down?"
"He had no choice. The villagers were blaming him." Orochimaru explained. It wasn't a secret. Konoha had suffered heavy losses in the Third Shinobi World War, and the grieving villagers had blamed Hiruzen. Danzō had also manipulated things behind the scenes—fueling their anger.
"I see. So he was forced to step down."
Shin realized Minato had been set up. Although he had become Hokage, Konoha was currently a mess. The war had devastated the village; Minato would have his hands full dealing with the aftermath.
"Shin, are you interested in immortality?" Orochimaru asked, a glint in his eyes. He was planning something. He wanted to collaborate with Shin and research immortality together.
"Immortality? That's easy," Shin said casually.
Orochimaru froze, then he became excited. Easy? Did Shin have a way to achieve it?
"Shin, you said it's easy. Do you have a method?" Orochimaru tried to appear calm, but his excitement was evident.
"Orochimaru, some things are easy for some people, but impossible for others."
Though he admired Orochimaru's talent, achieving True immortality was difficult. Orochimaru might not be able to do it. His Living Corpse Reincarnation technique wouldn't grant him eternal life; he would eventually destroy himself.
Orochimaru probably hadn't developed the Living Corpse Reincarnation yet at this point in time.
"Can you tell me the method? I'm prepared to offer you all my Jutsu in exchange." Orochimaru said. He would give up everything for immortality.
"I'm not interested in your Jutsu." Shin wasn't interested in Orochimaru's techniques.
He could already use Edo Tensei—which Orochimaru hadn't even learned yet. And he didn't care about Orochimaru's other Jutsu.
"But I can tell you the method."
Orochimaru's hopes were rekindled.
"Reach the level of the Sage of Six Paths—and you'll achieve immortality. You'll be able to live for thousands of years, at least."
Shin knew Orochimaru couldn't reach that level, so he didn't mind revealing it.
"The Sage of Six Paths? But he died eventually."
"Orochimaru, how do you know the Sage of Six Paths is really dead?"
Orochimaru was starting to believe Shin. But reaching the level of the Sage of Six Paths? That was incredibly difficult.
The Sage of Six Paths was said to be a God who could create and destroy worlds. Even if the legends were exaggerated—he was definitely stronger than Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.
Orochimaru wanted to ask more, but seeing Shin's expression, he knew it was pointless.
Was the Sage of Six Paths still alive? If he was, where was he? Orochimaru wanted to meet this legendary figure.
"You must have a reason for coming to Konoha, Shin." Orochimaru put aside his thoughts on immortality for now.
He had been excited at first, but he didn't think it was a realistic goal. Reaching the level of the Sage of Six Paths was too difficult—though he could try.
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