According to the normal Hokage succession process, after the Sandaime Hokage retired, Minato Namikaze was supposed to become the Yondaime Hokage.
And in canon, when the Yondaime died and no one else was available, the Sandaime temporarily resumed the role.
But with Tsunade having already served as the Yondaime Hokage, those events were effectively erased from history.
Now that she had resigned, it was impossible for Hiruzen to reclaim the position again.
So, after Minato left for the Land of Frost, the only logical candidate to become the next Hokage was Hatake Sakumo.
Sakumo had made countless contributions to Konoha.
He was also the father of Kakashi, who, in the original timeline, was supposed to become the Rokudaime Hokage.
In terms of qualifications, no one was more suitable to become the Godaime Hokage.
As for the Uchiha clan?
Orochimaru's decision to involve them was part of a larger plan.
While Tsunade had previously suggested a way to address the clan's isolation, she never had time to implement it.
The Uchiha clan's nature made it difficult for them to adapt to mundane jobs like running shops or selling vegetables.
Military command suited them far better.
Now that an opportunity presented itself, Orochimaru decided to solve the issue once and for all.
---
With everything settled, Orochimaru left Konoha with Tsunade and Mikoto.
---
A few days later, west of Konoha, at the Orphanage.
The sun cast soft shadows across the open courtyard.
On the grass, Mikoto and Kushina played games with their daughters, their laughter ringing through the air.
Meanwhile, Tsunade sat beside Orochimaru, watching him with a perplexed expression.
"You've worked so hard for so long," she said softly. "And now you've finally succeeded. Are you really willing to let it go like this?"
"What's there to be unwilling about?" Orochimaru replied nonchalantly. "What matters to me is the process and outcome of this transformation."
He leaned back in his chair.
"This entire journey... the challenge of reshaping the ninja world, that's what gave me satisfaction. As for overseeing the world afterward? That's a job for someone with more patience and responsibility than me."
"So that's why you asked me to resign?" Tsunade asked with a half-smile.
"Of course. Didn't you find that position exhausting?"
"It was exhausting," Tsunade admitted. "So exhausting that I didn't even know how to keep up with you."
Orochimaru smirked and pulled her into his arms.
"That's why I need to train you again from scratch."
"You... you really have no shame." Tsunade's cheeks flushed. "You never used to say things like that so directly."
"People change," Orochimaru said casually. "And besides—"
"Lord Orochimaru!"
A familiar voice called from the path.
The interruption caused Orochimaru to pause mid-sentence and turn toward the source of the voice.
"Yakushi Kabuto?"
---
Tsunade stood and left as Orochimaru shifted his attention to the two children standing beside Kabuto.
One boy had silver-gray hair and two red dots on his forehead. His delicate features gave him an air of calmness beyond his years.
The other boy had short orange hair and an innocent face but there was an undercurrent of instability in his eyes.
"Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto said, giving a slight bow.
The two children immediately followed suit, though their confusion and nervousness were apparent.
"Kimimaro... and Jūgo?" Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed slightly.
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "Yes. As you instructed, I located Kimimaro... and found Jūgo along the way."
Orochimaru smiled.
He had only asked Kabuto to bring back Kimimaro, yet somehow, Kabuto had managed to find Jūgo as well.
Luck or foresight? Either way, it was an unexpected bonus.
"Well done, Kabuto. Take them both to the lab."
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto answered immediately. "Come along, you two."
"Yes!" Kimimaro and Jūgo said in unison and obediently followed Kabuto toward the laboratory.
As they disappeared down the path, Orochimaru chuckled softly.
He hadn't anticipated obtaining both a potential battle genius like Kimimaro and a chakra anomaly like Jūgo in one go.
His plan to create a new generation of powerful shinobi was progressing even faster than expected.
But just as he was about to relax, his senses sharpened.
Another uninvited guest?
"There certainly have been a lot of surprises today," Orochimaru muttered.
His gaze shifted toward the shadows ahead.
"Come out, Obito."
The air three meters in front of him distorted, swirling into a vortex.
Moments later, Uchiha Obito emerged, still wearing his trademark spiraled mask.
Beside him, Zetsu—half white, half black—rose from the ground like a plant breaking through the earth.
---
"Sorry," White Zetsu spoke first. "We still haven't found any trace of the Nanabi."
Orochimaru's expression didn't change.
"Don't bother looking," he said calmly. "The Nanabi... is already in my possession."
His words froze both Obito and Zetsu in place.
White Zetsu tilted his head in confusion. "Wait... what?"
Orochimaru shifted his gaze to Obito.
"Obito," he said.
"I understand," Obito responded with a slight nod.
"Huh?"
The brief exchange left Zetsu completely bewildered.
Before he could react, Obito's hand shot out and gripped his neck.
"W-What?!"
Zetsu flailed in confusion.
"Obito... what are you doing?"
This didn't make sense.
Obito and Zetsu had always been on the same side. Why was Obito suddenly attacking him?
Obito's voice was cold. "Let's finish this conversation in a... quieter place."
His Sharingan spun, and the familiar ripple of Kamui activated.
Buzz!
The vortex expanded and swallowed both Zetsu and Orochimaru.
---
Inside Kamui's dimension.
The dim, gray space stretched endlessly. Rows of stone sarcophagi lined the walls.
Zetsu was immobilized on the ground, while Obito and Orochimaru stood side-by-side, facing him.
"What the hell is going on?" White Zetsu demanded. "Obito... what are you doing?!"
Black Zetsu, embedded in White Zetsu's body, realized something was off.
But it was already too late.
This was Obito's personal dimension.
In here, only Obito had control.
Escape was impossible.
"Sorry, Zetsu," Obito said, voice heavy with guilt. "You helped save me once. I won't forget that. But... I can't refuse Orochimaru's request."
Zetsu's eyes widened. "Is this... about Rin?"
Obito remained silent.
"Listen to me!" Zetsu shouted. "Even if Orochimaru promises to bring Rin back, my existence doesn't interfere with that!"
"No," Orochimaru cut in, his voice low and mocking. "Your existence doesn't affect Rin's resurrection but it does affect Kaguya's."
Zetsu froze.
That name... Kaguya.
A thousand years of scheming suddenly unraveled in his mind.
He immediately forced himself to adopt an innocent expression.
"Kaguya? Who's that?"
Orochimaru chuckled softly.
"You're really going to play dumb?" Orochimaru shook his head. "What a shame. I was considering helping you resurrect her... if you cooperated."
He turned to leave.
"Come on, Obito. Let's go."
"Wait! Orochimaru, wait!" Zetsu called out desperately..
***
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