Chapter 182:
In front of Orochimaru, Danzo did not bother to hide his ambitions. He believed, without a shadow of a doubt, that Orochimaru was on his side.
And why wouldn't he? On the surface, this was true. Orochimaru had been associated with Danzo since childhood, providing him with invaluable support and groundbreaking technology over the years. Danzo was confident in his ability to influence and manipulate, certain that Orochimaru had no reason to turn against him.
Orochimaru didn't mind Danzo's assumptions. Let Danzo believe what he wanted; it made no difference to him. Orochimaru's interests lay elsewhere, and any allegiance he projected was simply a means to an end.
The transplant operation was set for three days later, tonight was too soon, and there was still some preparation to be done.
Danzo's desire to become Hokage was no secret. Even the Third Hokage was aware of his aspirations. But given the current state of affairs, Hiruzen didn't see him as a significant threat. He allowed Danzo to play his games, confident that no real upheaval would come of it.
But was that truly the case?
In the past, Danzo's ambitions had been quashed by a single decision from the Second Hokage. Most influential families and clans aligned with Hiruzen, leaving Danzo with little to no support for his dreams of leadership.
However, times had changed.
Orochimaru's current strength was comparable to that of the Third Hokage. Coupled with his significant contributions to the village and his reputation as one of the Sannin, he wielded considerable influence. This shifted the balance of power and introduced new variables that couldn't be ignored.