Chapter 310:
Orochimaru firmly believed in the saying: "To stabilize the outside, one must first settle the inside."
If Konoha, a village as large and politically tangled as it was, were to be properly governed, its internal issues had to be resolved first. Tsunade, as the Fourth Hokage, already possessed the qualifications and skills necessary to lead, and ordinary problems wouldn't trouble her. However, two major obstacles remained, ones she couldn't handle alone.
The first was Danzo, who operated independently of the Hokage's authority.
The second was the longstanding conflict between the Uchiha clan and Konoha.
The Uchiha-Konoha conflict had deep historical roots, stemming from the feud between Ashura and Indra, their ancestors. Yet, Orochimaru had observed through his time in the village and through his extensive knowledge that the Uchiha clan wouldn't resort to rebellion unless they were cornered. As Uchiha Madara once admitted to Hashirama, the clan no longer possessed the courage to rebel.
The Uchiha coup in the original timeline, Orochimaru reasoned, occurred only because they were left with no other option. Distrust from Konoha's higher-ups, surveillance, forced isolation, each of these added pressure on the Uchiha. All of these came to a head eight years after the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha, when the seeds of rebellion began to take form.
Thus, for Orochimaru, the solution was simple:
Before tensions escalated, grant the Uchiha clan the trust and power they deserved. Let them enjoy the respect and recognition due to them in the village and integrate them with civilian ninjas. Addressing their past grievances and treating them fairly could significantly ease tensions and dissuade thoughts of rebellion.
With better living conditions, a sense of honor, and positions of authority, who would risk all that for a coup? Orochimaru felt confident that while this wouldn't entirely erase the Uchiha-Konoha conflict, it would greatly reduce the likelihood of it spiraling out of control. And, given time, future conflicts could be resolved more easily.