Chapter 64: Ninja Girls
Hiruzen Sarutobi had been enjoying a rare period of peace lately. Following the Wind and Fire Campaign, the wars between nations had subsided temporarily, giving the people a brief respite of "peace." The rogue ninjas from Kirigakure had been eradicated, and the village was no longer shrouded in a climate of terrorism. The state of emergency had been lifted.
Children could now run and play freely in the village, shops had reopened for business, and the village brimmed with a harmonious atmosphere.
After finishing his paperwork, Hiruzen stretched his back comfortably, habitually packing his pipe and lighting it with satisfaction.
"Lord Hiruzen."
"Oh, Orochimaru. What brings you here?"
"Nothing in particular. I just finished a mission and thought I'd check in on you."
"Well, I've got nothing pressing at the moment. Why don't you accompany me for a walk?"
"It would be my honor," Orochimaru replied politely.
Hiruzen regarded Orochimaru as his successor. As Hokage, he naturally had his own circle of confidants. Among the older generation, there were Kagami Uchiha and Torifu Akimichi. The middle generation included Sakumo Hatake and Hiashi Hyūga's father, Hyūga Rōnichi. And among the younger generation, there were Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya.
However, the war had reshuffled the deck. Kagami Uchiha had sacrificed himself, Torifu Akimichi was left disabled, and while Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane were good strategists, they lacked decisiveness. Meanwhile, Danzo Shimura was ambitious, constantly forming his own factions.
Sakumo Hatake had lost his edge during the Battle of Ishi, and though he had since regained some ground, his reputation in the village had plummeted, making him no longer viable as a candidate. Hyūga Rōnichi, being from a noble family, prioritized clan interests over the village.