Naruto, your uncle is going to be Hokage!

"Hiruzen, calm down. Don't hurt yourself with anger."

Koharu, turning to her room, sighed with a complicated expression.

Now that things have come to this, what's the use of getting even angrier?

Konoha has long been a place where Namikaze Mirai holds absolute sway.

Who would believe the words of these powerless, elderly people?

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat on the sofa, took a breath, and still couldn't hide the anger in his heart.

"I just can't accept that Danzo is already dead, killed by his own hands. Does even a dead man have to bear such infamy?"

This was the most unacceptable thing for Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He failed to save Danzo's life in life, and even in death he is subjected to such humiliation, burdened with a blame that is not his own.

Could it be that his old friend Danzo Shimura was born to be a scapegoat?

The atmosphere in the room quieted down.

A sense of desolation arose spontaneously in the hearts of Xiaochun and the others in the dormitory.

Even after Danzo's death, things remained the same.

What about them?

Will they have a better outcome?

"Hiruzen, is there really no hope left with the Daimyo?"

Undeterred, Koharu Utatane, still clinging to her last glimmer of hope, asked Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"no way."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed with mixed feelings: "I have used all my connections in the Daimyo's mansion to plead with the Daimyo, but the Daimyo's attitude has not changed."

Even now, Hiruzen Sarutobi still can't understand it.

Why would the Daimyo's attitude suddenly shift towards Namikaze Mirai?

What exactly was the gift that was part of the compensation?

That the daimyo is so satisfied.

He never imagined that the gift was just a blank piece of paper.

The daimyo has become a puppet of Namikaze Mirai!

Chapter 97 Bad News: Orochimaru has defected! Good News: He

They've escaped back to Konoha!

"It's Lord Orochimaru!"

"Great! Lord Orochimaru has finally returned to the village!"

"That bastard Danzo! He actually framed Lord Orochimaru! Luckily, the Fifth Hokage saw through it all!"

Walking through the village, I listened to the villagers' praises of me and looked at their excited and admiring eyes.

This was the first time Orochimaru had experienced this.

The horror of the human heart.

As an S-rank rogue ninja of Konoha, he was transformed by Mirai Namikaze into a tragic hero who left the village in despair after being framed by Danzo.

All the blame was placed on the dead Danzo!

That's a truly terrifying tactic, Future.

Orochimaru's pale face revealed a gentle smile, which, though somewhat unnatural, exuded a friendly aura.

He responded to the villagers with politeness, no longer displaying that cold and aloof demeanor.

This was also what Namikaze Mirai told him.

His smile can bridge the gap between him and the villagers.

At the entrance of a slightly further alley, a woman with long blonde hair and a deep blue diamond-shaped mark on her forehead leaned against the wall with her arms crossed in an unpleasant posture, staring at Orochimaru in the crowd.

"Orochimaru has stolen so much of the limelight as soon as he came back."

Although the words were reproachful, there was no blaming in the tone.

On the contrary, it carried a hint of emotion.

Orochimaru seemed to notice this side as well, and turned his gaze in this direction.

Their eyes met in the air.

It contained a silent smile.

……

Konoha Izakaya.

The low table was covered with scattered side dishes, as well as two ridiculously large wine jars.

Tsunade gripped the mouth of the jar with her fair hand, and with a bold and tomboyish air, tilted her head back and gulped down the wine, her throat gurgling.

"Even if they want to welcome me back to the village, they don't need to do it this way, do they?"

Orochimaru couldn't help but offer words of comfort.

boom!

The wine jar was placed on the table with a dull thud.

"Why did you run away from the village without a word? Where have you been all these years?"

Faced with Tsunade's questioning, Orochimaru gazed at her with a profound look in his pale golden vertical pupils.

"I think the reason I left the village is the same as yours!"

Tsunade, who was simmering with anger and ready to vent it, suddenly deflated like a balloon punctured by a needle.

All that remains are complicated emotions.

I don't know when it started, but as long as you're in Konoha, you can smell that nauseating stench of rotting trees.

Unable to accept that the village was gradually changing after her great-grandfather left, she eventually chose to leave. Even if she spent her days in the casino, it was better than staying in that place that made her sad.

Orochimaru raised his sake cup and smiled gently.

"So, thank Future-kun, it's because he brought us together again."

Tsunade chuckled.

"You're right, we should thank that future kid."

If Mirai Namikaze hadn't become Hokage, she and Orochimaru wouldn't have been able to sit here again, drinking and chatting like they did many years ago.

He grabbed the wine jar and gulped it down.

Even as the wine spilled from his chin soaked his clothes, he didn't care at all, only making gurgling swallowing sounds.

Orochimaru, watching this scene, simply raised his wine cup, chuckled, and took a sip.

"If only that bastard Jiraiya were here, such a scene would be perfect!"

As she put down the wine jar, Tsunade's cheeks flushed red, and the image of Jiraiya's cheeky, painted face appeared before her eyes.

Yes! I wish Jiraiya were here too.

Even Orochimaru couldn't help but feel melancholy.

Is that idiot still searching the world for some vague, elusive chosen one?

The Umbrella Research Center suits his tastes perfectly, and he has decided to stay in Konoha.

……

Hokage Room.

As she listened to her subordinate's report, a faint smile appeared in Namikaze Mirai's eyes.

It seems that Orochimaru, who has returned to Konoha, is getting along quite well with the villagers.

This is what he hoped for.

In terms of research ability, Orochimaru's ability is the highest he has ever seen.

He has decided to put Orochimaru in charge of the Umbrella Research Center, and all matters related to research will be handled by Orochimaru.

There's absolutely no need to worry about funding.

He had already taken control of the government, and the originally halved government funding had been tripled.

If it weren't for the desire to avoid displeasing the nobility, this number could have been increased.

In Kumogakure, Killer Bee got a good price, enough to support Konoha for a long time.

At the research center, many practical medical breakthroughs have already been made. Perhaps before long, the name of Umbrella Corporation will spread throughout the ninja world.

Namikaze Mirai narrowed her eyes slightly.