Orochimaru waited several days. Upon discovering the chakra transmitted from the sensing formula's other end was not his anticipated person's, he abandoned continuing to wait further.
He possessed sufficient patience. However, the person opposite was not someone whose mentality could be easily swayed. This time period sufficed for Shuji to review data and complete investigation.
The result—whether that data or things behind the data, neither moved him.
Since the bait was seen through, continuing the vigil lost meaning. Orochimaru never lacked patience, but he also understood timely strategy adjustment. Orochimaru departed with that squad Danzo left behind.
Having failed to achieve breakthrough from Shuji instead made Orochimaru's interest in the Uchiha grow even stronger. Senju combined with Wood Release could, in such short time, allow a merely ordinary genius shinobi to reach levels he found troublesome.
Then what about the Uchiha's power...
Moreover, having clearly discovered his intent yet still returning to the village so quickly indicated at minimum that in Shuji's eyes, once warning was completed, that squad's existing strength sufficed to handle his attacks.
Were they those Uchiha who joined ANBU? Orochimaru already understood these extremists well. They lacked such power.
The only possibility—Uchiha Shisui.
Just after leaving for this little time, Konoha actually became so interesting.
Leading this silent Root squad, Orochimaru proceeded all the way toward eastern coastal regions. Just before arriving, a Root member reported discovering a location with combat traces.
"Wood Release traces... plus Lightning Release, Wind Release, Fire Release. Quite intense melee combat," Orochimaru crouched, fingertips pinching a scorched wood fragment. "Shuji-kun, the guest you entertained here also possesses considerable strength."
He carefully searched before finding several points of long-dried, blackened bloodstains from turned-up mud.
Though guessing these might not be what Shuji left behind, this did not prevent Orochimaru from first collecting them. Perhaps he hit the jackpot?
After collecting valuable clues, Orochimaru did not rush seeking that Uchiha squad's whereabouts. Intelligence Danzo provided before soft confinement had already grown outdated. Blindly searching along vast coastlines proved too inefficient.
"Go to the Land of Waves."
Orochimaru issued new directives. He needed understanding more intelligence, especially Kirigakure shinobi movements. From them, perhaps some interesting gains could be obtained.
The group silently crossed the sea, infiltrating Wave Country. However, after thorough reconnaissance, they only found traces Kirigakure shinobi hurriedly withdrawing could not completely erase. Main forces had long vanished.
"Complete withdrawal?" Orochimaru personally reviewed reconnaissance results, falling into contemplation.
Kirigakure's actions proved somewhat strange.
He glimpsed a Root shinobi soundlessly recording this intelligence in cipher, not preventing it. Though ordered to ambush village ANBU did not mean Root would sit idly when discovering intelligence useful to the village.
These people brainwashed by Danzo genuinely believed their actions proved more beneficial to Konoha.
After scattering most Root members out, ordering them to expand search scope seeking more clues, Orochimaru alone remained at the abandoned camp, attempting to piece together more clues from remnants.
Just at this time, about one hundred meters from Orochimaru's position, a peculiarly shaped pitcher plant-like plant slowly surfaced from the ground. Its distinctly black-and-white body appeared and disappeared within shadows.
"That guy is Konoha's S-rank rogue ninja Orochimaru."
"Why appear here..."
"Doesn't our Mizukage-sama currently wish hiring some 'capable' rogue ninja for work? This one of the Legendary Sannin proves the most suitable candidate."
The Hokage succession ceremony proved uncomplicated. The core lay in gaining jōnin council trust.
Successfully hosting the Joint Chūnin Exam, securing more favorable external environment for the village, plus achieving breakthrough progress on the thorny Uchiha problem, combined with inherent prestige meant Tsunade's Fifth Hokage succession proposal encountered almost no resistance.
The greatest potential opposer currently remained "busy" executing certain classified missions, temporarily unable to emerge.
The formal succession ceremony still required two days, but core power transition had already quietly completed during Tsunade's advance handling of government affairs.
Changes naturally also existed. Shizune was formally transferred from Konoha Hospital, assuming the Hokage secretary position and beginning to assist Tsunade handling increasingly heavy daily affairs.
She originally wanted two secretaries. However, the other disagreed, insisting on remaining his squad leader jōnin.
Therefore, the two confronted for a while.
Become Hokage secretary? This meant that over future years, most of his time would be spent remaining in the village, accompanied by endless documents.
Comparatively, maintaining status quo allowed him to still borrow missions to walk and look around the shinobi world at various locations. Freedom degree proved much higher. Occasionally applying for leave even allowed resting one or two months.
Therefore, regarding this matter, his attitude proved abnormally resolute.
"Why not consider establishing an auxiliary team comprised of professional clerical shinobi?" Shuji attempted diverting topics.
Previously not being Hokage while in succession state definitely could not hand work to others. Now proved different. No need personally doing so much.
Tsunade also found it annoying, saying, "Affairs that can be diverted down, the Administrative Department already handled long ago! What ultimately arrives here either involves village secrets or must be personally reviewed by the Hokage."
"Even using sealing techniques, people handling these documents fundamentally lacking strength makes confidentiality difficult to guarantee."
"People with sufficient strength either prove unsuitable for these tasks or have other missions to execute."
Shuji contemplated briefly, saying, "Perhaps the village should consider tilting portions of resources toward specialized cultivation. As situations gradually stabilize, pure combat shinobi demand may saturate."
"Professional-type shinobi excelling at research, analysis, and management will instead become keys supporting village development."
"Especially when ordinary people no longer participate in shinobi world wars, world development will be fast. Lady Tsunade, you should have some understanding."
From the Warring States period to the Shinobi Village era, merely several decades passed. Things like wireless communications and ovens all emerged.
Tsunade naturally understood such matters. She looked at Shuji with annoyance. "Since you have such ideas, stay at the Hokage Tower for me!"
"Still so many unhandled matters involving village subsequent resource allocation. How can changes happen so quickly?"
Shuji timely maintained silence. Anyway, those things were not urgent. Just proposing a concept.
Seeing him not responding, Tsunade knew she could not force compliance. Somewhat irritably waving her hand. "Fine, fine. If you don't want to be assistant, then don't."
If truly having missions to seize him, Shuji also would not run.
However, letting him off this way made that little displeasure in her heart difficult to calm. She casually pushed the thick stack of pending documents before her over, almost touching Shuji's nose.
"Future matters can wait. First pass the present difficulty! These—not finishing reading means no escaping!"
Shuji looked at that document pile, then looked at Tsunade's face showing that "dare refuse and try" expression, ultimately resigning himself to sigh and extend his hand, accepting the documents.
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild