At this moment, Orochimaru had the air of a master strategist…
"Heh heh heh heh heh… Lord Hokage…
These merchants and tycoons just had their money stolen, right?!
But they don't know who the ninjas were that robbed them!
So, why don't we just grab a few ninjas from other villages out of the Leaf's prison and pin it on them?
We'll mess with their heads—turn them into lunatics or brain-dead—so they can't say a word…
Then we slap the blame right on them!
Heh heh heh heh heh heh…
As for the stolen money?!
What's that got to do with the Hidden Leaf?
Those ninjas spent it all. Are we supposed to go rob it back for them?!
And most importantly, we completed the mission! They'd better not skimp on a single cent of our commission!
Heh heh heh heh heh heh…"
Hearing Orochimaru's plan, Ito Hirobumi was floored!
Man, no wonder he's Uncle Snake!
This frame job was pure genius—not only did it pin the blame on ninjas from other nations, but the Hidden Leaf also perfectly completed the mission and secured the commission!
Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!!!
"Uncle Snake…"
"What is it, Lord Hokage?"
"That's one hell of an idea!"
"Heh heh heh heh… Of course! Now, shall we head to the Research Department, Lord Hokage?"
"Mm…" Hirobumi nodded, then glanced at the Anbu ninja nearby.
"You heard what the Research Department Head said, right? Handle it just like that. Oh, and make sure those ninjas we hand over are completely brain-dead!
I mean the kind where even soul-probing techniques can't dig up anything!
And the commission for these missions? Not a single cent less!
If those tycoons and merchants aren't happy and refuse to pay, have your captain take some Anbu members for a stroll through their homes. I'm sure they'll be ready to talk nicely with the Hidden Leaf then!"
"Yes!!! Lord Hokage!!!"
"Oh, by the way, what's your name?!" Hirobumi asked, eyeing the Anbu ninja curiously. The ninja wore a mask, but something about his presence felt familiar.
"Lord Hokage! I'm Yamato! I used to be part of Root. After Root was disbanded, I joined the Anbu…"
"Ah, got it!" Hirobumi nodded, realization dawning. No wonder the guy's aura felt familiar—he carried the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, the Greening Technique!
That must've been the Wood Release vibe he'd sensed…
With that matter settled, Hirobumi followed Orochimaru to the Research Department, trailed by the Hokage Guard Platoon—aka the Konoha 12—who followed in a grand procession.
The Hokage Guard Platoon spent most of their time either training or resting, but when on duty, they stuck close to the Hokage. The Konoha 12 were thrilled with this arrangement!
No more brainless missions like finding lost cats, catching dogs, or pulling weeds. Now they could focus more on their training…
The Research Department was a newly established branch of the Hidden Leaf, but Orochimaru had already gathered a solid roster of talent.
Inside the lab, Hirobumi immediately spotted Kabuto Yakushi hard at work…
This future "Dream-Weaving Master of the Shinobi World" was now a researcher in the Hidden Leaf. The thought made Hirobumi feel a bit strange.
Because, honestly, he was probably the Dream-Weaving Master now, right?!
After all, the number of ninjas he'd revive in the future would only keep growing…
Would he end up with a nickname of his own someday?!
Like… Dream-Weaving Ninja?!
Star of Dreams?!
Nah… that sounded too weird! Not as cool as the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's "Monkey God Ignition"!
"Lord Hokage!" Kabuto called out respectfully when he saw Hirobumi.
"Mm, Kabuto… I know all about you. Nonou Yakushi was a ninja too, right? Don't worry, you'll see her again in the future!"
Orochimaru, standing nearby, let a slight smirk curl his lips…
Kabuto, meanwhile, was stunned!
He couldn't believe the Hokage knew his biggest secret!!!
"Lord Hokage… I…"
"No need to say anything! Study hard under Orochimaru. Your achievements in the future won't be any less than his…"
Orochimaru slithered over. "Kabuto… you'd better work hard! Lord Hokage has high hopes for you! Heh heh heh heh…"
"Yes! Lord Hokage! Lord Orochimaru!!!" Kabuto's eyes burned with determination, his heart racing—not just because of the Hokage's faith in him, but because his orphanage director could be revived in the future!
This was amazing!!!
I, Kabuto Yakushi, will dedicate my life to the Hidden Leaf's progress!!!
Hirobumi followed Orochimaru into a lab where Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha, Tobirama Senju, and Izuna Uchiha were all waiting…
When Madara saw Hirobumi, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
That pesky kid who'd summoned him back then was now his disciple—and the new Hokage of the Hidden Leaf!
"So, kid… how's it feel to be Hokage?"
Hirobumi's face instantly twisted into a grimace.
"How's it feel?! Boring as hell! Every little thing needs my approval. I'm telling you, being Hokage is no job for a human!
It's not fun at all!!!
But, thankfully… I've set up the new departments, and they're starting to run. Plus, I've got two Hokage Assistants to handle the paperwork. From now on, whoever wants to sit in that Hokage office can have it! I'm done staying there!!!"
Madara's smirk lingered as he listened…
Hashirama, standing nearby, nodded in agreement.
"Exactly! Being Hokage is no fun at all!
Back in my day, I thought it was such a drag, so I dumped all the work on Tobirama!
Heh heh… that's how I had time to go skip stones with Madara every day!"
Whack!!!
Tobirama's fist came down hard on Hashirama's head!