After leaving the hospital, Veigar had basically understood the current situation from Might Guy.
Recalling Might Guy's expectant eyes, Veigar immediately headed towards a certain direction in the village.
At a secluded residence, Veigar knocked on the door and waited for a long time. With no answer, he turned and left.
After Veigar departed, a small snake in a hidden corner outside the residence stared human-like in the direction Veigar had left, then slithered away after a while.
In just half a day, the news that Veigar, who had been missing for three years, had returned to the village, landed on the desks of many influential figures.
The Uchiha, Hyuga, Nara...
And Danzō Shimura.
That year, Veigar, at only ten years old, had left a deep impression on them. After becoming a village hero, he had vanished for three years.
They wouldn't believe that Veigar's strength hadn't progressed at all in three years.
With internal and external troubles currently plaguing the village, coinciding with the crucial selection for the Fourth Hokage, Veigar's return could potentially cause significant changes.
Whether for better or worse, they still needed to observe.
On Veigar's first night back in the village, Hiruzen, troubled by how to arrange Veigar, sought out his old friend, Danzō, with a hint of anxiety.
"Hiruzen, is there something you need me for today?"
Although he knew in his heart why Hiruzen had come to him, Danzō was in no hurry.
Not in his position, not his concern.
So, looking at Hiruzen sitting opposite him, Danzō calmly, pretending ignorance, asked.
Hiruzen's expression was also composed as he slowly said:
"Veigar has returned. I'd like to hear your thoughts."
Danzō shook his head.
"You're the Hokage now. You should make the decision."
Danzō currently had no extra thoughts to spare on scheming against Veigar.
Firstly, his collaboration with Orochimaru in their research had reached a critical juncture. Secondly, he knew that Hiruzen's position as Hokage wouldn't last much longer.
In the years since the Third Great Ninja War broke out, too many ninja had died in the village.
Both the civilians, regular ninja, and ninja clans in the village, subtly stirred by Danzō's covert machinations, had begun to express dissatisfaction with Hiruzen.
The relatives of these ninja who died in the war needed an explanation, and someone in the village had to step forward and take responsibility.
And Hiruzen Sarutobi, as the Hokage, was the best candidate.
The position of Fourth Hokage was something Danzō was determined to obtain.
As for Veigar, Danzō believed that once he became the Fourth Hokage, he would naturally have plenty of ways to deal with him.
Meanwhile, at Veigar's home, as Veigar was about to settle down for the night, he suddenly sensed a chilling chakra, immediately realizing who had arrived.
Stepping out of his room, Veigar sat in the living room and said calmly:
"Orochimaru-sama, long time no see!"
"Veigar, your sensory abilities have improved even further."
From the shadows, Orochimaru's husky voice reached Veigar's ears before he even appeared.
"Three years unseen, and you've grown stronger."
After Orochimaru appeared in Veigar's line of sight, he meticulously scrutinized Veigar before speaking softly.
Veigar met Orochimaru's gaze and replied:
"Just a little progress."
Changing the subject, Orochimaru asked:
"You came looking for me the day you returned. Is there something you need?"
Veigar nodded, stating directly:
"Yes, there's something I'd like to ask of you!"
Orochimaru asked with interest:
"Is it about Duy?"
After learning of Veigar's return to the village, Orochimaru had begun investigating Veigar's movements, where he went, whom he met, all of which Orochimaru observed.
Thus, Orochimaru could easily guess Veigar's purpose.
Nodding again, Veigar slowly said:
"I'd like to ask you and Tsunade-sama to continuously monitor Senior Duy's physical condition."
"As for the healing, you can leave that to me."
Orochimaru scrutinized Veigar once more, then smiled and said:
"I don't have much time lately."
Veigar could guess what Orochimaru was busy with recently. He smiled faintly and said:
"It won't take up too much of your time, just about an hour each day will suffice."
Orochimaru nodded and agreed.
"Notify me when you're ready!"
With that, Orochimaru prepared to leave.
Might Duy being saved after activating the Eight Gates Formation was already a miracle in itself.
Now that Might Duy could regain consciousness, Orochimaru knew how much effort Tsunade had put in back then.
Veigar's confident demeanor now greatly piqued Orochimaru's interest in how he planned to treat Might Duy.
Seeing Orochimaru's body half-submerged into the ground, Veigar spoke, warning him:
"Orochimaru-sama, destroy any research data and materials you can't conceal properly!"
"Our venerable advisor has coveted the Fourth Hokage's position for a long time."
Veigar's words made Orochimaru's pupils contract. He couldn't be sure if Veigar knew about his research projects, but the meaning of his words was clear enough.
Be careful of Danzō Shimura backstabbing you for the Hokage position.
After giving Veigar a final, deeply meaningful look, Orochimaru vanished from Veigar's sight.
Veigar was quite open-minded about Orochimaru's research. He particularly didn't want a top scientific talent like Orochimaru to defect.
However, Veigar currently held little power, so he could only offer a veiled warning.
Veigar was waiting now, waiting for Minato Namikaze to ascend to the position of Fourth Hokage. That's when he would truly make his move.
In the original timeline, after Minato became the Fourth Hokage, he had no effective way to deal with Hiruzen, who had abdicated but refused to relinquish power.
Minato, unable to control the Anbu, was more like Hiruzen's spokesman, constrained at every turn.
To put it nicely, Hiruzen was teaching Minato how to be a good Hokage, but wasn't this also Hiruzen's reluctance to hand over the power he held?
Having to consult on every matter, big or small, Minato barely seemed like a Hokage, but rather a puppet sitting in the Hokage's seat.
Therefore, Veigar wasn't in a hurry to confront Hiruzen directly at this time.
Everything would wait until Minato took power.
After leaving Veigar's home, Orochimaru, on his way to his laboratory, kept pondering his current situation.
Upon returning to his lab, after being reminded, he sorted through everything and finally realized:
If Danzō truly pulled such a move on him, he would have no other path but to defect.
In other words, this selection for the Fourth Hokage was his death warrant.
Who else would Danzō backstab when Orochimaru had the strongest popular support to succeed the Fourth Hokage and also had leverage in Danzō's hands?
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TN: This fanfic has been fully translated and is available on my Patreon —— patreon(.)com/PrimalDemon [remove the parentheses ( )]