Uchiha clan compound.
Rengoku, Fugaku, Itachi, and the other three elders were all gathered together.
But now they were all listening to Rengoku's analysis.
Rengoku had more or less come to the same analysis as the Third Hokage.
"…If I compete with Tsunade for the Hokage position, I have a chance of winning, but there are too many uncertainties."
The Great Elder slammed the table, "What's wrong with being a bit young? Back then, Namikaze Minato was only a few years older than you and still became Hokage."
The other elders also echoed in agreement, showing deep approval of the Great Elder Kairen's words.
Rengoku wasn't in a hurry. He leisurely picked up his teacup and took a light sip.
What's the rush to become Hokage now? The Sarutobi clan still has so many people.
When Rengoku becomes Hokage, it must be the day the Sarutobi clan is uprooted entirely.
"Don't fall into the Third Hokage's trap."
"Sarutobi Hiruzen merely wants to drag us into the domain he's most skilled in, and then use his wealth of experience and background to defeat us."
"If we let him choose the next Hokage again, the political advantage our Uchiha have built up recently will rapidly vanish."
"Rather than waste effort competing with them, better to jump out of this circle."
The Great Elder asked curiously, "Rengoku, have you come up with a plan?"
Rengoku gave a light chuckle, "Simple, just make it so the Third can't step down."
———
After agreeing with Fugaku and the others, Rengoku immediately went to the Uchiha's hospital.
This place had only just been built. The hard furnishings were completed, and the soft furnishings had just begun.
Kabuto and Nono had also stopped saving people at the Konoha Hospital.
That was about enough, too much would be overkill.
Kabuto and Nono personally tended to Hotaru.
Hotaru was now lying on the hospital bed, eyes tightly shut, her face full of pain.
It was unclear whether it was due to physical pain or mental trauma.
"How is she?"
Kabuto answered from the side, "She has some burns on her body, but they're not serious."
"But her body is extremely depleted, and she's suffered great mental trauma, which is why she remains unconscious."
"However, with nutritional replenishment and a period of rest, she should be able to wake up."
Rengoku still had trust in Kabuto's medical skills.
Since he said that, then it's more or less reliable.
Rengoku lifted the blanket, turned Hotaru's body over, pulled up her patient gown, and checked the mark on her back again.
This mark, overall, looked a bit like a spider-like pattern, coiled on Hotaru's upper back.
But at the very center, it shone black, like a gemstone.
Rengoku had a decent understanding of sealing techniques, but was less familiar with this kind of secret seal.
This thing seemed somewhat similar to a cursed seal.
"Nono, take good care of her. Kabuto, go and invite Orochimaru, have him take a look at this mark."
"Tell Orochimaru this is the secret seal of the Tsuchigumo clan's secret technique. He should be interested."
"Yes, Lord Rengoku."
It must be said, though Kabuto was still young now, his execution ability was strong, truly a rare talent.
Both Rengoku and Orochimaru appreciated him.
Although Orochimaru's lab hadn't opened yet, he had already reserved Kabuto.
The lab was connected to the hospital, so Orochimaru soon arrived. Rengoku was waiting for him.
"Let me see the Tsuchigumo's secret seal first," Orochimaru didn't even greet Rengoku and immediately lifted the blanket to examine the seal on Hotaru's back.
He placed his hand over the seal, chakra threading through it.
Orochimaru stared at the secret seal with full concentration. It seemed to come alive, with blood vessels slowly bulging.
As if an ugly spider was crouching on Hotaru's back sucking blood.
Orochimaru withdrew his hand. The secret seal gradually faded.
The protruding blood vessels also receded, and the seal turned into strands.
"How is it?", Rengoku asked from the side.
Orochimaru shook his head, "No time."
"What do you mean, no time?" Rengoku asked curiously.
"I'm currently modifying Edo Tensei, no time to research this seal."
"Jugo is still in Otogakure. If he were here, we could do rapid comparisons."
Rengoku said indifferently, "No matter. It's not urgent anyway."
"This child probably has no relatives anymore. From now on, she belongs to the Uchiha. You can research however you like."
Orochimaru looked at the seal again, "This secret seal gives me great inspiration."
"My Cursed Seal of Heaven is still a semi-finished product."
"But I've already got an idea for improvement."
Rengoku raised an eyebrow, "You mean that thing that reads as a one-in-ten chance of survival, but is actually a one-in-one hundred chance Cursed Seal of Heaven?"
Orochimaru gave Rengoku a slightly strange look, "How could the survival rate be one in a hundred?"
"So far, everyone who tried to receive the Cursed Seal of Heaven has indeed died."
Rengoku raised an eyebrow slightly, "Seems like Anko has some talent."
Orochimaru shook his head, "Talent depends on the field. Her temperament is too soft."
"Even if she survived with the Cursed Seal of Heaven, if she can't surpass herself, she'll never be of use."
Rengoku thought for a moment, Anko's disposition really was weak.
For over a decade since Orochimaru defected, Anko had remained emotionally entangled with him. Unable to let go, unable to move on. But Orochimaru did truly consider Anko his student.
Otherwise, back then, he wouldn't have sealed her memories, he'd have just killed her.
———
Land of Tea, a squad wearing Konoha forehead protectors was quickly moving through the forest.
At the front was a female ninja around twenty years old, with a full figure, wearing a mesh undershirt and a khaki cloak.
She was Orochimaru's disciple, Mitarashi Anko.
Before Orochimaru returned to the village, Anko had just accepted a high-difficulty mission to the Land of Tea.
This mission was linked to whether Anko could be promoted from Chunin to Tokubetsu(Special) Jonin.
Even though the mission was hard and tedious, Anko led her team and spent some time completing it.
After completing the mission and returning to the city, she learned of everything that had happened in Konoha.
Upon hearing that Orochimaru had been exonerated, Anko rushed back to Konoha in a hurry.
It must be known that because of Orochimaru's defection, Anko's identity was tainted. For years, she hadn't been promoted.
Even though she had completed enough missions and her strength had already reached Tokubetsu Jonin level, the village had always suppressed her, keeping her as a Chunin.
Though 20-year-old Chunin were not rare, Anko had followed Orochimaru for so many years, yet remained at Chunin level, which was somewhat shameful.
Currently, part of Anko's memory had been sealed by Orochimaru.
She didn't know that Orochimaru hadn't abandoned her, but that she herself had refused to follow him.
Anko only believed that Orochimaru had discarded her.
Her former admiration for Orochimaru had reached the point where she wanted to follow him even if he defected.
But Orochimaru didn't want her.
So now, Anko had a love-hate relationship with Orochimaru.
Now that she had learned Orochimaru was wronged, she immediately wanted to go back and ask her former teacher what had truly happened.
The two teammates beside Anko were well aware of her situation.
Knowing she wanted to return to the village quickly, they silently followed behind her.
Anko clutched her neck.
Whenever she thought of Orochimaru, there would always be a particular pain.
That spot was the lifelong mark Orochimaru left her, the Cursed Seal of Heaven.
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