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Chapter 99: The Village Decides to Make You CEO!
Chapter 99: The Village Decides to Make You CEO!
"What!"
Tang Ping stared at Orochimaru in the carriage, his face full of surprise.
Orochimaru's pale face was tinged with a greenish hue, lying there like a 'sick beauty.'
Thinking about the future, when Orochimaru would use the Edo Tensei to transform into a woman, the scene became even more vivid in his mind.
What a sight.
"I've been poisoned by Chiyo. You'll have to hold off the Sand shinobi until help arrives!"
Orochimaru repeated this, his voice steady.
If not for this reason, he wouldn't have called Tang Ping into the carriage alone.
"..."
Tang Ping's expression was a mix of surprise and reluctance.
Was this like buying stocks and becoming a shareholder, or flirting and ending up married?
He just wanted to blend in, make some money, and do his research. He never intended to step up as a 'leader.'
But the atmosphere was such that he couldn't outright refuse, so he probed cautiously.
"Any idea when the reinforcements will arrive?"
With Orochimaru compromised, the village wouldn't fail to send a new Kage-level ninja to take charge, right?
Tang Ping didn't mind the spotlight, but he didn't want to be in it all the time.
That would be too exhausting.
Though he had been working hard since graduation to have the capital to relax, he never truly enjoyed being the one at the forefront.
"I've already sent the information back. The village should be discussing it now!"
Orochimaru's tone was calm.
Given his character, if the poison could be suppressed or wasn't serious, he wouldn't have asked for help.
"Alright... then!"
Tang Ping finally nodded.
If he only had to hold the fort until reinforcements arrived, he could manage.
As he stepped out of the carriage:
Choke!
Orochimaru coughed up a mass of slowly writhing flesh, muttering to himself:
"Truly, Chiyo is a remarkable old woman when it comes to poisons!"
Next, he needed to find a way to detoxify himself.
Meanwhile, in Konoha.
In the Hokage's office, the Konoha F4 were holding an emergency meeting.
"Everyone has seen the report. Who do you think should hold off the Sand shinobi?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his pipe on the table, signaling the others to speak.
"Lord Hokage, the Rock shinobi are attacking, and Jiraiya and Minato can't break away. The Cloud and Mist villages are also stirring, and all require a strong presence... We don't have many options!"
Mito Uzumaki analyzed the situation.
While Konoha had many strong ninja, with enemies on all fronts, even the strongest wouldn't be enough.
Fortunately, the Uchiha clan had been sent to the Water Country front, so they didn't have to worry about the Mist shinobi. Otherwise, the situation would be even worse.
Moreover, the 'strong' here meant at least 'quasi-Kage' level.
Otherwise, if the commander were killed on the battlefield, the impact on morale would be devastating.
"How about Shikaku?"
Shizune suggested a name.
Though young, Shikaku was an elite Jonin, and with the 'Ino-Shika-Cho' trio, he could be considered a quasi-Kage.
More importantly, he was intelligent and had leadership skills on par with Orochimaru.
A commander needed both strength and leadership, and Orochimaru excelled in both, which is why his poisoning was so concerning.
"No, Shikaku needs to coordinate resources!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately rejected the suggestion.
Konoha had more than just the Sand shinobi to worry about. Without Shikaku, they would lose a valuable strategist in case of emergencies.
Besides, the risk was too high; the Sand shinobi had more than one Kage-level ninja.
"Then..."
Shizune continued thinking of suitable candidates.
Actually, the first person she thought of was 'White Fang.' He was both powerful and a skilled leader, nearly single-handedly decimating the Sand shinobi during the Second Shinobi World War.
Unfortunately... he was gone.
Thinking of this, she involuntarily glanced at Danzo.
As a council elder, she couldn't have been unaware of what happened, but now it was too late to regret. She quickly averted her gaze.
"Tsunade still refuses to return?"
Danzo, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.
In this situation, she would be the best choice.
"Tsunade... no need to consider it!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi instinctively took a puff of his pipe, not bothering to explain the reason.
It was a joke. With the Senju clan nearly wiped out and her boyfriend gone, Tsunade might have even defected if not for her ties to Konoha, which the Senju clan had helped build. There was no way she would come back to serve.
Of course, the biggest reason Hiruzen couldn't reveal.
Who would have thought that the battle-hardened 'Tsunade-hime' would develop hemophobia?
" Hiruzen!"
Danzo frowned.
This wasn't the time to coddle a disciple. The village was facing a life-or-death crisis, and he was passing up a Kage-level shinobi?
"Hiruzen, I am the Hokage!"
Hiruzen emphasized his authority, stating that not considering Tsunade was his decision as Hokage, and the advisors and elders should just follow his lead.
Hearing this, Danzo's teeth nearly ground to dust.
Using the Hokage title to pressure him!
One day, he would sit in that position and say, "Hiruzen, I am the Hokage."
"Then, Danzo, how about you replace Orochimaru?"
Shimura Dan and Homura Mitokado suggested.
Despite his appearance, Danzo had at least a near-Kage level of strength. His Wind Release was the strongest in Konoha, and if not for his injured right hand and eye, he could easily be considered a Kage-level shinobi.
This suggestion made Hiruzen and Koharu Utatane's eyes light up.
"Not possible. The Anbu Root needs me to stay in command!"
In the face of their gazes, Danzo calmly refused.
With the Sand ninja on the offensive and more than one Kage-level shinobi among them, even Orochimaru had fallen. If he were to personally step in and something happened, what would become of Konoha? It needed him to save it, and he couldn't take the risk.
"Surely you don't expect us to go?"
Koharu was displeased.
In times like these, for Danzo, the 'military faction' leader, to back down was unacceptable.
"No matter what, we must send reinforcements. If the Sand shinobi break through Kikyo Mountain, the village will be in grave danger!"
Hiruzen set the tone.
They needed to decide on reinforcements today and couldn't afford to delay.
Kikyo Mountain!
It was the largest defensive stronghold on the western side of Konoha, the 'western gate' of the village, and they had to hold it at all costs.
"There's no suitable candidate. We can't possibly let that brat Uchiha Douhei take the lead...!"
Koharu was getting anxious.
"Wait!" Danzo suddenly interrupted Koharu. "Let Uchiha Douhei temporarily take Orochimaru's position as commander. This will give us time to find a suitable replacement. With his strength, he has the qualifications!"
The Sand shinobi were too aggressive at the moment. Let that brat handle it for now.
If he could hold them off, Danzo would immediately take over the command position.
If he couldn't, this could be used to undermine him and the Uchiha clan behind him.
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!
Danzo couldn't help but applaud his own plan.
As for the casualties that might occur?
All for the sake of Konoha!
As long as he could become Hokage, any sacrifice would be worth it.
"No..."
Hiruzen instinctively rejected the idea.
He liked Douhei's 'Will of Fire,' but appointing him as a commander at his age was out of the question.
"Hiruzen, it's just a temporary position. I'll take over once I finish with Root. If worse comes to worst, there's still Orochimaru. Once his poison is neutralized, he can take command. Plus, there will be Nara clan ninjas to assist. What are you worried about?"
When it came to his chances of becoming Hokage, Danzo became incredibly persuasive.
...
In the end, the proposal was approved.
Because there was no better option.
An appointment was sent to the front lines, and a contingent of support ninja set out.
(End of Chapter)
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