Orochimaru's secret research base.
Qifeng followed Orochimaru here. The base was very hidden. It could be said that apart from a small number of people who might discover it, others would not even realize that there was such a research lab within Konoha.
After entering.
Orochimaru was standing in front of his operating table, conducting some kind of research.
But the Orochimaru who brought Qifeng suddenly rose with white mist and turned into a snake, quickly disappearing into the base.
As expected.
Orochimaru only sent a Shadow Clone, but it was a rather special Shadow Clone.
And as soon as the Shadow Clone was dispelled, Orochimaru instantly understood the whole process, a look of incredible interest flashing in his eyes. He licked his lips, and his hoarse, low, and magnetic voice sounded, "Qifeng-kun, you really didn't disappoint me."
Qifeng shrugged and didn't speak, casually grabbing a white coat from the wall, putting on leather gloves, and moving to Orochimaru's side, watching his ongoing research.
Between scientists, there weren't so many twists and turns.
It turns out that Orochimaru, when he first joined Akatsuki, and Sasori of the Red Sand, who joined Akatsuki the earliest, had a honeymoon period for a long time. Even Sasori's final self-modification of his heart may have been completed with Orochimaru's help.
After all, no matter how powerful a person is, no matter how strong their abilities are, no matter how deep their scientific research is, when it comes to issues related to their own heart, they can't possibly do it themselves, right?
Take out their own heart, and then spend a lot of time modifying it into a sophisticated puppet instrument?
What about consciousness? What about Chakra?
Taking out the heart would already mean death, right?
Therefore, for the fanatical scientist Orochimaru, Qifeng, after possessing enough self-preservation strength, wasn't too afraid.
Orochimaru didn't mind either, continuing his research.
"This is... trying to combine Wood Release cells with ordinary human cells? Without relying on the assistance of external forces? You really are a madman..." Qifeng couldn't help but sigh.
"Madman or genius, as long as I can get the results I want, anything is fine."
Orochimaru said lightly.
Madman and genius, aren't they just separated by a fine line?
"So, even the Hokage doesn't matter?"
Orochimaru's hands paused, without turning around, he just continued to stare at the experiment being conducted on the operating table, and slowly said, "Since Teacher Hiruzen chose Minato, I respect his choice, just like... he also respects my choice."
"Hokage. Heh—even the Hokage can't escape the erosion of time. Even a being as strong as Teacher Hiruzen will eventually become old, weak, and昏聩 under the passage of time? Only eternal life should be the most correct pursuit!"
Orochimaru's voice was very soft, as if he didn't want to affect the continuation of the experiment, or perhaps he was expressing his heartfelt thoughts.
Qifeng pursed his lips.
He knew that perhaps it was because Hiruzen Sarutobi gave up on him that Orochimaru completely let go of his obsession with his teacher, his close friend, and the village, and devoted himself to the pursuit of eternal life.
When he leaves Konoha, it will be when he truly becomes the "Cold-Blooded" Orochimaru.
"Come on, Qifeng-kun, let me see your results..."
As soon as experiments were mentioned, Orochimaru had an uncontrollable excitement.
...
...
Rain Country.
In the secret base that once belonged to Sasori of the Red Sand, Qifeng's main body was also conducting his own experiments here. The morgue has always been occupied by his Shadow Clones.
He didn't know about the Shadow Clone's encounter with Orochimaru yet.
But even if he knew, he probably wouldn't make a different decision from the Shadow Clone. After all, they were the same person from the beginning.
Of course, there wouldn't be too much difference in their thoughts.
At this time, what he really cared about, besides the ongoing research, was Danzo's whereabouts.
On the day that Minato Namikaze triumphantly returned, and when Hiruzen Sarutobi announced the inauguration of the Fourth Hokage, Danzo couldn't help but send someone to observe.
And this became Qifeng's breakthrough to find Danzo.
If it weren't for Danzo, the Uchiha clan might not have prepared for a coup because of being excluded, and Shisui Uchiha wouldn't have lost an eye because of being ambushed by Danzo, causing him to choose to jump off a cliff and die, and there wouldn't have been Itachi Uchiha slaughtering his clan to protect his younger brother and joining Akatsuki.
Even during the Nine-Tailed Fox incident, the Root members shrunk back, causing major damage to Konoha, and Minato Namikaze and his wife died in battle.
Even the date of Kushina Uzumaki's delivery was only known to a few people, and the only one who could have revealed the information to Obito Uchiha was Danzo.
Therefore, if this guy doesn't die, Qifeng's thoughts won't be clear.
However, Danzo was still very cautious, knowing that the appearance of Root members might be followed, so that Root member stayed quietly in Konoha, without taking immediate action.
Qifeng didn't plan to directly barge in either.
He also wanted to see how long Danzo could hold back.
When Minato is about to become the Hokage, I wonder if he will still be able to sit still.
Hiruzen Sarutobi has already sent the document for Minato's succession as the Fourth Hokage to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. As long as the Daimyo of the Land of Fire nods, Minato will be the real Hokage of Konoha.
And it is no exaggeration to say that since the Daimyo of the Land of Fire learned about the great achievements Minato Namikaze had made on the battlefield, he had repeatedly expressed his hope that Minato Namikaze could succeed as Hokage.
All of this seemed to have become a foregone conclusion.
However.
Minato's Hokage position is destined to be difficult.
The die-hard supporters who originally supported Orochimaru resolutely expressed their opposition. Seeing that Orochimaru didn't speak, but didn't stop them either, made this small part of the voice grow louder and louder.
But compared to the countless bloody conflicts that occurred within Konoha when Hiruzen Sarutobi succeeded as Hokage, this time it was a small matter, and almost no internal bloodshed occurred.
"However, this doesn't mean that Konoha will completely calm down so smoothly."
The current Konoha as a whole is very distorted.
Danzo controls the Root, which only obeys him. Although he is hiding now, knowing that he doesn't appear, he will always be an indispensable force within Konoha, and he still has Hiruzen Sarutobi protecting him.
The two nominal Hokage advisors, the Konoha elders, control Konoha's important finances.
And Hiruzen Sarutobi, who is about to step down, will not completely hand over the Anbu to Minato Namikaze. At least in a practical sense, it is impossible to completely hand it over to Minato.
