Konoha.
Kurogane Ren walked through the village streets, watching the smiles on the villagers' faces and hearing Namikaze Minato's name being mentioned from time to time.
As expected, the Third Hokage had already begun preparing to pass the position to Minato.
Otherwise, with the Third Hokage still alive, openly discussing Minato like this wouldn't be appropriate at all.
Given enough time, Shimura Danzo would definitely find a way to turn Minato into the second "White Fang of Konoha." However, Minato's personality was completely different from Hatake Sakumo's, so suicide was never something he would choose.
Judging from the current trend, Danzo likely wouldn't even be given the time to prepare. That guy was probably fuming somewhere right now.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Kurogane Ren's lips. Danzo had done so much for this, even going as far as tarnishing Orochimaru's reputation in the village beforehand. Thinking deeper, it was hard to say that the later exposure of Orochimaru's experiments wasn't connected to that.
At first, it was just baseless rumors. Perhaps because of Orochimaru's status, no one dared to investigate too deeply.
But later, once investigations into the disappearances of people within the village and nearby areas began, everything would inevitably lead back to him. Combined with those earlier rumors…
As for how Orochimaru felt about Minato becoming the Fourth Hokage, he was probably quite unwilling to accept it. Still, he understood that with his reputation in the village, it would be extremely difficult to compete with Minato.
He was likely burying himself in experiments now, using them to numb his frustration.
"Orochimaru…" Kurogane Ren pondered. He needed Orochimaru's research records, which meant Orochimaru had to defect. That wasn't a difficult matter.
To be honest, Kurogane Ren felt that Orochimaru had been pushed onto this path by Danzo.
In the beginning, although Orochimaru had a dark personality, he still cared about the village and didn't use its people as experimental subjects. Most of his test materials likely came from the battlefield.
But once Danzo approached him and they began cooperating, everything changed. The experimental subjects Danzo provided weren't just from nearby villages—there were even Konoha's own shinobi among them.
After that, it was as if Orochimaru had cast aside all restraint, beginning to experiment on people within the village itself.
At that point, he had completely stepped onto a path of no return.
If he had only used corpses from enemy villages obtained during war, Kurogane Ren felt it wouldn't have been entirely unforgivable. Minato wasn't someone rigid or inflexible.
If it were the Third Hokage, there might have been punishment, but it likely wouldn't have been a death sentence. After all, Orochimaru was his personally taught disciple. Even in the original story, the Third Hokage hadn't had the heart to kill him.
But once the experiments involved people from his own village, everything changed completely.
If exposed, no Hokage could go against the will of the entire village to protect him.
After defecting, Orochimaru's experiments became even more unrestrained.
So once Kurogane Ren was ready, all he needed to do was present evidence of Orochimaru's human experiments within the village to the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.
However, he needed the right identity. As someone known for obsessing over sealing techniques, suddenly stepping forward to expose Orochimaru wouldn't fit his persona.
More importantly, even after exposing him, how would he obtain what he wanted from Orochimaru? The records Orochimaru left behind would likely only be ongoing experiments, while the completed research… was probably stored in his own mind.
"In the end, I'll still have to intercept him and negotiate," Kurogane Ren sighed. It was troublesome.
While thinking, he completed his mission report. The Third Hokage was likely busy with the transition of power, so he didn't stay for their usual conversation.
After returning home, Kurogane Ren looked around his simple house and couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia.
Not long ago, he had been snatching pieces of the Gedo Statue right in front of a pair of Rinnegan and one of the masterminds behind the shinobi world. Now, he had suddenly returned to a peaceful daily life. It felt a little strange.
With that thought, he didn't waste any time. He created two shadow clones to continue researching sealing techniques.
Then he took out the meteorite from the scroll, placed it on his legs, and began cultivating.
Although intercepting Orochimaru didn't require defeating him, it still demanded a solid foundation of strength. There was no time for him to waste.
Time passed quickly.
The news that Namikaze Minato would become the Fourth Hokage was no longer just a rumor—it was something every villager in Konoha knew.
They were all celebrating it.
Minato's achievements on the battlefield—terrifying enemies while saving countless families—had become widely known. Even those who hadn't known before had learned everything through the overwhelming spread of information.
And in the midst of such days,
Namikaze Minato, together with Uzumaki Kushina, came to visit Kurogane Ren.
Looking at the two standing at his door, Kurogane Ren was a little surprised. At a time like this, he hadn't expected them to come.
"Welcome, Minato, Kushina."
After the two sat down, Kurogane Ren began preparing tea. After thinking for a while, he decided not to use the cheapest tea leaves this time.
"You came at the right time. I picked up some local specialty tea during my last mission," Kurogane Ren said.
"Then we'll be looking forward to it," Minato replied with a smile. He still remembered the last time he visited, when he had been served the cheapest tea. It wasn't something to hold a grudge over, but it was certainly memorable.
As he spoke, he glanced around and said, "Senpai, your home is still as simple as ever. Have you considered buying a new place?"
"Not for now. I spend most of my time outside on missions and rarely stay at home, so buying a new house would just be a waste," Kurogane Ren replied after a brief pause upon hearing the title.
He hadn't expected that even though Minato was about to become the Fourth Hokage, he would still address him so respectfully. It left a good impression.
"I see," Minato nodded.
Beside him, Kushina carefully observed Kurogane Ren. She was still curious about that strange feeling she had sensed before, but now that she looked again, she couldn't detect anything unusual.
Soon, Kurogane Ren finished brewing the tea and sat across from them, pouring it as he spoke.
"It seems I haven't congratulated you yet on becoming the Fourth Hokage," Kurogane Ren said after thinking for a moment, his tone becoming slightly more formal.
"Congratulations, Minato. From now on, I'll have to call you Lord Hokage."
Minato scratched his head and smiled. "Senpai, you can just call me Minato as usual. Besides, the Third Hokage hasn't reached the age where he must step down. He simply thinks too highly of me."
"Don't be modest. The fact that several ninja villages have reached a consensus to abandon missions and retreat upon encountering you already proves you have the strength to inherit the Hokage position. Not to mention how many comrades you've saved on the battlefield and how many families you've protected. Even in terms of reputation, your becoming Hokage is what everyone expects."