Chapter 160: The Fish is Hooked!
Just grasp their weakness, understand the weakness of people's hearts, and give them what they want most.
What is called strong will is actually not that invulnerable.
Before arriving, Orochimaru had already obtained all the information about Gaara.
It was predictable.
His mother and uncle were probably the weakest lines of defense in his heart.
After successfully controlling Gaara and leaving two clones to begin research, Orochimaru left the experimental base.
As Hokage, there were many things to consider.
Before the situation was truly stable and the threat was eliminated, he couldn't immerse himself in experiments wholeheartedly.
Fortunately, this wouldn't be long.
❀❀❀
Orochimaru soon returned to the Hokage's office and began to handle various government affairs.
An hour later, new information appeared.
Except for Sunagakure, the Kage of the other three major villages had all agreed to the invitation to the Five Kage Summit issued by Orochimaru.
Currently, they were not very convinced by the change of Hokage in Konoha.
After all, the official appointment of the daimyo had not yet been issued, and the announcement that Orochimaru would replace the Fifth Hokage had not yet reached the entire ninja world.
Therefore, they all thought this was a Five Kage Summit initiated by the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen still had some face.
It was estimated that other countries also wanted to use this opportunity to test Konoha and Sunagakure so that they could determine their own future development and strategies.
As a result, the Five Kage meeting was originally scheduled to be held in the Land of Iron a week later.
"In a week? Good, perfect timing."
"Enough time for me to deal with all threats and truly succeed as Hokage."
Orochimaru looked at the report and smiled contentedly.
Everything was within his own calculations.
❀❀❀
Just like that, time passed quickly.
Afternoon.
Kabuto returned!
He also returned with three injured ANBU ninjas, and rushed to report to Orochimaru without stopping.
"Hokage-sama!"
"How are you?"
"As you expected, we were only half a day away from Konoha when we were attacked."
"Is this Danzo's doing?"
"There were nine attackers, three teams. They deliberately concealed their identities and ninjutsu styles, but there's no mistake. I could feel the paranoid atmosphere of Root ninjas within them."
"It seems Danzo is really anxious! What about Anko?"
"She was captured by them!"
"Deliberately captured alive?"
"Yes, the enemy was very cruel to us except for Mitarashi Anko, but they remained restrained towards her. It seems they have received orders to capture her alive."
"That's normal. After all, Anko took my student, and Danzo also has concerns. Killing Anko means total war with me and the entire Konoha."
"He doesn't have the courage or the strength."
Orochimaru smiled faintly, everything was according to plan.
"What about Mitarashi Anko?"
"She won't die. This is the only thing Danzo has. He thinks he can threaten my bargaining chip. How could he destroy it himself?"
"But Orochimaru-sama, I still don't understand why you gave Anko to Danzo? Isn't this causing trouble."
"It's just a trap set for Danzo. That old man is hiding a Sharingan in one hand. It's not easy to completely get rid of him. Of course, I have to be more prepared."
"You want to kill Danzo?"
"Why, you don't want to?"
Kabuto's breath quickened, and his heart became hot.
Of course, he also wanted to get rid of Danzo. After all, his beloved Dean Nono was forced to die by Danzo!
If he could kill Danzo, Kabuto would be willing to do anything!
"I want to, please give me a chance!"
"There will be opportunities. But I have no intention of exchanging your life. That old thing with no future is not worth your sacrifice."
"Hokage-sama, I—"
"Go down and get ready. I'll let you know when the time comes."
Kabuto disappeared quickly, and with a burning heart, he secretly sharpened his knife.
Orochimaru raised the corner of his mouth.
Danzo actually took the bait!
It was worth it to use Anko as bait.
Of course, even if Danzo didn't take action against Anko, Orochimaru would still prepare other ways to trap him.
After all, Danzo was much more anxious than he was now.
His future was bright, but there was an abyss in front of him.
He had to fight!
He could only fight hard!
❀❀❀
At night.
There was a secret base under the Shimura Clan residence.
Danzo led some Root ninjas to torture the 'prisoner' here.
These days could be said to be the most difficult time in his life.
Hiruzen completely ignored him and deprived him of his position and power. Besides, Orochimaru used Anbu to drive him crazy.
The entire strength and organization of Root were quickly destroyed, almost on the verge of collapse.
Most Root ninjas were controlled or monitored by ANBU.
The only people Danzo could command now were over a dozen dead warrior ninjas secretly trained from orphans.
That's all.
The real fight with Orochimaru was like hitting an egg against a rock.
Therefore, Danzo could only find ways to use various schemes.
Including instigating the previous opposition, getting rid of the Hokage's envoys, lobbying various high-ranking officials in Konoha, etc.
Unfortunately, everything was solved one by one by Orochimaru, to no avail.
Danzo still held various scandalous experimental materials involving Orochimaru and him before.
If all of this was exposed, it would definitely greatly damage Orochimaru's reputation as the successor of Hokage.
After all, no one wants their leader to be a cruel scientific madman.
But Danzo knew better; this method worked, but it couldn't bring down Orochimaru in one blow.
Public opinion could make that fool Hatake Sakumo die, but could Orochimaru die?
Would Orochimaru resign or commit suicide just because of some gossip?
Don't be kidding.
Danzo never dared to think like this in his wildest dreams.
Orochimaru would simply ruthlessly eliminate all the communicators of public opinion, and then take the opportunity to accuse Danzo of slandering the Hokage and commit suicide directly!
Therefore, Danzo wouldn't dare to announce the evidence of these scandals rashly, unless he had already decided to fight Orochimaru to the death.
But if it continued like this, it would be very dangerous!
He was almost certainly going to lose!
If he really waited for Orochimaru to officially replace him as Hokage, he would definitely lose everything, and he would most likely die!
As Hokage, there were many ways to kill Danzo.
Even randomly assigning an S-rank mission and letting Danzo complete it alone would be enough to kill him.
What?
If one S-rank mission isn't enough, let's get ten more missions! One hundred!
It could always wear him out.
What?
You won't accept the mission given by the Hokage himself? What do you want to do? Treason against the village?
Someone's coming!
Take him to the lab and train him hard!
Danzo could already foresee his tragic end then.
Therefore, he had no way out. He had to do everything possible to bring down Orochimaru and prevent him from taking the position of Hokage!
When he learned that Orochimaru's student, Anko, took the letter and rushed to the Daimyo Residence of the Land of Fire, he, who was almost stunned, immediately sent Death Warrior Ninjas to stop her.
However, Danzo at least still had some common sense.
The order was issued to capture Anko alive.
As long as he captured Anko, he would get another piece.
Whether the information in her mind might be able to balance Orochimaru!
And his Death Warrior Ninjas didn't disappoint and successfully captured Anko alive.
Danzo was overjoyed and immediately began to torture Anko. It was a pity that this girl had a very tough tongue and could withstand the extraordinary pain of the Heaven's Curse Mark. How could Anko surrender to ordinary torture?
She would never betray Orochimaru-sensei!
Seeing Anko so stubborn, Danzo didn't dare to delay, and immediately found a Root ninja skilled in illusions to activate her memories.
Although Anko had a strong will, all living beings were equal in illusions.
Soon, she couldn't resist any longer, fell into the illusion, and began to reveal information.
❀❀❀
Ten minutes later.
Danzo, who had obtained crucial information, left the torture room with a satisfied feeling.
"So that's it!"
"Living Corpse Reincarnation? Vessel? Need to replace the corpse regularly?"
"So this is why Orochimaru is targeting Sasuke? Is he trying to use Sasuke as a perfect vessel to reincarnate?"
"Ha ha ha!"
"Orochimaru, I didn't expect that even though you're so cautious, I intercepted and obtained such a secret!"
"In this case, Sasuke is probably Orochimaru's most important target and vessel."
"So, as long as I use Sasuke, it's equivalent to using Orochimaru's weakness?"
"Compared to Naruto, Sasuke should be more afraid of death."
"Want to bet?"
"Sasuke."
Danzo narrowed his eyes and tapped his cane against the ground frequently, which showed anxiety and attachment in his heart.
After all, he really couldn't find any other way to defeat Orochimaru.
With Hiruzen's support, Orochimaru was almost invincible in Konoha.
After weighing it for a long time, Danzo finally made a cruel decision.
"Go, capture Uchiha Sasuke! Try to be stealthy and don't leave any traces!"
"As you command!"
Several ninjas received the order and left. They had no will of their own and would only follow Danzo's orders.
"Orochimaru, I will definitely win!"
"I will definitely become Hokage!"
Danzo touched his right arm and then his right eye, with a gloomy but confident expression.