Chapter 190 Control the Rhythm
The fact that Orochimaru, who has believed in science all his life, could ask such a metaphysical question as "Do you really have the ability to predict the future?" is enough to show how famous Shiba Kiyokawa is today.
After the battle at Kannabi Bridge, no one dared to underestimate him anymore!
Now, even if he only has one against three, others will be suspicious and afraid that he has a trump card.
Shiba Qinghe did not answer Orochimaru's question, but asked, "It doesn't matter whether I have the ability to predict the future or not. What's important is: should you answer the question I asked you in the letter now?"
Orochimaru was silent for a long time, then suddenly laughed again.
"You guessed right, I can't become Hokage, and you don't need to test me. I have known this clearly since a long time ago."
"So honest?"
"Is there any point in me hiding this now? Shouldn't you have known about it a long time ago?"
Shiba Kiyokawa really wanted to say: I actually don’t know about this.
The original work did not explain why Orochimaru failed to catch Sarutobi Hiruzen's eye. It only said that he would defect a few years later because his human experiments were exposed.
Shiba Kiyokawa only had some vague guesses, but no concrete evidence.
But fortunately, his mysterious personality has now been deeply rooted in people's hearts.
Even Orochimaru began to doubt whether he had the ability to predict the future, so at times like this, all he had to do was smile.
Sure enough, after looking at him for a while, Orochimaru quickly came up with the answer himself.
Then he explained to himself, "Since taking over the front line, I have never helped the Sarutobi clan recruit ninjas or gain benefits. The people sent by the Root and Anbu will soon be absorbed by me.
Just based on this point, there is no way those old guys would choose me to be Hokage, unless they have no choice."
Orochimaru is a truly ruthless man. He is ruthless to his enemies and to his own people.
He is completely different from the warm little sun like Minato Namikaze. He always adheres to a cold-blooded and efficient command style.
In order to maintain his cold-bloodedness while ensuring the loyalty of his subordinates, Orochimaru has always adhered to the principle of absolute fairness.
Whoever he needs to die must die, no matter who that person is or what that person's last name is.
This would certainly help them win the battle and allow Konoha to stabilize a large front line with only a small number of ninjas.
But this was not what the old guys sitting in the Konoha building wanted.
Orochimaru had been in charge of the southwestern front for nearly three years, and the Sarutobi clan there had not only failed to prosper, but had been rapidly depleted.
This is the fundamental reason why Sarutobi Hiruzen never likes Orochimaru!
As for personal morality, human experiments, and insufficient understanding of the Will of Fire, those were just excuses.
"Are you willing to accept this?" asked Shiba Kiyokawa.
However, Orochimaru just smiled and said, "Haha, you don't need to provoke me, I chose this path myself.
When the war broke out three years ago, when I first used the snake binding technique to strangle the Sarutobi tribe member who deserted the battlefield but wanted to escape back to the village with the entire team, I knew very well that I would not be in the eyes of Sarutobi teacher.
If you just want to use the position of Hokage to seduce me, I'm afraid you will be disappointed.
Qinghe Jun, that was something I gave up on my own, you can’t seduce me.”
Shiba Kiyokawa nodded.
It was at this moment that he understood what Orochimaru really cared about.
“I understand, you don’t care about the position of Hokage, but you care about victory on the southwest front.
You took the initiative to dirty your hands and gave up everything in the village just to win the war.
But now that you are about to succeed, you are afraid. You are afraid that I will intervene, right? "At this point, the initiative of the negotiation finally returned to Shiba Kiyokawa.
There was a slight error in his previous guess.
He thought Orochimaru cared about the position of Hokage.
He wrote that letter to provoke Orochimaru, hoping to speed up his defection.
Unexpectedly, Orochimaru was very rational and had an extremely clear judgment of his situation.
No matter how provoked or stimulated Shiba Kiyokawa was, he couldn't be shaken at all.
But somehow the letter lured Orochimaru here.
Now Shiba Kiyokawa finally understood - Orochimaru cared not because the position of Hokage was mentioned in the letter, but because the letter mentioned Kikyoyama!
Orochimaru doesn't care whether he can become Hokage or not, but he cannot accept that the battle for which he gave up everything for planning ended up like the Battle of Kannabi Bridge!
So at this moment, Orochimaru did not deny it, but picked up the White Zetsu scroll handed to him by Shiba Kiyokawa again.
"I have made some progress in analyzing these things, and I am afraid that I am the only one in the entire ninja world who is capable of studying them clearly. Hiruzen is still far behind."
He is emphasizing his own value.
This is actually tantamount to a disguised acknowledgement of the threat posed by Shiba Kiyokawa.
He was indeed afraid that Shiba Kiyokawa would interfere with his plans on Mount Kikyo.
Although Shiba Kiyokawa actually knew nothing except the place name.
But the deterrence and shock brought by the battle of Shenwubi Bridge was too great!
It’s so big that even if Shiba Kiyokawa has no bargaining chips now, it’s enough to scare everyone!
"This little bit of leverage is not enough to keep me from interfering in your battle."
"Haven't I already taught you the cloning technique? Qinghe-kun, excessive greed will only lead to destruction. I'm not a weak person like Sarutobi-sensei."
"Don't be nervous. I don't intend to embarrass you right now. You might as well listen to my warning first."
The next moment, Shiba Kiyokawa looked into the distance and spoke slowly, “Your mind is now full of thoughts about how to complete your battle plan and end the war you are responsible for.
But Orochimaru, have you ever thought about what you should do after the war between Konoha and Sand Village is over? "
After many twists and turns, Shiba Kiyokawa finally led the topic to the direction that was most beneficial to him.
"You also know that you are destined not to become Hokage, and none of those old guys will support you.
They can't even accept Hatake Sakumo, let alone you who is more extreme than White Fang?
I can promise not to interfere with your performance in Platycodon Mountain, allowing you to complete your battle plan and present a perfect curtain call for the three-year layout.
But what happens after that? What happens after the victory at Kikyo Mountain?
You no longer have the support of your roots in the village, and you are short of funds and materials.
Moreover, after you step down as the front-line commander, you will just be an ordinary Jonin, and your situation in Konoha will only become more difficult!
All you want now is to end the war and fulfill your long-cherished wish, but have you ever thought that all your current recklessness is based on the premise that you are still an indispensable front-line commander of Konoha?
I deliberately spared Minato's life, and now Tsunade is back. Orochimaru, if the war in the southwest is really over, Konoha will no longer need so many front-line commanders.
Have you ever thought about what you will do then?
Have you ever thought about how you would survive in Konoha if your research and your secret contact with me were exposed? "
At that moment, Shiba Kiyokawa smiled like a devil roaming the world, and every word he said seemed to hit Orochimaru's vital points.
Although there were some twists and turns in the process, and he did not expect Orochimaru to be indifferent to the position of Hokage, but in the end, Shiba Kiyokawa still controlled the pace of the conversation and achieved his goal!
He once again pushed Orochimaru to the edge of the cliff!
Just like before, he forced Orochimaru to choose between Tsunade and Hiruzen!
(End of this chapter)
