In Naruto, multiverse and more with Gacha system

"So, now you've got competition, Orochimaru," Jiraiya says with a grin, reaching out like he's about to pat my shoulder. I don't bother reacting, and he wisely pulls back.

"Sorry, Senior Orochimaru."

I glance at Minato. He looks genuinely apologetic.

I don't care.

"Why are you sorry?" I ask.

"Well," he hesitates, rubbing the back of his neck, "because you wanted to be Hokage, and… I'm also up for consideration."

I don't bother responding. It's not like his apology changes anything. Instead, I turn to Sensei. He's still not done talking.

"Orochimaru, you should take on a genin team."

"No."

He stops mid-sentence, looking at me. I meet his gaze, making it clear I'm not interested.

"I will not lead a team, Sensei."

We stare at each other for a few seconds. He knows I'm not changing my mind.

"Alright," he says finally, sliding the list back into his drawer like it doesn't matter.

"Anything else, Sensei?"

"Nothing. You're all dismissed."

Sensei pulls out his pipe, already more focused on lighting it than on any of us.

As we step out, Jiraiya stretches, rolling his shoulders like he's been forced to sit still for too long.

"If Tsunade were here, it'd be better," he mutters.

I glance at him. "Why?"

"There are a lot of patients only she can handle," he says, sighing. "Too many injured shinobi, and not enough medics who can actually do something about it."

"When she asked to increase the number of medical ninjas, many didn't support her, including you?"

Jiraiya shifts uncomfortably, scratching the back of his head. "Ah, yeah... I guess I wasn't exactly on board with the idea. Had my reasons, though. Not all of them were bad, just... short-sighted."

I stare at him, unimpressed. "Short-sighted, huh? That's one way to put it."

He sighs, looking a little guilty. "Okay, fine, maybe I was wrong. But I was more focused on the bigger picture back then, not the immediate needs. The village had other things to prioritize."

I give him a deadpan look. "Like what? Researching your 'perverted' material?"

Jiraiya chuckles awkwardly, trying to brush it off. "I mean, that's part of it, but I thought we were stronger than we were. It's easy to get caught up in the long-term plans and forget what's happening right in front of you."

I narrow my eyes, not entirely convinced. "So, you thought the village didn't need more medics after the war? You can't seriously believe that."

He rubs his chin thoughtfully. "I guess I didn't consider how much it would affect everyone. Now, I can see how important it really is. Especially with everything that's happened."

"And now?" I ask, keeping my voice even. "Now that it's too late to fix things?"

Jiraiya sighs, clearly worn out. "Now, I'll do whatever I can to bring Tsunade back. The village needs her, and we're running out of time."

I take a moment to let his words settle in. It's messy, no question. But that's how things go when the village is always caught up in its own politics. Tsunade's absence is just another crack in the foundation. One more problem to pile on top of everything else.

But the village won't stop because of it. Konoha never stops.

"Politics never stop," I mutter more to myself than to him.

As I start to move away, Jiraiya's voice stops me. "Just don't forget who you were fighting for in the first place... and who you're supposed to protect."

I pause, thinking for a moment. Jiraiya isn't as clueless as people think. He knows, just like I do, who's going to come out on top.

"Come out," I said, still waking.

A man dressed similarly to an Anbu, with a mask, stood in front of me, but I knew he was from Root.

"Danzo-sama wants to meet you."

"Of course he does," I muttered, knowing there's no chance he'll win the election.

"Let's go," I said, understanding the behavior of Root.

Though they can't do anything to me, there's no need to make a scene.

I know what Danzo wants, calling me as soon as I left the building.

His patience, too, is wearing thin on this matter.

After all, he can see where this is all headed.

The place they left, another shinobi dressed the same emerged and vanished in the next second.