Orochimaru flipped another page of his research notebook, his long fingers rhythmically tapping the desk as he reviewed the bloodline analysis he had just written. The soft scratching of his pen echoed through the quiet room—yet even as he wrote about the Ketsuryugan, his thoughts were drifting elsewhere.
The Sharingan.
Specifically, the potential of Sharingan clones.
If a clone possessed the Uchiha bloodline and the correct stimulus… would its Mangekyō evolve into an Eternal Mangekyō?
The idea itself was thrilling—and frustrating. Orochimaru's knowledge of the Sharingan was, unfortunately, completely theoretical. He didn't have a Mangekyō user on hand to study, nor a convenient Uchiha child he could experiment on. His understanding of the Byakugan far surpassed his knowledge of the Sharingan; with Hyūga Mio constantly around him, it was impossible not to learn.
Perhaps this is something I must leave for later, he thought. Once my cloning research improves, I can simply create my own Uchihas.
The Lightning Daimyō hiring the Uchiha Clan to guard the Chinoike Clan made sense now. The Sharingan had always been considered the counter to the Ketsuryugan. And judging by the Chinoike Clan's exile to the Nether Valley, the relationship between the two clans had been… complicated. Clearly, whatever negotiations or rebellions the Chinoike attempted had failed.
Orochimaru tapped the notebook with the end of his pen.
The Ketsuryugan specializes in genjutsu and blood manipulation. They can immobilize targets with illusions… and even weaponize their own blood into "biological bombs." That special chakra, once it enters the victim's bloodstream through a wound, transforms them into a living explosive if not removed in time. Terrifying.
A proper counter would require the Sharingan to neutralize or reflect the Ketsuryugan's genjutsu, and perhaps even disrupt its blood-chakra fusion. Otherwise, why would such a powerful clan have been forced into exile under Uchiha surveillance?
The Ketsuryugan is unquestionably dangerous… and unpredictable.
Before integrating the Chinoike Clan into his company, Orochimaru intended to teach Uzumaki Chigusa and Uzumaki Nano the Eye-Sealing Curse Mark. If any Chinoike member became troublesome, sealing their ability would keep them obedient. Without their eyes, the Chinoike were merely ordinary shinobi—a problem easily handled by either the Uzumaki or the Iburi clans.
His thoughts drifted again.
I wonder how the Transformation Formula experiment is progressing…
The scratch of the pen continued—until a soft hand suddenly slid into his field of view and plucked the pen away.
"Orochimaru," Tsunade whispered, leaning close enough for her perfume to mingle with the smell of ink, "shouldn't we go to the hot springs?"
She wrapped an arm around his shoulders and glanced at the open notebook. The analysis meant nothing to her—she was far more interested in dragging Orochimaru away from his work.
He closed the notebook without protest. "Alright."
As they walked toward the door, Tsunade blinked as a memory struck her. "Oh! Orochimaru, are you still writing that… forbidden book?"
"Of course," he replied with a perfectly straight face. "My fans span the whole world."
Money from his writing was minimal, but his popularity was enormous. His books were even being adapted into films. Orochimaru couldn't understand why—his stories were mostly about fighting bosses, fighting his way toward bosses, or preparing to fight bosses. How could something so chaotic be adapted for theaters?
Unless, he mused, a certain feudal lord had bought the rights to produce a private… hobby film.
The numbers certainly supported the idea—Shimura herbal tea's purchasing logs made very suspicious reading.
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Hot Springs
The outdoor hot spring steamed heavily as fresh rain began to fall again. Raindrops pelted the surface, sending ripples across the water.
Splash.
Orochimaru sank deeper into the warm spring, leaning against a rock as he stared up at the grey sky. Steam rose upward, rain fell downward—a strange contradiction, yet somehow peaceful.
Soaking in an open-air spring during bad weather had always seemed ridiculous to him. Now he had become one of those ridiculous people.
His thoughts wandered back to research again.
Whether the Transformation Formula succeeds or fails, the research on Jiongu is nearly complete. I wonder if Kakuzu will accept the results… Changing the Jiongu would essentially be exchanging his entire body, after all.
Another splash drew him from his thoughts. Tsunade approached him through the mist, wearing a playful grin.
"Hehe~ Orochimaru, tell me what happened while I was training in the Shikkotsu Forest!" She slid beside him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders again. "You're not planning on letting me return to the village without knowing everything, right?"
"A lot happened," Orochimaru warned lightly. "It might take a while. Are you sure you want to hear it?"
"Yes!" Tsunade nodded vigorously. "And I want to know what happened in Ryūchi Cave too!"
He chuckled. "Very well."
He began recounting everything—from the moment he left Konoha, to the inexplicable circumstances that brought him to Ryūchi Cave, to the trials of the Three Snake Princesses, and the dangerous process of mastering Sage Mode.
Tsunade's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Sage Mode is that dangerous?!"
Her voice trembled slightly. "One wrong move and you'd be eaten by the White Snake Sage or those snake princesses?! Jiraiya trained on Mount Myōboku and he was never in danger of being eaten! Ryūchi Cave is too dangerous!"
"Each of the Three Sage Regions has different methods," Orochimaru explained. "Ryūchi Cave's training is harsh… but the rewards are richer."
Tsunade listened intently as he described the rest of his training, eventually reaching his time in the Great Snake Nest—and the treacherous Blue Snake.
"That Blue Snake is so sly!" Tsunade huffed when she heard how it manipulated Orochimaru into beating all his enemies. She giggled when Orochimaru mimicked the Blue Snake's bell-like laughter.
But when Orochimaru described the actions of Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure, her smile faded. And when she learned their true target wasn't Konoha, she exhaled in relief.
But then—his next sentence froze her completely.
"The Four Great Nations were targeting Whirlpool Hidden Village."
Tsunade's hands instinctively clamped around Orochimaru's arm.
"Wh–Whirlpool… what happened to it?!"
"It was destroyed," Orochimaru said quietly. "The survivors now live in the Land of Waves. Most work for White Snake Company, but I don't force anyone—those who don't wish to work are left alone."
Tsunade's heart clenched. "Destroyed? But… didn't Konoha help?! Konoha signed a friendship treaty with them!"
"You're gripping too tightly," Orochimaru murmured.
She gasped and released him, horrified by the deep red marks her hands had left. She tried to heal them with the Mystical Palm Technique, but Orochimaru shook his head.
"This much doesn't require healing."
He continued, "Konoha didn't abandon them. The village was attacked by the Sky Ninja at the same time. Their air fortress's ruins are still near the village—you'll see them when we return."
Tsunade exhaled shakily. "I knew it… Konoha would never ignore Whirlpool Village."
She paused. "But then why didn't the survivors come to Konoha? With Grandma there, no one would dare bully them!"
Orochimaru poked her forehead. "Tsunade, you're thinking too simply."
"Whirlpool survivors harbor deep hatred for the Four Nations. Can Konoha eliminate all their enemies? If they joined the village… would they abandon missions when facing enemies from the Four Nations? Would their desire for vengeance create problems?"
Tsunade frowned. "It's just joining the village. Why does it sound so complicated?"
"These are matters for Lord Sarutobi and the survivors to consider," Orochimaru said. "Left unchecked, such hatred could become a hidden danger to the village."
Tsunade waved the problem away. "Whatever. Complicated things should be left to other people! I don't want to be Hokage anyway."
Orochimaru smirked. Let's hope it stays that way…
He stood, stretching. "We should get out. Staying in hot water too long is unhealthy."
As they towels off, Tsunade's eyes drifted to Orochimaru's stomach. "By the way… why did you put your Yin Seal there?"
Orochimaru glanced down at the diamond-shaped mark. "The abdomen is where chakra is refined. Placing the Yin Seal here allows Sage Chakra to accumulate faster—and it's easily hidden."
Tsunade suddenly looked away, flustered. "I… see…"
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Back in the Room
After returning to their room, Orochimaru dispelled his shadow clones and absorbed their memories. The good news arrived instantly—the experiment using vein-tentacles as a tool for carving the Transformation Formula had succeeded.
Soon, he could present the results to Kakuzu.
Orochimaru yawned and lay on the bed. The moment his back met the hard straw mat, his eye twitched.
Tatami mats were not his preferred sleeping surface. He missed soft mattresses.
At that moment, Tsunade slid into the room carrying something in her cupped hands, looking oddly pleased with herself.
"Orochimaru, look!"
He sat up just as she opened her hands to reveal—
A tiny, snow-white Slug with faint blue lines across its back.
"M-Merhaba…"
The Slug bowed politely, its antenna-like eyes studying Orochimaru with curiosity.
Tsunade grinned. "This little one was with me throughout my training. Cute, isn't it?"
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "You've been cooperating with this idiot?"
Slug flinched. Tsunade didn't react at all.
"No," the Slug corrected stiffly. "I am cooperating with Lady Tsunade voluntarily."
Orochimaru blinked. "…Lady Tsunade?"
The Slug lowered its head. "I… lost a bet."
"Ah." Orochimaru nodded solemnly. That made sense. Somehow.
Before Slug could explain further, Tsunade puffed up proudly. "This is my summoned beast—the Slug of Shikkotsu Forest!"
"Very impressive." Orochimaru gave her a thumbs-up, then lay back down. "It's late. Let's sleep."
"Mm!" Tsunade bounded forward and slipped into his bed with the confidence of someone who had done so many times before.
Orochimaru pointed at her own bed on the side. "Yours is over there."
"No way!" Tsunade pouted. "We haven't slept together in so long!"
In her excitement, she lunged forward and threw her arms around him with her usual monstrous strength.
"Oof—Tsunade! Are you trying to kill me?!"