"What do you want?!"
Orochimaru's eyes widened in shock as Tsunade barreled into her, clinging tightly to the book in her hands.
Bang—!
The collision sent them both tumbling to the ground with a heavy thud.
"Hehe… I forgot I was still maintaining my Ninjutsu state," Tsunade said sheepishly, scratching the back of her head while glancing down at Orochimaru, who lay underneath her, ruffled and glaring with restrained fury.
"Tsunade! Can you please stop being so careless?!" Orochimaru's voice trembled with both pain and irritation. She felt as if a speeding cart had run her over. Her entire body ached, and even her usually unshakeable temper was fraying at the edges.
"I-I'm sorry!" Tsunade's apology echoed across the Third Training Ground, a mixture of sincerity and exasperation in her tone.
---
Senju Residence
"Lady Mito, you summoned me?" Hiruzen Sarutobi bowed respectfully. Standing before Uzumaki Mito, he felt the weight of her presence. No matter how high his rank, he dared not show even a hint of disrespect to the First Hokage's wife.
Uzumaki Mito's gentle smile, however, belied the sharpness in her eyes as she asked, "Hiruzen, what do you think of Orochimaru, that child of yours?"
Hiruzen hesitated. He sensed something beneath her question, a subtle probing that reminded him of a student being tested. "Orochimaru…" he began cautiously.
"She's an extraordinary child," he continued after a moment of contemplation. "She possesses all the qualities of a true ninja. She approaches missions with flexibility, and her analytical skills are exceptional. Orochimaru is a rare genius, appearing perhaps once in decades. In a very short time, simply by observing me perform techniques, she has mastered the Sarutobi Clan's inherited Fire Release and my unique Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, adapted from the Shadow Clone Technique originally created by the Second Hokage, Tobirama. Her control over chakra transformation and form manipulation is outstanding. Given time, she will become an all-around ninja capable of handling even the most complex missions independently."
Uzumaki Mito's expression darkened slightly. Her eyes narrowed as she pressed, "I hear Danzo Shimura has been in contact with Orochimaru. Is that true?"
Hiruzen felt a chill run down his spine. Lady Mito, once a formidable ninja of Uzushiogakure, was known for her fiery temper and her mastery over countless sealing techniques. Even now, he felt like a student caught misbehaving before a strict teacher.
"Lady Mito, Danzo approached Orochimaru in his capacity as Assistant Hokage. Please rest assured, Orochimaru is my disciple. I will ensure she is not involved with any inappropriate matters," Hiruzen explained carefully, bowing slightly.
Bang—!
Mito's hand slammed on the table, making Hiruzen flinch. "Hiruzen, I don't care what schemes Danzo is weaving with Root. You must understand Hashirama and Tobirama's original intent in establishing Konoha!"
"Yes, Lady Mito," Hiruzen responded, feeling like a scolded grandchild.
Her gaze softened slightly as she added, "Orochimaru has great potential in sealing techniques. I would like to personally guide her at the appropriate time. Do you object?"
"It would be Orochimaru's honor to learn from you personally," Hiruzen replied with a smile, grateful for Mito's mentorship. The stronger Orochimaru became, the easier it would be for him to eventually step down as Hokage with confidence in his disciple.
---
A Sneezing Warning
"Achoo—!"
Both Orochimaru and her shadow clone sneezed simultaneously, rubbing their noses with a hint of unease.
A sense of impending danger crept into her mind. Could it be that some schemer had already taken an interest in her?
---
Tsunade's Forbidden Technique
"What?! A Forbidden Technique?!" Tsunade's voice thundered through the Hokage Building. "Teacher Sarutobi, you need to explain this clearly!"
Orochimaru silently backed away from the commotion. She caught the pleading gaze of Hiruzen Sarutobi, who seemed resigned to the chaos about to unfold.
"Sigh…" Hiruzen rubbed his temple and addressed Tsunade. "Tsunade, the Lightning Release Ninjutsu you developed is incredibly powerful, but it requires mastery over both medical knowledge and precise control of Lightning Release chakra. If used incorrectly, it can harm the user severely. That's why it has been classified as a Forbidden Technique."
Tsunade's frown softened slightly, curiosity replacing anger.
Hiruzen continued, "A Forbidden Technique doesn't mean it's unusable. It simply prohibits easy teaching to others because it carries significant risk. Improper use can cause meridian damage, potentially ending a ninja's career."
Pride lit up Tsunade's face. "Well, then… it seems only Orochimaru and I are capable of performing this technique properly," she said with a small smile, the hint of pride unmistakable.
"Does it have a name yet?" Hiruzen asked quietly.
Tsunade nodded. "Lightning Release: Lightning Stimulation. When performed, the technique channels Lightning Release chakra through the body like countless fine needles, stimulating the meridians and accelerating chakra flow. It enhances speed, reaction time, and explosive power. The name suits its function perfectly."
---
Author's Note
The rank of Ninjutsu reflects the learning difficulty, not the power. Techniques classified as Forbidden carry inherent risk, like the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu. Tsunade's Lightning Release Ninjutsu is dangerous if mishandled.
Previously, Lightning Release: Lightning Barrage was renamed Five-Finger Lightning Bullet.
In the world of the Hokage, scientific ninja tools exist—cannons that fire exploding tags, chakra-based firearms—but they cannot match the effectiveness of Sage Mode and physical combat against threats like the Ōtsutsuki.
---
Make Money, Must Make Money
Bang—!
Hiruzen, what exactly are you thinking?! Danzo slammed his hand onto the table, staring at the stack of reports from the Hokage Office in bewilderment. Hiruzen had become unusually compliant, halting the recruitment of Root members and adjusting Anbu training methods.
Danzo could not comprehend why the Hokage had shifted tactics. Even with all his cunning, he would never dare send Root agents to spy on Uzumaki Mito, whose ability to discern good and evil was legendary. What he did not know was that Hiruzen had been scolded like a misbehaving student by Mito herself.
---
Hokage Office Reflections
Hiruzen sat quietly in the Hokage Office, pipe in hand, finishing the last page of a forbidden book he had been eagerly following. He exhaled a long puff of smoke and smiled softly. "Such an ending isn't bad either," he murmured, placing the book carefully in a drawer.
His thoughts drifted to the author, Miya. Could there be a new work in the making?
---
Orochimaru and the Tavern
The hot spring town was bustling as usual. In a quiet tavern, Orochimaru sat by a window, receiving a paper bag from the respectful publishing agent, Mr. Goro.
"These are your book royalties and manuscript fees," Goro said politely.
"Thank you for coming, Mr. Goro," Orochimaru replied, accepting the bag. Its contents were obvious—stacks of currency, crisp and neatly organized.
"Do you have plans for a new work?" Goro asked cautiously, reflecting the wishes of the publishing house.
"The new book is still in conceptual stages. I need more time to develop the outline," Orochimaru said with a smile, fingers interlaced on the table. "Once the outline is ready, I will contact you immediately. I hope our cooperation can continue."
The income from missions, writing, and even Danzo's occasional funding was sufficient for now but still insufficient for her true ambition: establishing a laboratory. Orochimaru calculated that with steady earnings, she could potentially have her own lab by the age of twelve or fourteen—assuming no setbacks from failed missions.
Where to build it, though? Konoha offered convenience but could be restrictive in the future. The Land of Rice Fields seemed promising, but Daimyo and bureaucratic obstacles could pose problems.
Orochimaru had no interest in changing the world's system. Old hierarchies would eventually be replaced, whether she interfered or not. For now, her focus was singular: progress, research, and profit.
"Make money, must make money," she muttered under her breath, rising from her seat. To hell with the Daimyo. To hell with their petty concerns. Orochimaru would not be constrained by anyone's rules.
She tucked the paper bag of money away, and without a backward glance, left the tavern, her mind already racing with new ideas for experiments, new techniques to master, and the laboratory she would one day command.
For Orochimaru, the world's systems were irrelevant. Science and ninjutsu were the only paths worth pursuing, and she would stop at nothing to achieve mastery.
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