In the dim glow of the crystal ball, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his study, pajamas loose and a pipe dangling between his lips. Wisps of smoke curled upward as his sharp eyes traced every movement happening within the Akimichi Clan compound. The corners of his mouth tugged upward in satisfaction, a quiet laugh escaping.
Orochimaru really does exceed my expectations...
Beside him, Biwako Sarutobi leaned lazily against her husband, arms crossed. She gave him a side glance, half resentful, half exasperated, as if silently accusing him of giving more attention to his talented disciple than to her.
---
Meanwhile, outside the Akimichi Clan compound, Orochimaru stumbled into the street carrying what looked like half a festival's worth of food.
The Akimichi, generous to a fault, had pressed snacks and sweets into her arms until she could no longer see over the pile. Then, as if that wasn't enough, they stuffed discount coupons and barbecue vouchers into her hands until she had a stack thicker than a ninja bingo book.
To top it all off, a cloth bag taller than she was had been slung onto her back, bulging with packaged snacks that clinked and rustled with every step.
Passersby stopped to stare.
Orochimaru froze in front of the clan's gate, eyes shifting from the Akimichi crest on the wall—a design suspiciously resembling the kanji for "eat"—to the mountain of food teetering in her arms, then to the heavy sack pulling down on her shoulders.
Her golden eyes widened.
Wait. Don't tell me… The Akimichi's goodwill isn't just kindness. Are they… trying to turn me into one of them?
A shiver ran down her spine. The thought of her body ballooning into a round Akimichi-like figure made her clutch the bag tighter, face paling.
"...What a headache."
Snacks spilled onto the ground as she adjusted her grip. Leaving them would be rude, but she couldn't possibly carry everything alone. Nor could she call on the ANBU silently tailing her—it would blow their cover.
Her lips curled. "No helping it then. Shadow Clone Technique."
She formed quick hand signs, and with twin puffs of smoke, two identical Orochimaru appeared, blinking at her expectantly.
"I'll leave it to you two," she ordered, setting down part of the load.
"Mhm. Leave it to us."
Each clone scooped up snacks and marched behind her like loyal porters.
Thus began a peculiar parade down Konoha's busy street: one tiny girl carrying a sack bigger than herself, trailed by two identical versions of her with arms stacked full of crackers, rice cakes, and sweet buns.
Whispers spread immediately. Vendors leaned out of stalls. Mothers tugged their children closer. Even the Uchiha Military Police Force, notorious for their cold stares and rigid discipline, was thrown into confusion when they spotted her.
The captain of the squad, a tall man with stern features, stepped forward. "I am Uchiha En, captain of the Sixth Squad. May I ask… what exactly are you carrying?"
Orochimaru adjusted the sack, raising her small chin proudly. "Greetings, members of the Police Force. I am Orochimaru. These snacks were given to me by the Akimichi Clan."
The Uchiha blinked. Before they could respond, her clones dispelled with a bang, showers of snacks clattering across the cobblestones.
"Ah…" Orochimaru stared at the scattered treats, then looked up with wide, innocent eyes. "I heard that the Police Department members are all good people who are very willing to help fellow villagers. Can you… help me?"
The four Uchiha froze.
G-good people?!
They exchanged awkward glances. In the village, they were feared as enforcers, treated coldly, sometimes even hated. Never once had anyone looked them in the eye and called them good people.
And from such a cute girl no less.
Something in their stiff shoulders melted. They wordlessly bent down, one lifting the massive bag, another scooping up snacks, while the remaining two fell in line. Together, they formed a procession behind Orochimaru, startling the entire street.
---
"Is that… the Uchiha Police Force?"
"No way! Look at them—carrying groceries for a little girl?"
"Am I dreaming? They don't seem scary at all!"
"They're even… blushing?!"
Villagers gawked, whispering in disbelief. The Uchiha, cheeks burning red beneath their composure, wished they could vanish into the ground.
At Orochimaru's house, she turned, offering them a small smile. "Thank you. As a token of gratitude, please take some snacks."
They hesitated, then accepted. After being humiliated in front of half the village, some sweet buns were the least they deserved.
As they resumed their patrol, villagers continued whispering.
"Cute little Orochimaru…"
"Orochimaru… Wait, isn't that the name of the genius who improved the soldier pill formula?"
Recognition rippled through the group. Uchiha En nearly dropped his lollipop.
"That Orochimaru?! The one who defeated Yashiro and Youka?"
"Unbelievable. She's so young…"
His teammates muttered in awe, but Uchiha En's face darkened. The important point here is that we were tricked by her!
The other three looked at him dryly. 'Not enough chakra to maintain Shadow Clones'? Yeah, right…
---
That night, Orochimaru sat cross-legged on her bed, surrounded by scrolls, snacks piled like miniature mountains around her. She rubbed her nose, eyes flicking between the Akimichi's detailed records of Yang Release training.
Until now, her Yang Release research leaned toward medical ninjutsu—cellular regeneration, tissue repair. But the Akimichi's insights revealed far more. Yang Release could stimulate muscles, strengthen physical endurance, even transform the body.
The Multi-Size Technique is merely one application. Simply swelling the body is useless to me. But if I combine Yang Release with the Eight Branches Technique and Sage Mode… even the Uchiha's Susanoo might not withstand me.
She smirked, thoughts already leaping ahead.
---
The next day, Tsunade arrived, lugging her own bulging sack. She glanced at her reflection in a window and groaned. "Orochimaru, we look like thieves sneaking around like this!"
"Sealing the snacks into scrolls would be wasteful," Orochimaru replied calmly. "Better to deliver them to the Orphanage directly."
Tsunade's cheeks flushed pink as villagers turned to stare. She quickened her pace to walk beside Orochimaru, muttering under her breath.
The Orphanage sat on the outskirts of Konoha, nestled among hills. The air was clean, the streams clear, but the buildings were worn, roofs patched, and walls weathered by years of neglect.
Children peered from windows, eyes wide with curiosity and hunger. Many were war orphans, left without homes or parents after the First Shinobi World War.
The director, an elderly man with a limp and scars from battle, came hobbling out when he saw them. His voice cracked as he bowed. "Thank you! Thank you both so much!"
His eyes brimmed with tears. To him, Orochimaru and Tsunade were still children themselves, yet they had spent their savings on treats for orphans.
The children's faces lit up as bags of snacks were opened. Tiny hands clutched sweets, laughter echoing across the courtyard.
Orochimaru slipped a bundle of barbecue restaurant vouchers into the director's hands. "Grandpa Director, please take these too. They should be enough for a meal."
"This… no, I can't. You've already given so much."
"Please take them. They were gifts to me," Orochimaru said gently, tugging Tsunade along before he could refuse again.
The director stared at the vouchers, then at their retreating backs. "Wait—children, your names?"
They paused, glancing back.
"Orochimaru."
"Tsunade."
The old man froze. His eyes widened as realization struck.
Orochimaru—the name that had recently spread throughout Konoha.
Tsunade—the First Hokage's granddaughter.
His lips trembled, tears spilling freely. "So… Hokage-sama still cares about the orphans after all…"
---
Thus, whispers spread. A genius girl, a kind granddaughter of the First Hokage, and a trail of laughter left behind at the Orphanage.
And in the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled as he exhaled smoke, his faith in Orochimaru's future only growing stronger.
patreon (Obito_uchiha)