Orochimaru smiled faintly, the corners of his lips curving with that serpent-like charm he always carried. His pale fingers wrapped around the warm cup of medicinal tea, and after taking a delicate sip, he fixed his golden eyes on his teacher.
"Hiruzen-sensei," Orochimaru asked smoothly, "are you inviting the Iburi Clan to join Konoha on your own behalf—or on behalf of Konoha itself?"
The question carried more weight than his casual tone suggested.
"I naturally represent Konoha," Hiruzen Sarutobi answered firmly. "And that is also the will of the two Advisors."
Hiruzen had already spoken with Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado before coming here. If the Iburi Clan agreed to join, the village's overall strength would increase considerably. Their peculiar Kekkei Genkai was dangerous but powerful. Konoha could not afford to let such a clan remain an unaffiliated outlier.
Orochimaru leaned back, his eyes narrowing slightly. "If the Iburi Clan agrees to join Konoha, then my contribution to Konoha will be significant, won't it?"
"It's only natural," Hiruzen replied.
But he couldn't help the flicker of unease in his chest. Orochimaru's gaze was calculating, almost too sharp. Hiruzen felt a premonition stirring, a warning that whatever request was about to leave his student's lips would not be a small one. He prayed silently that Orochimaru wouldn't ask for something outrageous.
"Good!" Orochimaru set his cup down with a soft clink. His smile widened, and he spoke with the directness of someone who had planned his words in advance. "Then let's talk openly. I want to go to the Forbidden Jutsu Chamber and study the techniques inside."
The air in the room grew heavy.
Hiruzen's pupils shrank instantly. "No. Absolutely not. You can't look into the Forbidden Techniques at your current age!"
The rejection came without a heartbeat of hesitation. Hiruzen's voice carried not only authority but also genuine fear. He remembered himself at Orochimaru's age, remembered the temptations of forbidden knowledge, the razor-thin line between ambition and ruin. If he had succumbed back then, he would have drowned in regret with no way back. He would not allow Orochimaru to walk that same dangerous path.
Orochimaru clicked his tongue softly, as though disappointed but unsurprised. He puffed out his cheeks slightly, feigning childish petulance. "Tch. Then… I want to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique developed by the Second Hokage."
His tone was lighter this time, but the gleam in his eyes betrayed how much he wanted this concession. He even leaned forward a little, pursing his lips in mock insistence. "Hiruzen-sensei, if you refuse again, you can go talk to the Iburi Clan yourself."
Hiruzen's brows knit together. The Flying Thunder God Technique… that jutsu was a legend.
"The Flying Thunder God Technique is a Space-Time Ninjutsu developed by the Second Hokage," Hiruzen said slowly. "Aside from Tobirama-sama, no one has ever been able to master it. Not even I could. Nor Koharu, nor Homura, nor Danzo, nor even Uchiha Kagami—we all studied under Tobirama-sama, we all tried, and yet not a single one of us managed to learn it."
He remembered their youthful efforts vividly. Endless hours of practice, of pouring chakra into seals, of failing time and again. The jutsu demanded more than skill—it required a special quality, something beyond ordinary talent. Its S-rank classification for difficulty was not an exaggeration but a mercy. It was almost impossible.
Hiruzen sighed. "Orochimaru, are you sure you don't want to reconsider your request?"
It was rare to see his student like this—playful, even childish. He didn't want Orochimaru to waste such an opportunity on something so uncertain. He was willing to show favoritism, to reward him, but this…
"This is it," Orochimaru replied coolly. His tone returned to its usual calm detachment. "Even if I don't learn it, I won't blame Hiruzen-sensei. After all, you couldn't learn it either."
"Pfft—!"
Hiruzen nearly spat out his tea. He quickly covered his mouth with his hand, coughing, while Orochimaru watched with thinly veiled amusement. Finally, the Hokage let out a resigned sigh. "Fine. I'll send the scroll."
He couldn't entrust something of that importance to the Anbu. The Flying Thunder God scroll was too dangerous to leave to anyone else's hands. He would personally deliver it to Orochimaru. Only then could he feel at ease.
"Then it's settled." Orochimaru smiled broadly, the expression making him look younger than usual. "I'll help you convince the Iburi Clan to join Konoha."
In truth, he had expected Hiruzen to reject the first request. That was the entire point. Make an outrageous demand first, one that was bound to be refused, and then follow it with a more reasonable request. Compared to entering the Forbidden Jutsu Chamber, the Flying Thunder God seemed almost harmless. The Hokage had little choice but to agree. This was the essence of the "slamming the door in their face" tactic.
Would the entire Iburi Clan join Konoha? Impossible. There would always be dissenters, always those who distrusted the village. But Orochimaru knew he had already bound himself to them. He was the one who solved their bloodline disease, the one who saved them from the slow death of their Kekkei Genkai. Those who came to Konoha would naturally remain close to him.
And if one day, for whatever reason, he were to leave the village… well, if the Iburi chose to follow him, wouldn't that make perfect sense?
A cunning smile curved his lips.
Why does Orochimaru look so pleased? Hiruzen wondered, a sinking feeling stirring in his chest. Somehow, he felt as though he had been tricked.
Orochimaru, meanwhile, had a sudden thought. Wait. What rank of mission was this again? Inviting an entire clan to join Konoha—surely that was at least an A-rank mission. Maybe even S-rank. If so, shouldn't the reward be higher?
He turned toward Hiruzen, golden eyes narrowing with calculation. "Hiruzen-sensei…"
But the Hokage cut him off swiftly. "Orochimaru, I have important matters to attend to."
He rose to his feet before the boy could press for more. Hiruzen knew his student's nature—curiosity as deep as the ocean, ambition as endless as the sky. He had to stop him before he pushed for more extravagant demands.
Already, Hiruzen was making silent plans. The Forbidden Jutsu Chamber needed tighter security, more guards, more patrols. He could not let Orochimaru's appetite lead him there again.
"Tch…" Orochimaru clicked his tongue, annoyed. He hadn't even gotten to finish his bargaining.
But then his lips curved mischievously. "Hiruzen-sensei, please wait a moment. Let me prepare some more medicinal tea for you."
He turned toward his herbs and jars. Fine. If Hiruzen was going to be stingy about mission rewards, he would simply make do. The Hokage should at least be grateful for this.
As he prepared the tea, Orochimaru thought darkly, Hiruzen-sensei is so stingy. As Hokage, can't he be more generous?
His hands moved deftly, adding a careful mix of herbs. No, this time I'll add some extra ingredients. That way, he won't be able to get out of bed tomorrow. Biwako-aunt doesn't need to thank me—it's my duty, after all!
---
Chapter 50: You're Making It Hard for Me!
Hiruzen left Orochimaru's home later that evening, clutching a large bag of medicinal tea. He glanced back at the closed door, recalling the faintly expectant look on his student's face. What had Orochimaru foreseen? Did he know the tea's true effects?
The Hokage shook his head and disappeared into the night.
No sooner had he left than a masked Root operative appeared at Orochimaru's side, passing him a coded note in secret.
Orochimaru read it, his eyes gleaming, then flicked his fingers. The paper crumbled into ash. Danzo had sent for him. Clearly, the Assistant Hokage was worried about the Iburi Clan as well.
"My dear Hiruzen-sensei," Orochimaru murmured with amusement, "you're putting far too much pressure on poor Danzo-sama."
He could already imagine it—a mountain of reports piling up on Danzo's desk, all the tasks Hiruzen had offloaded onto him in the name of "sharing the Hokage's burden." Orochimaru almost pitied him. Almost.
That night, Orochimaru made his way through the familiar tunnels beneath Konoha, arriving at the heart of Root's base. The underground chamber was lit by faint torches, shadows dancing across stone walls. Danzo Shimura sat at a low desk, one arm moving mechanically as he stamped document after document. His aide wiped sweat from his brow, handing over more papers without pause.
At the sound of footsteps, Danzo looked up. "Orochimaru. You are here."
The aide froze, paling at the sudden shift in his master's attention. Danzo's single visible eye sharpened, his tone calm but probing. "Did Hiruzen entrust you with the task of integrating the Iburi Clan into Konoha? This matter is of great importance to the village."
"Danzo-sama," Orochimaru said smoothly, bowing slightly, "Hiruzen-sensei gave me the mission of inviting the Iburi Clan to join. It is also the wish of the two Advisors."
As expected. Orochimaru had already guessed Danzo's true reason for calling him here.
Danzo's gaze was steady. "Orochimaru, do you think the Iburi Clan would be willing to join Root? To become unsung heroes in the shadows of Konoha?"
Orochimaru's expression did not waver, though inwardly he smirked. So that's what you're after.
"Danzo-sama, I fear it will be very difficult. Even if they join Konoha, they will not immediately feel a sense of belonging. They will not yet see the village as their home."
His words were blunt. To expect a newly accepted clan to sacrifice themselves in the shadows was absurd. Even the proudest of Konoha's old clans would balk at such demands.
Danzo frowned, biting back his instinctive retort. He could not reveal weakness in front of Orochimaru.
"That is a shame, then," he said finally, voice controlled.
He knew Hiruzen's perspective: the Iburi's entry into Konoha was bound to Orochimaru, the one who had cured them. That bond would define their loyalty.
Orochimaru tilted his head, voice low and persuasive. "If we give them time—enough time for their roots to sink deep into the village—then they will truly see themselves as part of Konoha. Only then will they willingly defend our shared home."
Danzo was silent for a long moment, then finally inclined his head. "I understand. Thank you for your efforts, Orochimaru."
He clapped his hands, summoning a Root operative who brought forth a sealed scroll. Danzo handed it to the boy. "Here. A record of Wind Release techniques. Do not bury your talent."
Orochimaru's eyes lit up. He accepted the scroll with genuine delight. "Danzo-sama, rest assured. I will not waste my potential."
Danzo allowed a faint smile to touch his lips. This boy… easy to understand, yet impossible to control.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru looked down at the scroll, conflicted. Dear angel investor, you're making it hard for me. With every gift, every scroll, every ounce of support—you make it harder to oppose you. Harder to judge you. Harder to hate you.
He decided then: unless Danzo crossed his personal line, he would not turn against the man. For all his flaws, Danzo had treated him well.
---
Aboveground, snowflakes drifted down, covering Hokage Rock in a blanket of white. Workers suspended by ropes struggled with snowplows, scraping clean the faces of the Hokage carved into stone.
At the Senju Residence, warmth filled the rooms. Tsunade lay sprawled across the windowsill, chin in her hands. A half-opened medical scroll sat abandoned beside dice and playing cards. Her eyes wandered, her restless spirit refusing to be caged by study.
"Eh! I need to see what Orochimaru is doing!" she declared suddenly, springing to her feet.
She threw on winter clothes haphazardly, wrapping a scarf around her neck with careless knots. "Grandma, I'm going out!" she shouted toward another room.
Inside, Uzumaki Mito sat serenely, applying a facial mask with calm dignity. She sighed, shaking her head at her granddaughter's tomboyish energy. Tsunade had the fiery spirit of a kunoichi but little of the gentle charm expected of a girl her age.
Tsunade rushed through the snowy streets until she spotted a familiar pale figure stepping out of his home.
"Orochimaru! Where are you going?"
"To the Iburi Clan," he replied evenly. His sharp eyes immediately caught the mess of her scarf, the way it tangled awkwardly around her neck. Without hesitation, he reached out and untied it.
"The Iburi Clan? Oh! That clan that lives in the forest near Konoha!" Tsunade said brightly, remembering half-forgotten rumors.
"Yes," Orochimaru answered, tying the scarf properly this time. "I am going to invite them to join Konoha."
"Hehe…" Tsunade grinned, her nose reddened by the cold. Tugging at the scarf he had just adjusted, she teased, "Would you like to share it?"
"Absolutely not," Orochimaru said flatly, turning away with his arms crossed.
"Damn it! If you don't want to, then don't!" Tsunade huffed, cheeks puffing out as she glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
Orochimaru only smirked faintly, the snow crunching softly under their feet as they set off together.
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