"Oh! This scarf is so warm! I wish you had one too!"
Tsunade's words came with a childish cheerfulness, almost like an invitation rather than a boast. Orochimaru sighed, feeling a mix of helplessness and amusement.
Ah… she never ceases to surprise me.
Out of the corner of his eye, Orochimaru noticed a boy standing beside a man who bore the Uchiha Military Police Force insignia on his shoulder. The boy wore a goofy smile that oddly reminded him of Uchiha Fugaku from memory.
Uchiha Fugaku…
Orochimaru's mind wandered briefly, imagining a world where the Uchiha were somehow incapacitated without Itachi or Sasuke. A dangerous, tempting idea crossed his mind—but he quickly abandoned it.
Never mind. The Uchiha's fate is not my concern. I am not shameless enough to raise my hand against a child.
The snow crunched softly underfoot as they approached the forest near Konoha. Orochimaru's eyes followed Tsunade as she shaped a snowball, mischievous intent written all over her face.
"Orochimaru!"
Tsunade clasped her hands behind her back, ready to throw the snowball. Orochimaru had anticipated this, yet he couldn't help a slight sigh.
"How did you know I was going to hit you?" Tsunade asked, feigning innocence.
"I've been observing your movements. Besides, you were far too noisy while shaping that snowball. How could I not notice?" Orochimaru replied evenly, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
Tsunade pouted, cheeks puffed out in defiance.
"Orochimaru, look over there! Look!"
She tried various ways to distract him, waving her arms and pointing at the sky. Orochimaru, however, remained vigilant, silently calculating.
Maybe I should just let her hit me once… he thought, though he knew he wouldn't allow it.
"Wow! Orochimaru, look at this!" Her eyes sparkled, wide with excitement, as though she had discovered some miraculous phenomenon.
If Orochimaru escapes this time, she thought, I'll have to give up. There's no way he can avoid me now.
But she misjudged his reflexes. When she finally hurled the snowball, Orochimaru's instincts failed to anticipate the sudden trajectory.
Bang!
The snowball struck his face, scattering chunks of ice and snow across the ground. Some clung stubbornly to his skin, while a streak of bright red blood dripped from his nose, stark against the pristine white snow.
"Ah! Orochimaru, why didn't you dodge?!" Tsunade exclaimed, rushing forward.
Using her Mystical Palm Technique, she gently healed the cut and wiped away the blood, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket. Orochimaru, still holding the remnants of the snowball in his hand, dabbed at his nose sheepishly.
"I… didn't expect you to hit me. I thought you'd dodge," Tsunade murmured, guilt lacing her tone.
"You shaped the snowball too firmly," Orochimaru replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Finally, he took her hand, lifted the handkerchief, and began guiding her toward the cave where the Iburi Clan lived.
"See? Even with bad luck in gambling, Tsunade, you've won this round… though I'm the unlucky one," he said dryly.
"Winning? That's not the kind of victory anyone would want!" Tsunade snapped, shaking his hand off. Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment and lingering irritation.
Pfft—!
Orochimaru couldn't resist. He rolled a small snowball, rubbed it gently against her face, and shook off the excess snow.
"There's your snowball back," he said teasingly.
"Ugh… Orochimaru!" Tsunade shouted, clenching her fists and lunging forward. Orochimaru darted away, running with precision toward the Iburi Clan's cave, leaving her breathless in the snow.
"This is the cave where the Iburi Clan lives," Orochimaru said, pausing at the entrance. He looked back at Tsunade, catching her slightly out of breath.
"Tsuna—why are you out of breath?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his tone.
"My legs… I wasn't ready for your speed!" she replied, pouting again.
Orochimaru entered the cave, observing the smoky interior. A young woman materialized from the smoke, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Orochimaru-sama?" she gasped.
"Setsuryu, may I ask if Clan Leader Qing He is here? I have an important matter to discuss," Orochimaru said politely but firmly. "I represent Konoha and Hokage-sama."
"Vice Clan Head Chiriu is here," Setsuryu replied, bowing respectfully.
Tsunade, standing beside Orochimaru, frowned slightly. Why does everyone seem so deferential to him? she wondered.
"Right, this is Tsunade," Orochimaru said, introducing her. Then he gestured for them to enter.
The cave was warmly lit, shielded from the cold outside. Setsuryu guided them to a table where Chiriu soon joined, his expression unreadable.
Orochimaru spoke calmly, "Hokage-sama invites the Iburi Clan to join Konoha. Vice Clan Head Chiriu, can you make this decision, or must we wait for Clan Leader Qing He to return?"
Chiriu's eyes were calculating. He neither accepted nor rejected, simply waiting, as though testing Orochimaru's patience.
Orochimaru continued, "Konoha will provide land, support for building new homes, and a settlement fund for the Iburi Clan. With the stabilization of your Bloodline Limit and freedom from disease, the clan members will be highly respected wherever they go. These terms are fair and within Konoha's capacity."
Chiriu hesitated. "I cannot make this decision for the entire clan. Some will want to join Konoha, others will not. Our clan has lived here for generations."
Orochimaru inclined his head slightly, understanding the unspoken concerns. "Then, Vice Clan Head Chiriu, I await your response. Your decision will guide the clan's future."
He sipped his tea, then stood, signaling their visit was concluded. Tsunade followed closely, noting the stark contrast between the warm interior and the cold exterior of the cave.
Chiriu exhaled slowly, unsure if he had just committed a social misstep.
---
Chapter 52: Essence of Flying Thunder God Technique
As Orochimaru and Tsunade exited the cave, the streets of Konoha were quiet under a fresh snowfall. Hokage Rock loomed in the distance, now cleared of snow but dusted again with a pristine layer.
"Tsunade, I'm heading to the Hokage Building. Are you coming?" Orochimaru asked, glancing at her.
"The Hokage Building? I think I'll pass," she replied, looping her arm through his anyway. "You're going to report to Sensei Hiruzen, aren't you? I won't be coming."
Hokage Building.
Inside, Hiruzen Sarutobi held a document, tense as he heard the door open. Orochimaru pushed it open, stepping inside. Hiruzen hastily tucked a book into a drawer, his expression smoothing over. Perhaps the tea Orochimaru had prepared was too effective; he felt invigorated, almost like he had returned to his youth, full of energy.
"Ah, Orochimaru, how did it go?" Hiruzen asked, clearing his throat.
Orochimaru's expression was calm, almost neutral. "Clan Leader Qing He is absent. Vice Clan Head Chiriu is responsible for clan affairs, but joining Konoha is a decision the entire clan must consent to. Even the Clan Leader cannot make it unilaterally."
"I see… then we'll wait for Clan Leader Qing He's return," Hiruzen said thoughtfully, adjusting his robes. He realized the Iburi Clan's integration into Konoha required patience and care, something Orochimaru had tactfully conveyed.
Orochimaru's mind wandered briefly, recalling the Frozen snowball encounter with Tsunade, her determined expression and bright eyes. He couldn't help but allow a faint, almost imperceptible smile to grace his lips.
Hiruzen noticed, and though he didn't comment, he understood: Orochimaru's approach was measured, careful, and persuasive—a reflection of both his intellect and his respect for the clans he dealt with.
In that moment, the Hokage's office seemed warmer, not from the fire in the hearth but from the quiet, subtle presence of understanding and strategy in action.
The path ahead was clear: patience, negotiation, and time would determine the Iburi Clan's future. Yet Orochimaru knew, with careful guidance, the clan would find its rightful place in Konoha—thanks in no small part to the teacher who had entrusted him with this delicate mission.
And as he left the Hokage Building, his mind already raced with possibilities: the Flying Thunder God Technique, Konoha's strategy, and the quiet triumph of a snowball fight long ago in the forest.
Even in the midst of politics, duty, and strategy, life had its moments of levity. Orochimaru glanced at Tsunade, the snow falling softly around them, and allowed himself the smallest of smirks.
Perhaps, just perhaps, even Hokage duty could be… enjoyable.
---patreon (Obito_uchiha)