"Lord Emiya is so amazing," little Tsunade was still gushing, completely star-struck by Shirou's vast knowledge.
Shirou didn't answer. He didn't ask her anything, either. As he led her away from the hospital, he didn't look back, not even once.
Orochimaru.
That was the one. The true chosen one.
Shirou, armed with the foreknowledge of his past life, had selected Orochimaru before the boy was even born. If Tsunade was the key destined to unlock the crystal coffin, then Orochimaru was the final piece, the one meant to truly utilize it.
The kid was a bona fide genius. Even at five years old, he was already showing terrifying potential, teaching himself toxicology by poisoning himself with kitchen vegetables.
The logic was clear: if a kid like that was already this driven by a thirst for knowledge, he would undoubtedly seek out Konoha's most complex and forbidden jutsu in the future.
The Impure World Reincarnation was a certainty.
And when Orochimaru finally mastered it, Shirou's thousand-year backup plan, resting within a specially designed crystal coffin in Shikkotsu Forest, would finally reach its destination.
The coffin in the Senju vault was just bait. The one in the forest was his true hope for resurrection, meticulously crafted to be perfectly compatible with Orochimaru.
But Orochimaru was too smart. Shirou knew he couldn't afford any direct contact. Too much interaction now would inevitably raise suspicion later. He had to avoid planting any seeds that might lead the grown-up Orochimaru to realize his resurrection was a grand, cosmic conspiracy.
Even now, brought back by Edo Tensei and doing "quite well," Shirou wasn't taking any chances. His true backup plan, his real shot at coming back, rested squarely on Orochimaru's future shoulders.
Tsunade, Danzo, Hiruzen—all the people who would one day be tangled in Orochimaru's web of fate—were now being imprinted with a deep, favorable impression of Shirou. They would remember his kindness. When the time came, they would become the threads of fate, constantly surrounding Orochimaru, influencing his life.
"That guy is so dumb," Tsunade chattered, oblivious to the grand machinations at play. "I saw him at the hospital before, when I came with Grandpa. He's always eating weird stuff and getting sick."
"Tsunade," Shirou gently chided, patting her head. "If you don't like someone, you should tell them to their face, not talk about them behind their back."
"Is that so?" she nodded, then immediately retorted in a small voice, "But it's not that I don't like him. His brain is just... slow. A little clumsy. He's always getting food poisoning."
Shirou fell silent. He seriously considered getting her eyesight checked. In the entire history of the ninja world, you could call Orochimaru many things—evil, creepy, a bit of a loser—but "dumb"?
No one could ever say his brain was slow.
"Sigh... I heard he's about my age," Tsunade continued, already sighing like a world-weary adult. "I'm starting school this year. He won't be my classmate, will he? I hope he gets smarter. Otherwise, he'll definitely get bullied. I might even have to protect him..."
Shirou was pretty sure his reanimated ears were failing him.
Orochimaru, dumb enough to be deceived?
It had taken Shirou a thousand years of meticulous planning just to scheme up a way to trick him. Who else in this world could possibly pull one over on Orochimaru?
If the guy didn't spend his future deceiving everyone else, it would only be because he'd had a sudden, miraculous attack of high morals.
But... her kindness was worth encouraging. And, conveniently, this particular brand of kindness wouldn't get her hurt.
Shirou lifted her onto his shoulders and carried her towards Konoha's commercial street, deciding not to burst her bubble. "Today, you can have a cup of sugarcane juice. It's even sweeter than the chestnut juice."
"Eh? Why?" she asked, curiously touching her milk teeth.
"Just remember to brush your teeth after," was all he said, his voice as calm as ever, as if it were a simple whim.
"Lord Emiya is the best!" she cheered, wrapping her arms around his forehead.
He gently pulled her little hands away from his eyes. "Are you still going to gamble with Hashirama when you get back?"
"Gamble!" her attitude was firm. She had been thoroughly corrupted by her unreliable family. As much as she loved learning from Shirou, gambling with her great-grandfather was her favorite form of entertainment.
On the way home, Shirou spotted little Jiraiya again, happily chatting up a woman at least twenty years his senior. The kid's smile was a weird, flirty, happy mess.
Seems like it really is a talent, Shirou thought. Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru. The legendary Sannin, all embarking on their respective, fated paths so early in life.
"I'm definitely going to win today!" Tsunade declared, holding up a small fist, brimming with confidence. The five-year-old gambling prodigy had decided to switch up the game. She was sure this time, she'd finally win.
Shirou just sighed. There was really nothing to be said about her luck.
Back at Hashirama's house, Tsunade ambitiously demanded a rematch. "Great-Grandpa, I have to win today!"
"Hahahaha, okay, I believe in you," Hashirama laughed heartily, taking her from Shirou's shoulders. But first, he held out a pendant. "But I have a present for you first." A crystal-clear, emerald-green gemstone appeared in his palm.
"Whoa!" Tsunade watched as he hung it around her neck. "This is so pretty! Is it for me?"
"Of course it's for Little Tsuna," he smiled, patting her head. "Now go get the mat ready. I brought a lot of money today!"
"Okay!" she scrambled off to set up the game.
But the atmosphere in the courtyard was strange. The usually busy Tobirama was there. Mito and Hashirama's children were there, too. Everyone looked worried. The house was surrounded by an unusual number of ANBU guards.
"It seems," Shirou glanced meaningfully at Hashirama, then at the heavy-faced Tobirama, "we'll be staying as guests tonight."
Tobirama turned his head away, his face ugly. His voice, usually so indifferent, was tinged with an undeniable pain. "I just hope... I can still come here as a guest to my brother's place tomorrow."
The time was almost up. Hashirama's life was finally coming to an end.
Yet, there was no sign of it on his face. He was still full of vitality, shouting for Tsunade to start the game as he sat before a mountain of his life's savings.
"Four, six, six, big! Little Tsuna, you lost again..."
"Three, one, one, small! Little Tsuna, I won again..."
"Damn it!" The pile of banknotes in front of Tsunade kept shrinking. The little girl's cheeks puffed out, getting higher and higher, as if she was about to explode from her own terrible luck.
"Little Tsuna," Hashirama said, his voice gentle. "This is the last round. If you win this one, all your debts are wiped clean, and all the money here is yours!"
"Really?" Her eyes immediately sparkled with greedy stars. If she won, she'd make a huge profit! She could even be the one to lend money to her great-grandpa next time!
But... I'll have to charge interest...
She touched her chin, a crafty look on her face, already fantasizing about the arrogant pose she'd strike. Her wrist brushed against the gemstone on her chest.
Mmm... for the sake of the gift... maybe I won't charge him interest.
Rattle, rattle... The dice shook ceaselessly.
"Small!" Tsunade shouted, placing her bet.
"Alright, alright... then I can only choose big!" Hashirama smiled and opened the cup. Two dots, two dots, one dot. Small.
"Hahahahaha! I won!" Tsunade arrogantly grabbed the money, her counting posture exceptionally skillful.
Hashirama smiled as he watched her. But at that moment, his body slowly fell backward, collapsing onto the mat.
"Great-Grandpa?"
"Great-Grandpa!"
Tsunade looked on in shock as he fell.
This great-grandfather, who had been like a god protecting her, was now unprecedentedly miserable, so much so that her little mind couldn't even process what had just happened.