Tsunade wanted to say she was fine, but the look in Orochimaru's eyes stopped her from finishing those words.
Inside the medical tent, she lay on a temporary bed, her face slightly flushed as she watched Orochimaru carefully examine her. His hands pressed gently against her abdomen while his other palm touched her forehead, checking her temperature and chakra flow.
Warm currents of medical chakra flowed through her body. The sensation made her breathing subtly quicken.
"Does anything hurt?" Orochimaru asked softly.
His tone was calm, but his eyes were filled with concern.
"I'm fine," Tsunade replied quickly. "They're only superficial wounds. I'm a Medical Ninja, remember?"
She sat up suddenly, unable to suppress the joy in her heart. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she buried her face against his neck, inhaling his familiar scent.
"If you're truly fine," Orochimaru said after a pause, "then let's analyze Chiyo's poison and complete the antidote. After that, we'll return to Konoha."
He gently pulled her up and held her hand as they stepped outside.
"And we're bringing that old monk too, aren't we?" Tsunade muttered reluctantly.
Their rare moment alone had been interrupted by the gleaming bald head of Bunbuku.
"We can't leave him behind," Orochimaru replied with a faint smile. "Just bear with it."
"I've been bearing with it for a long time…" Tsunade puffed her cheeks slightly.
The man she loved was right beside her every day, yet she had to restrain herself constantly. The most intimate thing they did was sleep in the same space.
How was that any different from before?
They were surrounded by people even during rest. She had to maintain her mature, composed image instead of acting spoiled.
When will this war finally end?
Frustration burned in her chest.
Then she suddenly thought of Hyuga Mio and Uchiha Hikari, who had to face Orochimaru's shadow clone back home.
Her mood instantly improved.
At least she was with the real Orochimaru every day.
Orochimaru noticed the rapid shift in her expression.
"Tsunade," he whispered near her ear.
Her face flushed bright red. She shook her head quickly.
Bunbuku had regained consciousness and now sat quietly with his hands clasped together. The Konoha ninja guarding him did not relax for a single moment. Any abnormal movement would immediately be reported.
Inside his mental world, Shukaku roared in frustration.
Bound by chains formed from the Four Symbols Seal, the One-Tail struggled uselessly.
"Monk, don't you want to escape?" Shukaku sneered. "Chiyo abandoned you without hesitation! Hahaha!"
Its voice dripped with mockery, hoping to provoke sorrow or anger.
Bunbuku remained calm.
"This is my fate," he replied slowly. "But it should not be yours."
He was relieved he had not caused a massacre on the battlefield. Yet because of that, he had become Konoha's prisoner.
He did not want Shukaku to suffer alongside him.
"Orochimaru sealed me so easily!" Shukaku growled. "If that arrogant fox finds out, she'll never stop mocking me!"
Bunbuku simply closed his eyes.
"Lady Chiyo retreated because she had no choice. Orochimaru is one of Konoha's Sannin. It was the correct decision."
There was no resentment in his voice.
Shukaku fell silent, irritated by Bunbuku's serenity.
Why was it so difficult to anger this monk?
With Tsunade's assistance, Orochimaru quickly neutralized Chiyo's poison and finalized an antidote formula. The preparation was handed over to the logistics medical unit.
Soon after, they began their journey back to Konoha—with Bunbuku in custody.
The Blue Snake glided swiftly through the forest, its massive body cutting through trees like a silent river. Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Bunbuku sat upon its back.
Tsunade glanced at the monk sitting motionless with folded hands.
He truly is obedient…
Suppressing a yawn, she leaned into Orochimaru's arms.
"Are you tired?" he asked gently, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Mm."
She nodded and adjusted into a more comfortable position against his chest. The rhythmic movement of the Blue Snake felt like a lullaby.
She fell asleep quickly.
Orochimaru lowered his head and kissed her forehead lightly. Then he shifted his gaze to Bunbuku.
"Bunbuku," he asked quietly, "do you harbor any resentment toward Sunagakure or the Third Kazekage?"
Bunbuku opened his eyes in mild surprise.
His name was rarely spoken these days—even in his own village.
"How do you know me?" he asked.
"We've met before," Orochimaru replied. "This is not our first encounter."
Recognition dawned in Bunbuku's eyes.
"You… are that researcher."
Years ago, a man had visited him in prison, seeking cooperation in studying Tailed Beasts and Jinchuriki.
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"Have you found what you were searching for?" Bunbuku asked.
"My research on separating a Tailed Beast from its Jinchuriki while preserving the host's life is complete."
Bunbuku genuinely smiled.
"Congratulations."
"If the Third Kazekage hadn't sent you to the battlefield," Orochimaru continued, "we might never have met again. So tell me—do you truly feel no resentment?"
Bunbuku was silent for a long time.
"Perhaps I once did," he admitted. "But resentment fades with time… just as my name has faded."
"You see suffering as training?"
Orochimaru tossed him a small food pack.
"Eat. I have no desire to be accused of mistreating a prisoner."
"Thank you."
Bunbuku accepted the food calmly.
Tsunade's eyelids fluttered. She had heard everything.
Orochimaru had researched saving a Jinchuriki's life…
Was it for her grandmother—the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, whose body had weakened with age?
The thought lingered quietly in her heart.
Upon returning to Konoha, Bunbuku was handed over to ANBU custody.
Before Orochimaru and Tsunade even entered the command center, raised voices echoed from inside.
"The Hidden Sand sent their Jinchuriki to the battlefield! Why can't we use theirs in return?" Koharu's voice rang sharply.
"Koharu, calm down," Hiruzen replied. "He is our prisoner. We cannot send a prisoner into battle."
A loud slam echoed.
"Hiruzen! Have you forgotten Konoha's current situation? Are you still clinging to ideals at a time like this?"
The guards outside nearly wept when they saw Orochimaru and Tsunade.
"Lady Orochimaru! Lady Tsunade!"
They opened the doors eagerly.
The room fell silent.
Hiruzen stood immediately, relief evident on his face.
"Orochimaru. Tsunade. You're back."
Orochimaru observed everyone carefully.
Koharu. Homura. Danzo.
The atmosphere was tense.
Tsunade placed a hand on her hip.
"We heard your argument."
Koharu spoke first.
"We were discussing how to utilize the One-Tail Jinchuriki. Send him to the Hidden Mist Village. Let Shukaku cause destruction and give Konoha an advantage."
Homura nodded. "It would quickly shift the balance."
Danzo's eyes were colder.
"If Ichibi devastates Kirigakure, we could even launch a counteroffensive."
Orochimaru listened quietly.
"Your strategies sound effective," he said calmly. "But you've overlooked two critical factors."
He raised two fingers.
"First—the relationship between a Tailed Beast and its Jinchuriki. Second—the fact that Bunbuku belongs to Sunagakure, not Konoha."
Silence filled the room.
"Why would he obey our orders?" Orochimaru continued. "Bunbuku is a perfect Jinchuriki. Only the Mangekyo Sharingan could fully control him—and no such eyes exist in Konoha currently."
He let the weight of his words settle.
"If forced, he might choose death. And if he dies, Shukaku dies with him."
The implications were clear.
Their plan had been flawed from the beginning.
Even cooperation between the Yamanaka and Uchiha clans would not suffice.
Control was not that simple.
The room fell into deep silence.
Koharu slowly clenched her fists.
They had been so focused on strategy that they had forgotten the fundamental issue.
Control.
Orochimaru folded his hands calmly behind his back.
"Before discussing how to use him, we should ask whether he can be used at all."
The argument that had seemed so heated moments ago now felt hollow.
Meaningless.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)