Tsunade gazed at Orochimaru's pale lips. Slowly, she closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling slightly as she leaned closer. A faint blush spread across her face, and her heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.
Orochimaru closed his eyes as well and wrapped his arms around her waist.
When the kiss ended, Tsunade had completely forgotten to breathe. Her face turned bright red as she finally gasped for air, clinging tightly to Orochimaru with their bodies pressed together.
"You idiot," Orochimaru murmured softly, brushing a hand over her hair. "Did you forget to breathe again?"
"No, I didn't…" Tsunade protested weakly, refusing to admit that excitement had once again stolen her breath.
"This isn't your first kiss," Orochimaru said with faint amusement. "So why do you act like it is every single time?"
Tsunade lowered her head shyly, her voice trembling. "That's exactly why… I'm kissing you, Orochimaru…"
Her face burned even hotter as she turned away.
Later that night, Tsunade changed into her pajamas and lay down in her room. She had just returned from the battlefield and was exhausted, yet sleep refused to come. She tossed and turned restlessly.
Whenever she closed her eyes, all she could see was Orochimaru's cold, pale figure.
What am I thinking?!
She covered her face with both hands, mortified by her own thoughts. It was absurd. How could she be imagining such things?
In another room, Orochimaru was monitoring Uchiha Hikari's progress with sealing techniques.
"Orochimaru, how did I do?" Hikari asked anxiously, clasping her hands behind her back. She stared at him, clearly hoping for praise.
"Excellent," Orochimaru replied calmly. "Even better than I expected. Hikari, you have remarkable talent in sealing techniques."
He gave her an approving nod. His praise was sincere; her growth rate had exceeded expectations.
Hikari's eyes lit up. "Then… is there a reward?"
Her voice carried obvious anticipation.
"What kind of reward do you want?" Orochimaru asked. "If you have a wish, tell me. Don't worry about the cost."
In the past, he had given Hikari a monthly allowance. But their relationship had grown complicated over time. Things were no longer so simple.
What I want… can't be bought with money.
Hikari looked at him with disappointment. It was clear he didn't understand what she truly meant.
She wished she would turn eighteen already — wished he would stop treating her like a child and finally understand her feelings.
"Hikari… this isn't good," Orochimaru sighed softly as realization dawned.
He almost wanted to pat her head and scold her gently.
Why can't you think of something normal? Isn't buying things enough? Why do you insist on these troublesome thoughts?
"Then I don't want any reward," she said quietly, lowering her head. Even the strands of hair that curved near her temples seemed to droop in disappointment.
Orochimaru felt his own principles bending further than he liked. He had once drawn very strict boundaries for himself.
Now, those lines were becoming increasingly blurred.
"Hikari," he said finally, lifting her chin gently with slender fingers, "this is a one-time exception. Don't forget our agreement."
He lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss against her lips.
"Boom—!"
Before he could react, Hikari tackled him onto the floor and climbed on top of him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I won't forget!" she declared. "When I turn eighteen, we'll be a couple!"
Her large dark eyes shone brightly.
Orochimaru understood her clearly. He had made that agreement thinking her feelings might fade with time. That when she matured, she would look back and realize it was childish infatuation.
But to Hikari, it was anything but childish.
Orochimaru had been the first person to treat her kindly.
The first to show her a path other than destruction.
He had transformed her from someone who wanted to burn the ninja world to the ground into someone who desired a normal life.
His quiet care had long since filled her heart completely.
"If you still feel the same way by then…" Orochimaru murmured softly, brushing his fingers against her lips.
From the very beginning, the agreement had seemed flawed.
That night, Tsunade and Hikari slept in separate beds under the dim glow of a small desk lamp.
Orochimaru remained awake, writing swiftly in a notebook.
The door opened gently.
Hyuga Mio entered carrying a cup of herbal tea. She wore thin nightclothes, her silhouette faintly visible in the soft light.
"Orochimaru," she said gently, her expression calm but faintly concerned. "You should rest soon. This tea will help you sleep."
She placed the cup within his reach.
"You're still awake too," Orochimaru replied, finishing the last line in his notebook before setting his pen down.
"Because you are," she whispered.
She stepped behind him and began massaging his shoulders, channeling chakra through precise points to relieve his fatigue.
"The battlefield must be dangerous…" she said softly, glancing at the notebook titled Tsunade Observation Diary, then at the sleeping Tsunade.
Mio understood Orochimaru's strength. She knew he would survive.
But whenever she saw grieving families collecting the bodies of fallen ninja, a dull ache settled in her chest.
"This war has no meaning," Orochimaru said calmly. "But it is unavoidable."
War brought only loss — loss of manpower, resources, and time. It even interfered with his research and business ventures.
Mio leaned against him gently, resting her cheek against his.
"Yes… but it still hurts."
Chapter 193: Is Konoha Secretly Cooperating with Kumogakure?
"Chiyo… is this the result of your campaign?"
The Third Kazekage looked at Chiyo, who appeared exhausted from constant travel. His voice carried restrained anger, though he did not lash out at her.
"My deepest apologies, Lord Kazekage," Chiyo said solemnly. "This failure lies with me. I accept full responsibility."
"Now is not the time to debate blame," the Kazekage replied. "The real question is Konoha's intentions. They had the opportunity to pursue you, yet they chose not to."
That decision troubled him.
Sunagakure was already suffering from a shortage of talent. Chiyo was one of their most valuable assets. Though the mission had failed, he could not afford to lose her.
She was the most skilled puppet master in the village, inheritor of Monzaemon's legacy and the master of the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets.
The Third Kazekage felt bitterness rise within him.
If the Second Kazekage had not died so mysteriously, he might never have inherited such a precarious position. The village's resources were scarce. Even the Wind Country Daimyo had begun cutting funds.
This operation had been intended to prove Sunagakure's strength.
Instead, it ended in humiliation.
They had barely entered the Land of Fire before being intercepted by Orochimaru and Tsunade — two of Konoha's Sannin.
Even the release of Shukaku had failed to change the outcome.
The One-Tail had been sealed by Orochimaru with shocking efficiency.
The Kazekage even began questioning whether keeping Bunbuku under such harsh confinement had been necessary.
"Lord Kazekage," Chiyo said carefully, "could Kumogakure have leaked information about Bunbuku being a Jinchuriki?"
The possibility lingered heavily.
"Kumogakure…" the Kazekage muttered, frowning.
Could Konoha and Kumogakure be cooperating secretly?
Regardless of whether they had formed a formal alliance, the intelligence leak suggested some level of coordination.
"Chiyo," he said after a long pause, "you will go to Konoha as Sunagakure's envoy. Investigate their relationship with Kumogakure. Express a willingness to cooperate and observe their response."
If Sunagakure could align with Konoha instead, it might shift the balance of power.
"I will depart immediately," Chiyo replied firmly.
"There is no need to rush. Rest first."
She nodded and returned home.
Her son and daughter-in-law greeted her anxiously.
"Mother, how did the mission go?"
Chiyo paused.
"It failed," she admitted quietly. "The responsibility is mine."
She did not make excuses about intelligence leaks.
Excuses after failure meant nothing.
"I have a new assignment," she added with forced composure. "I will serve as envoy to Konoha."
Land of Waves
Orochimaru visited Uzumaki Chigusa's house for the first time. The layout resembled her former home in the Land of Whirlpools. A photograph of them together sat on the table, with Mio and Hikari visible in the background.
"Orochimaru! When did you arrive?"
Uzumaki Nano rushed in, carrying a flying device on his back. His bright red hair was styled in twin buns, and he pushed up his glasses excitedly before embracing Orochimaru.
"It's been a long time, Nano," Orochimaru said with a faint smile.
The flying device on Nano's back had once been damaged during the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools.
Now, it gleamed in fresh red paint — rebuilt and improved.
And so, quietly, the world continued to shift.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)