"Taking leave? You want to leave the Village? Is there something you need to do?"
Senju Tobirama's voice came in quick succession, each question sharper than the last. His brows were furrowed tightly, a storm brewing behind his composed exterior.
"It's best if Hokage-sama doesn't know. Otherwise, it will only create more trouble for you," Uchiha Shū said plainly, avoiding Tobirama's gaze.
Tobirama maintained an expressionless face, but his teeth clenched so hard it seemed they might shatter. Every fiber of his being was tense.
"What if I insist on knowing?" Tobirama demanded, his voice low but heavy.
"You are the Hokage. If you insist on knowing, a decrepit old man like me has no choice but to obey, correct?" Shū replied with a calm air, almost teasing in his composure.
He reached into his robes and produced an exquisitely ornate invitation. "Oh my, the Young Master specifically sent this to me. He invited me to the Hidden Mist to attend the clan leader's inauguration ceremony. I originally didn't intend to go, but who could refuse when it's written by the Young Master himself?"
Shū's eyes flicked toward the crude invitation lying on Tobirama's desk, and he added with a subtle, pointed emphasis, "This represents the Young Master's respect. To decline would make it seem as if I were relying solely on my seniority, and that would be unseemly."
Tobirama's expression darkened at the jab. The comparison between the two invitations was obvious, and the unspoken insult stung. He could feel the weight of Su's audacity even from afar.
"The Hidden Mist is currently hostile toward Konoha," Tobirama said coldly. "If you go, you will undergo interrogation by the Torture and Interrogation Force upon your return to ensure you are not a spy sent by the Hidden Mist."
"That's fine. I am already seventy or eighty years old. If I go to the Interrogation Force and keel over, it won't matter. My life has already been long and full of purpose," Shū replied with a serene indifference.
He truly meant it. Shū was of the same generation as Uchiha Tajima, and Uchiha Madara was only slightly younger. His years were many, and he cared little for threats from his own country. Physical resistance may have waned, but his magical resilience remained formidable.
Tobirama snorted in response, unable to impose his authority over a man so resolute and unmoved by threats. Seeing this, Shū bowed lightly and departed the Hokage Office, leaving Tobirama with a stifling feeling of helplessness, as though he were constantly being outmaneuvered.
…
Meanwhile, in a quiet room filled with various alchemical apparatuses and Ninja tools, Orochimaru concentrated on his scientific research. The tabletop was cluttered with strange liquids in beakers, some bubbling with faintly phosphorescent glows. He meticulously recorded anomalies in a leather-bound notebook, his long fingers stained with ink and chemical residue.
"Meow, meow~"
Orochimaru looked up and saw a large orange cat leap gracefully through the open window. The cat stretched its chubby paws, licked them, and let out a soft, melodious meow.
"The Nekomata Clan?" Orochimaru murmured, recognizing the visitor.
He moved to a nearby box and opened it, revealing a collection of odd trinkets—many gifts from Uchiha Su, each treasured for its uniqueness and the intent behind it.
From the box, Orochimaru retrieved a pair of cat ears and placed them upon his head. According to Su, wearing these ears allowed one to understand the Nekomata Clan, who communicated in a subtle, almost magical form.
"Lord Orochimaru," the large orange cat began, its meows now transformed into clear words in Orochimaru's ears, "this is the invitation Lord Su sent me to deliver. He hopes that in three days, you will arrive at the Hidden Mist on time to attend Lord Su's inauguration ceremony."
"Thank you," Orochimaru said calmly. He offered some snacks to the cat, which it accepted gracefully before preparing to leave.
"May I ask who else is attending?" Orochimaru inquired, curiosity piqued.
"Of course," the cat replied. "The highly respected Uchiha elder, Shū, will be attending. Also, Lord Su's former classmates: Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Sakumo Hatake."
"I see. Very well, thank you," Orochimaru said, nodding thoughtfully. He followed the cat to the door, watching it leap from the window before turning back to his preparations.
Orochimaru began packing his belongings—lightly, as he rarely traveled with more than essential tools, money, and a Ninja pouch. The rest of his time was devoted to ongoing experiments and research.
Soon, a hurried figure burst into the room.
"Orochimaru! Did you receive the invitation from Uchiha Su?" Tsunade demanded, slamming the door open.
"I have it," Orochimaru replied calmly, placing his instrument down. "My luggage is packed. We are ready to leave."
"You haven't packed yet, have you?" Orochimaru asked, glancing at her critically.
"We have half an hour. That's enough to get ready, and we still need to find Sakumo. He will also be attending Su-kun's inauguration ceremony. Jiraiya should be on his way here as well."
Tsunade scratched her head, confused. "Half an hour? We clearly have three days."
Orochimaru gave her a measured look. "We can ride with Uchiha Shū, the respected elder of the Uchiha Clan, to the Land of Water. I am familiar with him, and he will ensure a safe journey."
"How could you be familiar with Uchiha Shū?" Tsunade asked cautiously. "I heard from my Second Grandfather that Shū is a hardliner, a stubborn conservative. I don't know why he didn't follow Uchiha Madara and leave Konoha back then."
Orochimaru smirked faintly. "Su-kun often took me to the Uchiha Compound to play. My Shurikenjutsu was taught to me by a Jonin of the Uchiha Clan at Su-kun's request. Isn't it natural that I am familiar with Shū?"
"Besides," he added, "riding with him is safer. The outside world is in constant turmoil. Ninja conflicts, bandits, and other dangers abound. There is safety in numbers."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed, and her voice dropped to a whisper. "Orochimaru…"
"What is it?" Orochimaru asked, slightly tilting his head.
Tsunade suddenly stepped forward, her face a mixture of frustration and disbelief. "Your sexual orientation… is normal, right? If it isn't—"
Her fists clenched, nails digging into her palms, the tension visible in every fiber of her body.
Orochimaru paused, thinking carefully. "Sexual orientation… I haven't considered it deeply, but it should be normal, I suppose. At least for now, I haven't developed any feelings for anyone, not even Su-kun…"
He fell silent, lost in thought for several seconds.
Tsunade's eyes widened in shock. "Wait… what?"
Her mind raced. During her time in the Ninja Academy, she had carefully watched over Su, ensuring no one distracted him, no one corrupted him with petty love or jealousy. She had expected the problem to lie elsewhere—perhaps among the younger, more frivolous students—but not here. Not with Orochimaru, the "big-eyed" prodigy who had always seemed so distant and detached.
Orochimaru finally spoke again, softly. "I am… unsure."
Tsunade's jaw dropped, and her hands fell limply to her sides. Her mind struggled to process what she was hearing. Squatting in the corner, she muttered to herself in disbelief, "How could this be…? After all my precautions, is this really happening?"
Her pride, her vigilance, and her expectations had all collided with an unexpected reality: Orochimaru, her peer, her old classmate, might have… feelings she had never anticipated.
And all this—over Uchiha Su.
Tsunade's expression darkened, but beneath it lay a glimmer of fascination, tinged with worry. This was the young prodigy she knew, the one whose genius rivaled the greatest of their generation. Yet now, even she could not predict the workings of his heart.
Orochimaru, serene as ever, simply adjusted his cat ears, glanced at Tsunade, and returned to his research. The quiet room felt charged with tension, anticipation, and the unspoken mysteries of the heart.
The countdown to Uchiha Su's grand ceremony had begun, and the world seemed to shift ever so slightly under his shadow.
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