Outside Konoha, in a hidden Root base.
"Orochimaru-sama, we meet again."
Naruto arrived with Takeda and Kaze (OC) as promised—but this time, Karin was with him.
Orochimaru glanced at Naruto and said coldly, "You're late again."
His raspy voice, though lacking reproach, hinted he was in a good mood.
"My apologies, Orochimaru-sama. As you know, with emissaries from various nations arriving, Root's been rather busy lately."
Though the words were apologetic, Naruto's tone lacked any sincerity.
Orochimaru, long familiar with Naruto's habitual tardiness, had already grown used to it. He scoffed, "Isn't that ANBU's job? Since when did Root start doing their work?"
"Root and ANBU… aren't they one and the same?"
Naruto spoke as if casually, but there was an unmistakable subtext in his words.
Orochimaru paid it no mind.
Even if his plans had already been disclosed to Danzō—even if he'd handed over a written blueprint—Orochimaru was certain of one thing: Danzō would never become Hokage.
People often underestimated the two Konoha elders, thinking them mere weathercocks blowing whichever way the wind turned. But if you truly believed they were just meddlesome fools, you were dead wrong. When it came to matters as fundamental as the appointment of a Hokage, those two would never budge. They weren't so easily manipulated.
Root and ANBU—one family?
That line made Orochimaru want to laugh.
The elders held far more control over ANBU than Danzō ever could. If anything happened to the Hokage, ANBU would fall squarely under their authority. Danzō wouldn't even get to touch it, let alone absorb it into Root.
Not to mention, those two elders also controlled the Council of Clan Heads—every major clan in the village had a representative there.
Even if the Hokage died, Danzō would be left with nothing but Root.
To think Root alone could put him in the seat of the Fifth Hokage? Pure delusion.
Orochimaru had worked with Danzō for decades. He remembered when Root was just a handful of grunts. Now it could stand shoulder to shoulder with ANBU—but Danzō hadn't changed. Orochimaru knew him far too well.
Unless Danzō dared launch a coup and eliminate the two elders directly, he'd never have a chance.
But Orochimaru knew: Danzō didn't have the power, nor the spine, for that.
"Everything is proceeding according to your plan," Naruto said evenly. "One month from now, a gap will open in Konoha's barrier. At that time, the combined forces of Suna and Otogakure can pass through undetected."
"As for ANBU, rest assured—Root will make sure they're held up."
"That's good. Konoha's Barrier Corps is always such a nuisance. I'd hate for our operation to be discovered before it even begins."
Orochimaru said it was a headache, but his tone betrayed no worry. In fact, a flicker of disdain flashed in his eyes.
This was one of the many reasons he looked down on Danzō. Reckless. Short-sighted. Willing to use any dirty trick available, yet utterly lacking in long-term vision.
Even Orochimaru himself had once toyed with him with ease.
A man like that could never be Hokage. Even if he somehow managed to sit on the throne, he wouldn't last.
Naruto didn't think much of Danzō either. His plan was laughably crude—about as useful as wiping with newspaper.
His scheme was simple: let Suna and Orochimaru kill the Third Hokage. While the tiger and crane fought, he'd swoop in like a fisherman and seize power.
But he never even considered that—even if the Third died—it wouldn't be him who succeeded.
Being a veteran shinobi didn't mean you deserved the title of Hokage.
And someone who trafficked in nothing but deceit and schemes? No one would ever truly trust him.
"Danzō-sama only asks that you fulfill your promise. Don't back out halfway."
"Heheheh…" Orochimaru let out his signature raspy laugh. "Tell Danzō not to worry. What I promised, I will deliver."
"This Chūnin Exam… will be his final curtain call."
"My teacher—the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi—will die."
"There's one more thing we need your help with, Orochimaru-sama," Naruto said as Orochimaru turned to leave.
"Oh?" Orochimaru sneered, his yellow eyes fixed on Naruto. "What does Danzō want this time? Has he taken a liking to something of mine again?"
Naruto chuckled, brushing it off. "Please don't put it that way, Orochimaru-sama."
"Danzō-sama simply wishes to engage in a fair trade."
He raised both hands in mock innocence and said, "Look—you've already received what you wanted, haven't you?"
Orochimaru didn't respond. He simply stared at Naruto, waiting.
And Naruto was right. Orochimaru had indeed acquired what he desired most: Hashirama's cells and a Sharingan.
Even though the attempt to kidnap Sasuke had failed, his research had taken a great leap forward. That alone was enough to keep him in high spirits.
"It's nothing serious. Danzō-sama only wishes to send one of Root's elite to study under you for a while."
"Hmph…" Orochimaru let out a string of ambiguous chuckles, his vertical pupils flicking to Karin.
"So it's this little girl?"
"That's right. A Root elite. Currently one of Danzō-sama's most promising talents."
"Root operative—Codename: Shin."
Suddenly, a chilling murderous intent erupted from Orochimaru, aimed straight at Karin.
It was his signature technique: flooding an opponent with killing intent so intense they hallucinate death itself—shattering their mental defenses.
Unfortunately for him, Karin was immune. Her chakra, on par with a Tailed Beast's, gave her near-total resistance to genjutsu—much like the tailed beasts themselves.
And more importantly, her regular sparring partner was (Go). Compared to him, Orochimaru was nothing but a creepy uncle.
'Another brat immune to my killing intent? Truly, Konoha is full of talent…'
Seeing Karin remain unfazed, Orochimaru couldn't help but sigh with admiration. He then turned his gaze back to Naruto.
'One after another… Where the hell is Danzō finding these freaks?'
"Very well. I'll take her under my wing," Orochimaru said at last, licking his lips as he looked at Karin.
Talents like hers should belong to him.
It wasn't the first time he'd poach from Root, either. Take Kabuto—he had once been one of Danzō's own.
Orochimaru was a master of poaching, after all.
"Then we're grateful, Orochimaru-sama," Naruto replied, feigning politeness.
Suddenly, Orochimaru looked at Naruto with a spark of amusement in his eyes. "If you, 'Alpha', ever take a liking to something I have—know that my doors are always open."
Once, Root's "Alpha" had defected to ANBU and become Yamato. Now, Naruto held the same codename.
"What Danzō can offer you—I can too. And what Danzō can't offer—I can still give you."
To be fair, setting aside the whole reanimation-and-human-experimentation problem…
Orochimaru really wasn't a bad boss—if you were strong enough to earn his respect.
Otherwise, you were just disposable fodder.
PS: Access advance (100+) chapters at