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The village slowly regained its former bustle and peace from before the Nine-Tails' rampage.
It was then that someone Tsukimi Heshu had nearly forgotten finally reappeared before him.
"Orochimaru-senpai?"
Heshu was in his usual routine of placating Danzō.
He hadn't expected Orochimaru's figure to suddenly appear.
Danzō shot Orochimaru a glance and cut off their previous topic.
He was deeply displeased with Orochimaru now.
He had once placed his hopes for the Hokage position on Orochimaru, only for the man to care about nothing but his research.
Looking back now, he'd wasted his time. He should have bet on Tsukimi Heshu from the start.
"Councilman Danzō, I have matters to discuss with Tsukimi Heshu."
Orochimaru dismissed Danzō without courtesy.
Danzō's eyes darkened.
He looked at Heshu once, then left, leaning on his cane.
Ever since their falling out, his dislike for this slippery snake had only grown.
Only after Danzō was completely gone did Orochimaru turn his full attention to Heshu.
"…"
This gaze?
Heshu found it hard to get used to.
"Is there something you need, Orochimaru-senpai?" Heshu asked.
Orochimaru licked his lips.
"!"
Heshu instinctively took a step back.
Not for any deep reason. He was simply worried Orochimaru's saliva might fly onto his face.
Even with his Infinity technique, he was still wary.
"I want Itachi Uchiha."
Orochimaru stated his purpose for seeking Heshu out.
"Wh-what?"
Heshu thought he'd misheard.
"I want Itachi Uchiha."
Orochimaru repeated without a trace of impatience. He countered, "Itachi Uchiha is your disciple. Bringing him to me shouldn't be difficult, should it?"
"…"
Dude!
You just said he's my disciple!
Heshu shook his head firmly and spoke with solemn reproach.
"Orochimaru-senpai, research is undoubtedly a commendable path to progress. But once it crosses the boundaries of what it means to be human, it should not be pursued."
"You understand research well."
Orochimaru couldn't deny the validity of Heshu's words.
But in his eyes, any research conducted for the sake of immortality and eternity was profoundly meaningful.
Perhaps these actions would be seen as heresy by the world. But in this world, without becoming a heretic, how could one achieve true awakening and progress?
"Moreover, I will not hand over my disciple," Heshu said, resigned. "Orochimaru-senpai, I respect your spirit of inquiry and exploration. But I also hold to my own principles."
With that, Heshu gave a slight nod and turned to leave.
Orochimaru watched Heshu's retreating back, maintaining his silence.
[Ding! Target Orochimaru Affection 80!]
On his way back, Heshu received the system's chime.
His steps faltered slightly.
The time for Snake Uncle's defection wasn't far off.
Orochimaru wouldn't abandon his ambitions just because of Heshu's refusal. Heshu felt Snake Uncle was likely to target the Uchiha clan.
As it turned out.
Heshu's premonition was spot on.
The incident occurred a month later, deep in the night.
The dead of night.
Silence reigned.
An urgent summons from the Hokage roused Heshu from his warm, comfortable bed.
He hurriedly changed into his combat gear, his figure vanishing from the spot.
When he arrived, the Third Hokage had uncharacteristically removed his ceremonial robes.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in full battle armor at the laboratory entrance, confronting his once most cherished disciple.
Heshu's figure materialized silently beside Hiruzen.
"Orochimaru-senpai?"
Heshu feigned surprise, looking at him, then at Hiruzen. "Lord Hokage, why is this…?"
Hiruzen did not answer.
An ANBU ninja standing beside the Third answered in his stead. "Orochimaru killed members of the Uchiha clan and conducted human experiments."
"What!"
Heshu snapped his gaze to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru's face was half-hidden in shadow.
But Heshu could feel Orochimaru's gaze shift from Hiruzen onto him.
"Orochimaru-senpai, why?" Heshu asked, his expression heavy with deep regret.
"Heshu, will you leave Konoha with me? Leave this decaying, feudalistic village?" Orochimaru spoke suddenly.
"…"
Snake Uncle.
Are you trying to screw me over?
The corner of Heshu's mouth twitched. He shook his head. "Orochimaru-senpai, Konoha is our home. Do you truly intend to leave it?"
The question made Hiruzen's heart clench.
Hiruzen's eyes fixed on Orochimaru.
If Orochimaru didn't want to leave, he would find a way to protect him.
But if he chose to leave willingly…
Then there was nothing he could do.
"Home? This place is no home of mine," Orochimaru retorted. "This place lost its meaning long ago."
Hiruzen's heart sank abruptly.
"Orochimaru, if that's the case—"
"Summoning Jutsu: Giant Snake!"
Hiruzen wasn't given time to finish. Black summoning seals spread from Orochimaru's hand.
BOOM!
A massive cloud of white smoke erupted.
An enormous serpent burst through the laboratory walls.
The giant snake hissed, its massive body surging toward Heshu and the others.
There was no going back now, Hiruzen thought.
Heshu raised a hand. A chilling air spread. The two writhing serpents instantly became ice sculptures.
Watching the direction Orochimaru fled, Heshu turned to Hiruzen beside him. "Lord Hokage, please go and reassure the villagers. Leave the rest to me."
A ninja's defection was no small matter, let alone one as famous across the shinobi world as Orochimaru.
For Konoha's civilians and the other ninjas, this night was destined to be sleepless.
The Hokage's disciple, veteran of the Second Shinobi World War, one of the Legendary Sannin who led the Third War… Orochimaru had defected.
"Alright," Hiruzen said.
He watched Heshu's figure disappear, an indescribable emptiness in his heart.
What should he say now?
Should he order Heshu to hold back? Or order him to kill?
And Orochimaru…
Would he try to kill Heshu?
Whom should he worry for in this moment? What outcome could he possibly hope for?
"Lord Hokage? Lord Hokage?"
The ANBU ninja watched the distracted Hiruzen with a pang of sympathy.
Even someone as powerful as the Hokage could be weighed down by sentiment.
Lush, towering trees formed a green sea.
The night wind rustled through, creating waves of sound through the forest.
On the high branches, the figures of Heshu and Orochimaru stood facing each other.
"Heshu, do you remember the potion you gave me?" Orochimaru began.
"?"
Had he drunk it?
Heshu nodded.
"I deciphered it."
Orochimaru smiled.
Heshu's face stiffened.
The system short-circuited.
"You said he couldn't possibly figure it out!" Heshu mentally demanded.
The system's state grew more frantic.
"Impossible!"
"Impossible!"
"That's simply impossible!"
"…"
Heshu realized questioning the system was pointless.
"You know what I discovered?" Orochimaru continued.
Heshu forced a smile.
What else could he discover?
The secret of gender-swapping, of course!
Orochimaru wasn't actually waiting for an answer.
He suddenly spread his arms wide, his expression vibrating with unrestrained excitement.
"I discovered the secret to immortality!"
Orochimaru's entire body trembled.
He gazed at Heshu with burning intensity. "Don't you desire immortality?"
Heshu thought of the rejuvenated Hanzo and had a sudden realization.
Snake Uncle had probably misinterpreted the research.
Well, no matter. Let the mistake stand.
"I do not desire immortality."
Heshu shook his head.
He wasn't lying.
"Orochimaru-senpai, is immortality a reward or a punishment?"
"Have you truly comprehended its meaning?"
Heshu fired back.
"It seems our views differ."
Orochimaru smiled again.
"Then there's nothing more to discuss!"
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Countless snakes shot from Orochimaru's sleeves, coiling into a thick, surging stream that reached Heshu's feet in an instant.
At Heshu's feet, white mist spread. Blue-white ice instantly froze everything within a hundred-mile radius.
Including that massive stream of snakes.
"Compared to the Third War, you've grown considerably."
Observing the forest plunged into an ice world in a heartbeat, Orochimaru sighed with genuine admiration.
That level of chakra alone was astounding.
"However, the gap between shinobi cannot be bridged by time alone," Orochimaru followed up swiftly.
A gale erupted from his mouth.
Like a hurricane, the frozen trees groaned, cracks appearing under the force of the powerful Wind Release.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A C-rank technique, yet due to the caster's prowess, it achieved effects worthy of an S-rank.
Heshu stood firm in the wind, his robes whipping violently.
He raised a hand, chakra flooding into his palm.
"Curse Technique Reversal: Blue."
"Curse Technique Lapse: Red."
Beside Heshu, red and blue spheres swelled larger and larger.
"Imaginary Technique: Purple!"
Space warped under immense pressure.
Heshu's figure, surrounded by crackling arcs of thick lightning, seemed incredibly small.
The powerful wind pressure was utterly scattered by the erupting sphere.
Across the vast, boundless forest, purple lightning flashed.
The thick earth was torn asunder. A massive chasm now cut through the entire woods.
Grotesque gates descended from the sky.
Only to be shattered, one after another.
The final Rashōmon gate collapsed with a roar.
Dust choked the forest.
Amidst the devastation, Heshu's figure landed on a branch.
In the giant crater before him lay the corpse of a massive snake.
A second later, the snake's belly split open. Orochimaru's figure emerged before Heshu.
"So… you've surpassed me after all."
Orochimaru stood in the crater, looking up at Heshu's form above.
Compared to the first time he'd seen Tsukimi Heshu, this Heshu was clearly different.
More mature. Far more powerful.
If his former self possessed only a fragile gentleness, his current self wielded a formidable strength capable of sheltering everything.
"But becoming stronger doesn't mean you can catch me," Orochimaru said with a smile.
Heshu shook his head. "I have no intention of capturing you."
"Oh?"
Genuine shock appeared on Orochimaru's face.
"Why?"
Amusement flickered in his eyes.
"Have you changed your mind? Do you also intend to leave Konoha?"
Having an ally like Tsukimi Heshu by his side would be like adding wings to a tiger.
"No."
Heshu spoke seriously. "I respect your research, Orochimaru-senpai. I respect your ideas. Leaving Konoha… perhaps your thoughts will no longer be constrained. You may achieve even greater things."
Also, he wouldn't be kidnapping villagers for experiments. Go cause trouble in other villages!
Once he became Hokage, he could secretly bring back a well-established Orochimaru.
No wasted personnel. Less hassle.
Why not?
[Ding! Target Orochimaru Affection 90!]
An indescribable emotion swirled in Orochimaru's eyes.
To think it would come to this.
The one who recognized him wasn't his teacher. Nor his comrades.
It was a junior.
"Orochimaru-senpai, until we meet again."
Heshu gave him a nod. His figure vanished instantly.
The destroyed giant snake and the ravaged forest were enough proof of their fierce battle.
As for the outcome… he'd leave that for Hiruzen Sarutobi to judge.
Orochimaru lowered his gaze. A long moment passed before he slowly looked up at the exceptionally bright moon.
"Come out."
Orochimaru's gaze swept behind him, his tone flat.
"Orochimaru-sama."
A familiar figure knelt on one knee.
"It's you."
Orochimaru remembered this kid.
A Root ninja under Danzō.
His name was…
Kabuto?
"Orochimaru-sama, where do you, now a missing-nin, plan to go next?" Kabuto asked, looking up.
"Speak your mind directly."
Orochimaru could see through Kabuto's intent easily.
Kabuto immediately bowed his head respectfully. "Orochimaru-sama, there is an organization that takes in missing-nin. It's called the Akatsuki. Based in Amegakure. Perhaps you could go there."
Orochimaru's slitted pupils fixed on him. "Why tell me this?"
Kabuto smiled. "Because I wish to pledge myself to you, Orochimaru-sama."
Orochimaru stared at Kabuto in silence.
He remembered this kid was skilled in medical ninjutsu.
He would be a useful assistant for research.
"Fine."
Kabuto immediately showed a smile.
"But you cannot leave Konoha yet," Orochimaru stated. "I need you to remain embedded here. Understand?"
Kabuto froze momentarily but didn't answer.
Orochimaru chuckled. "What? Unwilling?"
Kabuto lowered his head. "This subordinate is willing."
Orochimaru gave him one last look, then turned and swiftly departed.
The direction he took led straight toward Amegakure.
Deep in the dense woods, footsteps approached slowly.
Heshu's figure appeared behind Kabuto.
Kabuto gritted his teeth. "I've done what you asked."
Heshu looked at him. "Why look at me with such hatred? Wasn't this your own request?"
Mocking amusement laced Heshu's eyes.
"You were the one who said you were willing to work for me, to ensure Yakushi Nonō's safety, weren't you?"
Heshu flicked a finger. Ice encased Kabuto's knees. The bones shattered instantly with the ice.
"Guh…"
Kabuto half-knelt before Heshu, sweat beading on his forehead.
"If you begged to work for me, don't act like you're being forced."
"Understood?"
Heshu looked down at him from his superior height.
Kabuto clenched his fists. "Yes."
"Since Orochimaru wants you embedded in Konoha, obey him. But you know what information to pass on to him, don't you?"
Heshu's gaze bore into Kabuto.
"I will seek your approval first," Kabuto replied.
A glow flashed in Heshu's hand.
Kabuto's knees instantly healed.
But the searing pain remained vividly clear.
"Remember. Don't play games in front of me."
"Because Nonō only has one life."
Heshu's figure vanished.
Heshu could bear the cost of Kabuto's betrayal.
But Kabuto could not bear the cost of Heshu's punishment.
Besides, Heshu wouldn't give Kabuto the chance to betray.
Kabuto would never escape his sight.
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