Sunny and cheerful Konoha Genin

"is that so……"

It didn't take Orochimaru much effort to understand from Ito Toru what happened during their trip to the Iwagakure Village.

“It’s really complicated.”

Even he felt a little speechless.

"A simple escort mission actually got involved in the internal fighting of the factions within the Hidden Rock Village, and we also met Jiraiya. Ohnoki used the name of a search to clean up the internal opposition, and the Akatsuki organization absorbed a powerful bomber..."

"This experience is really rich and colorful. It would be a great experience if I could witness it all with my own eyes."

Orochimaru was somewhat tempted.

Just imagine if you become the Hokage in the village, you probably won’t even be able to leave the village.

But outside you can encounter so many thrilling and interesting things.

Suddenly I feel... that it is not necessary to become the Hokage?

"Hey, Master Orochimaru, you make it sound like we're going on an adventure in the wilderness..."

Ito Tetsu narrowed his eyes: "It's obviously very dangerous, okay? It's just us. If it were any other ordinary jonin team, they would probably be wiped out several times, right?"

"That's true. Your ability is as strong as I thought, Ito."

Orochimaru raised the corner of his mouth slightly.

"Cough cough..."

Although he received praise, Toru Ito was not happy at all.

Orochimaru's current expression is just like those unscrupulous capitalists.

Can you complete such a difficult task? Good! Let's try something more difficult next time!

"No, no, no, in fact, I am just a bystander, it mainly depends on everyone's efforts..."

Toru Ito quickly distanced himself from the matter.

"Karin's perception, Kimimaro's fighting power, and Yahiko and the others also played an indispensable role along the way. Not to mention our great luck in meeting Lord Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade, and Miss Nono, who was sent by Lord Orochimaru, who provided us with key information."

"I was lucky enough to come back. It was truly a narrow escape from death!"

Ito Toru was sincere and his face was full of the words "I don't want to work".

"Ah? But Ito-nii..."

Karin didn't understand what was going on and thought that Ito Toru was being modest and wanted to share the credit with himself and others, so she was about to say something.

"It's nothing!"

Ito Toru quickly interrupted and changed the subject: "By the way, Orochimaru-sensei, why aren't Nawaki, Shisui, and Kabuto here?"

He wanted to ask when he came in.

"You're talking about this. They've already returned to the village, including Kabuto."

"I stayed here to wait for you and to rearrange the defenses to prevent those Iwagakure from causing trouble again."

Orochimaru shrugged: "Old man Ohnoki suffered such a big loss this time. When he stabilizes the internal situation, he will definitely turn his attention to Konoha."

"And I got the news that the Third Mizukage has passed away. Kumogakure and Kirigakure have been in close contact recently and seem to be planning something."

"Ah? The war won't start again?"

Ito Toru was shocked.

These big battles are followed by small battles one after another. Even if Orochimaru is a scientist in the ninja world, it would be difficult to withstand it!

Especially since he has now commanded two major wars.

Every time is very exhausting.

If we continue to consume at this rate, when will we be able to conduct scientific research?

"It is possible that this may happen, but..."

Orochimaru smiled: "It probably won't be my turn to command the next war."

"Eh? Why?"

Karin didn't understand.

"Because the previous two wars went smoothly, and because the national strength of other countries except Konoha and Kirigakure was greatly weakened."

"So those ninjas saw their opportunity and wanted to take some credit."

Orochimaru was very calm when he spoke of this.

"Although Danzo is a disgusting guy, the Root he left behind is good at gathering intelligence internally."

“Because I inherited the roots, many of those people’s private comments and thoughts came to my desk.”

"Ugh……"

Thinking of this, Orochimaru had a slight headache: "I don't know how Danzo could have endured for so many years. I feel dizzy after just reading a short section of those stupid words."

"As for this Root, we can't find any information from the outside, but the information from the inside is very clear... Oh, I think I understand what's going on. Danzo has absorbed some elites from every family. So he is investigating internal intelligence?!"

Mr. Orochimaru, your reaction time is quite long...

The corner of Ito Toru's mouth twitched slightly.

"So, are we going to disband the Root? It's pretty useless to keep this organization around anyway."

"Don't disband yet. Many people here blindly worship Danzo. Now that Danzo is dead, their resentment towards Iwagakure and Kumogakure is terrible. It can be used in the war."

Orochimaru rubbed his temple.

"After I finish arranging these things, I will return to Konoha and slowly do my research."

"I also sent Kabuto back to arrange the experimental base, relevant personnel and materials in advance."

As expected of Orochimaru, he does things flawlessly!

Ito Toru sighed again.

"As for you, Jūgo."

Orochimaru looked at him with a look of deep interest in his eyes, and at the same time extended an invitation: "Would you like to stay?"

"willing."

Shigeo agreed without hesitation.

Because of his extremely high affinity for natural energy, he can vaguely sense the good or bad in people's hearts.

Although Orochimaru's intentions cannot be said to be very good, they do not contain any malicious intent.

That's enough.

"Very good, I believe you will not let me down."

Orochimaru nodded slightly.

"Ito, there is one more thing I may have to trouble you with later."

"What is it? Orochimaru-sensei."

"I previously asked Kabuto to return to Konoha to set up a secret base, but his ability is always limited. I would like to ask you to go back and check it out first."

"can."

Ito Toru nodded and felt relieved at the same time.

I can finally go back to the village!

He had been running around outside for so long that he had had enough.

"As for Karin, Kimimaro, and Jūgo, you will stay here for the time being and help me stabilize this front-line camp. This will become our second base."

"Eh?! Aren't we going back to the Land of Grass?"

Karin asked.

She thought she could go home.

After being away for so long, she missed her mother who stayed in the Grass Kingdom.

"Haha... don't worry, I've already brought your mother over."

Orochimaru saw through her thoughts: "Although the Grass Country is now on the right track, the base has been exposed. It is not appropriate to keep the main force there."

“It also makes it easy for the enemy to attack.”

"Is that so? That's all right then."

Karin breathed a sigh of relief and felt secretly happy.

After Orochimaru carefully explained everything, he asked the logistics staff to prepare sumptuous food for the men before leaving the tent.

"call……"

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

A little bit tired.

But now is not the time to rest.

"Tsunade, are you in there?"

Orochimaru walked to the door of another tent.

"Well, come in."

He pushed open the tent and walked in, and saw Tsunade standing not far away, with her arms crossed over her chest, looking scrutinizing.

She had obviously been waiting for a while.

"Orochimaru, what exactly are you planning?"

Without any politeness, Tsunade started by questioning.

After all, this concerns her newly accepted apprentice.

During this journey, Tsunade also roughly understood Karin's situation before she met Toru Ito, which made her feel distressed again, and at the same time, her favorability towards Toru Ito increased significantly.

However, this does not mean that she agrees with Orochimaru.

Because what Toru Ito did was right, but it was not necessarily Orochimaru's will.

After fighting together for so long, Tsunade knew that Orochimaru was a man with a very flexible bottom line.

So, she had to make sure Karin wouldn't be led astray.

"plan?"

Orochimaru shook his head: "I don't have any plans."

He knew what Tsunade meant.

To put it nicely, it's a plan; to put it bluntly, it's a conspiracy.

"I am now in other people's plans."

"Others? Who else is plotting against you?"

"That's too much, isn't it? Didn't you and Jiraiya leave because you hated those boring calculations?"

"..."

Tsunade was silent.

She suddenly understood a little.

It's just hard to accept for a while.

After all, she was from the Senju clan and had witnessed the hard work and efforts her grandfather had put into this village, as well as how he was at his peak.

And now...

"Or maybe you and Jiraiya actually understand better than I do."

"The three of us are essentially the same people. We don't want to be bound by anything. We just want to do what we want to do in our own way."

Orochimaru sighed: "It's just that I'm different from you. I have no choice."

"The old man placed all his hopes on me."

"Everyone in the village is staring at me, some with anticipation and some with ill intentions."

"I just want to stay in my lab, but given the current situation, can I do that?"

"..."

The answer is self-evident.

"So, this is why you don't want Karin to enter Konoha Village?"

Tsunade frowned: "Is it just because of your own opinion? She is different from us. She can live a better life in Konoha."

"will not!"

Orochimaru's eyes suddenly turned cold.

"Tsunade, you still underestimate the dark side of Konoha."

"That child must not be brought back to Konoha!"

"Why?!"

Tsunade argued: "She shouldn't be stranded outside. Konoha also has the remnants of the Uzumaki clan, and they are living well now!"

"Life is good? Haha..."

Orochimaru sneered: "If being forcibly turned into the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki can be called a good life, then I have nothing to say!"

"What did you say?!"

Tsunade's pupils shrank, and she couldn't believe what she heard.

Jinchūriki?!

"Orochimaru, are you serious?!"

At this moment, she just felt cold all over, a chill surged from her heart, and the temperature around her seemed to have dropped a lot!

However, this chill in the heart was not directed at Orochimaru, but rather at the feeling that the kind Third Hokage teacher suddenly became a stranger at this moment.

Let a little girl become a Jinchūriki? !

And he is the only known survivor of the Uzumaki clan in Konoha...

how so? !