Uchiha Hikari's eyelids twitched slightly as her gaze flickered from side to side. Though she remained silent, she had clearly overheard the conversation between Orochimaru and Tsunade.
Three more years.
For the first time, Hikari felt the passage of time stretch unbearably long—longer even than the days she had once spent imprisoned deep underground.
Three years later, her body would be eighteen years old.
At that point, Orochimaru would no longer treat her as a child.
---
The following day, Konoha's top officials made a public announcement that shook the entire village.
Orochimaru's latest research—the Limb Regeneration Technique—had officially been approved for practical use.
From that day onward, any resident of Konoha could apply to undergo limb regeneration treatment to restore lost arms or legs.
Previously, ninjas who had suffered permanent disabilities were provided with lifelong financial support by the village. While this ensured basic survival, it could never restore their former pride or way of life.
This new announcement changed everything.
The news spread like wildfire through Konoha, sending shockwaves across the village. Rumors about Orochimaru's recent research had circulated for some time, but few believed it would be implemented so quickly—or so openly.
Even able-bodied civilians and active-duty ninjas felt their hearts race with excitement. After all, accidents were unpredictable. Knowing that losing a limb no longer meant permanent disability brought an unprecedented sense of security.
Those who had been forced to abandon their dreams of becoming ninjas due to physical impairments, as well as veterans who had lost limbs defending Konoha and been compelled to retire early, were overwhelmed with emotion.
For them, this was nothing short of a miracle.
However, limb regeneration was not an instant process. Because each treatment required preparation and time, appointments were mandatory.
Despite this limitation, the number of applicants surged beyond expectations.
The Hokage Building was soon overflowing with people.
---
Hidden among the crowds, intelligence operatives from other villages quickly gathered information and relayed it back to their respective superiors.
Yet Konoha was not unprepared.
Many of these spies were swiftly identified and apprehended by Root operatives before they could escape the village.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood quietly as he looked at the long line of applicants—men and women who had lost arms, legs, or both. Many of them had once fought alongside him on the battlefield. Some were comrades he had known for decades.
He had offered them comfort countless times in the past.
But today, for the first time, he saw genuine hope reflected in their eyes.
The overwhelming number of appointments soon exceeded Hiruzen's capacity to manage alone. Left with no alternative, he summoned the Vice Hokage to assist him.
Danzo Shimura.
Danzo, who secretly wished Hiruzen would collapse from exhaustion under the mountain of paperwork, was summoned from the Root base to the Hokage Building.
"Hokage's assistant," Hiruzen reminded him calmly, pressing a stack of appointment documents into his hands.
Danzo accepted them with a dark expression, his displeasure barely concealed.
---
At Konoha Hospital, a room had been specially designated for the Limb Regeneration Technique.
It was officially named the Limb Regeneration Room.
"Careful with that—place it over there. Yes, gently. Those breeding tanks are made of reinforced glass, but they can still break if mishandled."
Orochimaru's shadow clone directed members of the Akimichi Clan as they moved equipment into position.
The Akimichi ninjas, known for both their strength and good nature, followed his instructions obediently. Not a single complaint was raised as they carried out each task with precision.
Soon, the room was fully prepared.
Under the bright medical lights, rows of breeding tanks stood neatly aligned. At first glance, the room resembled a genetic engineering laboratory rather than a medical ward.
In truth, however, these tanks were essential components of the limb regeneration process.
It was not that Orochimaru lacked faster or more direct methods.
There was simply no need to reveal them.
This technique was more than sufficient for Konoha's needs.
---
"Orochimaru! I'm here to help!"
The door swung open as Tsunade entered the room, dressed in a cute pink nurse's uniform. She glanced around at the rows of breeding tanks and frowned.
"Why does this place not feel like a medical ward at all?" she muttered.
"Because limb regeneration is not medical ninjutsu," Orochimaru replied calmly. "It is biotechnology."
As he spoke, he adjusted Tsunade's nurse uniform slightly—then glanced at it again, unable to help himself. The outfit accentuated her figure perfectly.
"Hm?"
Tsunade stepped closer, raising her fist slightly as if to confirm something.
"I'm only a shadow clone," Orochimaru said immediately. "My real body has gone to the Land of Waves."
"The Land of Waves?" Tsunade paused. "White Serpent Pharmaceutical Technology Company?"
She lowered her hand.
"Yes," Orochimaru replied. "The war between Konoha and Iwagakure is far from over. My main body has matters to attend to there."
He continued adjusting the specialized medical devices. Unlike commercial equipment, each had been modified specifically to support limb regeneration.
"You're still involved in the war…" Tsunade murmured, lowering her head. The battlefield was the last place she wanted to return to.
"How could a war end so easily?" Orochimaru replied. "Kirigakure, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure are all watching closely. No one knows when they will act. Before I left, Lord Danzo personally led a team to repel ninjas from Yangyan Village."
He paused briefly.
"I wish the war could end sooner as well," he added. "But there is too much at stake."
---
"Yangyan Village?" Tsunade asked thoughtfully. "That's the small ninja village in the mountainous region, isn't it? I remember—you once protected the daimyo there."
"Yes," Orochimaru replied. "Yesterday, Hiruzen-sensei assigned Sakumo Hatake to attack Yangyan Village."
Orochimaru's impression of Sakumo Hatake consisted of only two things.
First, the man was known as the originator of the so-called Millennium Death.
Second, he was a deeply disappointing individual.
Powerful in body, yet fragile in spirit.
A man who, after facing repeated criticism, chose suicide rather than endurance—leaving behind a young son without considering the consequences.
Because Orochimaru had once raised children himself, his opinion of Sakumo had changed from mild respect to outright disdain.
A crying coward.
Irresponsible.
A man with the courage to die, but not the courage to live.
If not for the existence of Kakashi Hatake, Orochimaru would have doubted whether Sakumo possessed any courage at all.
Was seppuku truly redemption?
If those I saved turned against me, Orochimaru thought coldly, I would have died eight hundred times already.
---
"An attack?" Tsunade asked. "Or just a warning?"
In her view, Yangyan Village was small. Teaching them a lesson seemed sufficient.
"I killed a chicken to scare the monkeys," Orochimaru replied flatly. "But Hiruzen-sensei is still too soft."
He spread his hands slightly.
"If it were up to me, I would have erased Yangyan Village entirely. Villages with hidden agendas must be shown that Konoha cannot be underestimated—especially during wartime."
Tsunade turned to look at him. "What would you do, if you were Hokage?"
"Special times require special measures," Orochimaru said. "In peace, a light punishment is enough. In war, hesitation is fatal. Yangyan Village should be destroyed swiftly and decisively to demonstrate Konoha's resolve as one of the Five Great Ninja Villages."
He glanced at Tsunade. "Unfortunately, I am not Hokage—and I have no desire to be."
"If I were Hokage…" Tsunade said quietly, "…I might choose the same."
Orochimaru's eyes flashed with surprise.
He was pleased.
---
Later that day, in the Land of Waves, White Serpent Pharmaceutical Technology Company.
Orochimaru looked at the ledgers Kakuzu had placed across the table.
"I didn't come here for an inspection," he said calmly. "There's no need to show me all of this."
"You still need to review them," Kakuzu replied seriously. He feared salary deductions more than most things.
"These contain intelligence from Kirigakure, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure," Setsuryu added, placing scrolls neatly beside the books.
Orochimaru picked up the scrolls and began reading.
Sunagakure seemed eager to act against Konoha, yet remained hesitant.
Kirigakure had its own designs.
Kumogakure watched Iwagakure and Konoha closely, waiting for the perfect opportunity.
It was clear that news of Ōnoki's battlefield injury had already spread.
They were all waiting.
Waiting for the war between Iwagakure and Konoha to grow even larger.
Perhaps they had already realized—
This war would not end anytime soon.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)