Uchiha Hikari hesitated for a moment, then nodded reluctantly.
"Well done, my daughter."
Orochimaru bent down, intending to gently kiss Uchiha Hikari on the forehead. However, at that exact moment, Hikari lifted her head.
Their lips met.
"…?"
Orochimaru froze.
He had meant to kiss her forehead.
Before he could react, an overwhelming surge of chakra erupted from Tsunade's body. The ground beneath her feet cracked like shattered glass, spiderweb-like fissures spreading in every direction.
In the next instant, Uchiha Hikari wrapped her arms around Orochimaru's neck, twisted her body with surprising strength, and flipped him onto the sofa, pinning him down decisively.
Hyuga Mio entered the living room at that moment, holding two scrolls. The sight before her stunned her completely. Her fingers slackened, and the parchments slipped from her grasp, falling softly to the floor.
"Orochimaru… you kissed me. I didn't kiss you," Uchiha Hikari said calmly.
She released him and straightened up, her pink lips slightly parted, white teeth visible. Her breathing was uneven, and her large black eyes glistened faintly with moisture as she looked at Orochimaru with an innocent, almost aggrieved expression.
"So," she asked sweetly, "is this my fault?"
Orochimaru resisted the urge to sigh. Instead, he reached out and patted Hikari's head, indulging her feigned innocence.
Feeling the intense gazes from Tsunade and Hyuga Mio, a dull headache formed behind his temples. He stood up and walked toward them, carefully taking Tsunade's hand and guiding her away from the cracked floor.
"Mio," he said politely, "sorry for the trouble."
"Ah… no, it's fine."
Hyuga Mio snapped out of her shock, bent down to retrieve the fallen scrolls, and handed them over. She truly hadn't expected Uchiha Hikari to be this bold.
Tsunade, meanwhile, was drowning in regret.
She regretted it again.
She never should have dragged Orochimaru into that treasure hunt.
But then another thought surfaced—if they hadn't gone, Uchiha Hikari would still be buried underground.
Relief followed regret.
It was a contradiction she couldn't resolve.
---
Chapter 182: Jiraiya's Shock
"What were you thinking?! How could you let Orochimaru go to the battlefield?!"
Utatane Koharu's furious voice echoed through the conference hall—no, more accurately, the command room.
The ninja guarding the door stood stiffly, eyes unfocused as he stared at the wall. He had long mastered the art of selective hearing.
Some things were not meant to be heard.
"This is absurd! Completely absurd!" Koharu slammed her hand onto the table. "You're being reckless! Even if Danzo goes to the battlefield, Orochimaru shouldn't! It would be better if we elders went ourselves!"
Her anger rained down upon the three figures standing silently before her.
Since Orochimaru had revealed the results of his Limb Regeneration Technique research, Koharu's view of him had fundamentally changed. Once, he had merely been a genius—dangerous, clever, and ambitious, but manageable.
Now?
Orochimaru was Konoha's treasure.
If something happened to him on the battlefield, the loss would be incalculable.
Didn't they understand this?
"Koharu volunteered to go to Orochimaru's battlefield," Danzo Shimura said coldly.
He didn't want Orochimaru to go either. But Orochimaru had volunteered himself. Who could truly stop him?
"Hiruzen!" Koharu snapped, turning sharply. "Why did you allow this?"
Danzo seized the opportunity instantly.
"Hiruzen," he added, "as the Third Hokage, can't you even control your own student?"
Homura Mitokado watched silently, then gave Danzo a subtle nod of approval.
Hiruzen Sarutobi drew a deep breath from his pipe, exhaling slowly. His heart felt heavy.
"You all know Orochimaru's personality," he said quietly. "If I could have convinced him, he wouldn't be on that team."
"Unfortunately," Danzo said flatly, "your authority as Hokage is still insufficient."
"Yes," Hiruzen replied calmly. "I understand that deeply."
He thought of the documents he had handed Danzo—clearly, they hadn't been enough.
"Hiruzen… you weren't always like this," Danzo said, narrowing his eyes.
"I've been thinking," Hiruzen continued, "that once this war ends, I should retire. The Hokage position itself may be unnecessary."
The room went still.
Homura frowned. "Are you joking? Who would even want that position?"
"If Tobirama-sama hadn't trusted you," Koharu added sternly, "he wouldn't have passed the Hokage mantle to you! You can't disappoint him!"
"That's right," Danzo said, forcing conviction into his voice. "Your Will of Fire is still burning brightly. You're young. How can you retreat now?"
Hiruzen looked at them one by one.
None of them wanted to be Hokage.
They were relentless in pressuring him—but when it came to taking responsibility, every single one of them recoiled.
---
According to intelligence reports, Iwagakure's forces planned to invade the Land of Fire through the Grass Country. Konoha's troops advanced to intercept them.
Every ninja wore standard battle armor.
Except Orochimaru.
He stood out sharply in a flowing white robe.
"Orochimaru," Jiraiya asked, unable to restrain himself, "why are you wearing that?"
"This garment offers better protection and comfort than standard armor," Orochimaru replied calmly, brushing his fingers across the smooth fabric.
The robe had been crafted from the shed skin of Ichikishimahime, the Snake Sage Princess of Ryūchi Cave.
How could ordinary armor compare?
Defense stronger than armor?
Most ninjas found it hard to believe.
Jiraiya recalled the toads of Mount Myōboku. Their shed skins were brittle, hardly worth mentioning. Snake skin, however, was clearly different.
That night, beneath a sky filled with stars and a bright full moon, Konoha's forces halted at the border of the Land of Fire.
Tomorrow, they would clash with Iwagakure in the Grass Country.
"What are you thinking about?" Orochimaru asked, glancing at Tsunade, who had been unusually quiet.
"What do you think?" she snapped, glaring at him.
"Do you regret it?" he asked softly.
"I don't know," Tsunade replied bitterly. "This is all your fault. You've turned me into someone I don't recognize."
She suddenly bit his cheek, leaving a clear mark behind.
Her mood instantly improved.
Jiraiya watched in silence, feeling painfully unnecessary.
"Could you at least acknowledge my existence?" he muttered.
Kato Dan approached them.
"Dan?" Orochimaru asked in surprise.
"Orochimaru… could we talk?" Kato Dan asked hesitantly.
They moved to a small hill outside the camp, water flowing softly nearby.
"This isn't how it should have gone," Jiraiya murmured.
"What do you mean?" Tsunade snapped.
"This isn't a confession, is it?" Jiraiya whispered.
Kato Dan took a deep breath. "Orochimaru, I've been watching you. You're extraordinary. How do you see me?"
"…A strange man who enjoys watching others?" Orochimaru replied coolly.
Crack.
Something shattered inside Kato Dan.
"If you plan to use the Rebirth Technique," Orochimaru added calmly, "don't rely on it recklessly. Learn more ninjutsu. Otherwise, it will be your end."
Another crack.
Kato Dan stared blankly as Orochimaru walked away.
Tsunade struggled to suppress her laughter.
Jiraiya sighed. "Of all people… he chose Orochimaru."
Later, by the campfire, Tsunade asked casually, "What did he want?"
"I'm not sure," Orochimaru replied. "Was he trying to approach you through me?"
"If he was," Tsunade asked softly, moving closer, "what would you do?"
"I would reject him," Orochimaru answered without hesitation.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)