In the heart of the desert stood a completely unremarkable toilet.
Arisu walked up to it and quickly formed hand seals. A hidden door opened in response, revealing a staircase tunnel that extended downward.
He slowly walked underground, and before him was the headquarters of the Bounty Exchange.
Kinkaku and Ginkaku were busy wiping down tables, chairs, and counters. Kakuzu sat nearby, checking the accounts line by line with a calculator, his expression focused.
"Kakuzu, Kinkaku, Ginkaku. Long time no see."
Arisu, dressed in a Konoha uniform, spoke with a smile.
The three instantly became alert. Kakuzu's eyes turned cold. Kinkaku and Ginkaku immediately pulled out the Sage of Six Paths treasures and assumed battle stances.
"Who are you?!"
Kakuzu demanded in a deep voice. He had never expected a Konoha ninja to find the Bounty Exchange's most secret headquarters.
Arisu raised a hand, signaling them to relax, his smile unchanged.
"Don't be nervous. It's me."
Arisu released his aura.
The moment the three sensed it, they were all shocked.
Kakuzu hurriedly stood up and bowed respectfully.
Kinkaku and Ginkaku also quickly bent at the waist.
"It's fine. No need for formalities. This is just another one of my identities, the genius of Konoha. I happened to come by and see how the three of you are doing."
Arisu nodded and smiled at them.
As for Kinkaku and Ginkaku, he naturally would not treat them poorly.
As long as they worked for him, whether they succeeded or failed, they would receive very generous treatment.
"Looks like you've been living quite well."
"Thanks to your blessings, everything is fine."
Kakuzu quickly stepped forward and respectfully poured a cup of warm milk for him.
Arisu took it and drank it in one go.
"May I ask what instructions you have for us today?"
Kakuzu lowered his head and asked respectfully.
"There's nothing for you to do for now."
"Just stay here, rest well, and keep living. Even if something unexpected happens, I'll arrange your affairs afterward.", Arisu put down the cup and spoke calmly.
A sincere smile appeared on Kakuzu's face.
Following this lord had truly been the wisest choice. Even his destination after death was guaranteed.
"However, Kakuzu, I should still give you this. You can study it."
Arisu handed Earth Grudge Fear to Kakuzu.
As someone from Takigakure, Kakuzu recognized it at a glance as the village's forbidden technique.
"Remember, don't kill innocent people."
After giving that instruction, Arisu disappeared.
Kakuzu nodded respectfully.
———
Another seven years passed.
During those seven years, Arisu and Sakumo Hatake became feared throughout Sunagakure.
As a result, there was no fighting on the Sunagakure battlefield.
The battlefields against Amegakure and Iwagakure, however, were in full swing.
Back in Konoha, a new generation of child prodigies had emerged, including Fugaku and Minato.
———
[Amegakure Battlefield]
A light drizzle filled the air, mixed with the smell of blood.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands."
Orochimaru's voice was calm as several black venomous snakes shot out like lightning, precisely strangling the enemy's last jonin.
Afterward, Orochimaru withdrew his arm, casually brushed the blood stains from his clothes, then turned his head toward the boy behind him who was gripping a kunai tightly, eager to jump into action.
He slightly raised a hand.
"The main force has already been dealt with. I'll leave the cleanup and the chance to earn merit to you, Nawaki."
A faint smile curved Orochimaru's lips. Deep in his eyes was a trace of expectation that was difficult to notice.
This was the first disciple he had ever taken, and a child he had watched grow up. His reckless personality resembled Jiraiya's.
Orochimaru chose to give the chance to earn merit to his disciple.
Nawaki's eyes instantly lit up. He nodded hard.
"Thank you, Sensei!"
Before the words had even finished, Nawaki was already charging forward with his kunai, taking the lead. The young boy's figure looked especially agile in the rain.
"Hehe, Brother Arisu, once I've earned some merit, you'll definitely see me in a new light!"
Nawaki was excited, and he ran faster and faster.
He paid no attention at all to what was beneath his feet.
His mind was completely filled with thoughts of showing off in front of Arisu after earning merit.
Watching his back, Orochimaru's smile deepened slightly.
"Nawaki really is getting more and more impressive."
But before that smile could fully bloom on his face...
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion suddenly erupted. The shockwave carried dirt and shattered stones straight toward them.
The sound of exploding tags echoed throughout the area.
"What!?"
The smile on Orochimaru's face instantly froze. His pupils shrank to pinpoints.
Almost instinctively, Orochimaru flashed over at extreme speed, leaving behind a string of afterimages.
"Nawaki! Nawaki!"
For the first time, Orochimaru's voice carried an uncontrollable tremble as his eyes frantically searched the center of the explosion.
Nothing.
The lively boy was nowhere to be seen.
A surviving Konoha ninja stood there with a face as pale as paper. His lips trembled as he slowly raised a hand and pointed toward a patch of mangled flesh on the ground mixed with torn cloth and metal fragments.
"Captain Orochimaru... h-he's over there..."
Orochimaru followed the direction of the finger.
After only one glance, the world seemed to spin around him.
His body swayed violently. Staggering backward several steps, his knees nearly gave out beneath him, and he almost collapsed into the mud.
That was his first disciple.
Tsunade's only younger brother.
The biological grandson of the Second Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
And just like that...
A single explosive tag hidden among the ruins had blown him apart so completely that he hadn't even left behind a final word.
Rainwater slid down Orochimaru's pale face, mixing with tears before dripping into the mud.
How was he supposed to explain this to Tsunade?
And how was he supposed to explain it to himself?
After all, he had personally sent that joyful young boy toward death.
At this point in time, Orochimaru was much softer-hearted than in the original story.
After all, he had been taught by Arisu, especially in matters of righteousness.
———
Nawaki was dead.
A single explosive tag of unknown origin had blown him apart until not even his bones remained.
The fighting on the front lines temporarily subsided. Arisu returned to Konoha first, leaving Sakumo Hatake behind to continue guarding the battlefield.
"Goodnight, Nawaki."
"Sigh... so you still left in the end."
Leaning against a nearby wall, Arisu let out a quiet sigh and gently shook his head.
He was not particularly heartbroken. Death was too common. He only felt a little regretful.
By now, Nawaki had probably already met that Senju Hashirama of his.
Before the words had even faded, a hurried series of footsteps approached from afar.
"Nawaki! What happened to Nawaki!?"
Tsunade nearly stumbled as she rushed inside. Her face was deathly pale, and her voice was filled with panic on the verge of collapse.
Arisu sighed again. The unbearable scene flashed through his mind, and in the end he simply shook his head.
"Tsunade, don't go look."
Arisu's voice was low.
"You won't be able to bear seeing something like that."
Tsunade froze in place.
All the strength in her body seemed to vanish in an instant.
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. It felt as though a massive boulder was crushing her chest, making every breath painfully difficult.
Her heart felt torn apart.
The next second, she could no longer hold herself up. Her legs gave way, and she broke down crying.
Arisu quickly stepped forward to support her trembling body. He gently patted her back and softly comforted her.