A New Snake In The Shinobi World

Orochimaru was fully aware that if Konoha ever found itself in dire straits, Tsunade would inevitably think of him first.

This was something he could guarantee without any doubt.

Tsunade's trust in him made it inevitable that she would inform the Third Hokage about his existence. Orochimaru had accounted for this in his plans.

Once the Third Hokage learned of his whereabouts and sought him out, Tsunade becoming Hokage would be all but guaranteed.

And if Sarutobi didn't come to him? That was fine as well.

In such a scenario, Orochimaru could serve as a disruptive force in the conflict, taking advantage of the chaos to capture a tailed beast or systematically weaken each of the warring factions. This, in turn, would lay the groundwork for his long-term plans.

Now, with the Third Hokage having arrived and Orochimaru having agreed to help, everything was progressing smoothly.

Of course, throughout this entire process, Orochimaru never once considered returning to Konoha.

Such an idea was entirely out of the question.

Returning to Konoha would not only complicate Tsunade's path to power but would also expose his own carefully hidden forces.

It simply wasn't worth the risk.

More importantly, Orochimaru had grown far too accustomed to his freedom. To return to Konoha and subject himself to its rigid hierarchy and restraints? That was laughable.

Instead, he would remain in the shadows, pulling the strings from behind the scenes as the invisible hand guiding the Hokage.

"I'm not joking, Tsunade." Orochimaru's smile remained unchanged. "One person is more than enough to change the tide of war."

"But the enemies are so many," Tsunade hesitated. "And they've already gathered intelligence about you. If you appear on the battlefield… won't they find a way to counter you?"

Her meaning was clear.

While Orochimaru's strength was undeniable, if the enemy already possessed detailed knowledge of his abilities, they could find ways to exploit his weaknesses. Against the combined forces of four great ninja villages, even Orochimaru might struggle to make a significant impact.

"I think you've forgotten something," Orochimaru replied, his golden eyes gleaming. "Do you remember what I said the last time we talked?"

"What?"

"I told you that the next time we met, I might have something new up my sleeve."

"Wait… you don't mean…"

"Alright, that's enough talk for now," Orochimaru cut her off. "Since I said I'd help, I'll help. Whether it's one person or an army, the result will be the same as long as the battle is won, right?"

Tsunade nodded reluctantly. "I guess you're right."

"Good. Now, come with me."

"Where to?"

"To meet someone. There's a boy who's been asking about you for quite some time."

"A boy?" Tsunade frowned, confused. "Who are you talking about?"

"You'll see soon enough." Orochimaru smiled enigmatically, refusing to explain further.

---

By the afternoon, the two had arrived in a small town in the southeast of the Land of Fire.

As Orochimaru walked into the town, a silver-haired boy playing with a group of children suddenly spotted him.

"Dad!" the boy exclaimed with glee, dropping his game and running toward Orochimaru.

Orochimaru knelt down with a faint smile, ruffling the boy's hair affectionately.

Tsunade, however, froze in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Dad?!

Her thoughts were a jumbled mess.

Did this boy just call Orochimaru "dad"?

Could this mean… this boy was Orochimaru's son?

How was that possible? When did this happen? And with whom?

Tsunade felt her mind racing with questions she couldn't answer. I'm his wife. Shouldn't I have known about this?!

Before she could make sense of the situation, the boy turned his gaze toward her.

"And who are you?" he asked curiously, tilting his head. "Are you… mom?"

"Mom?!" Tsunade's voice cracked as she repeated the word, her shock doubling.

What is going on here?

When did she have a son? Was this some kind of dream?

But the boy's innocent expression made it clear that he wasn't lying.

Before Tsunade could ask any questions, Orochimaru's voice cut through her confusion.

"Tsunade, let me introduce you. This is Mi, one of my creations," Orochimaru said casually.

"Your… creation?" Tsunade blinked, her mind struggling to process what she was hearing.

"Yes, a sentient being with independent thought," Orochimaru explained as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Amazing…" Tsunade muttered, reaching out to touch Mi's head.

To her surprise, the boy felt no different from an ordinary child.

"Mom, you finally came to see me!" Mi beamed, his voice filled with pure joy.

Tsunade hesitated for a moment before responding awkwardly, "Oh, yes… I've just been really busy lately…"

Though she was clearly unaccustomed to being called "mom," ninjas were nothing if not adaptable.

With Orochimaru's brief explanation, Tsunade quickly settled into her new "role" as Mi's mother.

---

The war left the two of them with little time to linger in the town.

After they departed the next morning, Tsunade couldn't help but voice her frustration.

"Orochimaru, why didn't you tell me about this sooner?" she demanded.

"Tell you what?" Orochimaru replied, feigning ignorance.

"That you created a… child… and made me his mother! Do you know how startled I was? I almost thought he was your actual son!"

"Is that really such a big deal?" Orochimaru shrugged. "What's there to tell?"

"Not a big deal?! I have a son out of nowhere, and you think it's not a big deal?!" Tsunade exclaimed.

But as she spoke, a thoughtful look crossed her face.

"Still… after seeing Mi, I kind of want a child of my own," she admitted quietly. "What about you, Orochimaru? Would you prefer a son or a daughter?"

"It doesn't matter," Orochimaru replied with a faint smile. "As long as it's mine."

Tsunade's face turned red in an instant. "What did you just say?!"

Orochimaru chuckled softly. "Alright, let's save that conversation for later. For now, I'll take you back to the battlefield."

Before Tsunade could protest, Orochimaru scooped her up in a bridal carry.

Tsunade instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck as black iron sand formed into wings behind him, lifting them into the sky.

The pair ascended higher and higher—500 meters, 1,000 meters, 2,000 meters until the landscape below became a blur.

"Remember, when you're back on the battlefield, don't mention me," Orochimaru warned.

"I know, I'm not stupid!" Tsunade retorted.

"Hey, is it safe to fly this high?"

"There's some risk, but it's manageable," Orochimaru replied, his voice calm. "This flying technique isn't perfect, but I'll improve it when I have time."

Tsunade rolled her eyes at his casual confidence. She had long since grown used to his boundless ambition and ingenuity.

By evening, the two had traveled from the southeastern Land of Fire to the area near Nonō's orphanage, a journey that would have taken days on foot.

"Tell the Third Hokage to fight as usual. He doesn't need to concern himself with me," Orochimaru instructed.

"Got it. Be careful," Tsunade replied, watching as Orochimaru leapt into the sky and disappeared into the night.

---

Hours later, under the cover of darkness, Orochimaru stood at the gates of Konoha.

The familiar sight brought a faint smile to his lips. Pulling his black cloak tighter around himself, he stepped forward, heading into the village.

***

For every 300 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on patreon to read 70+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.