Facing the Third Hokage's question, Orochimaru shook his head. Under Hiruzen's surprised gaze, he spoke slowly.
"If Nagato came here now, he'd lose even faster than before."
Though Nagato possessed the Rinnegan and had enhanced his body through surgical augmentation, his strength still fell short of truly reaching the Six Paths level. At best, he was just beginning to reach the power level of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. While his abilities were more than enough to overwhelm average Kage-level opponents, they posed little real threat to Orochimaru.
"Give him another ten years," Orochimaru added, "and he might cross that threshold. Then he could become a real problem."
But for now, Orochimaru hoped Nagato would take his own path and avoid confrontation. The ninja world simply couldn't handle too much internal strife.
Hiruzen let out a breath. While Nagato's rampage in the Cloud Village still troubled him, Orochimaru's words offered some comfort. Still, his rational mind churned with unease.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. "What have you done during this time, Orochimaru? How have you grown this much stronger?"
Nagato's current strength already exceeded what Hiruzen could fathom, yet Orochimaru spoke as if he could casually crush him.
"I know what you're thinking, old man," Orochimaru replied with a smile. "But unfortunately, the path I took can't be replicated. There's only one Loulan, only one Dragon Vein—and I've already absorbed it all."
"You truly are…" Hiruzen trailed off, shaking his head.
Letting the matter go, he became serious. "Since you can handle Nagato, Konoha must act first. We cannot let the battle reach our village again."
He remembered the devastation caused by titans like Madara and Hashirama. If such power were unleashed again within Konoha, there would be no avoiding massive destruction.
But Orochimaru dismissed the concern. "That's not important."
Hiruzen frowned. "If that's not important, then what is?"
Though he had long accepted his former student's arrogance, Hiruzen couldn't help but feel irritated by the response.
"You want me to eliminate Nagato, but then what?" Orochimaru's smile widened. "The ninja world is relatively stable right now. It's held in balance by two extremes—Konoha and the Akatsuki. If either one falls, chaos will erupt."
Hiruzen's expression darkened. He'd seen peace collapse before. He understood Orochimaru's warning—but he didn't understand why Orochimaru was bringing this up now.
"Be honest with me, old man," Orochimaru asked, voice low and sharp. "Have you ever wanted to rule the entire ninja world?"
His golden eyes gleamed with a dangerous brilliance. Hiruzen's heart skipped a beat. It wasn't just about Konoha. It wasn't just the Land of Fire.
It was everything.
And in that moment, Hiruzen realized: if he said yes, if he gave his blessing, Orochimaru might just make it happen.
But the heat of ambition quickly cooled in his aging veins.
He was old.
If he'd been thirty years younger—if Danzo were still at his side—he might have taken the risk. But now, even leading Konoha was becoming too much.
Orochimaru noticed the hesitation in his former master's eyes and smiled knowingly.
"Don't worry. I'm not interested in being Hokage. Nor do I care about ruling the world."
Now that he had begun stepping beyond mortality, Orochimaru found worldly power meaningless. Vanity and titles no longer tempted him.
"You…" Hiruzen looked at him, a mix of awe and concern in his gaze.
Minato was gone. The younger generation was still growing. Jiraiya and Tsunade weren't suited to lead. Even Danzo, with all his flaws, would be more reliable.
The Fifth Hokage? Still undecided.
And ruling the ninja world? That would require more than power. It would need people—many capable, loyal people. And Konoha didn't have enough.
"Without strong pieces on the board," Orochimaru mused aloud, "you can't control the game. You might hold the chessboard, but the moment your hand slips, it all falls apart."
Still, Hiruzen remained determined. "Even so, we have to defeat the Akatsuki. And when the world falls into chaos, Konoha can expand its influence slowly."
Orochimaru tilted his head, amused. "Do you know why so many Akatsuki members are hostile to Konoha?"
He didn't wait for a response.
"Hashirama had enough power to dominate the world. But instead of conquering it, he chose to establish a village system. He wanted peace. But to the orphans, the rejected, and the bitter souls, Konoha's prosperity looks like theft. They resent it."
He smiled. "Chaos breeds monsters. We got Nagato last time. What will emerge next time?"
"Besides," he added, "they've also developed physical enhancement surgery. That opens the door to infinite potential."
"Are you proposing we gamble on peace?" Hiruzen asked quietly.
"Until Konoha has the strength," Orochimaru said, "maintain an armed standoff with Akatsuki. Don't provoke them—but don't surrender either. That balance is good for both sides."
He didn't mention the truth: that this proposal only worked if he, the immortal observer, remained neutral.
Power was still useful—but only when the time was right.
"As for Nagato…" Orochimaru licked his lips. "Leave him to me. I'll make sure he loses interest in attacking."
He hadn't had a proper challenge since his transformation. Nagato would make a perfect opponent—a test of his new limits.
Hiruzen could only nod, the weight of the conversation pressing heavily on him.
Having a disciple like Orochimaru should have been a blessing. But in his heart, he knew—power like this was hard to contain.
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in," said the Third Hokage.
An Anbu ninja stepped inside and saluted. "Lord Hokage. During the purification of the Box of Bliss, something strange emerged."
"Oh?" Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "Details?"
The Box of Bliss—used once to create the monster Moryo—was not something to take lightly.
The Anbu hesitated. "It appears to be a ghost… but none of our sensors can identify it. It emerged during the maiden Shion's purification ritual."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. I'll take a look."
---
Later, under the searing summer sun, Orochimaru arrived at the sealing grounds where Miko Shion stood guarded by flustered attendants. Around her floated strange, gentle light—unlike any natural chakra or jutsu.
The sunlight was fierce, casting sharp lines of shadow. Yet the light around Shion felt soft, almost comforting.
"This is the creature?" Orochimaru asked.
"Yes," the Anbu replied. "It appeared during the purification. No one knows what it is."
Orochimaru ignored the priestess for a moment and turned his attention to the Box of Bliss. Each face bore a beastly visage—ox, sheep, dog, monkey.
Some believed the box once served the Sage of Six Paths, containing human negativity as a substitute for tailed beasts. Orochimaru didn't know for sure—but it did hold great malice.
He stared at the sheep-shaped face. It felt… lighter. Shion had succeeded in purging some of the evil.
"Quite impressive," he muttered.
A shrine guardian named Ashiho approached cautiously. "Have you found something, Lord Orochimaru?"
"Yes," Orochimaru said. "The evil's diminished. The girl's purification powers are quite valuable."
Then he turned to Shion. The child backed away fearfully, transparent mist coiling behind her like a ghost.
"Why are you backing away?" he asked, voice almost amused. "What did you see?"
"…Snakes," Shion whispered. "So many white snakes… they're all around you…"
Orochimaru chuckled. He extended a hand and allowed the natural energy of the White Snake to manifest.
"Like these?"
"Ahhh—!"
Shion screamed and stumbled, nearly falling, until a ghostly hand steadied her.
Orochimaru, ever curious, extended another hand.
"Try purifying them," he said. "Just like with the box."
"…Okay." She hesitantly nodded and held out her palm. A soft white light bloomed.
The snake energy on Orochimaru's body began to fade. Slowly—but it faded.
Even Orochimaru was impressed. He was a being of the Sixth Path. For her purification to affect him at all meant her potential was extraordinary.
"Little priestess," he said, smiling, "can you teach me how you cast this spell?"
He reached into his robes and pulled out a small paper talisman, infused it with natural energy, and released it into the wind.
_____________________
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