The money Orochimaru had earned from selling a few smoke bombs barely equaled the pay from a single D-rank mission. In the manga, Shikamaru once used explosive tags and smoke bombs against Tayuya, but those tools were costly even for a member of the well-off Nara clan. For a young genin like Orochimaru, the expense was almost ridiculous. Unless absolutely necessary, no sensible ninja would squander resources like that.
Living off the land's bounty was impossible. He needed a reliable way to fund his training and experiments. Ninjutsu and scientific research were expensive hobbies, and his small inheritance from his late parents would only stretch so far. A steady income was essential.
He mulled over potential side jobs.
Write a novel?
Catering?
The thought of food made him recall a recent meal with Tsunade. Japanese dishes were subtle and bland to his palate—nothing like the bold flavors he imagined from other cuisines. He wasn't picky, but Tsunade's temper was legendary; pretending to enjoy her cooking had been the safer choice. Perhaps a culinary revolution, introducing something like Chinese cuisine, could take this world by storm. Unfortunately, at his current age and status, running a restaurant was unrealistic.
If he ever left Konoha and created his own village—say, in the Land of Rice—perhaps then he could profit from a food empire. But for now, he was a low-ranking genin with a knack for science and a lot of ideas. Catering was out. That left writing.
Orochimaru scratched his head, frustrated. "Guess a novel it is," he muttered. The thought of wasting time on more D-class missions—catching cats, walking dogs, babysitting, or harvesting sweet potatoes—made him shudder. Writing, at least, promised some creative satisfaction.
This world's technology and society fascinated him. Despite its feudal appearance, many tools and techniques rivaled those of the nineteenth or even early twentieth century. Printing presses existed. Books sold. Perhaps he could exploit that.
His mind drifted to larger questions. Uzushiogakure, the Village Hidden by Whirling Tides, still thrived at this point in history. Thanks to Uzumaki Mito's presence in Konoha, the bond between the two villages remained strong despite the deaths of Hashirama and Tobirama Senju. But Orochimaru knew from memory that Uzushiogakure would eventually fall during the Second Shinobi World War. Why hadn't Konoha supported its ally? Was there some hidden secret behind that tragedy?
"Too early to worry about it," he told himself, forcing those thoughts aside.
After tidying his room, he prepared ink and paper, then created two shadow clones. They trained while he sat at his desk, pen in hand. He knew his limits well; two clones were enough. Any more would strain his chakra and leave him exhausted when their experience merged back into him.
Now came the question: what to write?
He twirled the pen, remembering Jiraiya's infamous book Cozy Heaven.
"I could write something about a 'little emperor's uncle,'" he mused. "People always love court scandals."
Orochimaru had no illusions about morality. He knew that the so-called Legendary Sannin each carried their vices—Jiraiya with his lechery, Tsunade with her gambling, and, in some whispered corners, rumors of drugs. Why not capitalize on human weakness?
Since he only recalled fragments of certain classic plots from his previous life, he freely adapted and localized them for the Naruto world. He turned a story originally exposing the tensions of feudal economics into something educational yet entertaining, stuffed with technical tidbits disguised as narrative.
Maybe my book will even stop a war, he thought with a sly smile.
Satisfied with his draft, he stretched and prepared to check on his clones. As one of them headed toward the training grounds, he noticed a familiar silhouette sneaking along a side street.
"Jiraiya? Heading toward the bathhouse?" Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and followed.
Outside the women's bathhouse, Jiraiya crouched, eyes wide with excitement as he peeked through a crack in the fence. Before Orochimaru could sigh, he reached out and tapped Jiraiya's shoulder.
"WHO?!" Jiraiya yelped.
"Is someone peeping?!" a woman's voice shrieked.
"Pervert!" another cried.
Chaos erupted as startled bathers grabbed towels and fled. Jiraiya whipped around, paling when he saw Orochimaru.
"You nearly scared me to death!" he hissed as Orochimaru dragged him away from the scene.
"Jiraiya," Orochimaru said dryly, "this counts as peeping."
"What—no, no! I was just admiring the female form! Purely artistic appreciation!" Jiraiya protested, face red.
Orochimaru gave him a look of pure disdain. "You really are a pervert."
"Hey, you won't tell anyone, right?"
"I won't. But if you ever try spying on me or Tsunade, you're dead."
With that curt warning, Orochimaru left for the training grounds, leaving Jiraiya sputtering.
---
D-Rank Drudgery
Life as a genin returned to its usual monotony. Today's mission: community cleanup. Orochimaru held a trash grabber and methodically picked litter from the street, dropping it into a basket strapped to his back. His movements were calm and precise, like a machine.
Why their teacher Sarutobi Hiruzen had insisted on this menial task instead of paperwork in the Hokage's office, Orochimaru couldn't guess.
"Sensei, why are we doing this?" Jiraiya grumbled, tossing his own trash bag down in frustration. "Shouldn't we be training instead? I need to master the summoning technique so I can impress that pretty girl from yesterday!"
Hiruzen cleared his throat. "After this, there's a pet-finding mission."
"Ugh, don't we have anything more challenging?" Tsunade muttered. D-rank missions bored her to tears.
"With your current skills, D-rank missions are exactly what you need," Hiruzen said firmly. He wanted his students to learn discipline and responsibility, though he was admittedly too busy as Hokage to lead every mission himself.
Soon enough, a new target emerged: a runaway Shiba Inu named Awang.
---
Operation: Awang
As twilight settled, a dark silhouette darted across a quiet street. Two gleaming eyes shone from the shadows.
"Target confirmed," Orochimaru whispered from a rooftop, spotting the plump Shiba Inu. "C point secured."
"I'm in position," Tsunade reported from the alley that blocked the dog's escape route.
"Good. Jiraiya, move in."
Eager to show off, Jiraiya grinned. "Watch and learn!"
He leapt at the dog, baring his teeth like a wild predator. "Hey, shrimp! Look at me!"
"Woof! Woof! Woof!" Awang barked furiously.
"Catch it! Don't let it get away!"
"Waaa—ouch! It's biting me! Somebody help!" Jiraiya's triumphant charge ended in a high-pitched scream.
Moments later, Orochimaru calmly held the now-docile Shiba Inu, its tail wagging like a propeller and tongue lolling out. Jiraiya staggered over, clutching his arm where Awang had sunk its teeth. A banana peel clung to his hair, and he reeked of garbage from his tumble through a trash bin.
"Why didn't it bite you?" Jiraiya demanded, glaring at the perfectly behaved dog in Orochimaru's arms.
"I'd suggest you visit the hospital," Orochimaru replied, examining the bite. "Good thing rabies doesn't exist here, or the Inuzuka clan would be in trouble."
"Wait—what?"
"Do I need to explain everything?" Orochimaru smirked.
Tsunade strolled over, slipping an arm around Orochimaru's shoulder and shooting Jiraiya a teasing look. "See? That's what happens when you rush in without thinking."
"You should try getting bitten yourself!" Jiraiya snapped.
Sensing Jiraiya's next move, Orochimaru stepped back just in time to let him lunge past, right into Tsunade's fist.
Pow!
The "fight" ended before it began as Jiraiya crumpled to the pavement.
"What a short war," Orochimaru remarked with an inward sigh.
Tsunade's eyes sparkled as she turned to the dog. "You're adorable, chubby like a piglet!"
"Ruff!" Awang barked, suddenly bristling.
"I take that back," Tsunade said quickly, stepping away as the dog growled.
Moments later, Awang's elderly owner arrived, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks. "Awang! My sweet boy! You must have been starving these past few days!" She showered him with affection and spoonfuls of food.
Orochimaru eyed the pampered Shiba Inu, who now looked like he'd lost all will to live. "No wonder he tried to run away."
Jiraiya nodded grimly, understanding all too well. Tsunade, however, remained unmoved. "Not cute at all," she said. "He wanted to bite me."
---
Chapter 4 Preview
The moon shone brightly over the lake, its reflection shimmering across the surface. Orochimaru walked slowly across the water, a massive rock strapped to his back. On a nearby cliff, a shadow clone climbed steadily upward, an equally heavy boulder in its arms. This was no ordinary workout. It was training to perfect chakra control.