Regret, Worry, and the Weight of Decisions
Even as the streets of Konoha bustled with activity—vendors calling out their products, children running across the plaza, and young women laughing as they passed by—Hiruzen Sarutobi barely noticed any of it. His mind was heavy, burdened with thoughts that refused to settle.
Sarutobi Biwako, walking beside him, noticed immediately.
"Hiruzen… are you thinking about them again?" she asked softly.
He nodded slowly.
The survivors of Uzushiogakure.
Uzumaki Chigusa's warnings earlier echoed again in his mind, each sentence a heavier weight than the last.
When foreign clans join Konoha, they become part of Konoha's people…
And if they have revenge in their hearts—revenge against the Four Great Shinobi Villages—
how can Konoha remain uninvolved?
It was different with the Iburi Clan.
They were local, originally living near Konoha.
Absorbing them into the village brought no political danger.
But Uzushiogakure?
Their home was destroyed.
Their clan was slaughtered.
Their hatred was deep.
And hatred had consequences.
If the Uzumaki sought revenge…
If their retaliation brought trouble to Konoha…
Then what?
Should he punish them?
Their revenge was justified.
Even as Hokage, could he stop a clan from avenging their dead?
Could he command them to simply swallow their anger and smile?
He sighed deeply.
It was exhausting.
Truly exhausting.
"Biwako… being Hokage is so difficult," he murmured.
Biwako gently placed a hand on his shoulder, patting him with quiet understanding.
---
Konoha – Ninja Academy
The newly formed Sealing Team had been established inside the Ninja Academy itself. Their purpose: to select talented young children and begin training them in sealing arts from an early age.
It was a long-term investment, meant to ensure Konoha would never again be at a disadvantage against Jinchūriki.
Orochimaru stood outside the classroom doorway, looking through the window at rows of tiny children seated neatly in front of scrolls.
He glanced at the sign on the wall:
"Sealing Team – Training Room"
Then he turned to the elderly woman beside him.
"Grandma Mito… bu çocuklar gerçekten Mühürleme Ekibi'nin gelecekteki mühür uzmanları mı olacak?"
Uzumaki Mito smiled warmly at the children.
"They're good children. Among them are those capable of learning the Sealing Technique."
Orochimaru frowned slightly.
"It will take a long time to properly train them…"
Deep sealing techniques were complex, knowledge-heavy arts. Even multiple-user techniques—designed to lower the difficulty—required years of study.
This wasn't something that could be rushed.
But Uzumaki Mito was training them exactly as she once trained the seal masters of Uzushiogakure.
Unlike her, these children were not Uzumaki.
He sighed inwardly.
His eyes drifted to a boy tugging at the hem of his coat—Nawaki.
"So… that's why you entrusted Nawaki to me?" he asked.
Nawaki looked up with a bright smile, flashing a row of neat white teeth.
"Hehe!"
Mito chuckled.
"Nawaki likes you very much. Xiao Gang'dan (Tsunade) bile daha fazla."
Orochimaru blinked.
"Çocuklar arasında popüler miyim?" he said, touching his face with confusion.
Mito nodded seriously.
"Evet. Maybe you'll even be popular among the Sealing Team children in the future."
Orochimaru had always seemed cold, detached, even intimidating.
But once someone spent time with him, they realized he was patient, meticulous, and unyieldingly stubborn.
And Hiruzen saw all of this—
which was why he constantly tried to push Orochimaru toward the Hokage position.
But Orochimaru had no interest.
In fact, he found the position distasteful.
If Hashirama had known someone would dislike the Hokage position so much, he would have been stunned speechless.
Mito giggled faintly, remembering Hashirama's bewildered face whenever Tobirama scolded him.
---
Memories and Responsibilities
Orochimaru's gaze moved across the classroom.
Too many children.
Too much noise.
He remembered when Tsunade and Jiraiya were this age.
Even then, they were troublesome.
"En iyisi bu konuya fazla kafa yormamak…" he muttered.
" Orochimaru , hadi, bana yardım edeceğini söylemiştin."
Mito rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Unutmadım…" he said.
But internally, he regretted everything.
Keşke Mühürleme Ekibi kurmayı hiç önermeseydim…
Mito's gaze drifted to his outfit.
"Ryūchi Mağarası'ndan döndüğünden beri hep aynı kıyafeti giyiyorsun."
Orochimaru looked down at his long white robe.
"This robe is made from the shed skin of a Sage Snake in Ryūchi Cave. It can repair itself and can even seal ninja tools. Far more convenient than parchment scrolls."
Mito's eyes widened.
"Acaba… Beyaz Yılan Adaçayı'nın derisi mi?"
Orochimaru shook his head.
"No. It came from Ichikishimahime—one of the Three Snake Princesses beneath the White Snake Sage."
The robe had no visible stitches. Its smooth, cold texture felt like touching a living serpent.
---
Land of Waves – White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company
In the finance office, Kakuzu stared at a report with growing disbelief.
"…Atıştırmalıklar?"
Why was Orochimaru purchasing so many snacks?
He flipped the report.
"…Asker hapları? Atıştırmalık mı sayılıyor?!"
Even Kakuzu, who once ate hearts for survival, would never dare eat Soldier Pills like candy.
Why would Orochimaru need so many?
The company couldn't possibly consume that many in a year.
Kakuzu hesitated several times, wanting to ask Orochimaru directly…
but stopped.
Orochimaru was the real boss.
And Kakuzu still wanted him to enhance the Jiongu Technique.
So he quietly approved the purchase order.
Meanwhile, in Ryūchi Cave—
Each of the Three Snake Princesses' personal nests was overflowing with food and Soldier Pills.
They were stuffed—so full they could barely move.
Manda and Shinza, usually troublemakers, were lying motionless, too full to even hiss.
The larger serpents in the common nest stared in confusion.
Why had the little troublemakers suddenly become well-behaved?
---
Mangrove Forest – Kimera Böcek Kralı'nın Sırtında
Sunlight shimmered on the water beneath them as the monstrous Kimera Bug King flew through the air, followed by several giant larvae like loyal attendants.
On its back sat Orochimaru, Uzumaki Chigusa, and Uzumaki Naino.
"Chigusa, beni görmek istediğini söylemiştin?" Orochimaru asked.
Naino perked her ears, curious.
Chigusa took a breath.
"My people and I have decided to stay in the Land of Waves. Orochimaru, bizi nasıl yerleştireceksin?"
The wind swept gently across her hair as she squinted toward him.
"That depends on what you want," Orochimaru said calmly.
"Dalgalar Ülkesi'nde yaşamak, iş yapmak veya şirkette çalışmak tamamen sizin seçiminiz olmalı. If you want to work in the company, just tell Qinghe. Some positions are better suited for our own people."
Uzumaki Naino's eyes widened.
"Kendi insanlarımız…"
Her gaze brightened.
Orochimaru looked away awkwardly.
"Bana öyle bakma. Dalgalar Ülkesi'nde kalmanız benimle biraz ilgili olabilir. Bu yüzden sizi görmezden gelemem."
Chigusa flushed slightly, but quickly regained her composure.
Orochimaru continued:
"Çeşitli Ninja Köyleri, Uzushiogakure'den sağ kalanların burada olduğunu biliyor. Size direkt saldırmaya cesaret edemezler… fakat gizli girişimler mümkündür. Özellikle çocuklar risk altında. Bu yüzden onları korumak için personel ayarlayacağım."
Chigusa's expression softened.
"Orochimaru… çok düşüncelisin."
She smiled, wrapped an arm around his shoulder, and leaned closer.
"By the way… I saw Kakuzu flying in something called a 'car' the other day. Çok ilginçti."
She gave him an unmistakable hint.
Naino covered her face.
Lütfen… çok utanç verici…
Orochimaru pretended not to understand.
"Gözlerin mi ağrıdı? Tedavi edeyim."
"No! I mean give me a car!"
Chigusa grabbed his shoulders, shaking him intensely.
"I want to fly in the sky too!"
Orochimaru stared at her blankly.
"Bir yetişkin olarak benden—bir çocuktan—böyle bir şey istemeye utanmıyor musun?"
"I'm perfectly fine. Burada yabancı yok!"
She hugged his waist tightly like a koala.
Naino's eye twitched violently.
"Chief Chigusa… lütfen beni yabancı olarak say…"
Orochimaru sighed.
"…Fine. I'll get you one."
"Harika!"
She instantly changed back into her elegant, graceful self—as though the clingy giant baby from a moment ago had never existed.
Naino shook her head hopelessly.
"Chief Chigusa… korkunç bir yetişkinsin."
She turned to Orochimaru with a growl.
"Orochimaru, hepsi senin suçun. Onu şımartıyorsun."
Orochimaru helplessly spread his hands.
"What else am I supposed to do?"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)