Orochimaru, Running Away with a Bucket
The Root underground base, once shrouded in perpetual dimness, was now brightly illuminated.
At the center of Danzo Shimura's office stood his desk—cold, rigid, and immaculately organized. Upon it sat a custom-made, touch-sensitive lamp, secretly ordered from the White Serpent Medicine Technology Company.
The lamp's shape was unmistakable.
It depicted the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, bowing his head with an apologetic expression, as if eternally atoning for something.
The paint on the top was visibly worn.
Judging by the extent of the chipping, it was clear that the lamp had been touched—no, stroked—far more often than normal use would require.
"Hiruzen-sensei… you've really worked hard…"
Orochimaru stared at the lamp, struggling to maintain a straight face. Every time he saw it, laughter threatened to escape.
Who could have imagined that someone as rigid, cold, and stern as Danzo Shimura would vent his frustration toward Hiruzen Sarutobi in such a peculiar, private manner?
"Orochimaru."
Danzo Shimura's voice was calm, but his fingers twitched slightly as he placed several intelligence scrolls on the desk.
"This information was gathered by Root's intelligence units. The Four Great Shinobi Villages have reduced the scale of the war. I suspect they are planning something against Konoha."
"So they've finally slowed things down…"
Orochimaru accepted the scrolls and read through them carefully. His expression gradually turned serious.
"Danzo-sama, your judgment is correct," he said calmly. "The Four Great Shinobi Villages have realized that Konoha is currently staying out of the war. If they continue fighting among themselves on a large scale, Konoha will only benefit and grow stronger while conserving its strength."
"So instead, they've shifted tactics."
Danzo's visible eye narrowed.
"Large-scale conflicts have been replaced with prolonged, small-scale wars of attrition," Orochimaru continued. "They're conserving their strength while waiting for an opportunity."
Danzo Shimura folded his arms.
"Then tell me, Orochimaru. Which village should Konoha strike first?"
There was no mistaking the eagerness in Danzo's tone.
He still remembered the First Shinobi World War—how the Four Great Shinobi Villages had once united to suppress Konoha.
Orochimaru paused before answering.
"Danzo-sama, unless Konoha has the strength to fight four major villages at once, attacking any single village will inevitably provoke the others."
He spoke evenly, as if stating a natural law.
"No matter which village we target, the remaining ones will seize the chance to weaken Konoha. They will never miss such an opportunity."
Konoha had overwhelming superiority in a one-on-one confrontation.
Two-on-two was manageable.
Three-on-three could still be endured—albeit at heavy cost.
But four-on-four?
That would require total mobilization, fighting with everything the village had, prepared to bleed until the end.
"Then what?" Danzo slammed his fist against the lamp, a habit so practiced it looked almost unconscious. "Do we simply sit here and wait to be attacked?"
You're really skilled at hitting that thing… Orochimaru thought silently.
Aloud, he cleared his throat.
"Danzo-sama, unless we have a legitimate excuse, Konoha cannot make the first move."
"An excuse?"
"Yes," Orochimaru nodded. "For example—our ninja accidentally crossing into foreign territory. Or Konoha's forbidden techniques or strategic resources being stolen by another village."
Danzo's eye gleamed.
"The First Shinobi World War began for exactly that reason," Orochimaru continued. "All elite ninja sent to attack Uzushiogakure perished there. The villages blamed one another, and war followed."
Konoha, at present, had no such justification.
If Konoha sought revenge, against whom would it strike?
All four villages had once attacked Konoha.
Kumogakure could even claim justification over the death of their Second Raikage, ambushed by Kinkaku and Ginkaku—the same incident that claimed Tobirama Senju's life.
If Konoha demanded retribution, would it demand it from all four villages?
That would only hand them the perfect excuse to unite once more.
"There are no eternal enemies," Orochimaru said calmly. "Only eternal interests. If the Four Great Shinobi Villages are given a reason to unite, they will absolutely do so."
Danzo fell silent.
"Konoha is strongest right now," Orochimaru continued. "Naturally, they would be delighted to reduce us."
After a moment, Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"Danzo-sama, Konoha isn't currently part of the war. If we want to enter, we need a reason convincing enough to prevent unity against us."
"And that reason…" he added softly, "…can be created."
"If we say something is lost, then it's lost. Even if it isn't, it is. Will the other villages investigate? If they do, we'll only show them what we want them to see."
Danzo stared at him.
"This is a bit…"
"Devious?" Orochimaru shrugged. "Perhaps. But effectiveness is what matters."
Hiruzen would never approve of such methods.
And Orochimaru knew it.
"Danzo-sama," he added casually, "why not compete with Hiruzen-sensei for the Hokage position?"
Danzo waved his hands immediately.
"Hokage? Forget it. That position suits Hiruzen. Someone like me is unfit."
Even if Hiruzen begged him, Danzo would refuse.
He didn't want power.
He wanted peace—and retirement.
"My dream," Danzo said flatly, "is to retire the moment this war ends."
Orochimaru was genuinely stunned.
Was this really the man known as Konoha's Darkness?
"Kotoamatsukami…?" Orochimaru muttered under his breath.
Changing the topic, he asked, "Danzo-sama, how are Root's injured ninja recovering?"
Danzo called for the reports.
Orochimaru recorded data carefully.
The Regeneration Technique had restored lost limbs flawlessly. The only issue was muscle memory—new limbs lacked training.
But for ninja once crippled beyond recovery, this was nothing short of a miracle.
Spiral Tower
Tsunade stood at a distance, gazing at the Spiral Tower.
Despite her objections, Uzumaki Mito had moved there—and Nawaki had followed.
"Tsunade," Orochimaru said, approaching her, "do you want to visit Granny Mito?"
"No."
She shook her head, then grabbed his hand.
"Were you at Root?"
"Collecting regeneration data."
Tsunade looked at him with open admiration.
"You really are incredible, Orochimaru."
"This isn't medical ninjutsu," he corrected. "It's controlled cellular activation."
"But it's still medicine," she insisted.
Orochimaru sighed.
"Fine."
She smiled brightly.
"Let's go home."
Hokage Building
Danzo argued fiercely.
Hiruzen refused.
War meant sacrifice.
"I know war's cruelty," Hiruzen said quietly. "That's why I cherish peace."
"Coward!"
Danzo stormed out.
Hiruzen sighed deeply.
Evening Walk
"Orochimaru! Watch where you're going!"
Tsunade grabbed him before he hit a pole again.
"I trust you," Orochimaru said calmly.
Her face turned red.
"So… Konoha will fight?"
"Soon," Orochimaru replied. "Whether we like it or not."
"And you?"
"The sooner it ends, the better."
He paused.
"If war is inevitable… then starting it sooner may not be a bad thing."
In his mind, Sunagakure appeared—
Weak.
Exposed.
An easy target.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)