Yorin severed Danzō's head and returned to Amegakure.
They talked things through with Nagato and Sis Konan, then got ready to head back to Konoha.
"Team" this time didn't include Orochimaru.
Per the plan, Orochimaru was now happily defected.
All the chamber pots—using village comrades as lab materials, desecrating the First's remains—were dumped squarely on Danzō's skull.
Free of ties, Orochimaru felt light enough to float. The village wasn't going to press him.
But going back was impossible. Everyone knew his role in the secret work.
If he returned, the best-case would be a deep cell until death.
Of course he wouldn't die. With his skills, he'd slip away.
He'd always had a grudge against Konoha—rumor was his parents were killed by Konoha shinobi. With this defection, the last thread snapped—next time they met, it would be as enemies.
Better a peaceful parting now—leave a thread of goodwill for later.
The Rain is a crossroads—plenty of bandits and rogue-nin. Materials for Orochimaru's research were endless. He was very satisfied.
His only lingering concern was Uchiha Yorin.
When Yorin left, the look in Orochimaru's eyes gave him chills—scarier than a million Kage-levels lined up.
Not because Orochimaru had awakened the "maiden within" and wanted to pounce—
Because he coveted Yorin as precious research material.
As Yorin's Strength spiked, so did his physique; with that, his Yang chakra rose.
As Yang Release grew, Yorin's Sharingan was shifting—edging closer to legend.
Most couldn't see it—but Orochimaru, tracking Yorin's vitals, knew it cold.
It filled him with hope—Yorin was inching toward the Sage of Six Paths.
He craved more—more data, more samples, more cooperation from Yorin himself.
Yorin used that hunger as bait—keeping Orochimaru working for free. Orochimaru knew—but could do nothing about it.
…
Put bluntly—Orochimaru was like a lovestruck straight-laced boy, desperate for Uchiha Yorin (materials), wanting to eat and sleep with Yorin (materials).
And Yorin was the ultimate "green tea"—now and then a sweet bite, but mostly:
"Study (earnings) comes first."
"What gen are we on for Ryūchi Virility Powder?"
"How's the newest supplement?"
"And the drugs—anti-thrombosis, remember? You can't sleep when you haven't hit a hundred nine-figure goals!"
Poor Orochimaru—played in the palm. A money tree for Ryūchi Cave Pharma Group. Even the sun looked green now. Fewer samples, less lab time.
"How about this, Yorin-kun."
After a few days Orochimaru relented: "I'll introduce you to Ryūchi Cave. Hand off the 'snake-medicine' line to someone else… I'll reduce my equity and dividend. Acceptable?"
"Eh—"
Truth be told, Yorin wasn't keen. There are few researchers better than Orochimaru.
He thought: why study jutsu? Go do theoretical nuclear engineering and snag a Nobel for the ninja world—what's Amaterasu next to Tsar Bomba?
Orochimaru: "Ah…"
Yorin's era-misaligned lines—he'd gotten used to them.
He was, after all, an Uchiha on the verge of Mangekyō—
No dead dad, no dead mom, no dead wife, no slaughtered clan—and still a Mangekyō in the making. Proof enough of a very rich inner life.
…
Yorin: "Right—about your assistant problem?"
Orochimaru: "Yes—Yorin-kun promised smart apprentices. I'm looking forward to it."
"Mm. Once I'm back in Konoha, I'll arrange it." A face flashed in Yorin's mind—his "expensive godson," Yakushi Kabuto, that brilliant kid.
His No. 1 girlfriend, Yakushi Nono, was essentially Kabuto's mother—so Yorin was Kabuto's expensive godfather.
Following Orochimaru would be a steal—Ryūchi arts, forbidden sciences—Kabuto would master and improve them all.
Under Orochimaru, the path to Kage—and beyond—was clear.
A father's love plans far; this had long been earmarked. Yorin's new idea was:
"Orochimaru—you know Edo Tensei?"
Orochimaru: "Of course. Fascinating technique."
"Indeed. In my view, it's the best thing the Second invented."
"Oh?"
"You think its use is terror suicide bombers? Or refined into battle units?
No—the real use is to resurrect the world's finest minds—
"—say, Tobirama Senju—and make him a research tech, assisting you!" Yorin said.
"Imagine—genius with genius—what sparks would fly?
"And this time, no Hokage duties—no distractions—pure research. Efficiency soars. You and he—together you'll create monstrous techniques, right?!"
Orochimaru: "Yes!"
Tsunade: "NO!"
The next second, Tsunade's fists did the talking—Monstrous Strength for both. "Are you insane? Isn't desecrating Grandpa enough—you have to dig up Grand-uncle too?!"
Yorin: "Given the Second's personality, this treatment is appropriate.
"And you know what—a rabid anti-Uchiha like him hearing you got an Uchiha boyfriend—don't you want to see how mad he gets?"
For a heartbeat Tsunade's eyes sparkled—then she snapped out of it. "No—and who's your girlfriend, exactly?"
This time Yorin dodged the fist. She chased, he slipped—leaving Jiraiya and Orochimaru alone, a weight settling in the air.
…
Jiraiya: "So you've decided—not going back?"
Orochimaru: "Mm. Not going back."
As they spoke, Yorin stopped playing tag with Tsunade and asked her:
"You think they'll shout each other's names and finish with a friendly face-breaker?"
Tsunade: "Quite likely."
Yorin nodded.
Compared to his prefab "Naruto–Sasuke" stand-in with Minato, Orochimaru & Jiraiya are the real hall-of-fame duo.
"Orochimaru!"
"Jiraiya!"
"Orochimaru!!"
"Jiraiya!!"
"Orochimaru!!!"
"Jiraiya!!!"
(Not padding word count.)
Though far apart, their voices were thunder.
Yorin: "Ohhh—it's starting. Who do you have?"
Tsunade: "I bet Jiraiya!"
Yorin: "Good eye—but want to reconsider?"
Tsunade: "Fine—I'll bet both Jiraiya and Orochimaru!"
Yorin: "Great—then I bet draw!!"