Tsunade's cheeks burned like fire as she glared at Orochimaru through gritted teeth. Though she remained silent, her eyes, a mixture of doubt and burning shame, clearly demanded an explanation.
"The Third Hokage sent Kushina to Minato's side for one reason: to forge a bond between them and use Minato's Wood Release to suppress the Nine-Tailed Beast."
Orochimaru's tone was playful. "To the outside world, they're childhood sweethearts, and Minato doesn't seem to mind. So, what's your plan going forward?"
"Are you going to compete with Kushina for him? How do you think the villagers will see you? Even if Minato steps forward to shield you from the criticism, what will Kushina think of you? What will Nawaki think of his sister?"
"Nonsense! Who... who said I have those kinds of feelings for Minato?" Tsunade's eye twitched, a flicker of guilt crossing her face, though she maintained her defiant stance.
Orochimaru chuckled, not bothering to argue. "If Minato only had Kushina by his side, the future would inevitably unfold as I described. You can't deny that, can you?"
Tsunade fell silent, just as she firmly believed Orochimaru had ulterior motives.
After all these years, who didn't know who they were?
"Mikoto is the most outstanding girl among the Uchiha Clan's younger generation. In terms of looks, personality, and strength, she's flawless," Orochimaru said, his voice like a demon's whisper, laced with temptation. "With her competing against Kushina, I doubt even Minato-kun could make a choice. Given your understanding of his personality, what do you think he'll do?"
Tsunade's beautiful eyes widened slightly in disbelief. "You want him to have two girlfriends at once?"
"Three," Orochimaru chuckled softly. "Beyond the relationship between soul and body, I'm also researching Kekkei Genkai. Minato-kun helped me unravel the mysteries of genetic inheritance, and I simply want to see what kind of fruits different bloodlines will bear when combined with Wood Release."
"It's said that both the Uchiha and Senju are descendants of the Sage of the Six Paths. That's why I chose Mikoto. After all, you and the old man have already provided me with the Senju and Uzumaki comparison groups."
"Even if it were just you and Kushina, Minato-kun would likely make the same choice. But knowing you as I do, I suspect you would have fled Konoha to escape reality long before that day arrived."
"But with these two as precedents, even if news of you and Minato spreads, people will only assume Minato is too fickle, not that you, as his teacher, actively seduced him... Mikoto's presence should greatly alleviate your guilt, shouldn't it?"
"Come on, cooperate with me, Tsunade!"
Orochimaru spread his arms wide, his voice burning with fervor as he sincerely invited: "I can guarantee that, aside from Mikoto, I will never bring another woman into Minato's life."
"..."
Tsunade fell silent, her mind a jumbled mess, unsure of what to say.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
Reason told her this was merely Orochimaru's twisted logic.
But her heart told her this was the only way to be with Minato openly.
Yet the thought of sharing this love with another woman choked her.
Polygamy wasn't unheard of in the Shinobi World, but it was typically confined to the nobility; such arrangements were rare among commoners.
Although Tsunade was accustomed to such situations, as the First Hokage's granddaughter and a Hokage's disciple, she was undeniably proud. Otherwise, she wouldn't have had so many suitors yet remained unmarried.
The crucial question now was whether she was willing to set aside her pride for Minato.
This could even be considered self-deprecation. In the past, anyone who dared to suggest such a thing would have been kicked to death!
Yet when faced with this choice between pride and affection, Tsunade hesitated.
"Still wavering, Tsunade?"
Seeing Tsunade remain silent for a long time, as if sensing her inner turmoil, Orochimaru smirked and began his sophistry. "It seems there's still a disparity in how much you value each other..."
Tsunade frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
"Why not guess? For whom do you think Minato-kun proposed the concept of Soul Reincarnation?"
Orochimaru seized the opportunity to support Minato's cause.
Though he framed it as support, he could clearly see that Minato held little interest in Soul Reincarnation, or perhaps looked down on it. The technique was more for the people around him.
Among those around Minato, Tsunade was undoubtedly the one who needed this technique the most, so his words were perfectly reasonable.
"Are you saying he's..."
Tsunade paused, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.
In an instant, she regained her composure and cleared her throat with feigned nonchalance. "Ahem... What will you do if I refuse?"
"Minato's information will spread throughout Konoha," Orochimaru chuckled. "You'll witness firsthand how forward the girls of Konoha can be when faced with a boy of Minato's talent."
What a bull-headed offensive!
"Hmph, despicable!" Tsunade crossed her arms and snorted coldly. "You must have corrupted Minato!"
"We are confidants, after all." Orochimaru spread his hands. "Shouldn't you give me your answer by now?"
"Tch..."
Tsunade pouted, turning her head away, her face flushed with embarrassment and anger. "How do you want to cooperate?"
"Besides allowing Mikoto's existence, I need your support in medical techniques—both Soul Reincarnation and Bloodline Limit inheritance."
Orochimaru continued, laying out his terms: "I'll grant you full access to the research rights—something I believe Minato-kun would want to see."
"Moreover, I'll fully support your pursuit of happiness. It might be a bit... unorthodox, but after all, we grew up together."
You didn't need to say the last part!
Tsunade's expression flickered between indecision and anger.
After a moment of internal struggle, she shamefully gave in.
"...Just this once! No more!"
"Of course~" Orochimaru replied without hesitation to Tsunade's veiled threat.
He'd only chosen Mikoto. And he only planned to choose her.
But if other girls threw themselves at Minato... well, he couldn't stop that.
Watching Tsunade storm away, Orochimaru shook his head with a tut.
He never expected the once confident and proud Lady Tsunade to be so blinded by emotion that she would break her own principles.
Indeed, love makes one blind.
As Tsunade left the Root base, her steps were unsteady.
The corridor lights stretched her shadow long, and Orochimaru's words coiled around her heart like vines.
[ How will everyone around you see you? Even if Minato stands up to shield you from the criticism, how will Kushina look at you? What will Nawaki think of his sister? ]
[ Mikoto's presence will greatly alleviate your guilt. ]
[ Why don't you try guessing who Minato is researching Soul Reincarnation for? ]
Tsunade's fingertips unconsciously tightened their grip on the hem of her robe. She could almost picture the gazes: astonishment, contempt, loathing, mockery, even pity...
The renowned Lady Tsunade, granddaughter of the First Hokage, stealing her own student from the childhood sweetheart of that same student?
The mere thought of such a scene made her want to die of shame.
Fortunately, Orochimaru had offered another path.
A path that betrayed her principles, yet was the only one that could allow her to keep Minato without being crushed by moral condemnation.
The image of a certain sunny-haired, blonde-haired young man flashed through her mind, and her wavering resolve gradually calmed.
"...How cunning," she muttered under her breath, unsure whether she was cursing Orochimaru or herself.
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