Orochimaru's straightforward demeanor made Tsunade feel a bit uneasy, but she quickly brushed it off and caught up with him.
At the new barbecue restaurant, the food was mouth-wateringly delicious. The tender, juicy meat was a welcome change from the battlefield rations they had eaten over the past ten days.
Even Orochimaru, usually composed and reserved, found himself indulging, his appetite larger than usual. After all, they had been out in the field for quite some time, moving between the battlefield and the search party. Good food like this was a rarity when you were fighting for your life.
"This is so good!" Tsunade said between bites, clearly enjoying herself. "I wonder where Jiraiya's run off to… If he were here, we could all enjoy this together!"
Orochimaru smiled for the first time in a while, a rare sight.
Noticing his smile, Tsunade paused and blinked at him, feeling a bit flustered. "You… why are you smiling?"
Orochimaru didn't respond immediately, and when he did, his tone was casual. "Nothing."
Orochimaru's smile was a rare occurrence. In the two years they had known each other, Tsunade could count the number of times she had seen him smile on one hand.
"For some reason," Orochimaru continued, "seeing you eat like this brings a sense of calm to me."
Tsunade was taken aback by his words, her cheeks reddening slightly. "Why are you so weird?" she muttered, feeling awkward. But she quickly shrugged it off and resumed devouring her food with gusto.
---
Though Orochimaru enjoyed the peaceful moment, he had larger plans in motion. He needed to get Konoha's attention, specifically the attention of its higher-ups, so he could gain access to the village's research facilities and resources. If he could position himself as an invaluable asset in scientific research, they would have no choice but to grant him access to the materials he needed. And from there, everything he wanted would be within his grasp.
However, for the moment, the village's leaders including the Second Hokage were still out on the front lines. Orochimaru would have to be patient and wait for their return before he could make his move.
But to his surprise, that wait turned into a month.
---
One morning, while conducting a new experiment in his makeshift lab at home, Orochimaru was deep in concentration. Tsunade, fascinated by his work, sat nearby, watching closely. Ever since she had learned about Orochimaru's ability to create what she and Jiraiya had started calling the "super recovery potion," her respect for him had grown immensely.
Even Jiraiya, who loved to argue and bicker, had been awestruck by Orochimaru's scientific prowess. Though Jiraiya lacked any talent or interest in medical research, he had come to admire Orochimaru's abilities. That said, his fascination with Orochimaru's research hadn't distracted him from his training. Jiraiya spent most of his time training or traveling back and forth between Konoha and Mount Myoboku, the land of the toads.
Tsunade, on the other hand, was different. She had a natural affinity for medicine and healing. It was clear that she was destined to become Konoha's greatest medical-nin, though at this stage, she was still just a curious student. She was utterly captivated by Orochimaru's research, particularly his gene-enhancement and healing experiments.
"Orochimaru, do you think this herb could be substituted with a different one?" Tsunade asked, crouching down and pointing to some green leaves simmering quietly in a beaker.
"Of course," Orochimaru replied, nodding slightly. "While the potency might be a little weaker, the overall effect would remain the same."
Tsunade's eyes widened in admiration. "Wow, you're so knowledgeable! Even better than the director at the hospital!"
Orochimaru couldn't help but smile wryly. "It's just different fields of expertise, Tsunade."
"Well, I still think you're amazing!" Tsunade said, eyes gleaming with genuine admiration.
Before Orochimaru could respond, the sound of commotion from outside interrupted them.
"What's going on?" Orochimaru muttered.
Tsunade, equally curious, jumped to her feet and dashed outside to investigate. It didn't take long for her to piece together what had happened.
The war had ended, and Konoha had emerged victorious. The village's ninja forces were returning, and the villagers had organized a large-scale welcoming ceremony for them. Konoha's streets were now filled with returning shinobi, greeted by their emotional families.
Many families embraced their loved ones, their tears falling freely, overwhelmed with joy and relief. But not everyone was so lucky. For some, their family members had returned in body bags, leading to a different kind of tear-filled reunion one filled with sorrow and heartbreak.
Even though Konoha had won the battle, war was always accompanied by pain and loss. Tsunade watched the scene, a complicated expression on her face.
"It's strange…" she murmured. "Even after a victory, it still feels so sad."
Orochimaru, who had followed her outside, stood next to her. "This kind of war will go on for many years. You'll get used to it."
Tsunade looked up at him, her brow furrowed. "Will it really last for many more years?"
Orochimaru nodded without hesitation. "Of course. You didn't think that the end of this war would suddenly bring peace to the world, did you?"
He spoke with such calm certainty, but the truth in his words weighed heavily on Tsunade.
In his mind, Orochimaru could already picture the endless conflicts to come the Second Great Ninja War, the Third, and even the Fourth. Corpses would continue to pile up in every war, and peace would always remain elusive.
Tsunade remained silent, still processing his words when Orochimaru suddenly spoke again, his voice low.
"Strange... Why hasn't the Second Hokage returned yet?"
Tsunade snapped out of her thoughts, blinking in confusion. "That's true. Not only hasn't my granduncle returned, but Hiruzen-sensei is missing too!"
Her concern rising, she ran up to a nearby ninja who had just returned. "Sayama-senpai!"
The man turned at the sound of her voice, his expression brightening. "Ah, little Tsunade! What can I do for you?"
"Do you know where Lord Hokage is? Didn't he come back with the rest of the troops?"
"Oh, the Second Hokage?" Sayama paused, then smiled. "Lord Hokage and several other higher-ups went to the border to sign an alliance agreement with the Land of Lightning. They'll be back in two days."
"Oh, I see! Thank you, Sayama-senpai!" Tsunade replied cheerfully, her initial worry fading.
But while Tsunade seemed reassured, Orochimaru's mind was spinning.
The Second Hokage went to sign an alliance agreement with the Land of Lightning? He thought, frowning. Why does that sound so familiar...?
Then, in a sudden moment of clarity, it hit him.
The Kinkaku Force Coup! The Gold and Silver Brothers!
The Second Hokage was about to walk straight into a deadly trap.
The Second Hokage is going to die.