Hearing Orochimaru's response, Tsunade, still running alongside him, was stunned for a moment. Her expression turned bitter. "Grandma said… maybe you could give me an answer. So, you don't know either?"
"Grandma?"
Orochimaru couldn't help but think of Uzumaki Mito, the dignified woman who, despite her kind appearance, wielded great power. Why would she think so highly of him, enough to tell Tsunade that he might have the answer?
"What's the answer to something like this?" Orochimaru mused aloud, his voice calm. "When undergoing psychological training, you should be prepared for this kind of pain. Besides…"
He glanced briefly at Tsunade, his tone steady but lacking in warmth. "You have a younger brother."
To Orochimaru, this was simply an objective truth. In their world, loss was inevitable. Most shinobi would eventually lose everyone they cared about, leaving them alone. Yet, despite the harsh reality, they survived.
He himself had no family left—he had grown used to the numbness that came with loss. Tsunade, by contrast, still had her grandmother, Uzumaki Mito, and her younger brother, Nawaki. She was, by any measure, far better off than most.
"Younger brother…?" Tsunade repeated, a flash of recognition crossing her face.
In her mind, the image of Nawaki appeared his bright eyes and long brown hair, his innocent voice begging her to play games with him. The memory warmed her heart, reminding her that she wasn't completely alone in the world.
Yes, I still have my little brother, she thought, her emotions settling somewhat. She glanced at Orochimaru, who was running just ahead. For the first time, she noticed something in his posture a deep sadness hidden in the calmness of his demeanor.
"Orochimaru…" she whispered, as if realizing for the first time that despite his composed exterior, he had nothing left. He, too, had once had a family now, no one remained.
---
The Land of Grass was a small country wedged between the larger nations of Earth and Fire. Its borders touched four nations: the Land of Earth to the north, the Land of Fire to the east, the Land of Rain to the west, and the Land of Waterfalls to the south.
Caught between these larger powers, the Land of Grass had suffered constant conflict, much like the Land of Rice Fields. Yet, unlike the latter, the Land of Grass had its own shinobi village Grass Ninja Village whose strength, while not on par with the Five Great Nations, was nothing to be taken lightly.
This wasn't Orochimaru's first visit to the Land of Grass. He had come twice before over the past year. His memories of the place were tied to the Third Great Ninja War, where a decisive battle between Konoha and Iwagakure had taken place. The Land of Grass had been devastated by that war, ultimately forced to ally with Konoha due to the overwhelming strength of the Leaf.
In a world without telephones or modern communication systems, the exchange of information between countries still relied on letters and scrolls. Documents were delivered by hand, with ninja couriers entrusted with the task. Only in rare instances where both parties were highly familiar with one another could ninja beasts be used for communication. And even then, the process required specialized training and chakra perception abilities.
Thus, it fell to Orochimaru and his team to deliver Konoha's message to the daimyo of the Land of Grass. After a week of steady travel, filled with periods of walking and rest, the trio finally arrived at their destination.
During the journey, Orochimaru had noted subtle shifts in Tsunade's demeanor. Slowly but surely, her old self was beginning to resurface. He suspected that, in just a few more days, the confident and lively Tsunade would return.
---
Upon arriving at the entrance to the daimyo's mansion, two Grass ninjas stood guard, their expressions vigilant as they stepped forward to block Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya.
"A ninja from Konoha?" one of the guards asked, his tone respectful but firm.
The safety of a daimyo was paramount. Even in a small nation like the Land of Grass, the daimyo's bodyguards were highly capable, usually at least at the level of special jounin. Special jounin, while not as versatile as full-fledged jounin, were skilled specialists in particular areas of expertise, making them formidable in their own right.
Orochimaru spoke calmly, his gaze fixed on the mansion ahead. "We've come to deliver a letter to the daimyo."
The guards exchanged glances, then one of them nodded. "Wait here. I'll inform the daimyo."
With that, the Grass ninja turned and disappeared into the mansion, leaving the three to wait outside.
---
The daimyo was the political authority that even the Kage had to answer to, much like how generals in ancient times ultimately served emperors. Some might find it strange that powerful ninja followed the orders of seemingly weak civilians like daimyo, but the truth was that governing a country and commanding an army were two entirely different things. History had shown that generals who seized power often failed due to their lack of administrative skills. Ninjas, despite their abilities, were essentially tools of the state, not rulers.
The daimyo of the Land of Grass, like those of other smaller nations, had long accepted Konoha's influence. He was well aware of Konoha's power, and as such, welcomed Orochimaru and his companions without hesitation.
Despite the daimyo's offer of luxurious accommodations, the trio declined. They were accustomed to the freedom of their nomadic lifestyle and found the rigid formality of the daimyo's mansion uncomfortable. Instead, they chose to stay at a small inn in a nearby town, waiting for the daimyo's reply.
After settling into the inn, Orochimaru made preparations to leave once again.
"You're going out again?" Tsunade asked, puzzled as she watched Orochimaru gather his things.
Orochimaru nodded. "I need to attend to some matters while we wait for the daimyo's reply. You two can handle things here."
Tsunade frowned slightly. "How long will you be gone this time?"
"As usual," Orochimaru replied, his tone calm. "No more than two days."
Tsunade sighed but didn't press the issue. "Alright, but don't be gone too long."
With a nod, Orochimaru turned and left the inn, slipping into the quiet streets of the town as he made his way towards the outskirts.