After Reiki finished speaking, Orochimaru handed him a scroll, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
"Lord Orochimaru, I'm curious. How much of this does Danzo have, or is it all in his possession?" Reiki asked, examining the item he held.
"The Third Hokage has some as well. Danzo's stash has been considerably reduced," Orochimaru replied. "By the way, if this is a key component in your potion-making, you might consider collaborating with Sarutobi Hiruzen. He's quite interested in your work."
Reiki chuckled. "No, I don't intend to cooperate with him. But Lord Orochimaru, why do you want to kill the Sandaime?" His question shifted the tone abruptly, catching Orochimaru off-guard. The smile on the Sannin's face vanished, replaced by a flicker of shock.
This was something Orochimaru had never shared with anyone. How did Reiki know?
"Haha, you are quite the curious one," Orochimaru said, quickly masking his reaction.
"So, can you tell me?" Reiki asked calmly, his demeanor giving Orochimaru the strange impression that he already knew the answer. It was as if Reiki understood the motives but wanted to hear them confirmed.
"Yes," Orochimaru admitted, his voice tinged with bitterness. "But it's not because I seek the Hokage's position. If that were my ambition, my approach would be different."
Reiki remained silent, prompting Orochimaru to continue.
"After witnessing countless battles, I realized how fragile human life is. Power and glory are fleeting. My pursuit shifted beyond temporary achievements to something more enduring," Orochimaru said, his eyes gleaming with a deeper conviction.
"I know. I believe you'd also assist me in supporting Minato Namikaze as Hokage," Reiki interjected. "But what I want to know is why you specifically want to kill the Sandaime."
A shadow crossed Orochimaru's face. "Because he's my teacher," he said, a smile appearing, though it carried no joy.
Reiki's eyes widened. "That's your reason? Just because he's your teacher?" He was puzzled; it seemed there was no logical connection.
Orochimaru nodded. "Yes. When Hiruzen Sarutobi became Hokage, my teammates and I felt immense pride. We were his disciples, after all. Tsunade rose to prominence with her exceptional strength and medical skills. Jiraiya, despite his carefree nature, grew stronger after his training at Mount Myoboku. I became a feared warrior on the battlefield."
He paused, eyes distant as he recalled the past. "We thrived under the Third Hokage's glory. But power changed him. He became embroiled in questionable dealings, and his decisions started to harm Konoha's foundational families. The Senju clan, Tsunade's heritage, was the first to be targeted and diminished. Tsunade and Hiruzen grew apart. Jiraiya roamed the world, barely connected to Konoha's politics."
Reiki listened intently as Orochimaru continued. "Hiruzen worked alongside Danzo to suppress the other clans, especially the Uchiha. The once-great Senju had fallen, and the Uchiha were systematically undermined. The other clans stood by, unwilling to challenge the status quo."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. "I want to kill Sarutobi Hiruzen not as a power play, but to reclaim the integrity of my teacher—the ninja who once inspired us. I want him to fall as a Hokage, not as the man lurking in shadows."
Reiki took a moment to process Orochimaru's words. It was a far deeper and more personal reason than he had expected. He had thought Orochimaru's ambitions stemmed solely from a need for more freedom for his experiments, but this motive was different—almost noble, in a twisted way.
"I see... Then there's not much I can do to help you. I'm just a medical ninja, after all," Reiki said with a slight smile. "Alright, I'm rested enough. Let's continue the treatment."
Orochimaru watched as Reiki resumed the medical procedure, surprised by how quickly he had moved past such a heavy revelation. It was as if Reiki already anticipated such dark truths and merely filed them away without emotional reaction.
This composure impressed Orochimaru. Most would have been startled, perhaps even disturbed. But Reiki, after a brief pause, was back to healing him as if nothing had happened.
The treatment lasted late into the night.
**[Ding! Complete treatment of Orochimaru's body achieved. Acquired... a special fragment of the Fairy Land.]**
**[Ding! Fragments can be synthesized into complete items. Host is advised to proceed with synthesis.]**
Reiki's eyes widened at the notification. "A fragment that can be completed..."
He only had one thing in his inventory that required fragments: the map of the Fairy Land.
"Reiki, are you alright?" Orochimaru asked, noticing Reiki's surprised look.
"It's nothing. Lord Orochimaru, your body is fully healed now. If you sustain further damage, come to me for treatment early—it'll make things easier."
Reiki turned, handing Orochimaru a document. "This is from the Sanada Chamber of Commerce. I assume some of these arrangements are yours. The number of experimental subjects should suffice, so I suggest being less aggressive."
With those final words, Reiki disappeared into the night, leaving the carriage behind.
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>>>>>
Up to Chapter 550 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
Gimme power stonesssss
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