Orochimaru and the Crystal Coffin's Strange Bond

Shirou Emiya has never liked this era.

As she grew up, Tsunade learned some things.

For example, her grandmother, Mito Uzumaki, mentioned that Shirou Emiya disliked this era. He always hated all wars and ninja battles, hated the ninjas' infighting, hated people's deception and concealment, and hated everything about this era.

Except for her.

Shirou Emiya has always liked her when she was a child.

As a child, she aspired to become a medical ninja, making her the only person to inherit the will of a medical ninja from Shirou Emiya.

Unfortunately...

Tsunade recalled her years as a ninja. As she grew up, she was not just a medical ninja. She inevitably became one of the ninja groups that Shirou Emiya hated for the sake of Konoha. She even became a ninja in the war.

Anyone who joins the war will inevitably be stained with blood; there will always be someone who wants to kill her, and naturally, she will also be killed by the more powerful her.

Even·

She used the power that person gave her to fight.

No.

Not necessarily.

Because that person will always save the world.

No matter how much he dislikes the world, he will still strive to save those who suffer, just as he tirelessly treats the severely wounded in war, and just as he would proactively use his reputation to quell the First Shinobi World War. Salamander Hanzo was absolutely right.

Actually-.

If he were still alive.

The world certainly won't become that bad.

"Let's go."

"Go back and report to the village—"

As Tsunade spoke, she walked toward her teammates, frowning as she wiped her hands, trying to clean away the mud and blood.

"Tsunade, use this."

Orochimaru tore off his shawl and handed it to her.

Although Orochimaru didn't quite understand why Tsunade was so concerned about her hands at this moment, he knew that Tsunade must be feeling somewhat uncomfortable with the war.

As a teammate, Orochimaru was very tolerant.

"Ha, how can you use your shawl?"

Tsunade to refuse Orochimaru. She rubbed her hands together and had no choice but to give up, laughing self-deprecatingly.

"Never mind.."

"It's impossible to clean it properly anyway."

"Ha ha·-""

Jiraiya's arm was still draped over Orochimaru's shoulder. He was somewhat relieved by the victory and chuckled, "Find a clean place, a quick wash will do the trick—"

"Is that so?"

Tsunade couldn't manage a smile.

When she couldn't help but look up at the gloomy sky of the Rain Country, watching the raindrops falling from the dark clouds, she suddenly uttered a disheartening remark.

Are there still clean places in this era?

Orochimaru and Jiraiya fell silent.

In fact.

There was no clean place at all.

Even everywhere was filled with darkness and mud.

After the battle ended, while they were resting near the battlefield, they encountered three orphans carrying bread who had stepped into the battlefield.

Yahiko, Nagato, Konan.

The three orphans' purpose was simple: they hoped to learn Ninjutsu from Jiraiya often traveled the Shinobi World and had left behind a reputation as a chivalrous knight.

Although they longed to learn from another ninja as their teacher, unfortunately, that ninja didn't have time for the three of them.

"Are you still able to buy bread?"

Orochimaru glanced at the breadcrumbs in his hand, then looked warily at the large loaves of bread in the orphans' backpacks. "If they can still buy bread during this time of war, they don't seem like ordinary orphans."

"Ah, no."

Yahiko quickly explained, hoping the other party would understand. "This is what we received from Kakuzu yesterday. Kakuzu has been distributing food."

"Kakuzu?"

"Yes."

Neither Nagato nor Konan, who were beside Yahiko, were good at communicating, so he could only explain earnestly himself, "Ever since the war broke out in the Rain Country, it must have been because everyone was having a hard time. So Kakuzu came here and has been distributing food to the refugees and personally sending children who have lost their parents to Orphanage in other countries."

They almost went to the Orphanage too.

Even when Kakuzu inquired about a woman named Fuso, he mentioned that Nagato and his clansmen were still alive and asked them to wait until he finished distributing the food before sending them away. However, Nagato refused because his friend Yahiko had the idea of world peace.

Okay.

Kakuzu also highly approves of the Uzumaki Clan's principles.

Anything entrusted to the Uzumaki Clan, these red-haired individuals will stubbornly strive to complete.

It's not easy to persuade them.

Pity.

Kakuzu are qualified teachers.

Moreover, Kakuzu's work is extremely busy.

Because he always needed to earn money, he didn't have time to guide the three kids in their training, and he didn't think becoming a ninja would be a good thing.

Even-

Before leaving, Kakuzu gave them a serious warning.

"If you become ninjas, you will die."

Once you become a ninja, you will inevitably be drawn into the struggles between ninjas. Even if you kill all the high-ranking members of Waterfall Village, you will not be able to escape from the ninja conflict.

Pity.

The three little devils had no desire to listen.

They chose another person who was also famous in the Shinobi World.

That's it.

Yahiko looked at Jiraiya and explained earnestly, "We originally wanted to learn from Kakuzu, but Kakuzu didn't have time for us. We also didn't want to go to the Orphanage. We wanted to become ninjas who could bring peace to the world—"

Jiraiya couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

How to write it?

How did I end up being considered as one of the three kids' options?

Do these three brats think I have time to take care of them?

"That man named Kakuzu is right."

Orochimaru's eyes were cold, his demeanor hardened by war. "Three brats like you could die on the battlefield at any moment. Even if you become ninjas, you're destined to die in battle. You'd be better off being sent to Orphanage to live as ordinary people—"

"Um?"

Tsunade couldn't help but look at the long-haired boy among them.

"Those eyes"

Jiraiya suddenly noticed the long-haired boy's eyes—legendary eyes, the eyes of the legendary Sage of Six Paths!

Rinnegan!

At this moment, Jiraiya recalled something the Great Toad Sage had said when he first arrived at Mount Myōboku: he was burdened with the destiny of finding and guiding a Child of Prophecy who would change the Shinobi World in the future!

As Jiraiya grew up, he began his journey through the Shinobi World, hoping to find the Child of Prophecy spoken of by the Great Toad Sage, but he never found anything.

Now·

He thinks he's found it!

This child with the Rinnegan might be the legendary Child of Prophecy!

"I'll stay and take care of them."

Jiraiya decided to stay and teach the three children.

This was the fate that the Great Toad Sage had said he would have to accept sooner or later, and he had even made preparations for it, believing that the war should come to an end.

"Anyway, there shouldn't be any more trouble."

Jiraiya looked at his two teammates somewhat embarrassedly. "Salamander Hanzo has surrendered."

The Shinobi World War should be coming to an end soon.

"But-"

Tsunade frowned involuntarily.

"This approach is somewhat reckless."

Orochimaru couldn't understand his companions' actions, but he was always willing to respect their choices. However, he also had a different opinion. "Perhaps letting the three of them leave with that guy named Kakuzu is the best option, because our war is far from over."

Yes.

It's not even the end yet.

It could even be said that this is just the beginning.

With the end of the war between Konoha and Hidden Rain Village, Konoha and Hidden Sand Village officially began their war. In this battle, Hatake Sakumo became famous for his superb swordsmanship and the Storm Release bloodline limit within him, and forcefully killed two of Hidden Sand Village's puppet master captains!

Same.

This has only fueled even greater hatred!

Elder Chiyo of Hidden Sand Village personally led the puppeteer army to the scene, forcing Miyō to send more troops to stop Hidden Sand Village's large-scale invasion.

In order to resist the army of Hidden Sand Ninja, Miyō even sent her newly graduated students to the battlefield, including Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki.

After Tsunade's grandmother, Mito Uzumaki, passed away after removing the Nine-Tails from her body, Tsunade only had Nawaki as her family, and she always doted on this younger brother.

"This is a treasure left by my Grandpa."

Tsunade gave her younger brother the pendant her Grandpa, Hashirama Senju, had given her, hoping it would bring him good luck. She then playfully tapped him on the forehead, saying, "Why can't you become a medical ninja like your older sister?"

"I will protect Konoha!"

"Become a hero who protects Konoha!"

Nawaki, displaying great determination, waved her little fist and exclaimed, "Sister, medical ninjas can't be heroes who protect Konoha!"

"Who said that!"

Tsunade casually punched him on the head.

"It hurts, it hurts."

Nawaki covered his head and stepped aside.

"Hehehehe—"

Orochimaru stood beside them, laughing heartily. It was true that medical ninjas had a hard time protecting Konoha, but that didn't necessarily mean they couldn't protect the world.

Pity·

The medical ninja who protects the world is a taboo in Konoha.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Orochimaru."

Tsunade entrusted her younger brother, who had just graduated, to her friend, hoping that Orochimaru could protect him during the war.

Unfortunately—

Tsunade ultimately underestimated the cruelty of war.

Because Jiraiya remained in the Rain Country, Tsunade and Orochimaru had to lead two forces to intercept the Sunagakure army. Konoha paid a heavy price to finally win the war, and this price finally fell on Tsunade's shoulders.

Nawaki.

Tsunade's younger brother died in battle.

"I'm sorry— Tsunade."

Orochimaru's face was covered in cold sweat as he held the Nawaki pendant, a keepsake that Tsunade had entrusted to him, but he had betrayed Tsunade trust.

Tsunade ignored Orochimaru and Earth Flow Nawaki's corpse.

The white cloth covering it was calmly removed.

Orochimaru stood outside the door, a hint of sadness in his eyes, whether for Nawaki's death or for feeling a sense of loss because of Nawaki's passing.

"Life is so fragile."

Death should not be the end of a life.

When a human dies, he loses everything: his family, his friends, and all the connections he had in this world.

Tsunade lingered in Nawaki's morgue for a long time before emerging. She took the pendant from Nawaki without blaming Orochimaru.

Fortunately.

The war is finally nearing its end.

Although more and more people died in the war, and the lives of many excellent Konoha ninjas were left forever on the battlefield, they finally achieved a hard-won victory in this war against Sunagakure after several years of effort.

Tsunade returned to Konoha Village.

She lay quietly in the medical ninja's Secret Chamber, holding the pendant left to her by the First Hokage, gazing at the silhouette in the coffin.

This scene...

It looks somewhat terrifying.

However, Tsunade seemed completely unafraid of the corpse. She remained lying in the Secret Chamber, rubbing the pendant in her hand, seemingly lost in thought.

Death is not the end of life.

Having experienced the loss of loved ones more than once, her heart should no longer be so fragile. The traces of the deceased remain in the hearts of the living, and they can live on forever.

Just as Tsunade was trying to convince herself to give up a dangerous idea, Orochimaru, who had been worried about her, found the Secret Chamber. He saw Tsunade lying dejectedly on a cot, and he also saw the Crystal Coffin placed in the middle of the Secret Chamber.

"Orochimaru, is something wrong?"

Tsunade raised her head somewhat dejectedly, her disheveled blonde hair draped around her neck. She seemed somewhat displeased that Orochimaru had entered the Secret Chamber.

Orochimaru shook his head, involuntarily taking steps toward it, for he too knew a legend about the Crystal Coffin: "This is—"

"That person's Crystal Coffin."

"It's said to be for medical ninjas to learn."

Tsunade sat up listlessly, never hiding anything from her teammate. "I was just thinking about learning a forbidden technique to revive Nawaki, but after thinking about it, I decided against it—it's such a desecration of the dead."

After all, she had seen Shirou Emiya with her own eyes.

At that time, Emiya Impure World Reincarnation Shirou Emiya.

"Like a living dead"

Tsunade picked up the pendant from her hand and casually tossed it onto the Crystal Coffin, as if she had finally let go of her resentment. "Nawaki probably wouldn't like living like him."

"And"

"Resurrecting one person would require sacrificing another person's life as a sacrifice."

Tsunade spoke candidly about Miyō's forbidden techniques and taboos. Looking at the silhouette inside the Crystal Coffin, she suddenly scoffed, "If I became that kind of ruthless ninja, I'd definitely disappoint him too. After all, I'm ultimately a medical ninja—"

During this time, she finally let go of her inner turmoil.

However, Tsunade failed to notice something else: a flicker of curiosity crossed Orochimaru's eyes.

It wasn't the Crystal Coffin that piqued my curiosity, but rather the half-corpse inside.

The ancient ninjas, including his teacher, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, the village's Hokage Danzo Shimura, and his friend Tsunade, all became exceptionally powerful because of the power bestowed upon them by that person. "Speaking of which..."

While tidying her disheveled blond hair, Tsunade casually asked, "Is Jiraiya coming back soon?"

"They should be back soon."

"The war between Hidden Stone Village and us is about to begin—"

Orochimaru mentioned the village's recent plan. "Our teacher and the two Hokage Advisor believe that we should take advantage of our great victory over Hidden Sand Village to crush the invading Iwagakure army in one fell swoop."

"Whatever."

Tsunade had long since become numb to war; she had finally become like a ninja, completely accepting her fate. "Just wait to carry out their orders—"

The war has finally come to an end.

With the arrival of the legendary Konoha's Sannin, Konoha finally won the victory over Hidden Stone Village, and the entire Shinobi World was left riddled with holes due to the Second Shinobi World War.

Although Jiraiya believed he had already found two, such as the child with the Rinnegan, he thought...

For example, he felt that his subordinates, Minato Namikaze, were both more talented than him, their teacher.

However, Jiraiya thought that might not be the case, and he needed to continue his journey.

"I'm also planning to travel."

"However, I will travel and receive treatment at the same time."

Standing Memorial Stone in Konoha, Tsunade recalled the stories she had heard in the past. She decided to walk the same path that Shirou Emiya had taken and, like Shirou Emiya, begin to save the world.

"I will stay in the village to continue learning more techniques."

"Master all the skills in the world, and know all the knowledge in the world."

Orochimaru's thirst for knowledge and power grew ever stronger.

"Alright."

"It would be inconvenient for me to go out."

Tsunade thought it was a good thing that one of her friends stayed in Konoha, and she planned to entrust her Crystal Coffin to Orochimaru: "I'll leave the things in that medical Secret Chamber to you for me to take care of. When the village lifts the ban on him someday, you can send them to the medical department. Anyway, they were originally just meant to be used as learning materials for medical ninjas—"

Orochimaru had already seen the Crystal Coffin.

Tsunade didn't think she needed to hide anything from Orochimaru anymore.

Besides, it's just something used by a medical ninja, so it should fulfill its full value in accordance with the legacy he left for the world.

"Remember to wipe it clean for me."

Tsunade bluntly instructed her friend to look after her.

"Good."

Orochimaru smiled and nodded, agreeing to his friend's request.

"What kind of care are you talking about?"

Jiraiya didn't quite understand their riddles.

"A very precious treasure."

Orochimaru shook his head and said softly, "You wouldn't be interested in that kind of treasure."

"Well, I don't know when we'll see each other again."

Jiraiya was very carefree and didn't ask about their secrets. He simply prepared to leave on his own.

Tsunade, however, remembered the teachings she received from Shirou Emiya. Among the children who were willing to learn Medical Ninjutsu, she found the niece of a fallen comrade and took the child with her on her journey.

The Konoha's Sannin.

Orochimaru was the only one left.

As Orochimaru diligently wiped the Crystal Coffin in the secret Secret Chamber as Tsunade had instructed, a narrow glint flashed in his eyes, as if he had seen some kind of treasure.

"I was hoping to find an opportunity to get it."

"I never expected Tsunade to entrust her affairs to me like this."

Orochimaru's hand landed on the Crystal Coffin, gently tracing the patterns on it. He recalled the scene when he first saw this Crystal Coffin and muttered to himself, "Tsunade, the forbidden technique you gave up that could revive Nawaki, I've decided to try learning it. But not to desecrate Nawaki's peaceful soul, but to obtain even greater power from this man."

"Tsunade, the Curse Mark on you, your teacher, and Danzo are powers that are incredibly enviable—"

"For power—"

There's nothing inherently wrong with using any means necessary.

"I am simply learning from the ninja I admire most— the Second Hokage who once brought shame upon Konoha."