Upon hearing Kazahana Dōtō's reprimand, the three dared not make any further moves. They then looked at Kazahana Dōtō with delight, and then at Orochimaru.
"This sir is your new master, and also my master. Do not be rude!"
Hearing this, everyone was dumbfounded. Was the king being threatened? He clearly was.
But the situation clearly showed them that circumstances were beyond their control. Since Orochimaru had the power to set things up, he also had the power to overturn the table.
"Anyone who disagrees can step forward. Let's see who has the guts! I've finished speaking. Who agrees? Who disagrees?"
Under Orochimaru's cold, serpentine gaze, the three of them lowered their heads and dared not utter a sound.
We're all just trying to make a living. We've already done our best for the boss. We only make a few hundred yuan a month. Why are we risking our lives like this?
Finding that none of the people in front of him spoke, Orochimaru simply stepped forward and had them open their minds one by one, then branded them with the mark of loyalty in the same way.
After he did all that, the others looked at him with awe. Although he had been branded, it hadn't affected their personalities. Well, now they were all on his side.
The two were sent down to heal their Kazahana Dōtō, while the less seriously injured Mizore Fuyukuma, was left behind, having only been knocked unconscious by Orochimaru's clone.
"Take me to meet your Koyuki Princess!"
Upon receiving Orochimaru's order, the Snow Ninja, Flying Mizore Fuyukuma, who was not much older than Guren, obediently led the way.
"My lord, Princess Koyuki has been arranged to stay in her bedroom in the garden behind the palace."
To put it nicely, they were placed there; to put it bluntly, they were placed under house arrest.
Orochimaru and Guren followed Feixue slowly through the vast palace. It was already past ten o'clock at night. Although the palace was brightly lit, it was deserted.
"Sir, is that all?"
Guren looked at Orochimaru with a somewhat dazed expression. Was it a bit too much to just conquer a country like that?
"Without strength, even the largest fortune cannot be preserved!"
Orochimaru's words were full of sarcasm. He said that all the major powers were thinking about attacking the Land of Fire all day long. The Land of Fire had a good geographical location and was rich in resources.
But your own country needs to develop its economy. If you don't develop your economy, where will you get the money to train ninjas and support your army?
The Bloody Mist Politics of the Land of Water has been in place for many years, reaching its darkest point after Yagura came to power.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were relegated to the status of "lucky three treasures" (a derogatory term implying misfortune or inequality). Even with such national strength, they were still among the Five Great Nations, which shows just how pathetic the other smaller nations were.
"Sir, why keep the Kazahana Dōtō '? Wouldn't it be better to just replace it directly?"
Guren, still somewhat puzzled, asked, "If Orochimaru wanted to become king, shouldn't it be a story of the old king falling and the new king ascending the throne?"
"What's so great about being a little king? Kazahana Dōtō is still somewhat valuable; keeping him around is still useful."
Although his research ability is not as good as his brother, Kazahana Sōsetsu, he is not entirely useless. The Chakra Armor worn by these ninjas shows that he still has some ability.
However, the current Chakra Armor is obviously not as technologically advanced as it will be more than ten years later; it is probably still in the early research stage.
The two chatted for a while and soon arrived at the garden behind the palace. The palace was so winding that it was easy to get lost without a guide.
Upon arriving at the door of a room, they found two Snow Ninja guarding the entrance.
"Lord Feixue!"
Upon seeing Feixue, the two quickly bowed, clearly demonstrating their authority as guards of Kazahana Dōtō.
"Open the door!"
Upon receiving the order, the two did not hesitate. They were just two ordinary Genin and dared not disobey.
"My lord, Princess Koyuki is inside."
Feixue stepped aside and respectfully invited Orochimaru inside. Orochimaru saw a little girl sitting by the bed at the door and, without hesitation, stepped inside.
"Did Kazahana Dōtō send you to kill me? Now he's even too lazy to hide it anymore?"
Kazahana Koyuki said to Orochimaru with a mocking expression, her eyes filled with intense hatred.
Hearing her words, Orochimaru wasn't annoyed. Instead, he smiled and said to her:
"I'm not here to kill you. I've already dealt with Kazahana Dōtō, and he will no longer be your enemy!"
Orochimaru spread his hands, explaining the current situation.
Upon hearing this, Kazahana Koyuki didn't burst into tears and bow down in worship. Instead, she looked at Orochimaru with some disdain, her eyes seeming to say, "Do I look like a fool? So easily fooled?"
"Seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving! No amount of talking will help; you should see for yourself!"
He stepped forward, grabbed her arm, and led her outside. Such a big matter couldn't be resolved with just words. He might consider it someday after he learned Talk no Jutsu.
"Hey, let me go! Where are you taking me?"
Koyuki Princess was being pulled forward, constantly tugging at Orochimaru's arm, her feet staggering and refusing to move forward.
But her calves couldn't fight off his thighs, and before long she gave up struggling, panting as Orochimaru dragged her to the medical department in the palace.
No one dared to stop him along the way, and soon Koyuki saw the scene she had longed to see most.
Kazahana Dōtō lay on the hospital bed, covered in various tubes, completely unconscious. Judging from his appearance, he must have just undergone bone-setting surgery.
Upon seeing Orochimaru return, Nadare Rōga and Fubuki Emishi quickly got off their sickbeds and knelt down on one knee to pay their respects to Orochimaru.
"Well? Do you believe me now?"
Orochimaru habitually rubbed her head, which displeased Guren, who looked at Kazahana Koyuki with a wary gaze.
Seeing the stunned Kazahana Koyuki, Orochimaru continued speaking to the avalanche trio:
"From now on, the three of you will serve Princess Koyuki, and she will be your direct superior!"
"Yes...!"
The three bowed their heads in agreement, expressing no complaints about the arrangement. There was one more thing they didn't say: their highest superior was, of course, Orochimaru.
"From now on, you will be the Queen of the Land of Snow. Your uncle has other plans. In a couple of days, he will announce his abdication to you to the people of the Land of Snow!"
The surprise came too suddenly. She was just thinking about how to escape the Land of Snow, and now she's the queen? Kazahana Koyuki felt like she was under Genjutsu; it all seemed a little unreal.
Thinking of this, she quickly pinched her cheek. "Ouch, that really hurts!"
Thank you! Thank you so much!
Kazahana Koyuki was so excited that she knelt down and kowtowed several times to Orochimaru.
Why are people kowtowing to him so often lately? But Orochimaru didn't stop her.
She accepted this great gift with a clear conscience; it was indeed well-deserved that it helped her reclaim the throne of the Land of Snow more than ten years ahead of schedule.
"Alright! From now on, you'll be the Queen. It wouldn't be good if others saw this!"
Orochimaru knelt down and wiped her tear-streaked face, while gently tapping her forehead with two fingers.