Uncle Didn't Dote on You for Nothing

"Isn't this Teleportation?"

With that thought, Orochimaru eagerly gave it a try.

The next instant, his figure vanished from where he stood. Unlike the Body Flicker Technique, it required no hand seals. When he reappeared, he was already fifty meters ahead.

"This feeling... at the moment my body vanished, I really did briefly disappear from this world. But it seems to consume Chakra?"

Unlike ordinary movement techniques, which consumed stamina, Sonido actually consumed Chakra, much like Flying Thunder God.

A few breaths later, Orochimaru had returned to his workshop.

He had gained a preliminary understanding of this newly acquired skill. Other than being unable to remain suspended in midair, he could teleport at high speed whether on the ground or in the air.

"Maybe someday I should learn from Minato and take girls out under the moon?"

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Orochimaru began reviewing the materials in his hands. Research came first for now. He needed results as soon as possible; otherwise, with his current Chakra, he would only be able to use Sonido a few times.

In the Original Work, Orochimaru had modified his body into a soft-bodied form and even turned his true body into White Snake Sage Mode.

Although that had greatly increased his Chakra, that method was clearly not what the current Orochimaru wanted.

He believed that with his experience, comprehension, and reserve of knowledge, he could forge an entirely new path.

He became so absorbed in reading that he lost track of time, until a burst of knocking came from outside the workshop.

"Orochimaru, where the hell did you die off to?!"

"Hm? That's Tsunade's voice. Why is she here?"

Puzzled, he opened the workshop door and found Tsunade standing there with an angry expression.

"Do you need something?"

Seeing Orochimaru's utterly clueless look only made Tsunade angrier.

"Look what time it is! Aren't you going home to cook?"

Only after Tsunade reminded him did he realize. Looking at the sky, which had already gone dark, he said somewhat sheepishly, "I was a little busy today and forgot to check the time."

"Hmph...!"

With that, he headed toward the kitchen. His workshop had been converted from one of the side rooms in Tsunade's home, and there was also a laboratory inside. He usually conducted his research here when he had nothing else to do, so Tsunade naturally knew exactly where to find him.

An hour later, he had prepared a table full of sumptuous dishes. Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune were already seated.

"Come on, let's wish Shizune a happy birthday!"

Jiraiya was the first to raise his cup. The others followed suit in celebration, while Shizune raised a cup of juice and clinked it with everyone.

That was right, today was Shizune's birthday. Tsunade had informed Orochimaru beforehand, and Orochimaru had agreed to prepare a lavish dinner.

He just hadn't expected the Third Hokage to assign him a new appointment that day. After returning and studying the materials, he had forgotten to check the time again.

No wonder Tsunade had gotten angry. Whenever Orochimaru did not have time to cook, she would usually take Shizune out to eat. But this time, he had promised.

"Shizune, dinner was late today. It's all because your Uncle Snake never checks the time!"

Jiraiya was the first to scold Orochimaru. As far as he was concerned, he would never pass up a chance to take a jab at him.

Tsunade rolled her eyes at Orochimaru as well, leaving him with nothing but a helpless wry smile.

"It's fine. Uncle Snake has just been busy with work. I don't blame him, and the food he made today is so delicious."

Shizune was quite understanding and spoke up for Orochimaru. Orochimaru, meanwhile, placed a chicken leg in her bowl.

"Uncle didn't dote on you for nothing! Look at these two heartless ingrates. They eat the food I make, yet they still scold your uncle."

At Orochimaru's words, Tsunade stepped on his foot—not too hard—while Jiraiya retorted, "That's where you're wrong, Comrade Orochimaru. If you make a mistake, you have to accept the organization's criticism. How can you call that scolding?"

Knowing he was in the wrong, Orochimaru did not argue further. Instead, he ate while thinking about the contents of the Second Hokage's materials.

"What are you thinking about during dinner?"

Seeing Orochimaru zoning out even while eating, Tsunade spoke up. She knew he must have run into something; otherwise, whenever he was too busy with experiments to cook, he would tell her in advance.

"Hiruzen-sensei summoned me today."

When they heard that it involved their teacher, both of them paused slightly with their chopsticks. Only Shizune remained unaware, still gnawing on her chicken leg.

"He asked me to oversee a research project concerning... your grandfather!"

Orochimaru did not beat around the bush and said it outright, his eyes turning toward Tsunade.

Upon hearing it was research concerning the First Hokage, Tsunade and Jiraiya immediately guessed most of the truth.

Seeing that Tsunade merely looked somewhat displeased rather than having an extreme reaction, Orochimaru finally relaxed. He had thought she would fly into a rage.

After all, the First Hokage was her grandfather. He had protected Konoha in life, only to be used for research after death. It was indeed rather disrespectful to the dead.

"You're not angry?"

Jiraiya was still the more reckless one, asking directly.

"What good would being angry do? Could I stop it?"

"The three of us could go talk to Sensei. Maybe we could—"

"Enough, Jiraiya!"

Before Jiraiya could finish, Tsunade interrupted him. Clearly, she did not want to discuss the matter any further.

Though the three of them had gained some reputation and could participate in Konoha's circles of power, the fact that this project had been approved meant that Konoha's four top officials had reached a consensus.

If other clans were pushing for it from behind the scenes as well, then changing the decision would be even more impossible.

Besides, their teacher was the Third Hokage. Were they supposed to make things difficult for their own teacher?

If they pressed him, people would say they lacked the bigger picture, that they were immature. If they did not, then it was Tsunade's grandfather, and that did not sit right either.

Tsunade could only hope that the Third Hokage would show some restraint and not take things too far.

As for Orochimaru, Tsunade knew he was merely carrying out orders. Research was research, no matter what he studied.

Sensing that the atmosphere had become somewhat heavy, Orochimaru spoke up. "Shizune, how is life at the Ninja Academy? Who has the best grades and who has the worst in your class?"

When Orochimaru brought up the students with the best and worst academic performance, Shizune did not need to think at all. Two names immediately came to mind.

"Kakashi Hatake and Obito Uchiha."

Orochimaru was no stranger to those two names. In the Original Work, Kakashi had graduated from the Ninja Academy at the age of five, which would be next year. Shizune, Obito, and Rin Nohara, meanwhile, still had three years left to study.

As for Obito, he was like Jiraiya: a perennial Dead Last.

When Orochimaru glanced at Jiraiya, Jiraiya immediately took offense.

"Hey, Orochimaru, I feel like you're taking a dig at me! What's wrong with being a Dead Last? I think that Obito Uchiha is pretty good. In the future, he'll definitely become a ninja only a little worse than the great me."

"Yes, yes. Back then, you were only a tiny bit worse than Obito too."

Hearing the two bicker, Tsunade, who had been quietly eating beside them, could not help the corners of her lips curving upward.