This is all my money! Orochimaru: I want to meet Uchiha Dan

Good grief!

Tsunade regretted not coming to work at Konoha Hospital sooner. A Medical Ninja with superb medical skills was practically a walking money-printing machine.

After all, if someone was gravely ill and on the verge of death, as long as you could truly cure them, they would be willing to spend every last penny they had.

"My uncle and aunt said this money was meant for my wedding. Later, I'll have to hand it over to my wife for safekeeping." Uchiha Dan deliberately teased Tsunade.

Tsunade's eyes suddenly lit up, and she instantly perked up.

That would all be her money in the future!

But then she suddenly thought of something and asked worriedly, "What kind of reaction do you think Sensei will have to what happened today?"

"The fact that he hasn't come looking for me today means he hasn't decided how to deal with me yet."

"I originally planned to have Uchiha Fukuyama tell Hiruzen Sarutobi that I know the Flying Thunder God Technique, but now it seems he won't say anything. He'll cover it up for me instead."

"So let's wait a little longer. Once I find an opportunity to show off the Flying Thunder God Technique, it'll be time for me to have a proper talk with him."

"Will he..." Tsunade asked anxiously.

"Don't worry. Hiruzen Sarutobi has grown more and more indecisive these past two years. He's unlikely to act directly. Besides, by then, he should understand that I'm not someone he can deal with easily."

Five hours later, through the combined efforts of Uchiha Dan and Tsunade, the treatment of the seven Uchiha ninjas was finally complete.

Only Uchiha En had been completely crippled for life.

And his ruin would have no effect whatsoever on either Uchiha Dan or Uchiha Fukuyama.

Because he was the explanation Uchiha Fukuyama had chosen to give the Uchiha Clan.

Fortunately, Uchiha En had not woken up yet.

The moment he did, he would immediately be taken back to the Uchiha Clan to face everyone's fury and condemnation. He would never be able to hold his head up again for the rest of his life.

There had always been many ways to solve a problem.

Some matters needed to be reduced from major to minor, and from minor to nothing at all.

Others needed to be stirred up out of nothing, turning small matters into big ones.

And one had to learn how to borrow momentum.

But at the end of the day, the most important thing of all was strength.

For example, if the one being bullied right now had not been Uchiha Dan, but an ordinary doctor at Konoha Hospital, then even if that doctor had been no less clever than Uchiha Dan, what could he have done to Uchiha En?

Likewise, if Uchiha Dan had not mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique and had been treated this way by Uchiha En, what would he have done?

Most likely, Uchiha Dan would not have chosen to provoke the other party. He would have been forced to let the matter go.

Before absolute strength, any scheme or trick was nothing but futile.

Hashirama Senju was the best example.

Over the years, countless people had tried to scheme against him.

Who hadn't heard that even Kakuzu had once thrown a Shuriken from eight hundred li away, nearly killing the God of Shinobi?

Of course, that was a joke.

Over all those years, the only person who could be said to have successfully plotted against Hashirama Senju was Madara Uchiha.

And when Madara Uchiha plotted against Hashirama Senju, what he relied on in the end was still raw strength.

If Madara Uchiha could not even get close to Hashirama Senju, and could not use Izanagi, then all his schemes would have been empty talk.

Whenever Uchiha Dan thought of this, his desire for strength grew even stronger.

The next day, Tsunade left home as usual, preparing to head to Konoha Hospital for work.

She was thinking about what she and Uchiha Dan should eat later when a figure blocked her path.

"Tsunade, long time no see."

"Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked in puzzlement. "What a rare guest. You actually came looking for me on your own initiative."

Although they had known each other for many years and had once been companions who trained together day and night, Tsunade still felt a deep bond of fellowship with Orochimaru.

However, the two did not usually interact much. They were both busy with their own affairs, so she was rather surprised.

"Of course I came to you because I have something important to discuss." Orochimaru said with a faint smile.

Pointing toward a shop not far away, Orochimaru continued, "I reserved a private room at that teahouse. How about we talk there?"

"Hmph, there's definitely nothing good about you suddenly coming to see me. I'd like to see what medicine you're selling!"

Inside the private room, Orochimaru fiddled with the tea set, showing off his tea-making skills.

"Go on, what exactly is this about?" Tsunade had always disliked empty formalities. Like Uchiha Dan, she had never cared much for tea ceremony, so she asked directly.

"You're still the same as before. No patience at all." Orochimaru did not mind and continued making tea.

"My patience depends on the person!"

"True. For example, you're especially patient with Lord Dan." Orochimaru said with a slight smile.

The moment Tsunade heard Dan's name, her gaze sharpened. "What exactly are you trying to say? Make yourself clear!"

"Actually, I don't like making tea either, because it wastes too much time," Orochimaru said with the same faint smile. "But we'll be talking for quite a while today, so please be patient."

Three minutes later, Orochimaru handed a cup of tea to Tsunade, then poured himself a cup and began sipping it slowly.

Orochimaru was not angered by Tsunade's bad temper.

After all these years, he understood Tsunade's personality very well.

Tsunade never liked to hide her emotions. Everything showed on her face, and she had always been straightforward and aboveboard.

But Orochimaru believed that if they were on the battlefield, he could entrust his back to Tsunade without the slightest hesitation.

That was enough for him. Would Orochimaru care about anything else?

"Here's the thing: I'd like to get acquainted with Uchiha Dan, and I hope you can introduce me to him." After letting Tsunade stew for a while, Orochimaru finally revealed his purpose.

"You don't need my permission to meet Dan. He has the right to make friends himself, so why are you telling me?" Ever since Orochimaru mentioned Uchiha Dan, Tsunade had remained highly vigilant.

"Telling you is precisely proof that I bear Lord Dan no ill intentions," Orochimaru explained. "I'm willing to put everything out in the open and have you introduce us only because I hope my first meeting with Lord Dan can be pleasant."

"Didn't Sensei send you?" Tsunade frowned and asked.

"Of course not. Do you think he would be willing to see me come into contact with Lord Dan?"

"That's true!" Tsunade pondered for a moment. "Then was it Shimura Danzō's idea?"

Orochimaru glanced at Tsunade in slight surprise.

He truly had not expected Tsunade to know even something this secretive.

Whenever he met with Shimura Danzō, they had always avoided everyone else. Only the two of them knew.

No, Uchiha Dan!

Orochimaru immediately understood.

Moreover, Uchiha Dan must have merely guessed; he had no concrete evidence.

Having figured it out, Orochimaru shook his head again. "Shimura Danzō and I are merely partners, but he cannot influence any of my decisions. So it has nothing to do with him—it was my own idea."

"Of course, in return, I'll also help you with something," Orochimaru continued.

"I don't think there's anything I need your help with," Tsunade said coldly.

"No, there is!" Orochimaru said confidently. "Because you've recently run into a problem, and that problem is also related to Lord Dan."

"You... were you spying on me?" Tsunade asked, her gaze icy and her tone hostile.