Konoha

Sandaime smoked in silence, and Orochimaru said nothing either.

He seemed to be enjoying this moment of leisure.

Or perhaps he was using the excuse of congratulating his teacher on moving house to slack off.

That was what Sandaime thought to himself.

After all, he could guess that Orochimaru had surely been exhausted lately. The aftermath of the Nine-Tails' Rampage, sorting out and balancing the relationships between the various factions in the village after becoming Hokage, and preparing and rolling out the Joint Security Company plan—all of it required his attention as Hokage.

With such a string of matters piled onto one person, anyone who was not made of iron would be exhausted.

Sandaime studied Orochimaru and found that he did indeed look somewhat drained.

Before long, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly and leaned back, apparently taking the chance to get some rest.

Sandaime did not wish to disturb him and rose to his feet.

However, the sound of him getting up seemed to disturb Orochimaru, who had been trying to rest.

"Teacher, where are you going?"

"You look exhausted. I didn't want to disturb you."

"You're not disturbing me. I'm only a little tired. I've been using Shadow Clones too much lately."

Using Shadow Clones too much?

I see. The Shadow Clone technique really did make fatigue accumulate easily.

That was one important reason it was considered a forbidden technique. Some people had used Shadow Clones for intensive work, building up too much fatigue. The moment they released the technique, all that fatigue rushed into their minds at once, resulting in brain death.

Of course, as Hokage and one of the world's strongest people, Orochimaru would not suffer such severe consequences as long as he used Shadow Clones in moderation to assist with his work.

But fatigue was still unavoidable.

"Then get some proper rest."

"Mm."

Orochimaru nodded.

He closed his eyes again.

Sandaime softened his footsteps even further and went somewhere he would be less likely to disturb Orochimaru as he smoked.

Orochimaru did not rest for long. After roughly half an hour, he woke up.

He looked far more refreshed. He had probably used some technique to fall into a deep sleep and relieve his fatigue as much as possible.

Feeling considerably refreshed, Orochimaru walked over to the crib and looked at Naruto inside.

"He will definitely become a strong man in the future."

Orochimaru made that assertion.

"As long as he makes good use of the Nine-Tails' power, he is destined to become strong," Sandaime said from where he sat nearby.

Orochimaru shook his head.

"Teacher, at such a young age, he can already contain the sealed Nine-Tails. That shows how astonishing the amount of Chakra he was born with is. Even without the Nine-Tails, his Chakra would probably be so abundant as to astonish people."

"After all, he has Uzumaki blood."

"That is certainly one reason, but it should also be related to the fact that he was born from a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Perhaps the Nine-Tails' Chakra affected him and pushed the potency of his Uzumaki bloodline to its utmost limit."

"Perhaps that is the case." Sandaime nodded. "You should know that the Uzumaki are distant relatives of the Senju."

Orochimaru nodded as well.

Yes, the Uzumaki were distant relatives of the Senju. The two clans had allied and intermarried throughout generations, and their relationship was extremely close.

Both possessed astonishing amounts of Chakra.

And the limit of the Senju bloodline had been displayed in Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage.

With Hashirama Senju as an example, it was not surprising for another Uzumaki Naruto to be born with a startlingly vast amount of Chakra.

"Then Naruto, who is destined to become strong, will be in your care, Teacher. Please guide him well."

Sandaime waved a hand.

"He is Yondaime's child. It is only right."

Orochimaru then reached out and touched Naruto's sleeping face. Seeing Naruto frown slightly in his sleep as though he felt discomfort, he smiled and withdrew that pale, somewhat cold hand.

"Then I will take my leave."

He had come under the pretext of congratulating his teacher on moving house to take a break, while also visiting Naruto, Yondaime's son and the village's important Jinchuriki.

Now that he had done what he came to do and rested a little, it was time to leave.

Sandaime silently smoked as he watched Orochimaru walk out of his new home...

After leaving, Orochimaru saw Yamato.

And upon seeing Orochimaru, Yamato became somewhat nervous.

Orochimaru looked at the dirt staining Yamato's body and the livelier look in his eyes. Root's aura was gradually fading from Yamato, and he seemed to be slowly returning to normal.

"Lord Fifth." Though nervous, Yamato still stepped forward to greet him.

After all, Lord Orochimaru was the village's Hokage.

And he himself was an important Wood Release Ninja in the village.

When he encountered Hokage-sama, he ought to show his respects.

Orochimaru smiled and gave a light nod.

"Yamato, seeing that you are doing so well puts my mind at ease."

"Thank you for your concern, Hokage-sama."

Yamato immediately bowed.

"What are you doing?"

"...I'm growing things," Yamato said uneasily.

He was somewhat worried that using the village's important Wood Release Ninjutsu to grow things would displease Lord Orochimaru.

"May I see what you have grown?"

"...Please follow me."

Thus, Orochimaru followed Yamato to Sakin at the nearby Orphanage, where there were several vegetable gardens and orchards planted with a great many vegetables and fruits.

They could also see Orphanage staff in nun's habits, along with some children, picking vegetables and fruit in the gardens and orchards.

Seeing Lord Orochimaru looking at the scene, Yamato said somewhat sheepishly, "I heard people at the Orphanage complaining that some vegetables were expensive, while the director required the children to maintain a balanced diet. So I used Wood Release to grow vegetables and fruit, to lessen everyone's daily burden at the Orphanage."

"You did very well." Orochimaru smiled and stroked Yamato's head.

That gave Yamato the courage to speak again. "Last night, Sandaime told me that I could use Wood Release to breed seeds and cultivate excellent, high-yield varieties. If we can spread these high-yield seeds, more people will be able to fill their stomachs!"

Orochimaru froze slightly, then nodded.

He fell into thought.

Yamato did not dare disturb him.

After a while, Orochimaru looked at him again, smiled lightly, and patted his head.

"That is an excellent idea. If you can truly accomplish it, many people will be able to continue into their futures because of you."

Hearing such praise, Yamato could not help but smile.

"However, a future that can continue is not necessarily a happy one. It may be painful."

Orochimaru spoke again.

He looked toward the distant sky.

Yamato also fell silent and looked at his hands, which were stained with yellow mud.

"Of course, whether the future is painful..." Orochimaru lowered his hand and looked at the thriving orchard and vegetable gardens before him. "...is our responsibility as adults. If we can bear everything well and carry the future onward with greater hope, then you can plant even more beautiful seeds in that more hopeful future."

"..."

"Then the seeds will take root and sprout, growing stronger leaves."

"Wood Leaf?"

"Yes. Wood Leaf."

Orochimaru turned around.

He left behind one final sentence.

"Wood Leaf is nurtured by hope, and the direction in which it extends is the future everyone longs for..."

Watching silently as Orochimaru's figure completely vanished from sight, Yamato looked once more at the orchard and vegetable gardens he had created.

Not long afterward.

A gust of wind swept past.

Tender leaves fluttered in the breeze.