Agreeing to the Plan and Staying Away from the Land of Fire
"While it may not be true immortality, it's enough for me!"
"Hehe, let's cut to the chase. You've come all this way here today, you're not here to catch up, tell me your purpose!" Tianqi said casually, taking a sip of wine.
In fact, he already guessed why Orochimaru had come. At this point in time, Orochimaru only had one thing to do: the thing that would advance the plot was about to happen.
"Hehe, as expected of Tianqi, you are still so perceptive. I do need your help this time, but I don't know if you can help your little brother with this favor?"
"This isn't like you. It seems this matter is quite serious. I'm really curious what kind of favor it is that can make Orochimaru, the leader of the Sannin, bow down!" Tianqi looked Orochimaru up and down with curiosity.
According to the original story, he could have completed that plan by himself; there was absolutely no need for him to drag me along.
"Hehe, I'm sure you'd be happy to help with this. Next June Chunin Promotion Season, I'm going to execute the Konoha Crush Plan, with my sights set on the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi!"
After hearing Orochimaru's words, Tianqi's face remained expressionless, but inwardly he thought, "Just as I expected."
"You don't have any deep-seated grudge against Konoha, do you? Pointing your sword at your teacher is a bit puzzling. Let me guess, your beloved student, in order to maintain the most perfect image of his teacher in his heart, has decided to end his teacher here, so that his teacher can forever keep that perfect image, right?"
Seeing that Tianqi had directly expressed his true feelings, Orochimaru didn't refute him. Instead, he said calmly, "Our teacher is old. He's no longer the Hero of Shinobi he once was. One wrong decision after another proves that. I used to strive to be his role model. He was my idol. But this weak and incompetent Third Hokage is truly disappointing. Rather than watching him continue to be so incompetent, it's better to end him here and at least preserve the name of the hero of the Hero of Shinobi from being despised!"
"What a touching bond between master and disciple! Sarutobi has indeed grown old, and he truly Jonin's now!"
So you're saying you agree to help me?
Upon hearing this, Tianqi did not answer immediately but fell silent. He could help or not help, but the situation was a bit different now. He had eliminated Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura from the Konoha Elder Council. Once Sarutobi Hiruzen died, there would be no more checks and balances between the two. It was hard to say whether the other clan leaders could suppress Shimura Danzō. Now was not the time for Danzo to take power.
Seeing Tianqi fall silent, Orochimaru spoke again, "I don't think you have a reason to refuse me. I don't believe you have no resentment towards the Third Hokage regarding Sen'u; he's your own son. Brother Tianqi, I don't believe you're that kind of heartless person. This isn't the person I know!"
Hearing Orochimaru's words, Tianqi clenched his fists. No matter how much trouble Sen'u caused, he was still his own son. How could a father tolerate the murderer of his son living freely? The reason he had been suppressing his impulse to kill Sarutobi Hiruzen was to prevent his plans from being disrupted. He had originally thought that Sarutobi Hiruzen killed Orochimaru, he could just whip his corpse and be done with it. But now that Orochimaru had suddenly come after him, it had disrupted his plans.
"Brother Tianqi!"
"Alright, I'll do it. Since Sarutobi Hiruzen is so heartless, then don't blame me for being ruthless. The friendship we once had was gone when he tried to take action against Sen'u. You handle this, and I will definitely cooperate fully with you!" In the end, Tianqi gritted his teeth and agreed. The hatred for killing his son must be avenged; this was his bottom line, a bottom line that could not be crossed.
"Hahaha... Good, good, good! With Brother Tianqi joining us, the success rate of this mission is almost one hundred percent! I will definitely send my teacher away personally this time!" Orochimaru smiled when he saw that Tianqi had agreed.
After finalizing the arrangements, Orochimaru left his contact information and address and then departed.
In preparation for the collapse of Konoha six months later, Tianqi took Karura, Tsunade, and two others far from Land of Fire Konoha and traveled to some small neighboring countries.
In the spring of the following year, Orochimaru began a series of plans and arrangements. In March of the same year Tianqi and his companions, who were wandering in small countries, arrived in the Land of Land of Waves by water.
On the wooden boat Tsunade looked at the sea and kept complaining.
"What a terrible place! It's all just seawater, nothing but seawater. It's not even as good as where we were before. It's no fun at all!"
"You have the nerve to say that? Didn't you say you wanted to change places because the old place was too boring? Now you're complaining here. Isn't that a bit hypocritical?" Tianqi looked at Tsunade speechlessly. He was tired of her constant complaining.
"I told you to go somewhere else, not to bring me to this godforsaken place! There are plenty of prosperous places out there, why do you insist on wandering around these small countries? Not only are they chaotic, but there's nothing fun about them at all. Thieves have robbed us so many times. I just don't understand why you always like to wander around small countries. Isn't the Land of Land of Fire fun enough? Honestly!"
Upon hearing this, Tianqi was momentarily at a loss for words. He couldn't very well say that he was taking you to wander around in a small country because he was afraid you would disrupt Konoha's collapse plan; he couldn't say that.
After a moment's quiet thought, Tianqi's eyes darted around, and he immediately came up with an explanation. He said calmly, "I'm taking you around to small countries so you can see how difficult things are there, and to broaden your perspective!"
"What big picture? I'm just an unarmed woman, what do I need a big picture for? Besides, even if the sky falls, you're tall enough to hold it up, what do I have to worry about?" Tsunade said nonchalantly.
"You can't say that. Perhaps one day witnessing the experiences of small countries will be helpful to you, for example..."
"For example? For example what?"
"Hehe, for example, if you become the Hokage of Konoha, then this kind of experience would be extremely useful!"
"Hokage? Hokage, what a load of rubbish! Whoever wants that position can sit there, but I'll never sit there!" Tsunade with a look of disdain. She had absolutely no interest in the Hokage position and even disliked it a bit.
"Don't be so sure of yourself. Perhaps one day this position will truly come to you. After all, you are the princess of the Land of Fire, personally appointed by the daimyo!"
"Heh, what use is such an empty title to the princess of the Land of Fire?"
Seeing this, Tianqi didn't say anything more. He had no way to deal with Tsunade and could only rely on a hot-blooded, chuunibyou (delusional) youth to awaken her. Without his own hot-bloodedness and chuunibyou attributes, he really had no way to help her.