I, Orochimaru, Am Not Lying

Inside a private ward at the Konoha Hospital, a series of angry roars erupted.

"Orochimaru, what on earth are you playing at?"

The Third Hokage wore a look of fury. "Do you have any idea how much chaos you've caused in the village by appearing like that?"

It was one thing to injure yourself during training, but to be seen by so many people and collapse in public—were you trying to make the village's morale even more unstable?

"You're too cold-hearted, old man."

"Orochimaru" propped himself up against the pillows, his pale, gaunt face looking sickly.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly as he managed a faint smile. "Your adorable disciple is currently suffering from severe injuries."

Hearing such shameless pandering, the Third felt as if a basin of cold water had been dumped over his head, his rage abruptly stalling.

"Orochimaru, you..."

"Alright, old man, it's not like I intentionally got my body into this state. As for the villagers..."

"Orochimaru" stroked his chin and said unhurriedly, "Just tell them this was caused by a battle with the enemy who destroyed the village."

"Although I'm injured, I didn't die. That's good news, isn't it?"

"See, reasons and such are very easy to make up."

This method was indeed effective; given the current situation, it was an excellent way to handle things.

But this only made the Third feel suspicious and uneasy.

The Third suppressed his anger and asked, "Orochimaru, tell me the truth. Did you really encounter the enemy who controlled the Nine-Tails?"

In his eyes, Orochimaru was a political idiot who wouldn't go out of his way to think for the village. If he hadn't actually experienced it, why would he suggest such a strategy?

Logically, it should have been him proposing a similar plan and then having Orochimaru cooperate.

"Of course not. This is just a problem from my own training," "Orochimaru" insisted firmly.

"I'll let it slide this time, Orochimaru. You had better watch yourself."

After this outburst, the Third's anger had dissipated. He gave Orochimaru a complex look before turning to leave.

With the village facing such a sudden catastrophe, the Third didn't have time to tangle with Orochimaru for too long.

Not long after the Third Hokage left, Danzo walked in, and the sound-dampening barrier that had just been taken down was erected once more.

The First Pot Kage looked displeased. He woke up the just-dozing Orochimaru and said coldly, "Orochimaru, I need an explanation."

"What explanation?"

"Orochimaru" blinked his sleepy eyes, saw Danzo's hand withdrawing from the side of the hospital bed, and teased, "Danzo, with that movement, I almost thought you were here to take my life."

Danzo glared at Orochimaru viciously. If getting rid of Orochimaru had no consequences, he would have acted without hesitation.

But Danzo highly doubted he could pull it off; Orochimaru had too many ways to save his own life, making him far too difficult to kill.

He even suspected that Orochimaru's injuries might be fake.

—Last night, Orochimaru's sudden display of acting had left a deep impression on him.

Danzo didn't intend to waste time and asked the same question as the Third: "Are these injuries of yours really caused by the enemy from last night?"

"No," "Orochimaru" denied it flatly. "This is the consequence of failing to master a ninjutsu."

Danzo was furious. "Then why did Hiruzen say that? What kind of deal do you two have?"

This fabricated, unknown enemy had disrupted many of his arrangements and, invisibly, had built up momentum for Orochimaru.

The Fourth had been defeated and killed while facing the enemy, yet Orochimaru had managed to escape unscathed—the implications of that were clear at a glance.

"That... I wouldn't know."

"Orochimaru" adjusted his pillow to make himself more comfortable and replied casually, "Perhaps the old man is just afraid of losing face."

"Orochimaru!"

Danzo suddenly raised his voice. "Don't forget the deal between us."

"That is exactly what I wanted to say to you."

"Orochimaru" gave a light huff. "One hundred million ryo isn't that easy to prepare, but get the people and the data to me as soon as possible."

"You... just wait!"

Danzo spat out these words with a grim expression before slamming the door as he left.

The Genie stopped controlling Orochimaru's body and let him fall into a deep sleep.

With the moon high in the sky, the time reached the dead of night.

Orochimaru woke up to find that his injuries had recovered by seven or eight tenths.

He glanced at the Genie, who was floating in the air like a cloud of mist, and said, "I don't understand."

"Don't understand what? Why we had to put on that performance?"

The Genie reformed into a human shape and laughed. "Didn't we agree? We divide the work and cooperate; you don't need to worry about these kinds of things."

Orochimaru flicked his tongue across his lips. "But I am curious; it seems you aren't just forcing Danzo to fulfill his conditions."

"That's right, that is indeed only one layer of it."

Genie nodded and was about to continue when a medical orderly knocked on the door and asked, "Lord Orochimaru, the head of the Uchiha clan wishes to see you."

Orochimaru frowned, just about to refuse, when he heard Genie's voice in his ear: "Let him in."

Soon, Fugaku Uchiha stepped into the hospital room. He wore a grave expression, his face dark and heavy with worry.

Genie took control of Orochimaru's body and spoke, "At such a late hour, I wonder what brings the head of the Uchiha clan to see me?"

"Lord Orochimaru, I heard that you encountered the enemy who controlled the Nine-Tails to attack the village."

Fugaku Uchiha looked solemn and asked directly, "Can you tell me who he is, what methods he used, and what his distinguishing features are?"

"Orochimaru" curled his lips into a mocking smile. "Clan Head Fugaku, you seem quite anxious, coming to see me so late at night."

"I never expected the Uchiha clan to be so proactive regarding the safety of the village."

Fugaku Uchiha's gaze sharpened. "What are you saying, Lord Orochimaru? The Uchiha are the Uchiha of Konoha; naturally, we care about the village. We would spare no effort to capture the enemy who attacked Konoha."

"Heh, Clan Head Fugaku is not telling the truth."

"Orochimaru" laughed. "Didn't you come here because the Uchiha are the most suspicious regarding the controller of the Nine-Tails?"

Fugaku Uchiha's face sank. He had not expected Orochimaru to say it to his face.

He was indeed worried. Whether it was the Konoha Military Police Force being ordered to stay away from the battle and maintain order that night, or the hidden rumors circulating in the village today, everything made him feel uneasy.

"But unfortunately, my body's injuries are the result of a failed attempt to master a ninjutsu. The so-called mysterious enemy was just a story spread by the Third Hokage to maintain morale."

"Orochimaru" looked regretful. "If you are trying to clear the Uchiha of suspicion, Clan Head Fugaku, you have come to the wrong person."

"What?"

Fugaku Uchiha widened his eyes, his expression turning extremely ugly. "Are you telling the truth?"

Orochimaru said bluntly, "It's a lie."

The sudden negation left Fugaku unable to process the shift. He stared, wide-eyed. "What are you talking about?"

"The failed ninjutsu was just an excuse I used to fool the Third and the others. I truly did see the mastermind, and I was severely wounded after trading blows with him."

"Orochimaru" narrowed his eyes. "And the eyes of that mastermind were a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan."

"Guess what would happen to the village if I told the Third the truth?"