The Doomed Underdog

"It is nothing, Anko."

Orochimaru did not offer much explanation. He watched as a girl named Shizune also held an umbrella while walking toward the graveyard. She arrived before a different tombstone, paying her respects in silence while whispering something under her breath.

Orochimaru fell silent once more. That was Dan Kato, who had died while on a mission with him—a mission, it seemed, that he had commanded.

He felt a sudden urge to flee this graveyard, yet he could not bring himself to leave. He was trapped, constantly asking himself a single question.

How much did he truly fear death?

Did he fear his teacher's disappointment more, or did he fear death itself?

Did he fear being forgotten more, or did he value his interest in the world's jutsu more?

Orochimaru felt lost.

He was so obsessed with the study of jutsu to avoid death, to avoid tragedy, to ensure that he and those around him would never die.

But why, even within Konoha Village, did he still witness so much death—death occurring right beside him—to the point that even his teacher refused to trust him?

He wanted to find the answer to this question in the hearts of those who sought to converse with the dead, to understand the reason for all of this.

To understand what he was truly thinking.

"Orochimaru-sensei, the war is almost over. You don't have to be so sad."

Thinking that Orochimaru was merely grieving, Anko Mitarashi reached out and took his cold hand. She carefully shifted the umbrella to cover him, leaving herself exposed to the rain.

Orochimaru said nothing. He simply took the umbrella from her and pulled Anko closer to his side.

Yet, while Anko felt only a chilling cold radiating from him, Orochimaru felt a strange sense of warmth.

After a moment of silence between them, Orochimaru spoke.

"Anko, you seem very eager to return to the battlefield?"

He asked the question, and Anko, not quite understanding his intent, nodded.

"Yeah! Everyone else is on the front lines, and I'm the only one left behind. It makes me feel like a coward. Plus, everyone is making a name for themselves out there, especially that guy Murata Qingtan. Some 'Wood Release ninja'... honestly! He used to look so plain, always spouting big philosophies, and he was always stealing my red bean buns!"

Anko let out a disgruntled huff when she mentioned Murata Qingtan.

Orochimaru didn't know what to say to his student. He had protected her too well; she had no idea how terrifying the battlefield truly was.

She still thought the small glimpse she had seen was the extent of the horror.

Just like...

Just like Nawaki had once been.

He quickly suppressed the tremor in his heart and patted Anko's head as he asked his next question.

He often heard the name "Qingtan" from Anko. He knew Murata Qingtan was Asuma's teammate and acted something like a bodyguard, but he had never truly looked into the boy.

"Then, Anko, is there anyone you care about? Whether you hate them or like them."

Anko still didn't grasp Orochimaru's meaning, but after a moment of thought, she spoke up.

"If we're talking about who I like most, it's probably Kurenai? She's so gentle. And as for the person I hate the most, it has to be Qingtan. He acts so mature all the time—I really don't get why Kurenai likes him! I think he's just average! He acts like an old man, so boring, always pondering the 'meaning of a ninja's existence.' Last time we met, he even said something about how ninjas should be able to work normal jobs..."

Anko began to list all of Li Ke's faults. Orochimaru listened quietly, his hand still resting on her head.

He didn't know what kind of person Murata Qingtan truly was, but he knew one thing: his student was likely headed for heartbreak.

By the time she realized, much like Jiraiya had, that all her preoccupation with Li Ke was actually love, that Wood Release ninja would likely already be walking down the aisle with that girl, Yuhi Kurenai.

Besides, this Wood Release ninja's ideology... it was dangerous.

He hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Anko, sometimes you must hold firmly onto the things you care about. If you relax your grip even for a second, you will lose everything."

He couldn't help but think of himself. If he hadn't relaxed his guard because of Nawaki's pleas, if he hadn't relaxed because of Dan Kato's abilities, would those around him have died? Would his teacher have given up on him?

Looking at Anko's bewildered expression, Orochimaru felt as though he were looking at Nawaki again. He knew it wasn't right, but he couldn't stop the thought, nor could he stop thinking of his teacher.

And his teacher's decision.

He knew why his teacher distanced himself: it was because he had grown too close to Danzo, and his methods were becoming too similar—the kind that would sacrifice one's own people for the sake of a goal.

But when he sacrificed those people, they were either treacherous rebels or those who had already steeled themselves for the cost. It was not the same as Danzo.

As for the experiments...

After sacrificing so many, how could he ever be content with failure?

Thinking of the faces of those Wood Release volunteers—those who suffered severe rejection reactions yet still asked him with concern if anyone had succeeded—Orochimaru fell silent again.

The appearance of a new Wood Release ninja proved that the power was not merely a fleeting miracle.

So... I was right, Sensei...

Murmuring these words in his heart, Orochimaru stopped looking at Tsunade, who was being comforted by Shizune. He clenched his fist and led Anko toward his home.

He had already found a jutsu capable of resurrecting the dead. Once he finished his research on Wood Release, he would be able to dedicate himself entirely to that art.

And when that day of success arrived, he would go to see Tsunade again.

As for now...

He truly had no face to meet the other party.

So, so...

"Anko, there is something I would like to ask of you."

Orochimaru suddenly looked toward his disciple, Anko.

"Hm? What is it, Master Orochimaru?"

Anko looked at her teacher with some confusion before asking.

"When Murata Qingtan returns to the village, could you help me arrange a meeting with him? I have some important matters I wish to ask him about."

Anko froze for a moment, her small face turning pale; she assumed that because she had spoken ill of Li Ke, Master Orochimaru intended to punish him!

Thus, she asked in a small voice.

"W-what is it that you need?"

Orochimaru hesitated, for even he did not know what identity he should assume to meet that Wood Release ninja!

Orochimaru's role will be quite significant, so these two chapters focus on him.