Nichijin, You Will Regret This

Orochimaru accepted this reasoning.

The next day, he entered the Hokage Building to accept a mission from the Third Hokage.

Hiruzen Sarutobi held a pipe in his mouth, his hands resting on the desk as he propped his chin up, watching Orochimaru through a veil of smoke that obscured his aged face.

After a long silence, he sighed, "I thought you would refuse the village's mission, just like the previous few times."

Orochimaru was one of Konoha's top powerhouses; even though he was his student, not even Hiruzen could force him to carry out a mission.

Now, his most promising student was finally willing to share the burden.

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a sense of relief.

Orochimaru smiled, saying nothing more.

Seeing this, Hiruzen shook his head and said, "In that case, depart immediately for the Land of Wind and take command of the forces there!"

Orochimaru nodded and prepared to leave.

"Bang!"

The door to the Hokage's office was suddenly shoved open, and Danzo Shimura walked in, leaning on his cane and shouting furiously:

"Hiruzen, I heard you intend to send Orochimaru to the front lines?"

"That's right, and Orochimaru has already agreed," Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, his face full of smiles.

"Absolutely not!"

Danzo slammed his cane down hard, "Orochimaru must not leave the village under any circumstances!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked surprised, "And why is that?"

The village was in such a precarious state; with Orochimaru finally willing to accept a mission, it seemed like a good thing, didn't it?

Why was Danzo so angry?

"Because..." Danzo Shimura started, but suddenly trailed off.

"Danzo, you know as well as I do that fighting on three fronts is already stretching us thin, and now the Hidden Mist Village is stirring as well..." Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head, "Give me a reason that can convince me; otherwise, Orochimaru must go to the battlefield. The village needs him right now."

Danzo Shimura fell silent.

A reason?

He certainly had one!

For instance, with his support, Orochimaru was secretly conducting human experiments.

Orochimaru was deep and calculating, and he no longer held the village in his heart; he could not allow Orochimaru to slip out of his control!

But these reasons could never be spoken aloud, or he would be the first to suffer the consequences.

He turned his head to see Orochimaru watching him with a faint smile, looking as if he were watching a play, completely unafraid.

This only made Danzo angrier, and he insisted stubbornly, "In any case, Orochimaru must not leave the village!"

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his hand on the desk and roared, "Danzo, check your temper! I don't know what conflict you have with Orochimaru, but the priority right now is winning the war!"

Danzo gritted his teeth in frustration.

You old monkey, what do you know?

If you don't know anything, then stop causing trouble!

He cursed inwardly, intending to get into a heated argument with Hiruzen.

At that moment, Orochimaru, who had been watching the show, spoke up.

"Actually, I'm not that eager to go to the battlefield. Since you don't want me to go, perhaps Lord Danzo should go instead."

Orochimaru looked at Danzo Shimura with a meaningful smile, "I imagine that is the reason you, as the Hokage's advisor, are trying to stop me, isn't it?"

"Is that so?" Hiruzen Sarutobi paused, looking at Danzo Shimura with a look of relief.

"I..." Danzo Shimura's lips moved, but he couldn't bring himself to agree.

He could not leave the village.

He was the Root of Konoha, and his primary duty was to protect the village from the shadows; how could he easily go to the front lines?

But if he didn't agree, Orochimaru would slip out of his grasp.

Looking at Orochimaru's calm and collected demeanor, Danzo suddenly thought of someone.

That most important test subject for the Wood Style experiments!

That brat was Orochimaru's most prized subject; as long as he held that brat in his hands, he doubted Orochimaru would dare to escape his control!

Thinking of this, Danzo Shimura let out a cold snort, "I have no objection to you going to the battlefield. However, that brat must be handed over to me!"

Orochimaru's expression darkened, and he laughed coldly, "That won't be possible."

"Orochimaru!"

Danzo Shimura barked, his eyes filled with threats, "Don't push your luck!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the two of them, his face full of confusion.

What were these two talking about?

What were they hiding from him, and why was he completely in the dark?

Furthermore, who was the person they were fighting over?

Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart tightened; he had the distinct feeling that things were slipping out of his control.

As the Hokage, this was the one thing he could not accept.

"The brat you both keep mentioning... he should be a young man, right? Who is he?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, his head bowed, his voice low and hollow.

Danzo Shimura did not speak, his face twisted in a cold sneer as he watched Orochimaru.

He didn't believe for a second that Orochimaru would dare to reveal the existence of that brat.

At that moment, Orochimaru spoke, and his words caused the expressions of both Danzo Shimura and Hiruzen Sarutobi to shift.

"He is my newly accepted disciple. Because his body is somewhat frail, I have been searching for ways to treat him. Senri... he is such a good child." Orochimaru said with a smile.

"What?" Danzo Shimura's eyes widened, filled with shock and fury.

Orochimaru, how dare you!

As for Hiruzen Sarutobi, his face was filled with pleasant surprise.

It wasn't as if he hadn't noticed some of Orochimaru's recent abnormalities.

Ever since the last Great Ninja War, when Orochimaru witnessed his own disciples die, he had begun to seem like a stranger.

Hiruzen had been harboring worries, fearing that Orochimaru might lose his way because of it.

He never expected that Orochimaru would take on another disciple!

"That child has always been kind-hearted. This time, he heard about the village's plight and wanted me to bring him to the battlefield so he could contribute to the village." A smile played on Orochimaru's lips, but as if remembering something, the smile vanished.

"Unfortunately, Senri's body cannot hold out for much longer, which is why he wants to burn himself out for the village before he passes."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes lit up, and he remarked with emotion, "To think that a child could possess such a firm Will of Fire!"

"Orochimaru, you have taken on a good disciple." He looked at Orochimaru with praise, then frowned and asked, "Is that child really..."

"Yes," Orochimaru nodded.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, "Is there any way to save him?"

"I have thought of some methods, though the means are somewhat difficult for others to accept," Orochimaru said languidly.

Upon hearing this, Danzo glared at Orochimaru.

Do you know what you are saying?

How could you let Hiruzen Sarutobi know about such things!

Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked in silence, not speaking immediately.

The child Orochimaru spoke of, and that conviction to burn for the village, was something he truly admired.

Moreover, bonds were of the utmost importance to a ninja.

Looking at Orochimaru, it was clear he had found a new bond; as long as that child remained, Orochimaru would not stray from the path.

Thinking of this, he said, "Do your best to save him."

Danzo Shimura felt as though he had misheard, "Hiruzen, you..."

"Bang!"

Before he could finish his sentence, Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his hand on the desk, his gaze sharp as he looked at Orochimaru, "But you must remember, you are never to harm the village's allies!"

This was his bottom line for allowing Orochimaru to use certain methods to save the child.

"Of course," Orochimaru nodded with a smile.

He was in a very good mood right now.

He knew exactly what his teacher was thinking and what he valued most.

Watching this master and student reach a decision in just a few words, Danzo Shimura grew anxious, "Hiruzen..."

"Enough!" Hiruzen Sarutobi warned, "Danzo, you are not to lay a finger on that child again!"

"I do not agree!" Danzo was also furious, "Everything I do is for the sake of the village! That child can only reach his maximum value in my hands!"

"I have already decided on this matter!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said firmly, "And furthermore, I am the Hokage!"

Danzo was so angry his face turned livid.

At this point, there was nothing he could do to stop it.

"Hmph! Hiruzen, you will regret this!"

Leaving those words behind, he stormed out and slammed the door.