This Is Way Too Torturous

The notion of souls was elusive and insubstantial. Tsunade Senju had only heard of it; when her second grandfather had still been alive, he seemed to have researched such matters. In the end, her eldest grandfather had become enraged and suppressed the matter.

But she truly seemed powerless to do anything.

Orochimaru's expression shifted unpredictably as well. Yet after hearing Uchiha Sen's words, he seemed to grasp something. If it was not an external injury but the soul... it sounded somewhat like that technique...

"Orochimaru, then I'll be leaving. There is no way I can treat your injury."

Tsunade Senju turned to leave. As for his talk about destroying the Hidden Leaf Village, she let it go in one ear and out the other.

"Lady Tsunade..."

Shizune still wanted to persuade her, but received an even harsher command from Tsunade.

"Shizune, I said we're leaving!"

"All right..."

Uchiha Sen was still waiting for them to compensate him, so naturally, he was not leaving.

"Oh?! He didn't leave? Does this guy actually know how to treat my hands?"

Orochimaru suddenly realized that although Uchiha Sen looked somewhat foolish, he was not so simple. He was powerful and experienced. Had everything before been an act?

All to wait for an opportunity? Perhaps he might even be someone who shared his aspirations...

Orochimaru was completely overthinking it.

"Hey, didn't you say you'd pay compensation? Pay up now."

Uchiha Sen extended one hand, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together. The meaning could not have been clearer: hand over the money.

"Hehehe, Sen, you must be joking. We haven't even destroyed the Hidden Leaf Village yet."

Kabuto Yakushi took it as a joke. After all, ever since the incident at Leaf Village, they had not encountered any pursuing ninja along the way. The news was surely being tightly controlled; the remaining higher-ups of Leaf Village could not be stupid enough to let such news leak out.

[Ding! Detected that Kabuto Yakushi is lying. The Hidden Leaf Village has already been damaged, and the host's house is among the destroyed buildings.]

Uchiha Sen's expression changed. He casually removed the slipper from his right foot and strode straight toward Kabuto Yakushi.

Orochimaru grew somewhat tense. Even when his hands had not been sealed, he had carelessly fallen victim to this man's tricks. Now, he focused with utter concentration, terrified that he might accidentally make eye contact with Sen and get caught in a genjutsu.

Better to avoid trouble when possible. It was only a little money. It was not as if I, Orochimaru, could not afford it!

"Hehe, Sen... it's such a small matter. We'll compensate you..."

Before Orochimaru could finish, Sen raised his hand high and viciously smacked Kabuto Yakushi across the face. The slipper and his face met intimately.

"Smack!"

"Is Sen a name you're worthy of calling? Muggle natives aren't worthy to address me by name. Call me sir!"

Uchiha Sen pressed the slipper in his left hand against Kabuto Yakushi's chin, baring his teeth with a ferocious glint in his eyes.

"Yes... Lord Sen... We haven't begun carrying out the plan to destroy Leaf Village yet..."

"Smack!"

With lightning speed, Sen raised his left hand again and backhanded Kabuto Yakushi with another resounding slap, leaving him utterly bewildered.

"You're lying! You already tore down my house! Pay up! Otherwise, none of you are leaving today!"

Sen's gaze turned hostile. One of the two before him sold snake meat, while the other looked like he had no money at all. His hair had turned white at such a young age—clearly no good. He had to keep a close eye on them; if they ran away, he would suffer a huge loss!

Kabuto Yakushi looked helplessly at Orochimaru beside him, but Orochimaru shifted his feet away, looking as though he had no idea who this person was.

Uh...

Fine...

If that was how it was...

"Hehehe, Lord Sen, I was in the wrong just now. Please take all this money. It is enough to buy two houses like your previous one, and consider the extra a treat for some grilled meat!"

Kabuto Yakushi respectfully offered up his wallet with both hands. He did not even dare raise his head, mainly because his face hurt...

Seeing that Uchiha Sen had no intention of taking it, Haku stepped forward and accepted the wallet.

"Kid, be more careful when you're out in the world. Don't think having some random cat or dog at your side makes you anything special. Look at me—I'm clearly the strongest being on this planet, yet I'm still perfectly amiable."

Perhaps because Kabuto had paid quite a lot, Uchiha Sen unexpectedly lectured him for a moment.

You call yourself amiable...

Hiss...

Why did my left cheek feel like it hurt even more than my right?

Orochimaru's already cold face became covered by another layer of frost.

Honestly, if my hands weren't sealed right now, and if I didn't need something from you, I would definitely swallow you whole!

Not even Jesus could save you! That's what I said!

Although turmoil churned within him, he still spoke kindly.

"Lord Sen, since you have accepted our money, could you tell me how to heal my hands?"

Kabuto Yakushi's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

Did I hear that right? Lord Orochimaru actually called this brat...

Tsk, tsk, tsk...

I've seen it now, I've really seen it. He'll stop at nothing to achieve his goal...

No wonder he became strong. I need to write this down in my little notebook. This is the secret to success.

"What hands?"

Sen's matter-of-fact tone left the two of them at a loss.

Didn't he take the money?

Orochimaru gave Kabuto Yakushi a meaningful look. Ask him already. Don't tell me you expect me, the boss, to ask?

Kabuto had no choice. These days, underlings did not get to choose.

He braced himself, pinched his voice, and tried to make his tone sound as gentle and deferential as possible.

"Um, Lord Sen... didn't I just give you all my money?"

"Wasn't that money your compensation for my house? What, are you trying to freeload?"

At the thought that they wanted to snatch his money, the slipper clenched in his left hand could not help rising.

Kabuto Yakushi instinctively shrank his neck and hurriedly waved his hands.

"No, no, that's not it."

Damn it, so many houses collapsed in the Hidden Leaf Village back then. How was I supposed to know which one was yours...

This was obviously extortion...

But circumstances were stronger than people...

Kabuto Yakushi forced himself to continue.

"Then, according to your terms... name a price. What will it take for Lord Orochimaru's hands to recover?"

Uchiha Sen began considering the question...

"Hmm..."

Ordinarily, mentally ill people would not take the initiative to think through problems. If you gave them two choices, perhaps they could give you an answer by choosing one of two. But if it was an open-ended question... then they would...

Ten minutes later... Sen was still thinking...

This is taking so long...

Kabuto Yakushi could only feel his face becoming increasingly endangered as time passed...

No, I still need to take the initiative.

"Um, Lord Sen, how about thirty million ryo?"

This price was not low. Asuma Sarutobi was worth only thirty thousand ryo in bounty notes, while Chiriku, also one of the Twelve Guardians of Fire, was worth only thirty million.

Uchiha Sen's eyes lit up. This deal seemed rather worthwhile. He only knew that a small lump of beef cost roughly one thousand ryo, so by that calculation...

Anyway, it was a whole lot of small lumps.

"Er, I'm not someone who cares about money!"

Uchiha Sen turned his head aside while extending one hand into the air.

You are absolutely not that kind of person!!

Kabuto Yakushi looked toward Orochimaru, the meaning in his eyes perfectly clear. I've negotiated the price for you. Pay up.