Leaving the border of the Land of Snow and entering the relatively mild Land of Ghosts, they watched the endless snowy mountains give way to rolling hills and sparse woodland.
Naruto Uzumaki and Orochimaru, a pair with a decidedly strange relationship, walked along the main road at an unhurried pace.
At last, Naruto voiced the question that had been on his mind for so long.
He turned toward Orochimaru, whose black hair hung loose as he strolled leisurely along, looking for all the world as though he were simply out sightseeing. "Mr. Orochimaru, with your strength and standing, you were already one of Konoha's Sannin, respected by everyone.
"Why did you choose to leave Konoha and serve the Land of Fire's Imperial Court as the Commander of that Martial Pacification Office?"
This question had troubled Naruto for a long time.
Konoha was the largest village in the shinobi world. Its resources, traditions, and comrades were beyond anything most places could offer.
While in Konoha, Orochimaru had already been a top researcher and ninja, with a standing above nearly everyone else.
Besides, this world's Orochimaru had never been exposed for conducting human experiments. He had merely left Konoha with Shimura Danzō to join the Imperial Court when Hiruzen Sarutobi disbanded Root.
Apparently, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been quite heartbroken that his most trusted student had run off with his old friend.
But Orochimaru had his own side of the story.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was almost eighty, and all three of the Sannin were nearly sixty, yet the old man still clung stubbornly to his position as village leader.
First, he had handed it to Jiraiya's student, Minato Namikaze. Still, Minato Namikaze had become the Fourth Martial Arts Alliance Leader, so Orochimaru had accepted it.
Then, after Minato Namikaze died, Hiruzen Sarutobi had actually