Chapter 33

Chapter 33

A human lifespan was too short for Orochimaru. There was so much to learn, so many jutsu to master, and so little time. For a long time, he couldn't get his mind off the meaningless of it all. What was the point of understanding the staggering powers of jutsu, of mastering them, if everything would be lost the moment he died? He couldn't accept it.

And so, he tried to defy the heavens and the limitations of the human body, letting himself be used by Danzo and performing unforgivable experiments on others only to get one step closer to his goal. There was no line he wasn't ready to cross. Every day, he had stared at the abyss, as it was far less scary than the unavoidable death lingering behind him.

And yet, when his time was stopped, and he was not able to do anything in that jail room where he was locked up, he realized something. The months he spent here listening to his sensei reading Jiraiya's perverted books taught him something. It unnerved Orochimaru when he realized what Hiruzen was doing.

Hiruzen had shown Orochimaru that there was another way and that what he was doing was basically worthless. What was the point of learning what was already created? Even if he reached immortality, all he would have done was follow someone else's footsteps. And that wasn't him at all. He wanted to create his path just like his sensei had created his own.

Why would he ever thought he would have been satisfied with immortality and all the jutsu in the world at his disposal. No, what he needed to do was create new jutsu, create things that never before existed. Just like that fool, Jiraiya wrote his books and immortalized himself for as long as those books existed. That is what Hiruzen wanted to show Orochimaru.

"I was found out already?" Orochimaru asked as he turned to find his old teammate leaning by the tree by the empty road. "I thought I might have more time."

"Don't play around, Orochimaru. Why have you come here?" Jiraiya asked. No shadow could hide his enormous body as he looked down on Orochimaru. "The only reason I am not breaking your legs and dragging you back to the village is because of what Tsunade has said you did to save sensei. But don't think I have forgotten what you have done. No past friendship we shared will save you from that."

"Have we ever been friends?" Orochimaru asked, confused. "From the very beginning, we focused on different things. All that tied us was our sensei and nothing else."

"Then you won't be too mad if I break some of your bones," Jiraiya said as he jumped at Orochimaru.

As much as Orochimaru thought Jiraiya was a fool, he could not deny his strength. His physical strength was the best of the three of them, and combined with his vast knowledge of ninjutsu and experience, there weren't many who could beat Jiraiya in a head-on battle. Orochimaru had to admit he wasn't capable of it either.

"You are as impulsive as ever," Orochimaru dodged Jiraiya's punches and kicks with the grace of a snake. "But if you really want to fight right here, one mistake and your identity will be discovered."

"I am no fool," Jiraiya laughed. "I have an excuse for hunting you down."

"At least sensei didn't teach a complete moron," Orochimaru gave out his last insult before getting serious. "I came here to meet you."

"I gather that much since you didn't hide yourself and made yourself easy to track down," Jiraiya replied as he kicked a boulder at Orochimaru. "I just leave you alive enough to talk with you."

"I think sensei is trying to kill himself," Jiraiya's fist stopped right before Orochimaru's face.

"What bullshit are you spouting right now?"

"You must have noticed it too," Orochimaru was certain of that as Jiraiya was quite perceptive even if he looked like a fool most of the time. "After the destruction of his village, the death of his successor, the death of his wife, and my betrayal, how could he not be affected? I saw him fight Danzo, and even with the fight against me, he had many chances to finish things up. But he refused to."

"He grew a bit too kind. I know that he isn't the God of Shinobi who could massacre all his enemies without a blink of an eye anymore, but it doesn't mean he is trying to off himself."

"You are smarter than that, Jiraiya," Orochimaru replied. "I watch him fight Danzo. Sensei didn't even try to defeat him. He only dodged and tried to stall for time. I know Danzo was his old friend, but if I hadn't intervened, sensei would have been killed. He has lost his will to fight."

"If that were true, I wouldn't be here," Jiraiya said. "He is still fighting as fiercely as ever."

"Or he is trying to right the wrongs he made before his end," Orochimaru countered. "Do you think he doesn't feel responsible for all the things that have happened, from the Nine-tails attack to Danzo's betrayal? He is a quilt-driven old man who is barely hanging on."

"Of course, I noticed it, damn it," Jiraiya finally admitted. "Getting drunk for the first time in ages, taking kids under his wings, and anxiously looking for a next successor, trying to save every poor soul he has heard of. I prayed that I was mistaken, but I can see him doing it all out of the quilt he must have felt all this time."

All of it was even clearer for Orochimaru, especially after witnessing the fight against Danzo. Hiruzen could not bring himself to harm others. Orochimaru didn't know if that extended to only people of his village or everyone, but it showed what Hiruzen must be feeling. And it was dangerous. If they notice it, others might notice it too, and those others will use it to harm Hiruzen.

"You need to protect sensei, Jiraiya," Orochimaru said.

"I know that, but I still can't understand why you are so concerned about him. So, you better spill the beans, or I will open your skull and look for answers there."

"Don't get me wrong," Orochimaru replied. "I am only repaying my debt. So, stop messing around here and become the next Hokage."

"The only person a worse candidate for Hokage would be you, Orochimaru," Jiraiya replied. "I can't just take on such a responsibility, and besides, that wouldn't help sensei if he had to worry about me all the time."

"I thought so, and that is another reason why I came to his country," Orochimaru replied. "I help you with your work and make sure that nobody threatens the peace sensei worked so hard to preserve."

"And how are you going to do that?"

"I will create a village and use it to destroy sensei's enemies."

…

Working as a Hokage, Hiruzen had to deal with many unsavory individuals. Yet it was the first time he had seen such a sleazy man before his eyes. Gato was in the shipping business with a whole fleet under his thumb; he knew his worth. Or at least he thought he was worth enough to stand before Hiruzen all arrogantly and demanding outrageous payment for his services like he was doing a favor to the Hokage.

"The Land of Water is dangerous at best of times, and right now, no sane sailor would dare to go there," Gato said with a mirthful smile. "Only my company knows the best routes and possesses the best sailors for such a work. So, it is only natural that I would be paid accordingly."

"Yes," Hiruzen matched his smile. "Your life must be worth exceptionally more than anyone else's. You could even say it is priceless."

"I am glad that we have understanding."

"So, how are you going to repay me?"

"Huh?" Gato tilted his head in confusion at Hiruzen's question. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"I asked how you are going to repay me for keeping you alive," Hiruzen said.

"Haha, I heard that shinobi were arrogant fools, and it seems to be true," Gato replied, still not realizing how worthless his life was for Hiruzen. "Even you wouldn't dare to kill me unless you want countless nobles from various countries to breathe behind your back. I have connections that you can't imagine. So, if you continue spouting such nonsense, I have no choice but to…"

"You have no choice but to kneel before me and beg for your life," Hiruzen interrupted and threw a stack of papers at Gato's face. "I don't need to imagine what kind of connections you have, Gato. I know everything about you. And you right, even I have no right to threaten a respectful merchant, but I can get rid of a criminal any time I want, especially if he threatens the Land of the Fire prosperity."

"What?" Gato was shaking as he read the information Danzo had gathered about him.

"Your connections mean nothing. The nobles in your pocket wouldn't even dare to breathe anywhere near me. They might even thank me for getting rid of you. Most of them will be glad not to be in your back pocket. So, I ask you again, how are you going to repay me for keeping you alive."

"I am at your command," Gato said through gnashed teeth.

Hiruzen knew that Gato was already planning retaliation against him, but it mattered little to Hiruzen. As soon as Hiruzen gets his use of Gato's fleet, Gato will sleep with the fish. It wasn't that hard to predict what Gato was thinking and, in the end, the man could do nothing to Hiruzen. So, it was a win-win situation for Hiruzen to employ Gato.

That is why he could establish sea routes out of the Land of Water and smuggle the refugees to the Land of Fire. If this were discovered, he would just sever his ties with Gato and make him the scapegoat. He would help those poor souls, maybe gain a few strong bloodline users if he was lucky, and keep peaceful relations with other countries. Everything was accounted for.

And yet, somehow, it wasn't the other countries that gave Hiruzen the most headache.

After dealing with Gato, Hiruzen was once again face to face with the problem of chunin exams. He couldn't delay it any longer. People needed to see the next generation of shinobi for investments to go to the village. But that would only work in Konoha's favor if they took all the laurels. And for that, they needed a team that could crush other villages.

The problem was that he only had two-thirds of a team. Shisui and Yamato could probably blitz through the competition. But, if the third member were lacking, it would show, especially with these two geniuses. And yet Hiruzen couldn't delay it any further. The Daimyo and others wanted a show, and he was obliged to give it by the end of the winter.

Four months were all he had to prepare for it. It was too short of time. Not only did he need to prepare for it, but he also had to organize the villages he was going to invite. Suna had to be here to show off their relationship with Konoha. The other of the Five Villages, there was no way any of them would come without plotting something.

At least he didn't need to worry about Orochimaru or Danzo anymore. At least, he hoped so since Danzo was dead and Orochimaru wasn't going after his head. Hopefully, Orochimaru will just fade into the background, and Hiruzen won't hear about him anymore. At least Hiruzen didn't want Orochimaru to start kidnapping children and creating his village. Hiruzen could already foresee what kind of headache it would create for him.

A.N. Hello there. Long time no see. Sorry for the delay, but there was nothing I could do about it. The whole of January, I was let go home. Something about traditions to not let soldiers go home the last month. But that is fine since now I am free. After nine months, I finally am free. Don't really know what to do now, to be honest. So far, chapters will come once a week for free this month. From the next one, I will probably go back to how things used to be.

Anyway, thanks for sticking around and supporting me.

I AM FREE!