Chapter 96: The Trap of Master and Disciple

"Orochimaru-sama... you must leave immediately! For your and Danzo-sama's safety!"

In the heart of the Konoha camp, the Root member code-named "Badger" stared intently at Orochimaru. Even through the rat-faced mask, his urgency and anger were palpable.

"The Third Hokage could arrive at any moment... No, by now, the execution squad is probably at the door!"

"Hmm." Orochimaru responded calmly, not even lifting his head.

Badger gritted his teeth but felt helpless against the vastly superior Orochimaru. When the human experimentation base was exposed, Danzo immediately sent Badger to the Konoha forces in the Land of Hot Water to inform Orochimaru of the situation. As Orochimaru's accomplice, Danzo was primarily worried about being implicated himself. Following his orders, Badger had been urging Orochimaru to defect immediately.

However, to Danzo's and Badger's surprise, Orochimaru did not flee upon hearing the news. Even as the situation became dire, the commander of Konoha's eastern front continued calmly reviewing a battle casualty report from three days prior against Kirigakure.

Badger could no longer contain himself and stepped forward, dropping the honorifics. "Orochimaru, you..."

Suddenly, Orochimaru's golden snake-like eyes glowed, and several gray-brown serpents emerged from his sleeves, instantly coiling around Badger's body. The snakes, soft and ribbon-like when attacking, became as hard as steel once they wrapped around him, making it impossible for Badger to break free.

One small snake hissed and bit into Badger's throat. Poison flowed through his bloodstream, causing intense muscle pain and paralysis.

"I'll give you only one chance to speak wrongly," Orochimaru's raspy voice slithered into Badger's ears, delivering a terrifying pressure straight to his brain.

Badger opened his mouth, enduring the pain, seemingly trying to say something. At that moment, rhythmic knocking came from outside. Both Orochimaru and Badger recognized it as a signal from the Third Hokage's subordinates.

"Orochimaru-sama," came the voice of an Anbu outside, "the Hokage awaits you outside the camp."

"Tell me the location, I will go there."

"Yes."

A Hokage's order and a hastily drawn map were thrown inside. The Anbu left without ever entering the room. Orochimaru put down his pen, tied his forehead protector, and walked out without a glance at Badger.

"Wait, wait!" Badger gasped, struggling against the neurotoxin, "Orochimaru-sama... are you going out to die? Dragging Danzo-sama with you..."

Orochimaru chuckled, "You are... Badger, right?"

"Yes."

"Go back and tell your Danzo-sama..." Orochimaru sneered, the cold contempt unmistakable, "A true leader is one who dares to take responsibility for everything at any moment."

...

Seeing Orochimaru approaching, Yuto was dumbfounded.

You're really bold enough to come here?

With Danzo's abilities, he should have been able to inform you of the sudden developments by now. The Third Hokage brought so many elites clearly intending to take you down; it's practically a blade at your throat!

But when Yuto saw Orochimaru's attire, he understood. The sinister yet handsome man wore Konoha's special Jonin battle armor, with his armguards and leg protectors secured tightly, and a forehead protector with Konoha's symbol. He was still dressed as the frontline commander.

Even at this moment, Orochimaru considered himself the commander of Konoha's eastern front. Yuto realized he had fallen into the "transmigrator's trap," assuming the original narrative was entirely accurate and using character behavior from the story to predict events.

In reality, humans, as complex emotional beings, make different decisions based on various situations. From Orochimaru's perspective, he was highly regarded by his teacher, who not only taught him numerous jutsu but also entrusted him with the role of frontline commander, making him a strong candidate for the Fourth Hokage position.

When the Moon God attacked Konoha, his status as the next Hokage was publicly established. Reflecting on this, neither Hiruzen nor Konoha had wronged him; on the contrary, they had shown him great favor.

"You all wait here, Tsunade... you come with me," Hiruzen said softly, ignoring his subordinates' protests as he and Tsunade walked towards Orochimaru.

When the two were about twenty meters apart, Tsunade suddenly strode forward and punched Orochimaru in the abdomen with her Chakra Enhanced Strength, sending him flying a hundred meters back.

Ah, if only I had some popcorn, Yuto thought wistfully.

"Orochimaru...!" Tsunade's roar was deafening. Her physical prowess far surpassed Yuto's, and her mastery of Chakra Enhanced Strength and the Yin Seal allowed her to crack the ground with every move.

Boom! Boom!

Two clouds of smoke dissipated, revealing Katsuyu and Manda. Tsunade and Orochimaru clashed, raising a cloud of dirt and dust that reached a hundred meters into the sky.

Yuto quickly lost interest in the battle. The blonde woman hadn't released the Strength of a Hundred Seal, and Orochimaru hadn't used any forbidden techniques. Their fight was intense but not to the death.

Yuto suddenly realized everyone had been deceived by Hiruzen. The experienced Hokage's goal might not have been to capture or kill Orochimaru. If Orochimaru left the Konoha camp, didn't immediately defect, and didn't use low-level Konoha shinobi as shields, it meant he still had some loyalty, indicating room for negotiation.

What was to be negotiated?

Yuto pondered. Pretending nothing had happened was impossible. Orochimaru's theft of the First Hokage's body and human experiments had left him no place in Konoha. However, there were many ways to leave Konoha. Leaving as a rogue shinobi would mean endless pursuit. But if he left after accomplishing a great feat, he could be exiled from the Land of Fire, reducing future pressure and avoiding a life of constant hiding.

Orochimaru's departure was inevitable, and losing such a powerful and prestigious figure would heavily burden Konoha, already engaged in battles on four fronts. Mishandling this could tip the scales of war.

As the Third Hokage, Hiruzen had to find a way to mitigate this. Trading Orochimaru's "no pursuit" for his "cooperation with Konoha to make up for lost strength" was the ultimate understanding between master and disciple. When Orochimaru walked towards Hiruzen alone, he had agreed to his teacher's arrangement.

'Making up for the lost strength...' Yuto watched Hiruzen's back, sensing a strong smell of blood. If both sides lost equal strength, wouldn't they return to the same starting line?

Half a day later, explosive news spread throughout the ninja world.

"Orochimaru defected and fought with the Third Hokage in the Land of Hot Water, both severely injured."

(End of Chapter)