"Tsunade-sama, where are we going next?" a young girl asked nervously as she trailed behind the older woman through the dim alleyways.
The blonde, her presence commanding even in such a casual stride, glanced back with a faint smirk. Her chest rose and fell with a rhythm that seemed to defy gravity itself.
"Another casino," she answered simply, as though the decision were already made.
Shizune stumbled at the words, her eyes widening. "B-but, Tsunade-sama, you only have four million left! If you lose again, we'll be completely broke!"
"It's fine. I'll win this time." Tsunade's voice carried a carefree edge, though it lacked conviction.
But then, mid-step, she froze. Her sharp gaze flicked toward the shadows. "Aren't you going to come out?" she called calmly.
Shizune stiffened instantly. Someone had been following them? Her hand flew to her kunai as she spun around, only to freeze.
Pale skin. Serpentine yellow eyes. A presence so suffocating it felt like death itself had stepped into the alley.
Her breath caught. But fear wasn't what overtook her. Recognition was.
She bowed quickly. "Orochimaru-sama."
The man's piercing eyes slid over her, studying her face with disquieting calm. After only a second, he spoke, voice low and deliberate.
"You're Kato Dan's niece."
Shizune's throat tightened, but she nodded. He was right. News had already spread that Tsunade had taken her when she abandoned the village during the lull in the wars.
The Third Great Shinobi War was seen as over, but border skirmishes still dragged on. Nothing was truly settled.
"Yes," Shizune replied softly, then fell silent, realizing Orochimaru hadn't come for her.
His focus turned back to Tsunade. She was staring at him as though weighing the man against the memory she held.
"You look… younger," she muttered, suspicion lacing her tone.
Orochimaru chuckled, his voice smooth and mocking.
"And what of it? Do you think you're the only one allowed to remain at their peak?"
His golden eyes briefly flicked down, lingering where they shouldn't, before meeting her glare again. He knew better than to push his luck. A punch from Tsunade wasn't something even he wished to test just yet.
Still, a faint nod escaped him. "Yes… this is truly your peak."
"Hmph." Tsunade snorted, immediately catching where his gaze had wandered a moment earlier. But unlike Jiraiya's shameless stares, Orochimaru's felt more clinical than lecherous. Annoying, but tolerable. She let it go.
Shizune cast one last uneasy glance at Orochimaru, bowed, and quickly caught up with Tsunade as she strode away.
Orochimaru didn't stop them. He simply followed at his own pace.
Danzo had given him a mission, but there was still time. Enough to indulge his whims. Enough to cross paths with Tsunade again, since she happened to be in the way of his chosen road.
And if the mission went awry? So be it.
It wasn't as though Danzō could do anything to him.
Noticing something strange about the road, Shizune spoke up.
"Tsunade-sama, this isn't the way to the casino."
"I know. We're going back to the inn," Tsunade waved her hand dismissively. She knew Orochimaru well enough. Unlike Jiraiya, he wouldn't seek her out unless it was for something serious. His obsession, the way he had changed, his indifference to life, his disregard for taboos. She didn't agree with any of it. But she also knew he wouldn't bend, just as she wouldn't bend on her own choices.
Orochimaru hadn't changed overnight. During the Second Shinobi War, he had lost many people, especially his disciples. That was when the shift began, when his obsession with jutsu, kekkei genkai, and forbidden knowledge truly took root. His teammates, his teacher, even the clan heads and elders knew it well.
It wasn't something he ever tried to hide. And really, why would he? Unless he was caught directly targeting the kekkei genkai clans of Konoha, it wasn't considered a crime. That, however, would be taken seriously because it would mean those clans were no longer safe. Everyone understood that things happened in the shadows. But once those same things started happening in the open, the danger became undeniable.
When they reached the inn and entered the room, Tsunade pulled out a bottle of alcohol, slammed it down on the table with a bam, tore the cap off, and drank half of it in a single gulp.
"Ahhh…" She exhaled, then looked straight at him. "So, why did you come?" she asked, setting the bottle down on the table, eyes locked on Orochimaru, who was already seated.
He didn't answer. Instead, his gaze shifted toward Shizune. The look unsettled her until she suddenly felt her body grow heavy with drowsiness. "P-poison…" she muttered as the realization clicked. Believing he had come to harm them, she tried to raise her hands, but through the blurriness she noticed something at her wrist before collapsing to the floor.
From her body, a thin white snake, no longer than thirty centimetres and no thicker than two fingers, slid out. It coiled briefly before darting toward Orochimaru and disappearing beneath his sleeve.
Tsunade, however, wasn't surprised. She had already noticed the snake moving toward Shizune but hadn't stopped it. To her, this could serve as a lesson. Shizune needed to learn to stay guarded, even against those she trusted.
"I've joined Root," Orochimaru said. Tsunade barely reacted, exactly as he had expected. Jiraiya must have already told her. He continued, "I was asked to conduct experiments using the Senju's remains."
"Oh? And what did you decide?" Tsunade asked, feigning disinterest.
"Of course, I accepted the task. You know how valuable they are as material," Orochimaru replied with a smile.
Tsunade closed her eyes, either to think or to restrain her anger, before snapping, "So this is the compensation Sensei gave you?"
"Yes," Orochimaru nodded, a mocking smile curling on his lips. "He laid the groundwork very carefully. Minato's fame already overshadowed mine. He didn't want to risk anything disturbing his plans to make him Hokage. So… compensation was offered."
It might have looked as if Danzo had been the one to invite Orochimaru, but how could Hiruzen not notice the number of Senju corpses that had gone missing? He had understood what was happening yet chose to turn a blind eye.
Taking a deep breath, Tsunade asked again, her voice lower this time. "Why did you come here, Orochimaru?"
Orochimaru didn't answer. He only pulled out a kunai with a thin smile. In one swift motion, the blade cut through flesh. A spatter of blood followed.
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