Drip, drip...
Fresh blood dripped onto the conference table, mixing with flesh and splattering in all directions.
Surprise flashed in Jiraiya's eyes. Similar to the Main Family elders, he thought Orochimaru would keep the Byakugan eyes for later research, since Neji clearly hadn't had the 'Caged Bird' seal put on him yet. The Byakugan eyes still had some research value.
But he didn't expect Orochimaru to destroy the Byakugan eyes so directly and decisively. Why was that? Was he cutting off all ties?
Jiraiya glanced at the unconscious Neji and nodded to himself.
A Hyuga Branch Family member who lost his Byakugan eyes would definitely face strange looks in the clan. It was good to make the break early.
Amidst the various guessing gazes, Orochimaru looked straight ahead, taking out a tissue to wipe the blood off his palm.
After some disinfecting, he took out a small culture jar from a scroll and promptly replaced Neji's eyes with a pair of undamaged ones.
Of course, these were just normal eyes.
"Tsunade, the follow-up is up to you."
Orochimaru's lips twitched as he handed the unconscious Neji over.
If it was just medical ninjutsu, he was confident he was as good as anyone. But Neji was young and not even a ninja yet, so he needed more careful care.
In that area, Tsunade, as a traditional doctor, would obviously do a better job.
The Main Family elders looked at Neji receiving Tsunade's treatment, silent and gloomy.
Orochimaru's series of actions were obvious. He was completely cutting off any possibility of Neji reconnecting with the Hyuga clan. It was infuriating.
The cherished bloodline trait was seen as worthless and destroyed so easily. It was a great shame, even though he knew that the Byakugan eyes were already half-ruined the moment they were taken out.
...
That was the end of the meeting.
Nara Shikaku, who had been watching the whole thing, cheered inwardly as he left with the gloomy Main Family elders, Hyuga Hiashi, and Uchiha Fugaku.
As he left the Hokage meeting room, Nara Shikaku paused slightly, glancing towards the long table.
He knew that the end of one meeting meant the start of another.
Orochimaru hadn't gotten anything in the previous exchange of benefits, and the only condition he had asked of the Hyuga clan was for the village's benefit. That wasn't like him.
It was possible that what he wanted couldn't be provided by the Hyuga clan, only by the village.
As for Orochimaru changing his nature and becoming selfless, Nara Shikaku wouldn't believe that even if his own son's toes told him so.
Unfortunately, he couldn't watch the next exchange of benefits.
Taking a last look at Hizashi and his son, who were still standing there, Nara Shikaku walked out of the Hokage room.
Puffing on his pipe, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, said slowly, "Orochimaru, what do you want?"
Similar to Nara Shikaku's thoughts, he felt that Orochimaru had an ulterior motive.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, old man, you really think of me like that?"
Orochimaru smiled, pretending to be offended, but changed the topic, "However, there are indeed some things this time."...
No one in the room was surprised. In fact, they all looked as if they expected it.
The Third Hokage stared at Orochimaru and said, "Tell us about it."
"It's just a small matter."
Orochimaru took out a document from a scroll, waved it in front of everyone, and smiled, "There are a few tests here. I want all the ninjas in the village to take them."
"That's impossible!" Before the Third Hokage could speak, Utatane Koharu flatly denied it.
Testing all the ninjas in the village would be a lot of work and would interfere with their work.
Orochimaru raised his eyebrows. "Then I'll back down a step. How about most of the ninjas... those under the age of twenty-five?"
Utatane Koharu continued, "That's still a lot of people."
But Orochimaru didn't look at her. Instead, he turned his gaze to the Third Hokage.
Ultimately, putting the plan into action would depend almost entirely on his personal will. He could stop at any time.
This wasn't a trade. It was already decided from the beginning, with no room for refusal.
"I can agree."
Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped the table and said in a deep voice, "But there needs to be a reason for this. What is your purpose?"
Meeting everyone's searching gaze, Orochimaru smiled.
"The reason is easy to find. For example, the new hospital director wants to conduct a large-scale physical exam..."
A vein pulsed on Tsunade's forehead. That bastard Orochimaru was just creating trouble for her.
"As for my purpose, I'll tell you later."
Orochimaru was vague and unwilling to talk more about it.
This check could filter out most of the ninjas who couldn't learn the 'Spiritual Transformation Technique', but he wasn't sure if he could really find it. It was too early to say anything.
He wasn't afraid that the old man wouldn't agree. In the words of the genie, it was a seller's market now. Whether they wanted it or not wasn't up to them.
And that was exactly how it was. Orochimaru didn't even say anything threatening, and the Third Hokage agreed, planning to mix Orochimaru's requested check into a physical exam.
Tsunade glared at Orochimaru, feeling a hundred times unwilling. This was obviously a lot of hard work.
But she had agreed to it beforehand with Jiraiya, so she couldn't go back on her word now.
"The next peace talk meeting is in two days. Don't forget to attend," the Third Hokage reminded him.
"There's no need to attend that kind of meeting."
Orochimaru raised his eyebrows and said, "The remaining ninjas of the Kumogakure delegation are standing on the edge of a cliff, grasping at the last straw. They won't let go no matter what. Communicating with them is just a waste of time."
The old man's meaning was clear: he wanted him to disrupt the meeting, show off the power of the Konoha Sannin, and intimidate the peace talk team.
But that was too undignified and too difficult. If something went wrong, the Kumogakure delegation could get hurt.
The Third Hokage frowned. "What do you plan to do then?"
"Of course, I'm going to Kumogakure."
Orochimaru stuck out his tongue and licked his lips, smiling.
"There have been problems with all three delegations. I plan to talk to the Raikage himself about the problems."
The Third Hokage reacted quickly and asked suspiciously, "You suspect that there are also masked people in Kumogakure?"
"Obviously."
Orochimaru nodded slightly. "The Fourth Raikage will definitely not stand idly by if there are problems in his own village."
As he said that, the corners of his mouth curled up into a considerable smile. "As for how I act recklessly and disrupt the peace talks, you can spread the word as you please."
The Third Hokage closed his eyes, and Utatane Koharu turned her head, looking a little embarrassed.
Only Danzo's eyes flashed with a strange light, so subtle that it might have escaped notice, but it couldn't escape Orochimaru's sharp senses.
"Heh, heh, heh..."
The same cold laugh sounded in Orochimaru's heart.
Danzo, you can't imagine why I specifically asked to leave the village.
---
You can read 50 Chapters ahead on my
pat reon.com/GMadman
Free member can read 3 chapters ahead