Renji and Orochimaru walked side by side down Konoha's main street. Ninjas and civilians who recognized them were stunned. When had these two ever spoken, let alone walked together? To many, it felt like stumbling upon breaking news.
Orochimaru's mood was already foul, and the gawking only irritated him further. A chilling aura spread from his body, a cold wind that made everyone instinctively step aside and avert their gaze.
Seeing this, Renji quickly stepped forward and drew open the door to a nearby shop. "Lord Orochimaru, please, come in. This is one of our clan's new barbecue restaurants. It has private rooms, no one will disturb us."
Orochimaru gave a small nod and entered. The crowd outside sighed with relief. His presence was simply overwhelming, especially when he chose to release his killing intent.
The shopkeeper, noticing Renji's arrival, placed a sign at the door reading "Closed for Renovation." Members of the Uchiha Police immediately arrived to disperse onlookers.
From across the street at a tavern, Uchiha Xingye directed the Sunflowers. He had them plaster promotional posters nearby and instructed a few young clan members: "When Orochimaru leaves, if Renji pulls the curtain for him, rush forward with flowers, ask for hugs, autographs, and photos. If Orochimaru himself pulls the curtain, just hand him a flyer."
Inside, Renji and Orochimaru sat down, and the dishes began to arrive.
"Please try these, Lord Orochimaru," Renji said, using serving chopsticks to place food on Orochimaru's plate.
Orochimaru tasted a bite and found it surprisingly good. He licked his lips, and soon Renji was focused on serving while Orochimaru focused on eating.
After a while, Orochimaru leaned back. "Renji, don't you like to eat? I think this food is excellent. Have some yourself." His voice had softened; good food had calmed his earlier anger.
"Lord Orochimaru, do you have a dream? I do." Renji's gaze was steady. "Many years ago, the Uchiha and Senju founded Konoha together. The leaders of both clans sought peace. This village was born for peace. It was the first shinobi village in history. Here, shinobi pledged loyalty to the village, treating its people as family. Even those with strange powers who might be persecuted elsewhere could find acceptance here.
"But decades have passed. The Senju are gone. The Uchiha live under chains of segregation. Civilians, too, are trapped, like paupers stranded on an island though surrounded by an ocean of abundance.
"Our Hokage once declared that every Konoha citizen would be granted life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Yet since the Second Hokage, the Uchiha's efforts to integrate have been twisted into a curse. We have asked for little, only to be treated the same as others. Just as civilians ask for little, only to live slightly better lives.
"Every day, I dream the same dream. Every Uchiha, every civilian dreams it too.
"We dream of a day when Konoha fulfills the essence of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.
"We dream of a day when the sons of Uchiha and the sons of commoners can sit side by side atop the Hokage Monument as brothers.
"We dream of a day when my four children will not be judged by their surname, but by the content of their character.
"I have a dream today. Lord Orochimaru, I ask for your help. We have founded schools to educate the children of commoners, to give them skills so they can live richer lives. We have created institutions where those without shinobi talent can still carve out meaningful paths.
"We have built a research institute so that science can change our lives, so that one day people may fly into the skies, communicate across distances, perhaps even achieve immortality.
"The Uchiha have changed. We have looked past illusions and found true solutions. No longer do we seek simply to integrate into Konoha. We now seek to uplift others, to achieve what our ancestors could not.
"From passive survival, we turn to reshaping the world. We believe science is the first force of productivity, the truth beneath all things.
"We ask you to become principal of our academy and director of our research institute. Beyond your teaching and research projects, we will fund your experiments. To us, you are not only a great shinobi, you are a great scientist.
"We believe you can change the world. We invite you to join us. Please, Lord Orochimaru." Renji rose and bowed deeply.
Orochimaru was stunned. The beginning, about history, he followed easily. The middle, about the Uchiha and civilians, he understood. But then principal? Research director? And then funding his experiments? His eyes narrowed. Did this boy just say they also want to study immortality? Have I finally found my kindred spirits?
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