The changes happening to the Iburi Clan naturally did not escape the notice of Konoha's Anbu and Root. Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura soon learned that Orochimaru had solved the Iburi Clan's bloodline disease.
Root's Base
Orochimaru really solved the Iburi Clan's bloodline disease... Danzo Shimura listened to his subordinate's report on the Iburi Clan's situation, arms crossed, considering whether to recruit the Iburi Clan. With the Iburi Clan's Bloodline Limit, if he didn't recruit them, Hiruzen Sarutobi certainly would.
If it weren't for that bloodline disease, which even Second Hokage Tobirama Senju couldn't solve, the Iburi Clan would have long been a well-known Ninja clan in Konoha.
He now had two choices. The first was to directly go to the Iburi Clan and invite them to join Konoha and Root, to serve Konoha with their Bloodline Limit.
However, he had to consider Orochimaru's feelings. Orochimaru's talent was enough for him to consider and respect her feelings. Bypassing her, the one who saved the Iburi Clan, and going directly to the Iburi Clan.
This would obviously damage Orochimaru's feelings towards him. Danzo Shimura knew very well that feelings were easy to cultivate, but once damaged, it wouldn't be so simple to cultivate them again.
Especially for a genius as talented as Orochimaru.
Danzo Shimura did not want to make an enemy of Orochimaru.
"Has the Hokage made any moves?" Danzo Shimura asked in a deep voice.
"Hokage-sama went to see Orochimaru," the Root Ninja reported truthfully.
Bang--!
Danzo Shimura slammed his hand on the table and stood up. He was certain that Hiruzen Sarutobi had gone to see Orochimaru precisely because of the Iburi Clan.
If the Iburi Clan joined Konoha, Hiruzen would absolutely not allow any Iburi Clan members to join Root.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at Orochimaru's doorstep and reached out to ring the doorbell. The matter concerning the Iburi Clan compelled him to come.
Orochimaru opened the door, and the smell of medicinal herbs wafted from inside the house. Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi standing at the door, she knew exactly why he had come.
"Hiruzen-sensei, you've come for the Iburi Clan, haven't you?"
Orochimaru turned and walked back into the house. Hiruzen Sarutobi closed the door and followed her. Hearing her words, he paused, a hint of awkwardness on his face.
"That's right, Orochimaru. Do you think the Iburi Clan will join Konoha?"
Orochimaru was the one who solved the Iburi Clan's bloodline disease. The only help Hiruzen Sarutobi provided in this matter was giving Orochimaru the research records of Second Hokage Tobirama Senju. He felt his face flush just saying this.
"Hiruzen-sensei, why don't you go directly to the Iburi Clan for such an important matter as inviting them to join Konoha?"
Orochimaru poured herself a cup of medicinal tea and also poured one for Hiruzen Sarutobi. This was a medicinal tea she had formulated to nourish the body and refresh the spirit.
"Hiruzen-sensei, please try it. This is a medicinal tea I formulated; it's good for your health."
"Orochimaru, you were the one who helped the Iburi Clan, not Konoha. Konoha did nothing, so how can we invite the Iburi Clan to join?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took the teacup Orochimaru handed him, looking at the herb leaves floating on the surface. He took a sip, and surprisingly, the medicinal tea tasted quite good, with a very refreshing feeling, completely different from the bitter medicinal soup he remembered.
"This, it tastes good!"
"Hiruzen-sensei, I don't like things that are too bitter. If you like this medicinal tea, I'll pack some for you to take with you later. You can drink it while you're working."
Orochimaru smiled, took a sip of medicinal tea, and asked, "Hiruzen-sensei, are you inviting the Iburi Clan to join Konoha on your own behalf, or on behalf of Konoha?"
"I am naturally representing Konoha, and this is also the will of the two Advisors."
Hiruzen Sarutobi had discussed it with Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado before coming. If the Iburi Clan could join Konoha, it would greatly enhance Konoha's overall strength.
"If the Iburi Clan agrees to join Konoha, then my contribution to Konoha will be significant, right?"
"That is natural."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Orochimaru, who had a calculating look, and inexplicably had a bad premonition. He only hoped Orochimaru wouldn't make too outrageous demands.
"Good! Hiruzen-sensei, let's be direct. I want to go to the Forbidden Jutsu Chamber and see the Forbidden Techniques inside!"
Orochimaru spoke her mind directly, stating her condition. She had long coveted the Forbidden Techniques in the Forbidden Jutsu Chamber.
"No, at your current age, you cannot look at the Forbidden Techniques inside!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils contracted sharply, and he rejected Orochimaru's condition without thinking.
At Orochimaru's age, if she couldn't resist the temptation of Forbidden Techniques and went astray, he would have nowhere to cry.
"Tch, then I want to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique developed by the Second Hokage!"
Orochimaru settled for a lesser demand, proposing another condition, her cheeks slightly puffed out as she pouted, "Hiruzen-sensei, if you refuse again, you can go and talk to the Iburi Clan yourself!"
"The Flying Thunder God Technique is a Space-Time Ninjutsu developed by the Second Hokage. Aside from Tobirama-sama, who developed it, no one has learned it to this day, not even I have managed to learn it."
Hiruzen Sarutobi had tried to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique. Not only him, but also Utatane Koharu, Homura Mitokado, Danzo Shimura, and Uchiha Kagami—all members of Senju Tobirama's guard squad—had studied it, but not a single person had learned the Flying Thunder God Technique.
This shows how difficult the Flying Thunder God Technique is to learn; its S-rank learning difficulty for a Space-Time Ninjutsu is well-deserved.
Hiruzen Sarutobi speculated that learning the Flying Thunder God Technique not only requires extremely high talent but also a certain special quality.
"Orochimaru, are you sure you don't want to change your condition?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Orochimaru, who rarely showed such a childish side. He didn't want Orochimaru to waste this opportunity to make a request.
It was a rare chance for legitimate favoritism; changing to an even more outrageous condition would be fine, except for going to the Forbidden Jutsu Chamber.
"This is it."
Orochimaru decided not to change the condition, saying indifferently, "Even if I can't learn it, I won't blame Hiruzen-sensei. After all, Hiruzen-sensei, you haven't learned it either."
"Pfft—!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi covered his mouth, almost spitting out the medicinal tea he had just drunk, and said helplessly, "Alright, I will send the scroll over."
The scroll for the Flying Thunder God Technique was too important. Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't trust the Anbu with it; only by personally delivering it to Orochimaru would he feel at ease.
"Then it's settled! I will help you persuade the Iburi Clan to join Konoha."
Orochimaru said with a big smile. She knew that Hiruzen-sensei couldn't possibly agree to her request to go to the Forbidden Jutsu Chamber. The reason she brought it up was to pave the way for the Flying Thunder God Technique, which is the "door-in-the-face" effect.
First, propose an unreasonable request, then propose a more reasonable one, and the reasonable request is very likely to be accepted. This is the "door-in-the-face" effect.
The entire Iburi Clan joining Konoha? That's impossible. There must be some who don't want to join Konoha. And those who join Konoha and those who don't are both her people, so she won't lose out either way.
The Iburi Clan members who join Konoha have a very close relationship with her. There's no problem with them visiting often, right?
The one who solved the Iburi Clan's bloodline disease was Orochimaru; she was the great benefactor who saved their clan!
If one day I pack up and leave, and the Iburi Clan members follow, there's no problem, right? It's very reasonable, isn't it?
Thinking of this, a hint of slyness appeared in Orochimaru's smile.
Why does Orochimaru seem so happy?
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt like he had been tricked.
I seem to have forgotten something... Inviting the Iburi Clan to join Konoha, what level of mission is this?
Orochimaru suddenly remembered that she had forgotten this detail. If not an S-rank, it should at least be an A-rank mission!
Thinking of this, Orochimaru's gaze towards Hiruzen Sarutobi changed. "Hiruzen-sensei…"
"Orochimaru, I have important matters to attend to."
Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted Orochimaru, preventing her from making even more outrageous demands. He had realized that Orochimaru was not only a little money-grubber but also had an immense curiosity about the unknown.
This could be seen from her research; she researched whatever she found interesting.
No, security at the Forbidden Jutsu Chamber must be strengthened, and more people should be assigned to patrol.
Hiruzen Sarutobi secretly made up his mind.
"Tch…"
Was I found out?
Orochimaru didn't expect that Hiruzen-sensei would sense her intention before she even finished speaking. "Hiruzen-sensei, please wait a moment, I'll prepare some medicinal tea for you."
It's just the reward for an A-rank mission, isn't it?
Hiruzen-sensei is too stingy!
As a village leader, as the Hokage, can't he be a bit more generous!
No, I have to add more ingredients to it, so you can't get out of bed tomorrow!
Out of mischief, Orochimaru added some beneficial medicinal herbs to Hiruzen Sarutobi's tea, ones that could help him regain his vigor.
Biwako-auntie, you don't have to thank me, it's my duty!
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