Chapter 159

"What a pity."

Hearing Orochimaru's explanation, the Third Hokage shook his head with a sigh.

If it had no use outside of the Uchiha clan, then this potion truly had limited value.

Orochimaru had explained the basics of genetic inheritance to the Third Hokage and others back when he developed the strengthening serum, so they had a general understanding of it.

The Sharingan of the Uchiha clan was a bloodline limit, deeply tied to spiritual power. This power was embedded within their genes, lying dormant due to bloodline factors. It could only be awakened when stimulated by intense spiritual energy.

The purpose of Orochimaru's potion was to activate that spiritual energy within the Uchiha bloodline, allowing their latent power to surface temporarily, triggering the awakening of their Sharingan. However, it did not actually increase one's mental strength.

For regular individuals without a bloodline inheritance like the Sharingan, using this potion would just induce a rush of spiritual energy with no tangible benefit. In fact, it would be an uncomfortable experience, akin to stirring up emotions with no purpose, like grieving for a loss that hadn't occurred.

In short, only the Uchiha could make use of it, and even the Hyuga clan had no need. Their Byakugan was a direct genetic inheritance that didn't require any mental stimulation to awaken; they simply cultivated it naturally.

After listening to Orochimaru's full explanation, the four leaders of Konoha fell silent, lost in thought.

The dilemma was clear, should they give this to the Uchiha?

On one hand, empowering the Uchiha might lead to their increased influence and potential arrogance. On the other, the Uchiha were still loyal to Konoha, and a stronger Uchiha clan meant a stronger village.

It was a complicated choice.

But Orochimaru had no investment in the outcome. He had already secured what he wanted.

The reason he approached the Uchiha clan before informing the Third Hokage was precisely because he understood the power dynamics. Once the potion was officially reported, even if he retained the final product, he'd lose any claim to the underlying research and technology.

Whether the Hokage eventually chose to distribute it to the Uchiha or not, Orochimaru would receive nothing more than a token payment and he certainly didn't need money.

So, to secure his access to Uchiha genetic material, he'd gone through this sequential process: first negotiating with the Uchiha, then reporting the potion's effects to Konoha's leaders. This way, he'd get what he wanted regardless of the Hokage's decision.

While the Konoha leadership debated over the potion, the Uchiha clan was already preparing the blood samples Orochimaru required. Having accomplished his goal, Orochimaru refrained from involving himself further.

He returned to his residence, savoring a rare moment of quiet in Konoha.

He had to admit, Tsunade had become more affectionate after their relationship deepened. Whenever they were alone, she'd lean into him without warning. If her younger brother, Nawaki, hadn't interrupted them, they might have indulged in more… primal activities in broad daylight.

The next morning, the semi-annual Chunin Exams began in Konoha.

As he observed the bustling crowd at the exam site, Orochimaru couldn't help but marvel at how much time had passed. He remembered his own days as a Chunin candidate; now he stood near the top of Konoha's hierarchy.

Recently, figures like Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi had already earned their Chunin ranks. The younger generation, like Nara Shikaku and Akimichi Choza, were still only around eight or nine years old. This year's Chunin Exams didn't hold much intrigue.

Still, the Third Hokage had assigned Orochimaru a task, and Nawaki was also participating in the exams, so both Orochimaru and Tsunade had naturally come to watch.

In the examination area, Orochimaru observed that participants from prominent clans were generally younger, around thirteen or fourteen, while civilian ninja were older, often over sixteen. It was rare to see anyone as young as Nawaki competing.

After all, even a prodigy like Hyuga Neji had been thirteen during his first Chunin Exams. Younger candidates were uncommon, especially from lesser-known families.

Although Nawaki hadn't inherited Orochimaru's signature Snake Techniques, he'd learned a wide range of fundamental skills. With the support of his two teammates, he advanced smoothly through each stage of the exam.

"Haha, Orochimaru, look at Nawaki! He's just as capable as we were back then!" Tsunade cheered as she watched her younger brother lead his team to victory in the group stages, her excitement reminding Orochimaru of her own youthful days.

Orochimaru smiled faintly. "True, but his teammates aren't as skilled as ours were back then. If I'm not mistaken, even if he passes the exam, his teammates might not make it to the next round."

"Haha, just like Sakumo back in the day?" Tsunade chuckled.

"Exactly."

"Let's go. There aren't any standout talents in this group," Orochimaru said, losing interest after watching a few rounds.

In his eyes, the battles in the Chunin Exams had begun to feel trivial, almost like child's play.

As the exams continued, time passed swiftly.

While Orochimaru was refining his potion, the Chunin Exams were nearing their conclusion. None of the candidates particularly impressed Orochimaru, though Tsunade noted a few with potential for medical training. Unfortunately, Konoha still lacked a formal system to cultivate medical ninja, so the idea had to be set aside… for now.

"Orochimaru, are you sure there's no one worthy of training?"

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen couldn't help but ask.

"Indeed," Orochimaru said with a shrug. "The candidates this time are mediocre at best. None meet the standards I'd expect from a potential disciple."

"Are you sure your standards aren't a bit too high?"

"High standards are necessary, aren't they?" Orochimaru replied casually. "Training a student with limited potential is a waste of both time and effort, and it won't yield meaningful results."

Can sheer effort surpass raw talent?

There were exceptions, sure, but that wasn't Orochimaru's style. Imagine him taking on someone like Rock Lee, shouting about "youth" and "passion" every day? Or maybe a prankster like Naruto? That was not his idea of an ideal student.

Besides, Naruto's later success was due to his Uzumaki heritage, the Nine-Tails' power, and the reincarnation of Asura. His abilities far exceeded ordinary ninja; it was unrealistic to compare him to the average candidate.

The Third Hokage sighed at Orochimaru's response. "Alright, we'll let it go for now. By the way, I have an update on your potion request."

"Oh? What's the decision?"

"We've decided to allocate a portion to the Uchiha."

"How much are we giving?"

"Well, how much do you have?"

"As much as you need."

"...Wait," the Third Hokage looked confused. "Is the potion that cheap to produce?"