Chapter 163: Kato Dan

"Will this really keep me safer?"

Tsunade looked at the grass-green potion in her hand, her curiosity piqued by Orochimaru's words. This vial was different from the potions she'd seen him create before.

"Is it as miraculous as you say?" she teased, a faint smile on her lips.

She didn't know exactly what this potion did, but she could feel Orochimaru's genuine concern. There was something special in his gesture that stirred a warmth in her, a feeling she couldn't quite put into words.

"You'll see once you try it," Orochimaru replied with a casual wave of his hand, his voice low and slightly raspy. "But use it only after you reach the front line."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, amused by the mysterious tone he was using. "Is it even more precious than that dark green strengthening potion you made before?"

Orochimaru had always been a genius in research, consistently producing remarkable creations, so she wasn't too surprised that he'd come up with something new. But his tone was different this time, almost protective.

"In terms of value… this one is worth at least fifty times more than that potion," Orochimaru said, nonchalantly.

"F-Fifty times?" Tsunade blinked in disbelief. She knew that the advanced strengthening potion alone would probably fetch a price of ten million ryo. So if this one was fifty times that value… Did that mean he was giving her something worth 500 million ryo?

Unbelievable.

"You're not serious, are you, Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked, half-laughing, half-stunned.

"You know I never joke about these things."

In truth, this potion was beyond monetary value. Even if someone offered 500 million, they wouldn't be able to buy it. Orochimaru had made it specifically for her, and it was one of a kind. But he kept his explanation simple, knowing Tsunade might not fully grasp the complexity or the danger behind his work.

"Haha, Orochimaru, you're amazing!" Tsunade laughed, suddenly jumping into his arms, savoring the solid feel of his chest. In her mind, Orochimaru was always the serious, stoic type. Tenderness wasn't usually a part of his nature, so his occasional displays of affection always caught her off guard and meant a lot to her.

Despite the closeness, Tsunade didn't stay with him that night. She had to return to her home and prepare her gear for the upcoming mission.

---

The next morning, Orochimaru, accompanied by Nawaki, saw her off at Konoha's village gate.

A large group was heading to the front line, so the gate was bustling with villagers saying tearful goodbyes to their loved ones. Couples hugged tightly, families exchanged words of encouragement, and friends held on, fearing that the next meeting could be their last.

"Orochimaru, I'm counting on you to look after Nawaki," Tsunade said, fully geared up for war.

"Don't worry. Leave him to me," Orochimaru replied, nodding confidently.

He knew, from his memories of the original timeline, that Nawaki's life was supposed to end in the Second Shinobi War killed by an explosion. But now, with his own presence disrupting events, he didn't believe things had to follow the same tragic path.

In this altered timeline, there was no reason Tsunade couldn't survive the war. That's precisely why he'd given her the potion to ensure her safety. She was, after all, his first and only woman so far, and he wasn't about to let history dictate her fate.

Tsunade smiled. "Then, I'm counting on you."

She turned to Nawaki, ruffling his hair affectionately. "Listen to Orochimaru-sensei, alright? If you want to go to the battlefield one day, you need to follow his guidance first. Understand?"

"Yes, sister! I understand!" Nawaki nodded, his face serious. Although he dreamed of becoming Hokage, just like Naruto would in the future, Nawaki was a much more grounded and obedient boy.

With a final wave, she said goodbye. "See you both later."

"Goodbye, Tsunade," Orochimaru replied, watching as she turned and joined the marching line of shinobi.

With a single command, Tsunade led her team forward, a mix of combatants and medics moving swiftly toward the distant front line. Orochimaru stayed back, watching her retreating figure until it disappeared over the horizon.

Just as he was about to turn and head back home with Nawaki, something caught his eye a group of shinobi preparing for deployment. Among them, he noticed a familiar yet unexpected face.

A young man with silver hair falling loosely over his shoulders, wearing a Konoha uniform and a jonin vest, was adjusting his ninja tools while his teammates bid farewell to their families.

Kato Dan?

The man fit the description perfectly. In the original timeline, Kato Dan was Tsunade's lover, an ambitious shinobi who also dreamed of becoming Hokage. He'd met Tsunade after Nawaki's death, and his life had ended prematurely in the same war. But now…

Dan seemed to sense Orochimaru's gaze and looked up, meeting his eyes with a polite smile.

Orochimaru nodded in acknowledgment. Though Kato Dan was well-known in Konoha, Orochimaru had no personal connection to him. He had neither the desire nor the need to get involved.

However, it appeared that Dan thought differently. Smiling, he walked over to Orochimaru.

"Lord Orochimaru, it's an honor."

"You know me?" Orochimaru asked, raising an eyebrow.

Dan chuckled. "Everyone in Konoha knows you. You're one of the legendary Sannin. It'd be hard not to know you."

Orochimaru nodded, understanding. Being one of the Sannin was like being a celebrity. Plenty of people recognized him, even if he had no idea who they were.

"Well, I have things to take care of at home. Excuse me."

Dan was a powerful jonin in his own right, but Orochimaru had little interest in him.

"Let's go, Nawaki. Time to head back."

"Yes, sensei—uh, or should I call you brother-in-law? Wait, that doesn't sound right…" Nawaki stammered, looking genuinely confused.

"Call me whatever you want," Orochimaru said with a shrug.

"Alright, sensei. But… when can I go to the battlefield?"

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