Chapter 148: Deal

Inside of a cold and dark room, a shinobi of a legendary caliber sat on his bed, seemingly feeling comfortable in such an environment, not bothered by it in the slightest.

"Have you grown accustomed to being a prisoner already?" a voice broke him out of his thoughts, making him immediately grow defensive and prepare for a battle.

His serpent-like eyes turned towards the source of the sound, letting him see a woman who looked exactly like the teammate that he had been working with for over 4 decades, yet he could tell the woman was an entirely different person.

"How can I help you?" Orochimaru asked, fully cautious as he knew the danger of the woman before him.

"I want you to rejoin Konoha as a full-time shinobi, taking up the position of ANBU Commander. We are fully ready to exonerate you for your crimes and your name will be cleared of all accusations that were made against you." Tsuna said, making Orochimaru's eyes widen in absolute shock.

He could not believe that Tsunade would do such a thing, making him guess that something eventful must have happened for her stance to change.

But even still, his goal of Immortality had not diminished in the slightest.

"Why should I? What would I gain from rejoining a corrupt and villainous Village like Konoha? Or, in other words, what's in it for me?" Orochimaru asked, a smile crossing his face.

"What if I told you that there is a way that you could achieve Immortality? I have seen another version of you do it, there should be no reason why you couldn't." Tsuna said lightly, however, she properly understood the impact her words would have upon Orochimaru.

First, he would wonder immensely about how she could see alternate versions of himself. But the bigger worry would be the fact she knew how he could achieve Immortality.

Tobirama had not only guided Tsunade in terms of combat but also in her analytical ability and the ability to read an individual.

And it was precisely this skill that allowed her to temp Orochimaru back into being a shinobi of the Village.

"Why should I trust you?" Orochimaru asked, his reasonable mind overpowering his greed in the short term.

"Why do I have to lie to the likes of you?" Tsuna responded nonchalantly, acting as if she didn't care about Orochimaru.

And while Orochimaru didn't feel that was the case, he did know that the woman in the room with him completely outclassed him in terms of combat, to the extent that he didn't feel he could ensure his survival in a battle with her.

"How can I become immortal?" Orochimaru asked, seemingly giving her his answer to rejoining Konoha 

Tsuna then went on to explain to the Snake Sannin on how he could use his body-changing technique to change into creatures known as White Zetus, beings that won't show much resistance, ensuring he can live for an absurd amount of time.

She even promised to find him one in 3 years' time to allow him to test the process. 

In exchange, he would routinely go on missions and be prohibited from engaging in any illegal research that is not sanctioned by the Village.

Orochimaru realized the benefits outweighed the downsides, making him agree to her request.

"I'll return tomorrow to give you your freedom." Tsuna said before she left the room.

~

'Truly a peculiar individual. I wonder what she could gain out of me rejoining the Village? No matter, as long as my final goal of immortality is reached, it won't matter. And perhaps...' Orochimaru's thoughts trailed of as he stood expectantly, ready to see how the show before him would end.

~

The news that the Snake Sannin was innocent was one that shocked the Elemental Nations to their core. 

While none of the elite shinobi in any of the Villages would believe such nonsense, the civilian populous was easily tricked by the story, leading to Orochimaru going from a menace to an unsung hero.

It was after this day that the Three Legendary Sannin would once again stand together on the same side.

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