Chapter 151

In this era, there wasn't much in terms of leisure or entertainment, and with dinnertime approaching, Tsunade suggested she could cook something for them. It wasn't often they got time like this, so why not?

Orochimaru went along with it. Following her instructions, he entertained Nawaki while Tsunade busied herself in the kitchen. To be honest, this was the first time he'd ever seen Tsunade cook. In the past, such an idea would've been absurd, between their missions and their own personal goals, there had never been an opportunity for something so… domestic.

But as they sat down to eat, Orochimaru noticed that Nawaki was eyeing the food with a strange grin. The boy didn't seem eager to dig in, and now Orochimaru was starting to understand why.

Tsunade, as a "princess" of the Senju clan, seemed to have inherited none of the culinary skills one might expect.

"Is it… really that bad?" Tsunade asked, seeing the hesitant looks on their faces. She fidgeted, clearly embarrassed, tracing circles on the table with her fingers as if hoping to escape the scrutiny.

"It's not just bad…" Orochimaru muttered, wiping his mouth with a napkin. He looked at her, genuinely puzzled. "You really had no idea about your own cooking skills?"

"I… I thought I had improved!" Tsunade said, looking a little hurt. She took a spoonful of the miso soup she'd prepared, hoping they were exaggerating.

"Ugh…" Her face twisted immediately, and she barely managed to cover her mouth before dashing to the trash can, spitting out what she'd tasted.

"Haha! See, even you can't stand it!" Nawaki burst into laughter, clutching his stomach as he watched his sister suffer.

Seeing her defeated expression, Orochimaru sighed. "Alright, let me handle it."

The "food" was overly salty, poorly cooked, and the texture was… indescribable. Only someone who'd tried it could understand the true horror. Even he, who had braved numerous dangers, found himself at a loss.

"You? You're going to cook?" Tsunade looked at him in surprise.

"Wait, sensei, you know how to cook?" Nawaki asked, equally stunned.

As it turned out, Orochimaru not only knew how to cook but was actually quite skilled. After all, he hadn't grown up spoiled, he'd learned a lot from taking care of himself. And with two lifetimes of experience, he'd had plenty of practice.

Orochimaru moved to the kitchen, where everything was already prepared. His movements were efficient and precise, as if he'd done this a thousand times. Tsunade and Nawaki watched in awe.

"Wow… he's amazing!" Tsunade murmured.

"Sis, is this really Orochimaru-sensei?" Nawaki asked, astonished.

In no time, Orochimaru had whipped up sushi, miso soup, and a variety of other dishes, each plated beautifully and filling the air with a delicious aroma.

As Tsunade and Nawaki dug in, their respect for Orochimaru only grew. To them, he was no longer just a powerful shinobi, he was also someone with an unexpected warmth, a side they hadn't seen before.

For Tsunade, this only solidified her feelings for him. Nawaki, on the other hand, went from seeing him as a role model to viewing him as the ideal role model—a true hero.

When dinner was over, night had fallen, and it was time for Orochimaru to head out. After a long conversation with Tsunade, he was ready to leave the Senju compound. But before he did, Tsunade leaned in close and whispered something in his ear, her face turning red as she spoke.

"Are you sure?" Orochimaru asked, surprised by her offer.

"Y-Yes, of course… if you don't want to, then just forget it," she stammered, her cheeks flushed.

A sly smile crept onto his face. "I'd like that. But I have something to handle right now. I'll see you soon."

"Alright… I'll be waiting."

---

Konoha was a vast village, almost like a small city, with a population somewhere between 150,000 and 200,000. Between the training grounds, the Academy, the hospital, and the towering Hokage Rock, it covered an impressive area. Becoming Hokage in such a place was no small feat.

But although Konoha was strong, its internal politics were a mess. Power struggles ran deep, especially among Hiruzen, Danzo, and the Uchiha clan. And in this political landscape, the Uchiha clan was undoubtedly the weakest. Lacking both influence and the trust of the people, they were forced to endure constant suppression.

Not that any of this concerned Orochimaru. He had no interest in becoming Hokage or engaging in Konoha's politics. For him, the time spent on such matters was better invested in his research and experiments.

On his way to the Root base to meet with Danzo, Orochimaru encountered an Uchiha man who seemed to recognize him.

"Lord Orochimaru?" the man called out.

Orochimaru turned, realizing he knew the man. "You're… Uchiha Akihara, aren't you?"

"Haha, Lord Orochimaru has a great memory!" Akihara said, clearly pleased. "It's an honor to run into you."

Beside him was a young girl with black hair, around twelve or thirteen years old.

The girl bowed respectfully. "Hello, Orochimaru-sama!"

Orochimaru looked at her with mild interest. "Is this your daughter?"

"Yes, yes she is," Akihara said, scratching his head sheepishly. "We just had dinner, and I thought we'd go for a walk."

Orochimaru's gaze lingered on the girl. "She's adorable. Has she awakened her Sharingan yet?"

Akihara's smile faded slightly, looking embarrassed. "Well… her talent is a bit limited. She's still a genin."

Orochimaru nodded. He understood the Uchiha's "awakening" process better than most. The Sharingan typically activated under intense emotional strain, often linked to moments of life and death. A young genin like her, who hadn't yet faced serious danger, wouldn't have unlocked it.

A thought crossed Orochimaru's mind. "So, she hasn't awakened it yet… That's a shame. But I might have something that could help with that."

He reached into his robes and pulled out a small scroll, summoning a vial filled with a clear, shimmering liquid.

Akihara's eyes widened as he took the vial from Orochimaru, looking puzzled. "My lord… what is this?"

"Try giving it to her," Orochimaru said with a hint of a smile. "It might help her unlock her eyes."

Akihara and his daughter were stunned, processing what he'd just said.

Unlocking her eyes? Did he mean… the Sharingan?

The idea was almost unthinkable. The Uchiha clan had always believed the Sharingan could only awaken through intense emotional turmoil, through blood and tears. Could this vial really bypass that process?

"Dad, Lord Orochimaru is leaving," the girl whispered, nudging him as she noticed Orochimaru already walking away.

"Huh? Oh—yes, I… I hadn't even thanked him!" Akihara looked flustered. "Mikoto, you go home first."

"Hmm? Aren't you coming with me?"

"I have… something I need to take care of."

The girl, whose name was Mikoto, nodded, a bit confused. "Alright, Dad."