Chapter 181

In Konoha, most missions involving hired help came from the ordinary villagers. It was rare for ninjas, especially Jonin, to post tasks for lower-ranked shinobi. Jonin hiring Chunin? That sort of thing was highly unusual.

Mikoto couldn't help but feel puzzled by this. Still, she adhered to the basic conduct expected of a shinobi. It wasn't her place to question Orochimaru's motives. In her mind, she simply reasoned that Orochimaru must be busy enough with other matters that he didn't have time to take care of such mundane tasks as cleaning.

The thought that Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin, might just be lazy never even crossed her mind.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru strolled through the streets of Konoha. The bustling, lively energy of the village invigorated him. There was something refreshing about seeing the people go about their daily lives after the harshness of the battlefield. Knowing that his contributions to scientific development had tipped the scales in their favor during the war filled him with a sense of accomplishment.

Could a single person's influence change the outcome of a war?

Sometimes, it could.

Take Namikaze Minato, who shifted the tide of battle in the Third Great Ninja War with a single decisive victory. Or Naruto and Sasuke, who became the saviors during the Fourth Great Ninja War.

But in Orochimaru's eyes, no matter how powerful a single person was, they were still just one person. Relying on personal strength alone to change the world was an exhausting path.

Instead of altering wars by his own power, Orochimaru preferred to cultivate talent and orchestrate events from behind the scenes, just as he had in his past life. He believed that finding and nurturing talent was the key. Once the right people were in place, he could entrust them with missions and battles, reserving his own energy for more crucial matters.

Being the one pulling the strings, rather than the one always in the fray, that was the life he sought. Why spend a lifetime fighting battles yourself, no matter how strong you were, when you could guide others to do it for you?

After finishing lunch alone, Orochimaru decided to visit the bathhouse. He found the experience of soaking in hot spring relaxing, a rare indulgence.

It was mid-afternoon, and the bathhouse was almost empty. Orochimaru relished the peace and quiet, the steam and warmth easing the tension from his body. Draping a hot towel over his face, he felt the heat seep into his skin, bringing a rare sense of tranquility.

---

Back at Orochimaru's house, a knock at the door pulled Mikoto from her cleaning.

"Coming! Lord Orochimaru, you—"

She stopped mid-sentence as she opened the door to see a tall woman wearing a purple coat.

"Ah, are you… Tsunade-sama?" Mikoto asked, eyes wide in recognition.

"And you are?" Tsunade replied, studying the young girl with mild curiosity. "What are you doing in Orochimaru's house?"

"My name is Uchiha Mikoto. Lord Orochimaru hired me to clean his house. But he isn't home at the moment…" Mikoto explained, her voice carrying a polite, almost apologetic tone.

Tsunade's initial reaction at hearing the girl was an Uchiha was a flicker of annoyance, but it passed quickly. The deep-rooted tensions between the Senju and Uchiha clans had long since faded, especially after the decline of the Senju. Holding onto old grudges would be petty. Besides, there were only two Senju left; it made no sense for her to harbor resentment against a young girl like Mikoto.

Still, Tsunade couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment. So Orochimaru had to hire someone because she herself had never been good at housekeeping.

"Well, if he's not here, I guess I'll be on my way. Do you know where he went?" Tsunade asked, trying to keep her composure.

"I'm afraid I don't, Tsunade-sama," Mikoto replied, shaking her head.

"Alright then." Tsunade waved her hand dismissively. "Carry on."

With that, Tsunade turned and walked away. But before she had gone far, her gaze caught a figure with long, white hair.

"Dan?" she murmured, eyes narrowing as recognition set in.

---

That evening, the headquarters of Root was enveloped in shadow, with only the dim glow of a lone candle flickering in one of the rooms.

"Orochimaru, you disappoint me."

The deep voice resonated in the small space, tinged with disapproval.

"What do you mean, Lord Danzo?" Orochimaru, who had come directly after a relaxing bath and dinner, raised an eyebrow in surprise at the greeting. Was this about Tsunade and the Wood Release?

Danzo's uncovered left eye bore into him. "You are a promising young man, Orochimaru. You should have become the greatest of shinobi. But look at you now…"

"Emotion is the most useless burden for a ninja…" Danzo continued, his voice dripping with disdain, as though delivering a lecture that he'd given a hundred times before.

Orochimaru listened, and understanding dawned on him. So, that's what this was about. "Is that all, Danzo-sama? I think you're overestimating the situation."

"No, you don't get it." Danzo's voice hardened. "Emotions make a ninja vulnerable. If an enemy finds and exploits that weakness, the consequences could be devastating."

"So is that why you're always alone?" Orochimaru's lips curled into a subtle smirk. "Alright, let's skip the lecture. This isn't why you called me here, is it?"

Danzo's expression darkened briefly before he sighed. "No, it's not."

"The Sharingan?" Orochimaru guessed.

"Exactly."

There was no doubt that the war had given Danzo plenty of opportunities to gather Sharingan. The increase in activated Sharingan within the Uchiha Clan, facilitated by Orochimaru's own research, had made obtaining them easier. The more Uchiha awakened their eyes, the more evolved forms like the three-tomoe Sharingan appeared. With the increased numbers, security around the eyes loosened, giving Danzo a chance to collect them.

Orochimaru glanced at the twelve three-tomoe Sharingan displayed before him. Even he had to admire Danzo's relentless ambition.

"Twelve Sharingan? Including the other two you already have, that makes fourteen in total. That should be enough. But, are you sure you want to go through with the transplant?" Orochimaru's voice was casual, but his eyes glimmered with intrigue.

The risks of transplantation were significant. Once someone received those cells, it would be difficult almost impossible to reverse the process. It was a lifelong commitment with consequences.

Danzo hesitated, a rare show of uncertainty. "Do you think it's necessary?"

"You helped Tsunade awaken Wood Release, which could have been a reckless move, but you've managed to make her an ally—wise. Still, can you guarantee Tsunade's loyalty forever? That's the question." Danzo's voice softened, laced with doubt. "I don't have many other options."

"Is power really that important?" Orochimaru asked, maintaining his subtle, knowing smile.

"Of course. Only when you possess power can you truly understand its worth," Danzo replied, his expression resolute.