Chapter 147: Nervous Tsunade

Jiraiya wasn't a fool, and neither was Tsunade.

Just from listening to Orochimaru's explanations, they both understood the immense potential of his cloning technology. If left unchecked, Orochimaru could eventually amass a force powerful enough to challenge the entire ninja world. It was something anyone with foresight could see coming.

But right now, Orochimaru wasn't using this power for domination. Instead, he applied his groundbreaking technology to protect civilians and provide a sanctuary for orphans.

For Jiraiya and Tsunade, there was nothing to object to. As strange as it all seemed, it was still something they could accept.

Would Orochimaru's ambitions change as his forces grew? Would he eventually set his sights on ruling the ninja world? They couldn't be certain of that.

But just the mere possibility wasn't enough to make them oppose him. It wasn't in the nature of either Jiraiya or Tsunade to condemn someone for hypothetical futures.

They couldn't bring themselves to stop Orochimaru, not when he was doing so much good.

In the office of the Sound Village…

At that moment, Tsunade was seated comfortably on Orochimaru's lap, her arms loosely wrapped around his neck. She looked happier than she had in a long time, entirely unconcerned with the unusual closeness of their current position.

She was simply proud. Proud of what Orochimaru had achieved and of the strength he displayed.

Building a village to protect an entire country with his own power? Even if it was a small country, it was an incredible feat.

In this war-torn era, any woman would be proud to have such a capable partner. Tsunade was no exception.

But for Orochimaru, this moment felt different. He could swear that in all the years he'd known Tsunade, he had never been this close to her. Her scent, her touch—it was all overwhelming.

He hadn't been with a woman for over two decades. He could feel the suppressed tension bubbling up, his mind nudging him to seize this moment.

"Tsunade…"

"Hm?"

"You're my girlfriend, right?"

"Of course. Why do you sound so serious all of a sudden?"

"There's a room right next to this office…"

Tsunade, who had been enjoying the glow of Orochimaru's achievements, suddenly looked up, momentarily caught off guard.

"Huh? A room next door?" She blinked, not quite processing his intent. "What… do you mean?"

Orochimaru didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked at her with a slight smirk, his eyes lingering on her face. Without the diamond-shaped mark of the Yin Seal on her forehead, she looked younger, more carefree. Her beauty, combined with her strong yet gentle demeanor, made her exactly the kind of woman any man would dream of.

Through the large, floor-to-ceiling window in the office, one could see the two of them, seated close together, their fatigue from the journey melting away in this quiet moment.

Orochimaru hadn't lied. There was indeed a small room next to the office, a modest space intended as a resting area for long hours at work. But now, it was serving an unexpected purpose.

No one would disturb them here. The Sound Village was populated only by Orochimaru's clones and civilians, and there were no pressing matters requiring his attention. This space was truly theirs alone.

"Orochimaru… are you really serious about… here?" Tsunade stammered, her voice holding a hint of nervousness.

She had imagined this moment might come one day, but not like this, and not so suddenly.

But nervousness wasn't going to stop her. Not now.

Orochimaru might not have much experience, but as a reincarnator he was well-versed in theory. He quickly soothed Tsunade's initial hesitation, his hands gently caressed her soft peaks Tsunade was extremely cooperative. Her waist twisted and legs unconsciously gripped Orochimaru. Soon crazy moans echoed incessantly and in the quiet, private space, time ceased to matter for the two of them…

Outside the office, Jiraiya leaned against the wall, trying to push away the nagging feeling in his chest. It was a strange, hollow sensation, though he didn't want to dwell on it.

Instead, his attention was drawn to the village around him.

Wait… were those actual shops?

As he walked around, he noticed the cheerful expressions on the villagers' faces. There was a vibrancy to this place, an atmosphere that rivaled even Konoha. Jiraiya couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and disbelief.

"This place has almost the same atmosphere as Konoha," he murmured. "Orochimaru, you really did something amazing here."

As he continued wandering, the villagers greeted him with surprising warmth and respect, recognizing him as a friend of Orochimaru's.

"Is that really Lord Orochimaru's companion?" one villager asked.

"Yes, that's him!" another answered excitedly.

Seeing their enthusiasm, Jiraiya scratched the back of his head, a bit embarrassed by the attention.

"Amazing!"

"Orochimaru-sama is incredible, so his friends must be too!"

"Of course! He must be a powerful ninja as well!"

"Well… I'd like to think so!" Jiraiya chuckled awkwardly.

"Haha, is that so?" He couldn't help but feel flattered, but the villagers' praise also sparked a lingering question in his mind.

"Hey," he asked one of the villagers, "why do you all admire Orochimaru so much? Is he really as great as you say?"