### Chapter 185

At the mention of Orochimaru, Tsunade's irritation flared. 

"It's because the person the old man assigned is utterly useless—a fool who caused the deaths of so many. That's why I support Orochimaru taking charge. This is completely different from his experiments." 

"I've noticed that casualties have dropped significantly since then," Shinki remarked. 

Say what you will about Orochimaru's dark tendencies, but his capabilities were undeniable. This man was truly multifaceted, excelling in all areas, though some of his talents had their limits. 

After all, Orochimaru wasn't just any ninja—he was Konoha's "Great White Snake," a jack-of-all-trades with a knack for carving out influence everywhere he went. 

Shinki smirked as the thought crossed his mind. 

"What are you laughing at?" Tsunade asked, frowning. She had warned him about Orochimaru, but here he was, laughing. 

"Hahaha, sorry," Shinki chuckled, "I just remembered Orochimaru's title—Konoha's White Snake. It's so ridiculous... Hahaha!" 

Some titles sound grandiose, but others are just plain amusing. Orochimaru's fell squarely into the latter category. 

Tsunade couldn't help herself. The absurdity of the name tickled her too. 

"Konoha's White Snake... Seriously, who came up with that? It's hilarious!" 

And the best part? Orochimaru absolutely despised it. Anyone who dared call him that would be met with a cold, stony expression, no matter how cheerful he had been a second before. 

As far as nicknames went, "Konoha White Snake" was arguably more humiliating than the more famous "Legendary Sannin." 

After their shared laugh, Shinki sighed and became serious. 

"Once you head back to the village, I'll keep an eye on Orochimaru—not to interfere with his experiments but to ensure I don't get dragged into them either. Don't expect me to babysit him." 

Taking over Tsunade's responsibilities was enough of a burden. Besides, Shinki had no interest in meddling with Orochimaru's work. That responsibility could rest with the Third Hokage. 

If Orochimaru's experiments ever backfired spectacularly, the fallout wouldn't land on Shinki but on the Hokage himself. 

"Fair enough," Tsunade said. "Just keep your own hands clean. I don't expect you to control him. Nobody can, really." 

---

The next day, news of Shinki replacing Tsunade spread throughout the camp, with Orochimaru personally making the announcement. 

However, it would take a few days for the transition to be complete. Shinki needed time to take over the medical department's operations to ensure everything ran smoothly before Tsunade could leave with peace of mind. 

Shinki stepping into the role raised no objections from the camp's ninjas. Though their opinions didn't hold much weight, Shinki's reputation preceded him. His leadership and strength had been evident during his time at the Rain Country camp. 

Even if someone had doubts, they would think twice before voicing them, especially given Shinki's title—**"God Slayer."** 

"Lord God Slayer!" 

"Good morning, Lord God Slayer!" 

The title, though less widespread in Konoha, carried significant weight among the front-line soldiers. Many of these ninjas had been transferred from the Rain Country camp, where Shinki had solidified his reputation. 

While the village's politics kept his title relatively muted, the battlefield was a different story. Here, admiration for Shinki was open and unrestrained. 

But for Shinki, the nickname was nothing short of mortifying. 

Every time he heard it, his eyelid twitched involuntarily. 

Tsunade, barely holding back her laughter, said, "Don't look so annoyed. It's a mark of their respect for your strength." 

"Respect?" Shinki sighed. "It's embarrassing, is what it is." 

"Come on, 'God Slayer' isn't so bad," Tsunade teased. "At least it's better than 'Konoha's White Snake.'" 

Her comment hung in the air just as Orochimaru approached. His previously neutral expression hardened into a piercing glare aimed directly at Tsunade. 

"Ah..." Shinki sighed, patting Tsunade on the shoulder. "You might want to turn around." 

Confused, Tsunade glanced back and froze when she saw Orochimaru standing there. 

"Uh... Orochimaru! What a coincidence. You were looking for Shinki, right? Well, I'll leave you two to it—I've got plenty to do in the medical department!" 

Without waiting for a response, Tsunade made a hasty exit. 

As she fled, Shinki couldn't resist a parting jab. 

"Goodbye, White Snake." 

Orochimaru's jaw clenched. He turned to Shinki with an exaggerated smile that didn't reach his eyes. 

"Good morning, God Slayer." 

Shinki doubled over with laughter, clutching his stomach as he struggled to breathe. 

Orochimaru, taking a deep breath to steady himself, managed to suppress his irritation. 

It's just a title. It's just a title, he reminded himself. 

---

Once Shinki regained his composure, he asked, "So, what brings you here? Surely you're too busy to come by without a reason." 

"I have some ideas I'd like to discuss with you," Orochimaru replied. "Shall we head to the headquarters?" 

Shinki nodded. "Alright." 

While he was fine with discussing strategy, Shinki drew a hard line at participating in Orochimaru's more questionable experiments. The potential fallout was too great to risk involvement. 

---

As they walked through the bustling camp, Shinki couldn't help but tease: 

"I thought you came to the front lines to fight, but it turns out you've become the camp's chief steward." 

Orochimaru smirked faintly. "It's because the person originally assigned to this position was incompetent. Among the Sarutobi clan, how many are truly useful beyond the old man?" 

His words weren't far from the truth. 

The Sarutobi clan's reputation often outpaced its actual abilities. Their strength had been propped up artificially, but their foundation remained weak, and their individual talents were inconsistent. 

If the previous chief had been even remotely competent, Orochimaru wouldn't have had the chance to take over. 

"Look at the Rain Country camp," Orochimaru continued. "With Nara Shukako in command, no one would dare question his authority." 

>>>>>

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