Inside the Hokage’s office.

  The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, quietly studied the report Orochimaru had just submitted. It was a comprehensive inventory of military supplies—fifty percent more than originally agreed upon.

  “You’ve done well, Orochimaru,” Hiruzen said.

  Cd in his green combat uniform, Orochimaru merely offered a thin smile. “Just delivering some supplies. Too much idle time makes a man go stale.”

  Hiruzen chuckled. “I’d say you accomplished more than just a delivery this time.”

  Orochimaru replied casually, “I happened to be there. It would’ve been irresponsible to just stand by and watch.”

  Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, then lifted a letter slightly as if to show it. “The Daimyō sent a letter—mostly praise for you. He says Konoha is wise to put someone like you to use. With talent like yours, victory is only a matter of time.”

  Orochimaru’s expression didn’t change. “I saw Minato on the front lines. His influence is remarkable. With him, Konoha has hope for victory.”

  “Oh?” Hiruzen smiled faintly. “You think that highly of him?”

  “Jiraiya really did train a fine student.”

  Hiruzen’s gaze shifted ever so slightly. After a moment, he asked, “Then tell me, what do you think of Minato becoming the Fourth Hokage?”

  Orochimaru showed no emotion. “The war isn’t over yet, and you’re already pnning your retirement?”

  “We have to think about the future. The Daimyō has faith in you, and you pce your faith in Minato. With all this, how could we not win the war?”

  “The Hokage position should go to the most capable. Minato... is certainly qualified.”

  Hiruzen kept his eyes locked on Orochimaru, studying his snake-like pupils. Even after that answer, he still couldn’t find the reaction he was expecting.

  Eventually, he spoke in a slow, deliberate tone. “You once had a student like that too, didn’t you? If you could put yourself in his shoes... he’d be happy to see you support someone else.”

  A flicker of coldness passed through Orochimaru’s eyes. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

  Once Orochimaru left, silence returned to the office.

  Hiruzen reached beneath his desk, fumbling for a moment before pulling out a long-stemmed smoking pipe. As he lit it, his gaze fell again on the letter from the Daimyō.

  Besides the flowery praise for Orochimaru, the letter also expressed displeasure over Konoha’s border security—how an Iwagakure squad had managed to infiltrate so easily.

  But Hiruzen had already unched an investigation the moment he received word. Given the wartime lockdown, both the Land of Fire and Konoha had tightened their border control. The report came back clean—no suspicious entries or movements.

  Something felt off.

  But even if he kept digging, what would it accomplish? If the truth was too ugly to tell the Daimyō, what could he do—confess that the vilge was caught in a power struggle over the next Hokage?

  Orochimaru... you’ve still underestimated your own ruthlessness—and your ambition.

  Hiruzen exhaled a thick plume of smoke. It swirled around his face, heavy and suffocating.

  …

  The first thing Orochimaru did upon returning home was to send Anko to fetch Makoto.

  Once the girl had skipped off on her errand, Orochimaru sat motionless in the living room, alone.

  Pathetic, Orochimaru. Still can’t let go of these useless emotions, even now?

  He closed his eyes. Moments ter, a masked ANBU ninja suddenly appeared in a flicker of movement, dropping to one knee.

  “Orochimaru-sama,” he said, presenting a scroll with both hands.

  Orochimaru didn’t respond. A python slowly slithered from his sleeve, gliding toward the ANBU and gently taking the scroll in its jaws.

  “Lord Danzō sends his regards,” the ninja added before vanishing just as abruptly as he’d arrived.

  Nearly thirty minutes passed before Anko returned, dragging Makoto behind her.

  The moment Makoto stepped into the room, he immediately sensed the cold, oppressive aura surrounding Orochimaru.

  Anko, oblivious, bounced up to Orochimaru’s side, all smiles. “Orochimaru-sama! I brought Makoto!”

  Orochimaru patted her on the head, his voice gentle. “Makoto and I have something to discuss. Go py for a while, alright?”

  “Eh?” Anko blinked in confusion, gncing at Makoto. Since when were they on such familiar terms?

  In her memory, Orochimaru only asked her to leave when he had to speak with other adults. She never minded—she knew her pce.

  But why exclude her for a talk with Makoto?

  “…Okay.” Anko nodded obediently, but couldn’t help stealing another gnce at Makoto as she left.

  Makoto didn’t ask about Orochimaru’s mood. Instead, he opened with, “The vilge’s been buzzing. Everyone’s talking about how Orochimaru-sama saved the Daimyō.”

  Orochimaru said nothing. He simply tossed a scroll at him.

  Makoto unrolled it and read the contents—correspondence between high-ranking officials of the Land of Fire’s royal court. The implications were damning: these ministers had all accepted bribes from Root.

  They weren’t fools. If they dared to take such bribes, it meant Root hadn’t come with goodwill.

  Makoto, however, remained calm. “The war’s almost over.”

  Orochimaru gnced over. “How do you know?”

  “Konoha’s running out of steam. So is Iwagakure.”

  Orochimaru scoffed. “And? You think Iwa will just bow out?”

  The war between Fire and Earth had turned brutal—so savage that it had long since lost its original meaning. Now, the fighting was sustained purely by hatred.

  “That’s why we need a catalyst—something to force a ceasefire. Then Konoha can propose a peace treaty.”

  Orochimaru frowned. “That’d look a lot like surrender.”

  Makoto replied, “It’s all about presentation. Dress it up right and the vilgers won’t see it that way. The Hokage can use the moment to step down and support the rise of the Fourth.”

  Orochimaru’s eyes narrowed. “What catalyst are you suggesting?”

  “Have you forgotten what started this war, Orochimaru-sama?”

  His mind raced.

  “Sunagakure,” he muttered.

  Makoto nodded. “The Fourth Kazekage’s had time to stabilize Suna. If we can win them over, Iwa will have no choice but to stand down.”

  “You think Suna would agree?”

  “They’re desperate for peace too. They won’t risk upsetting the bance between the three great nations.”

  Orochimaru fell silent, deep in thought.

  “You must travel to the Land of Wind,” Makoto said. “Secure them as our ally.”

  “No.” Orochimaru suddenly cut in.

  “That alone isn’t enough!”

  Makoto froze. Orochimaru wore a cold smile now.

  “I have to return with reinforcements at the very brink of Konoha’s destruction. Only then will I command the respect and awe I need.”

  Makoto’s expression turned solemn. “But Iwa might not have the strength to push Konoha that far.”

  “If they don’t, we give them that strength!”

  Makoto’s voice dropped. “If you become Hokage, those shinobi on the front lines—they’ll be your family.”

  Orochimaru didn’t flinch. “And if they’re ready to crown someone else instead, isn’t that a betrayal?”

  He understood now. No matter what he did, he couldn’t win their hearts so quickly.

  So he had to carve a path forward—with blood.

  “This pn will throw Konoha and the entire Land of Fire into chaos,” Makoto warned.

  Orochimaru's voice was low and hoarse.

  “Chaos is a dder.”

  A dder to sweep everything aside—and ascend to the top.