After sending off the mother and daughter of the Uzumaki clan, Orochimaru lost all interest in staying in Kusanagi Village. He immediately dispelled his shadow clone and ended the summoning technique.
The roars and curses of the Grass Village elders echoed in the distance, but Orochimaru paid them no mind. He didn't even feel the urge to kill them.
To be honest, he was a little disappointed. All it took was a public exposure of their crimes for them to fall into hysteria?
Such weak resolve…
After all, they were merely the leaders of a minor village. No backbone at all.
If it had been Danzō...
Orochimaru imagined the scene: Danzō would have declared, "This was for the sake of the village," with neither shame nor hesitation. He would've seized the opportunity to consolidate control, wrap himself in false virtue, and twist hearts to match his own colors.
And you? You cracked from a few words... Don't make me look foolish for even trying.
Thousands of miles away, in a hidden fortress on Konoha's border, Orochimaru shook his head in amusement. Behind him, the Djinn—having learned of what happened in Grass Village—rolled midair, laughing with delight.
Everything Orochimaru saw and heard there, the way coercion was disguised as sacrifice and cruelty painted as justice, carried a familiar scent.
But compared to Danzō's Root, Kusanagi Village was... immature. Amateurish.
---
Well, it was just an experiment anyway.
A flicker of frustration passed through Orochimaru's eyes—like a farmer disappointed in infertile land.
"Hehehe… You tailor your teaching to each student. It's not a bad method to see how the seedlings grow," Djinn said with a smile.
"But if we're speaking of cooperation, a society full of villains can't survive for long. And when there are too many of them, it collapses on itself."
"Kusanagi is no Konoha. It lacks the soil where something like Root could even take hold."
Djinn lightly patted Orochimaru's shoulder.
"Besides, that kind of political manipulation is Danzo's specialty. You should stick to your strengths."
Recalling the pathetic performance of the Grass Village elder, Orochimaru couldn't really argue.
He raised an eyebrow and looked away—but instead of responding, he summoned a creature.
Boom!
A burst of white smoke filled the room. A massive, bloated python appeared, staring at Orochimaru with sleepy eyes before reluctantly regurgitating the mother and daughter of the Uzumaki clan onto the floor.
With a groan, the red-haired woman stirred and awoke from unconsciousness. Her instincts kicked in—she immediately checked the little girl in her arms. Seeing that Karin was fast asleep and unharmed, she sighed in relief, then cautiously scanned her surroundings.
The first thing she saw was the pale-faced ninja who had taken her from the clutches of Grass Village.
His cold gaze met hers. The woman froze, trembling. She gave a small scream and instinctively curled up in fear, clutching Karin even tighter.
Escaping from being used as a blood bag should've been a blessing. But instead of relief, all she felt was dread—as if she'd escaped wolves only to land in the mouth of a tiger.
She couldn't stop shaking.
"…The Uzumaki clan really is gifted with perception."
Orochimaru licked his lips. But the next moment, his entire demeanor changed.
The red-haired woman's eyes widened in disbelief.
Just a moment ago, the man before her had felt like an endless void of cold and bloodlust. But now…
He radiated warmth. Comfort. Like a gentle sun shining through winter frost.
How could he change so completely?
"Perception may be a natural gift of the Uzumaki," Djinn said through Orochimaru's mouth, "but if you rely too heavily on it… you'll lose your ability to judge."
His expression softened into a Madonna-like smile—genuine, gentle, disarming. The kind that could make someone drop their guard and breathe easy.
"People change. Even those who've been close for years can betray each other when the stakes are high… isn't that right?"
The red-haired woman fell silent.
Seeing her reaction, Orochimaru smiled faintly and withdrew his control over his body.
Not every member of the Uzumaki clan is born with a healing physique. In fact, Orochimaru had never even heard of such a trait before now—proof of just how well the clan had kept the secret.
In a time when medical ninjutsu was still undeveloped, a single person with such a body could change the tide of war. It was a strategic asset.
That this woman had ended up in her current state likely had to do with the fall of the Uzumaki clan. Without the guidance of her elders, she failed to grasp the importance of her bloodline—and failed to protect its secrets.
Maybe it was an accident. Maybe it was out of kindness. But regardless, a secret exposed is no longer a secret. And everything that happened today… part of it was her own doing.
Still, Orochimaru didn't blame her. Talented individuals needed protection even more than ordinary ones.
He thought of himself. It's easy to become good—or to become evil. Without the old man's protection when he was younger, he might've died before achieving anything. Even now, though he had long surpassed his master, he never spoke ill of him.
After a long silence, the woman finally raised her head. Her voice was hoarse, trembling.
"Who are you? Why did you save me?"
Something in Orochimaru's presence—his shift in temperament—had shaken her instincts. She wasn't as guarded now. She even used the word 'save'.
Before, she'd clearly thought he was just another monster like the ones from Kusanagi Village.
Orochimaru smiled.
"Who I am doesn't matter. I'm a ninja. Saving you wasn't out of kindness—it was part of a mission."
"Mission?" the woman echoed, eyes wide with confusion. That wasn't what she expected at all.
Who would issue a mission to protect her?
A sudden possibility crossed her mind, and her expression lit up with fragile hope. Ignoring her fear, she grabbed the corner of his robe.
"Who sent you? Can I meet them?"
"You've already met her," Orochimaru said calmly, smiling as he pointed to the child sleeping in her arms.
"Your daughter is the one who issued the request."
The woman blinked, stunned.
"She cried out in her heart, begging someone—anyone—to save her mother. She was willing to give up everything to make it happen."
"I heard her. So I answered. And in return, I'll take everything from her."
For a second, the woman was frozen, but she quickly snapped out of it. Orochimaru's words had struck a nerve.
Clutching her daughter tightly, she stared in disbelief. "That's impossible! Karin… she doesn't understand any of this! She's just a child!"
"A child? Maybe now," Orochimaru said, not denying it. "But what about in a year? In five? When she sees her mother being drained like livestock, will she still be just a child? Or will she pray in silence for someone to save you?"
"And if you think you'll be free of that hellish fate in five years… can you guarantee your daughter won't end up just like you?"
The woman had no words. No strength to argue.
Of course, a mother wants to protect her child. But what if the child, understanding her pain, chooses instead to protect her?
Could she really deny that possibility?
Would she rather Karin grow cold and selfish, just to survive in this world?
But even then… would Karin really survive in Kusanagi Village?
"Don't look at me like that," Orochimaru said with a grin. "I'm simply fulfilling someone's wish a little early. Honestly, I enjoy this kind of thing."
He licked his lips.
"It's not a bad outcome, is it? You're alive. Your daughter's alive. Your suffering ends here."
"Justice may come late… but I don't."
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