Naruto Online: Hyuga Branch Family? Let's go all out!

Chapter 81 Tsunade, the Wise One

While Ning Yuan was researching the Wood Release necklace, Tsunade also met her old friend, Orochimaru.

Snake was dressed in a clean white robe, his fingers and hair were neatly styled, and he exuded an indescribable elegance.

Of course, there's also the cold and dampness.

However, Tsunade is immune to this coldness.

The two met at Akimichi's barbecue restaurant and booked a private room.

Although the place may seem bustling with people, a straightforward meeting here is less likely to attract attention.

If you deliberately seek out a secluded place, you'll likely attract Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention.

"Why did you suddenly decide to treat me to barbecue?" Orochimaru looked at the sizzling, oily barbecue in front of him, his eyes showing no longing, only endless tranquility and a hint of irritation.

He has joined the root system and is now conducting research on interstitial cells.

As for the results, it's not that there were none at all; at least he realized that this thing is really difficult to study, to the point that he has no ideas at all now.

Tsunade rested her cheek on her hand, as casually as ever, but her words made Orochimaru's heart tighten: "I want to confirm something with you. Was Nawaki's death truly an accident?"

"You haven't gotten over this yet!" Orochimaru gave a wry smile and explained earnestly, "It was an accident. The battle hadn't even started yet, but the enemy had already laid a trap there. Nawaki was reckless."

Orochimaru was also deeply saddened by Nawaki's death. Although Nawaki's talents were not a good match for his own, Nawaki's personality was as sunny and cheerful as Hashirama's, making him hard to dislike.

If someone else keeps reopening Orochimaru's wounds, he will really get angry.

But since the person asking the questions was Tsunade, he could only explain again and again.

"Then why did Nawaki's internal organs disappear when I arrived?" Tsunade asked softly, "What kind of explosive tag could blow up a person's internal organs?"

Orochimaru paused for a moment, then said, "We've discussed this issue quite a few times, haven't we? Perhaps it was done by some ninja among the enemy."

Ninjas are professionals who specialize in killing, but there are no positions for psychological counseling or other support to address their psychological issues. Over the years, it's no wonder they develop problems.

The ninjas of Konoha are somewhat better off; they are always on the receiving end of attacks, and their battles are mostly self-defense and counterattacks, which have a certain degree of righteousness. However, the ninjas of other villages often have all sorts of psychological problems.

As a result, various hobbies for relieving psychological problems have emerged.

For example, murder, drinking, gambling, and frequenting red-light districts.

It's rare to see people who like to eat human organs, but it definitely exists!

Tsunade remained silent; this issue had indeed been discussed many times.

Where did the internal organs go?

It may have been taken by a rival ninja.

So who is this ninja? A ninja who likes to steal internal organs must be somewhat well-known, right?

He probably died later; after all, anyone can die on the battlefield.

There's always a way to explain it.

But today, Tsunade's reaction was different.

She was extremely calm, and Orochimaru could tell that this wasn't a silence born of extreme repression; she was genuinely calm.

It's as if they've accepted it.

Tsunade then said, "In other words, you can't actually determine whether Nawaki's death was an accident, because you're not even sure if that ninja who likes internal organs still exists."

Orochimaru was taken aback. This line of thinking was novel, yet it made perfect sense!

Yes, the reason you said Nawaki's death was an accident is because there might be a ninja who likes other people's internal organs.

But since this ninja is "possible" to exist, this argument has become possible, so the argument that Nawaki's death was an accident is naturally untenable.

"Did someone tell you something, or did you find out something yourself?" Orochimaru asked softly.

He finally understood why Tsunade's voice had been so soft all this time, completely different from the Tsunade he knew before.

But isn't this Konoha? Who are you guarding against?

Orochimaru, keenly aware of a possibility, immediately asked, "Do you suspect..."

He turned his head slightly; that was the direction of the Hokage Rock.

Tsunade didn't nod, and asked again, "If someone gets my support, wouldn't their chances of becoming Hokage become much greater?"

Orochimaru narrowed his snake-like eyes, then nodded emphatically: "That's right!"

Tsunade herself may have been too oblivious to realize it, but any bystander would know that the two Hokage grandfathers, both being legendary Sannin, were medical ninjas who saved countless lives on the battlefield—that was an incredibly powerful influence.

Orochimaru wasn't stupid; of course he could see it too.

"Yes, that's it!" Tsunade gave a bitter laugh. "So Nawaki died, so Dan died, so they... died because of me?"

Orochimaru paused for a moment, then silently handed over a piece of paper.

Then I discovered something.

It felt like something was missing from Tsunade's chest.

Necklace?

He knew very well that Tsunade's necklace was a gift left to her by the First Hokage. Not only was the material of the necklace itself priceless, but it also contained a large amount of chakra left by the First Hokage.

The combination of these two factors caused the necklace's value to skyrocket once again.

But more importantly, this was a keepsake left to her granddaughter by the First Hokage, so no matter how valuable the necklace was, Tsunade would never pawn it.

If it wasn't pawned, and no one has the power to snatch the necklace from Tsunade, then it's quite obvious.

Tsunade voluntarily gave the necklace to someone else!

What kind of person is he that Tsunade would entrust with such a task?

Let's think about the questions Tsunade just asked.

"You haven't been misled by spies from the enemy village, have you?" Orochimaru said solemnly, "That's war. Anyone could die, including you and me!"

"What, are you going to report me to the village?" Tsunade sneered. "The granddaughter of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, the First and Second Hokage, colluding with foreign enemies?"

"I just don't want you to be used!" Orochimaru said earnestly. "After all, I don't have many friends!"

"Friend!" Tsunade nodded, not rushing to refute, but instead asked, "You also have the potential to become Hokage. If you want to be Hokage, I will support you."

Orochimaru nodded. He did have a high chance of becoming Hokage, but he was a bit inferior to Sakumo Hatake.

However, he is currently researching Hashirama cells. If he succeeds, it will be a great achievement, and no one will be able to stop him from becoming Hokage.

"But you're very strong, and you have even more ways to protect yourself, so it's unlikely you'll encounter an accident like Dan or Nawaki's!" Tsunade continued, "Then, what methods are there to prevent you from becoming Hokage?"

Orochimaru was speechless. Wasn't this still based on suspicion?

"What have you been doing lately?" Tsunade asked.

Orochimaru was taken aback, unsure whether he should say it or not.

This experiment is, of course, classified, but if Tsunade asks...

"Have you been out on any missions?" Tsunade asked again.

"No, not at all!" Orochimaru thought for a moment and said, "I took over an experiment left behind by the Second Hokage, and I've been busy with that lately!"

Rather than letting her guess, it's better to give her an answer.

"Since you didn't carry out a mission, the village couldn't have used the mission to harm you. As for conducting experiments..." Ning Yuan could always piece together a huge truth from very small and fragmented pieces of information.

Tsunade also wanted to try doing that.

If I were Hiruzen Sarutobi, and I didn't want Orochimaru to become Hokage, what would I do?

Why would I arrange an experiment for him that was a second-generation one?

Experiments are not something that can be completed in three to five days. It is normal for them to take three to five years, or even more than ten years. If Orochimaru is always busy with experiments, how could he make a mistake? How could he be assassinated?

With his reputation and strength, even if another ten years passed, he would still be the most suitable candidate for Hokage.

This little bit of time wasted was completely insignificant to him!

Unless, the experiment itself is flawed and could lead to Orochimaru's demise!

Tsunade took a deep breath and asked, "Can you tell me about the experiment?"

Orochimaru remained silent.

"There shouldn't be many things in the village that I can't know!" Tsunade asked again, "You've been my comrade-in-arms for over twenty years, and you're unwilling to tell me, so this matter is related to me?"

As if struck by a thought, Tsunade's gaze sharpened: "You've restarted the Wood Release experiments?"

(End of this chapter)