In the outskirts of Konoha, tucked away near the mountain forests, sat a gloomy laboratory. This was one of Orochimaru's several secret facilities within the village.
At this moment, Orochimaru was immersed in cruel human experiments, specifically, research concerning Wood Release. It had to be said that the blood samples he had brought back from Diarmuid had yielded significant progress, even if the ultimate breakthrough remained elusive.
Placing a test tube on the table, Orochimaru spoke with a hint of displeasure, "I moved all the way out here precisely because I didn't want to listen to your nonsense all day. And yet, you still insist on disturbing me?"
He didn't turn around. Standing silently at the laboratory entrance was Danzo.
Hearing Orochimaru's blunt words, Danzo didn't show the slightest hint of impatience. Acting as if he hadn't heard the insult at all, he spoke directly: "Your 'good friend' has arrived in Konoha."
"Good friend?" Orochimaru replied casually, then asked, "I heard Jiraiya was back, but your news is a bit outdated, isn't it? Unless you mean Tsunade has returned as well?"
It seemed that, in his heart, Orochimaru still counted those two among his few true friends.
Danzo remained silent. He simply stood there, and Orochimaru, matching his silence, said nothing more. A long while passed before Orochimaru finally asked, "Who is it?"
"Rodriguez Diarmuid," Danzo replied.
Orochimaru's hands stilled. He turned around, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "He shouldn't harbor any ill will toward the old man..."
Incredibly, Orochimaru's first thought was whether Diarmuid had come to assassinate the Third Hokage. Danzo felt a pang of frustration; he wished Diarmuid did have ill intent. It would be ideal if the man could suddenly take out Hiruzen, well, perhaps not kill him, but maim him enough so he could no longer serve as Hokage.
After murmuring to himself, Orochimaru looked at Danzo. "So? Did you come here just out of the goodness of your heart to tell me this?"
"No. As you said, I am not that kind-hearted," Danzo said calmly. After a brief pause, he continued, "I came because I want you to introduce me to him. That is all."
Just as Diarmuid had anticipated, he was very interested in an "old schemer" like Danzo. Similarly, Diarmuid, who had brazenly killed the Third Raikage and the Earth Daimyo, deeply intrigued Danzo with his unscrupulous style and mysterious background.
"Hehehe..." Orochimaru let out a sinister chuckle, his cold, snake-like pupils locked onto Danzo's eyes. Danzo didn't care; he remained standing there, waiting for an answer.
"Konoha is becoming more and more disappointing," Orochimaru said suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere.
Danzo didn't respond. Eventually, Orochimaru looked away and agreed, "I will go see him tonight."
Though nothing explicit had been said, Danzo knew Orochimaru had accepted. He didn't linger, turning to leave. However, before stepping out, he paused. "Haven't you been a bit too reckless lately?"
"In what sense?" Orochimaru asked nonchalantly, swirling the liquid in his test tube and observing it against the light.
"Even if you use ninjas from the village for your experiments, at least clean up after yourself. I shouldn't have to remind you of such things, yet you've made such a blunder. It makes me wonder... what exactly are you thinking?" Danzo asked without looking back.
Indeed, Danzo had already discovered that Orochimaru was experimenting on fellow villagers, but he hadn't stopped it. He had even helped cover the tracks.
That was the essence of the man: he constantly shouted slogans about being the "Darkness of Konoha" and the "Necessity of Root," acting as if everything he did was for the sake of Konoha. In reality, he cared only for his own power and status. Anyone who obstructed his interests, regardless of whether they were beneficial to the village, would face his lethal hand. In the original timeline, he had even sent Tenzo (Yamato) to assassinate Kakashi. Killing fellow ninjas was nothing new to Danzo.
Currently, Orochimaru was valuable to him, so he protected him. Furthermore, in Danzo's eyes, Orochimaru had already lost his value as a candidate for Fourth Hokage (since the man himself was uninterested), so he didn't care what Orochimaru did or if he eventually left the village. As long as they maintained a cooperative relationship in the shadows, he was satisfied. History would show that even after Orochimaru's defection, Danzo maintained a relatively good working relationship with him.
"Don't meddle in my business," Orochimaru said without turning, pouring the liquid into a Petri dish.
"Hmph," Danzo snorted coldly.
Since Orochimaru had moved out of the Root base, the relationship between the two had grown increasingly distant. Originally, there was a slight superior-subordinate dynamic, but now Danzo could clearly feel that Orochimaru no longer held him in any regard. They could no longer interact as they once did; if they wanted to maintain their connection, it would have to shift toward a relationship of equal, mutual benefit.
Danzo, though annoyed, was pragmatic enough to adapt. Ultimately, this shift stemmed from the change in Orochimaru's attitude and feelings toward Konoha. It was understandable.
"If it truly comes to that, if you leave, I will pin all the crimes on you," Danzo said suddenly.
Orochimaru didn't flinch. He continued observing his Petri dish, his gaze steady. "Fine. Consider it a bonus for our years of cooperation."
Danzo nodded and left, already mentally calculating which other "blame" he could shove onto Orochimaru's shoulders. His figure soon vanished.
"I despise people who don't know how to close the door when they leave," Orochimaru muttered irritably. He walked over and slammed the door shut.
He had intended to return to his experiments, but looking at the Petri dish, he found his interest had waned. Stripping off his gloves, he stroked his chin. "What is he doing in Konoha? He didn't even send word..."
Checking the sky, he saw there was still time before sunset. Orochimaru decided to eat first, then find Diarmuid.
…
Despite their previous battle, neither Diarmuid nor Jiraiya had taken it to heart. The two actually got along quite well. Jiraiya had been taking Diarmuid around the sights of Konoha. If they weren't inside the village, which lacked a proper Pleasure District, they likely would have been walking arm-in-arm toward a brothel.
At a Yakiniku restaurant, looking at the mess on the table, Diarmuid let out a satisfied burp. He suddenly remembered something. "By the way, did you ever go back for Shiramu Ameri?"
"The Oiran?" Jiraiya asked, then shook his head. "No, I came straight back to Konoha. But I do have news about her!" Jiraiya raised his eyebrows with a lecherous grin.
"Tell me," Diarmuid said with a smirk.
"It's quite tragic. Because she was associated with you, she's now listed by the Land of Earth as an accomplice in the Daimyo's murder. She's being hunted, though I heard she managed to flee the country. She's likely hiding in some small nation now. Her days as an Oiran are over..." Jiraiya said with a sigh.
Diarmuid blinked. "Surely not? I just had a few drinks at her place..."
"It really is that bad. I drank with you too, yet no one bothered me or labeled me a suspect. But Ameri was already a fugitive noble from the Land of Water... you understand," Jiraiya said naturally.
Diarmuid thought for a moment and understood the political maneuvering. The Land of Earth had lost its Daimyo and needed to select a new one. Some factions likely wanted to court the Land of Water as an external ally, so they tried to do them a favor by dealing with Ameri. It was just a guess, but likely close to the truth. Power struggles among the nobility were always this petty and foul. It was simply a stroke of bad luck for her.
"Do you want to stay with me tonight?" Jiraiya asked suddenly.
Diarmuid didn't mind. "Where are you staying?"
"I'm staying at... uh..." Jiraiya looked a bit embarrassed.
He was a wanderer and didn't spend much time in Konoha. The house Minato lived in now had originally belonged to Jiraiya. Minato was a commoner and an orphan; if he'd had parents, his son Naruto wouldn't have had such a miserable childhood, he would have had grandparents to care for him. Because he was alone, Minato had lived with his teacher, Jiraiya. Their bond was as close as father and son.
When Minato was getting married, Jiraiya, who had no plans to stay in the village, gave the house to him. Occasionally, when he returned to Konoha, he would stay with Minato for a while. The house was large (best-selling authors weren't short on cash), so staying there temporarily was no issue. Kushina respected Jiraiya immensely and didn't mind; having no parents of her own, she viewed him as a father figure.
Currently, Jiraiya was staying with Minato. He had invited Diarmuid on a whim, but now he realized the awkwardness. As a mentor, staying at Minato's was fine, but bringing Diarmuid along... that was a bit inappropriate.
Just as Jiraiya was floundering, a cool, slightly sinister voice spoke up, "There's no need to struggle, Jiraiya. I will arrange his accommodations for the night."
It was Orochimaru. He had appeared behind Jiraiya without anyone noticing.
Jiraiya looked back. "Want some BBQ?"
"No, I've just finished 'feeding,'" Orochimaru said, shaking his head.
"Why do you have to use such a creepy word like 'feeding'?" Jiraiya complained.
"Creepy? I'm merely using a more scientific and precise term," Orochimaru replied dismissively. He then looked at Diarmuid. "What brought you to Konoha?"
"Hahaha! Just a change of scenery," Diarmuid laughed.
"Stay with me tonight?" Orochimaru asked directly, skipping the small talk.
"Fine by me," Diarmuid shrugged.
At this time, Jiraiya still trusted Orochimaru deeply. Aside from Danzo, who had noticed certain irregularities, no one in Konoha had any complaints about the Sannin. Jiraiya nodded in relief. "Then I'll leave him to you."
"I've known him longer than you have," Orochimaru said calmly, ignoring Jiraiya's thanks.
You act like you're closer to him than I am...
I have his blood in my veins. Do you?
...What was with this sudden, bizarre sense of competition?