The Land of Fire, Konoha Village.
A faint spatial disturbance appeared inside the Hokage's office.
The Third Hokage put down the pipe in his hand and looked at the people who had appeared out of thin air.
Kakashi bowed slightly. "Lord Hokage, the mission in the Land of Snow has been completed."
The Third Hokage's gaze swept over the sealed Kazahana Dotō, then the chakra armor on Kakashi's back, before finally settling on Shin-chan.
"Good work." There was a smile in the corners of his eyes. "It seems this mission was livelier than I expected."
Kakashi recounted everything that had happened from beginning to end.
The Third Hokage raised his pipe and took a puff, his gaze settling on Kazahana Dotō, who was firmly restrained by sealing formulas.
"The Daimyo of the Land of Snow, Kazahana Sōsetsu, has requested that your life be spared. However, Konoha will not easily overlook the crimes you committed."
Kazahana Dotō did not respond. Perhaps he was disdainful, or perhaps he had simply accepted his defeat.
The Third Hokage did not care. He turned to Shin-chan. "Do you have anything to add?"
"The desserts in the Land of Snow were delicious."
"I mean something related to the mission." The Third Hokage tapped his pipe, helplessness in his voice.
"Something related to the mission?" Shin-chan thought again. "Oh, right. Shinjiro stole a piece of chocolate mousse from me."
"Shinjiro?"
"My shadow clone."
The Third Hokage fell silent for a moment. "Forget it. Make another trip and deliver Kazahana Dotō and this armor to Orochimaru."
Shin-chan's face immediately fell. "Right now?"
The Third Hokage picked up a document from his desk and pushed it toward Shin-chan.
"What's this?" Shin-chan leaned closer curiously.
"The payment for the Land of Snow mission. The standard reward for an S-rank mission, plus a long-distance allowance and hazard pay," the Third Hokage said. "The total is..."
Shin-chan's eyes lit up. "That much?"
"Mm." The Third Hokage pulled the document back. "So, as the final part of the mission, escorting the prisoner to the designated location is not an unreasonable request, is it?"
Shin-chan pretended to be reluctant. "Since you put it that way, I suppose I can make one more trip."
...
Orochimaru's research facility was located deep inside a dense forest in the northwestern corner of Konoha Village.
Shin-chan was very familiar with the place.
Carrying Kazahana Dotō, he passed through three corridors before stopping in front of a room with a sign that read, Unauthorized Personnel Prohibited.
Shin-chan pushed the door open and walked straight inside. "Teacher Orochimaru, delivery!"
Orochimaru stood behind a workbench, marking something on a blueprint.
Hearing Shin-chan's voice, he raised his head. A faint smile appeared on his pale face.
"How did it feel to go on a long-distance mission after so long?"
"The Land of Snow was really cold."
"Mm."
"The cakes were delicious."
"Is that so?"
"Mister Kazahana Sōsetsu said he would build an entire ramen street and name it after me."
Orochimaru smiled. "It sounds like you gained quite a lot."
Shin-chan paid no attention to Orochimaru's reaction. He removed the chakra armor from his back and pointed at Kazahana Dotō on the floor.
"This mister is Kazahana Dotō, the rebel from the Land of Snow. He made those armors. Grandpa Third said to hand him over to you for interrogation and give you the armor to study."
He said everything in one breath, then clapped his hands with an expression that said, Mission complete.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Chakra armor..." A hint of interest appeared in his expression. "Wearable equipment capable of amplifying chakra?"
Shin-chan nodded. "After you put it on, you can fire energy blasts and block ninjutsu. It's super powerful."
"Have you tested it?"
"I've been hit by it."
The corner of Orochimaru's mouth rose slightly. He walked over to the chakra armor and ran his fingers along the patterns on its surface. Excitement flickered in his golden, slit-shaped pupils.
"What an astonishing design... It can actually convert dispersed chakra into pure defensive and offensive enhancement," he murmured in admiration. "Even I might not have been able to devise such an ingenious structure in so little time."
Shin-chan crouched on the nearby laboratory table. "What can this armor do?"
"It can give a chūnin combat power approaching that of a jōnin," Orochimaru explained. "If mass-produced, it would be enough to change the entire course of warfare in the ninja world."
"It's that powerful?" Shin-chan blinked. "Then can you eat ten bowls of ramen in one sitting while wearing it?"
Orochimaru: "Theoretically... no."
"Alright." Shin-chan looked somewhat disappointed. "I delivered everything, so my mission is finished, right?"
"Yes." Orochimaru looked at him. "Don't you want to stay and watch me study it? It might be interesting."
Shin-chan shook his head. "I have to pick Hima up from school. If I'm any later, she'll eat all the chocolate sticks I hid under my pillow."
Kazahana Dotō: "..."
He could hardly believe his ears. This unfathomably powerful boy had nothing but chocolate sticks on his mind?
Orochimaru couldn't help laughing. "Very well. Give Hima my regards."
"Got it!" Shin-chan waved and turned to run toward the door.
When he reached the doorway, he suddenly stopped and looked back.
"Oh, right, Teacher Orochimaru."
"Mm?"
Shin-chan pointed at Kazahana Dotō on the floor. "Mister Kazahana Sōsetsu said not to kill him and to give him a chance to change his ways."
"I understand." Orochimaru nodded.
"And one more thing." Shin-chan remembered something else. "If you develop any ninjutsu that can make chocolate sticks taste better, make sure you tell me."
"Very well."
Only then did Shin-chan run out in satisfaction. His footsteps quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.
The room finally became quiet.
Orochimaru turned around and looked down at Kazahana Dotō again.
The gentle smile that had been on his face gradually faded, replaced by a cold, scrutinizing gaze.
Kazahana Dotō felt chills all over his body under that stare and could not help asking, "What do you intend to do?"
"Nothing." A meaningful smile curled across Orochimaru's lips. "I'm simply very interested in your brain."
He reached out, gently lifted Kazahana Dotō's chin, and forced him to meet his eyes.
"For you to design something like chakra armor, your brain must be different from that of an ordinary person, wouldn't you agree?" Orochimaru licked his lips. "I'm rather curious about what fascinating things might be inside."
Kazahana Dotō's face instantly turned deathly pale.
He finally understood that the Third Hokage had not sent him here for a simple interrogation.
He had been sent straight into hell.
Orochimaru smiled in satisfaction at his terrified expression.
"Don't be so afraid." He released him. "As long as you cooperate obediently, I promise... your life will be far more interesting than it would have been inside a prison in the Land of Snow."
He turned and walked back toward the chakra armor.
"Chakra armor... What a remarkable invention. If it could be improved further on this foundation…"
~~~
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