Konoha Ninja Shop System

"The old man has stepped down now, Orochimaru," Jiraiya said gently, his voice carrying both hope and a trace of sadness. "You should come back to the village with me."

Orochimaru remained silent, his dark eyes cold and unreadable. He had never expected his teacher's retirement to come about under such disgraceful circumstances. Sarutobi Hiruzen — the Third Hokage — had devoted his entire life to the village, ruling as its leader with unwavering dedication. Yet now, at the moment of his retirement, his reputation lay in ruins, stained by scandal.

This was not at all what Orochimaru had imagined.

In his mind, Sarutobi Hiruzen's final chapter would be like that of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato — a heroic end, a sacrifice that would forever secure his place in history.

When the village was threatened, Hiruzen would rise without hesitation, standing tall as the Hokage's teacher, fighting to protect Konoha with his last breath. His death would be a testament to his loyalty, a sacrifice that would earn the undying respect of every villager.

That was the ending Orochimaru had hoped for. A glorious farewell, worthy of the man who had trained him. If Hiruzen had died protecting Konoha, then his name would be immortalized with honor and reverence.

But fate had dealt a cruel hand.

No one could have foreseen that the revered Third Hokage, once hailed as the strongest in Konoha's history, would be exposed for using his position to coerce the village's great clans, extorting exorbitant "filial piety fees" under the guise of protecting the village.

When the major families banded together to reveal his corruption, Sarutobi had no choice but to step down in shame, his legacy shattered.

Orochimaru's heart twisted with bitter disappointment. He had believed his teacher would go down in history as a great figure, admired and praised for generations. Instead, that ideal was nothing more than a fragile bubble, bursting under the weight of harsh reality.

Yet it was true that Sarutobi had made wise decisions during his time as Hokage. He had dedicated himself tirelessly to Konoha's prosperity and growth, earning the love and trust of many.

But all of that was wiped away by the stain of corruption.

Suddenly, all his past achievements seemed meaningless, as if they had never existed.

People's focus shifted entirely to the indelible mark of disgrace, condemning him without mercy.

Such is the cruelty of human nature — no matter how many good deeds a person performs, a single serious mistake can erase their entire reputation.

Orochimaru thought of another tragic figure: the legendary ninja Hatake Sakumo, known as "Konoha's White Fang."

Sakumo had sacrificed his mission to save his comrades, an act that brought devastating losses to the village.

Though he was an immensely powerful warrior, celebrated for countless military victories and respected even by the famed Sannin, his failure cast a shadow over his entire legacy.

Suddenly, the once-proud hero was reduced to a pariah, subjected to relentless criticism and blame from the entire village — even from those he had saved.

Unable to bear the weight of their scorn, Sakumo ultimately took his own life.

If even such a revered figure could be destroyed by public opinion, what hope was there for Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was driven from office for corruption?

The idea of redeeming his name and regaining honor was almost a luxury, an impossible dream.

Orochimaru imagined his teacher spending the rest of his days burdened by regret, silently enduring the contempt of the world until the end.

This bitter reality tightened the grip on Orochimaru's heart.

He narrowed his eyes and whispered to himself, "My teacher must not die like this — not in such a cowardly way. It seems… I must become the villain."

Jiraiya blinked, sensing something unusual in Orochimaru's tone. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, genuinely puzzled. "Why are you speaking like that? I don't understand."

Orochimaru chuckled softly, a dark glint in his eyes. "Haha… Since you don't understand, perhaps it's better I don't say more. Some things… are not meant for now. But in time, you'll see. You'll understand."

Jiraiya smiled awkwardly, sensing Orochimaru's reluctance. He had known Orochimaru long enough to respect his silence. When Orochimaru didn't want to talk, no amount of questions would change that.

What Jiraiya did not know was that Orochimaru had already begun plotting in his mind — scheming how to craft a death for Sarutobi Hiruzen that would appear glorious, a death worthy of history.

If Jiraiya had known, he would have tried desperately to stop him.

But for now, he only hoped.

"So, Orochimaru," Jiraiya said, hope flickering in his eyes, "will you come back with me to the village?"

How he longed to hear those three words — "I will."

But reality was harsh and dreams were fragile.

Orochimaru shook his head coldly. "There is nothing left in the village for me. I have no plans to return."

A cold wave seemed to wash over Jiraiya's heart. The hope he had nurtured was suddenly doused like a flame in the rain.

He lowered his head, swallowed the disappointment.

Until now, he had believed that simply finding Orochimaru was the key. That he could persuade his former friend and pupil to return home.

But standing face to face with Orochimaru, Jiraiya realized how naive he had been.

Yet, just as despair began to swallow him whole, Orochimaru spoke again — words that sparked a fragile flame of hope in Jiraiya's chest.

"When I reach the foundation-building stage, I will return to the village to see my teacher," Orochimaru said softly.

Jiraiya's eyes widened in disbelief. "Really?"

Though he did not understand what "foundation-building" meant, it didn't matter.

Because Orochimaru's willingness to return, even just to visit Sarutobi, was a sign that hope still lingered.

Orochimaru's eyes flickered with something unreadable. "I will return within three years at most. I hope my teacher will still be alive by then… and that he does not die too soon."

Jiraiya smiled and nodded with conviction. "Don't worry. The old man is healthy and strong. He will live for another ten or twenty years."

Jiraiya allowed himself to imagine the reunion — the heartfelt moment when Orochimaru and Sarutobi Hiruzen would meet again after so long apart. It would be a scene of reconciliation and deep emotion.

Orochimaru licked his lips, a hint of a secret playing on his features, but Jiraiya, caught up in his hope, failed to notice.

"Since everything is settled, you may leave," Orochimaru said quietly. "I will return to visit my teacher when the time is right."

Jiraiya chuckled, scratching his head. "You must never forget that, although the old man doesn't say it often, he misses you terribly. You were his most proud disciple."

Orochimaru murmured, "The most proud disciple, huh?"

He smiled faintly, eyes gleaming with dark ambition. "Don't worry. I will make my name go down in history… one way or another."

---

Orochimaru's mind churned with thoughts darker than any storm.

He knew well the harsh truths of history — how the world revered only those who died gloriously, while the living, no matter their achievements, were easily forgotten or scorned.

He would not allow Sarutobi Hiruzen to fade away like a forgotten shadow, disgraced and alone.

No, he would write his teacher's name in history with blood and fire if necessary.

If the world would not honor Hiruzen's life, then Orochimaru would ensure his death was legendary.

Even if it meant becoming the villain in the story — the "bad guy" who sacrificed everything for the sake of a name.

Because names were eternal.

And Orochimaru's name, too, would be etched in history, alongside his teacher's — one way or another.

pàtreøn (Gk31)