Orochimaru’s Magic Lamp

The meeting room fell silent.

The Third Hokage stroked his beard, eyes narrowing slightly as a satisfied expression crossed his face. For once, Orochimaru wasn't pushing his own agenda — he was genuinely analyzing the situation.

Still, not everyone was convinced. While they understood Orochimaru's concerns, many felt he was being overly dramatic.

The Iron Country was only defeated because Kusanagi Village caught it off guard. The other surrounding nations, feeling the pressure, might not stay quiet. The Land of Hot Springs, for example, could easily request help from Konoha or even from Kumogakure.

Instead of launching an offensive, most felt it was better to treat these buffer states as battlegrounds — to hold defensive lines and wage a war of attrition. That way, Konoha could accept missions, earn fees, and avoid excessive casualties.

After all, war always means death — and not everyone is as strong as Orochimaru.

It wasn't about cowardice. Every ninja in the room had risked their life for the village. But if conflict could be avoided or at least delayed, wasn't that better? Orochimaru, however, was clearly pushing them to jump into an all-out confrontation with Kusanagi.

And it had only been just over a year since the Nine-Tails incident. With all the unrest since, most clan leaders leaned toward a conservative approach: recovery and stability.

Orochimaru glanced around the room. He understood what they were thinking and chuckled lightly to himself.

So be it. He had presented a good plan, and no one supported it. Fine. If they didn't want a quick resolution, they'd have to live with a long, drawn-out struggle.

And Orochimaru preferred it that way.

He licked his lips.

When Orochimaru backed off, both the Third and Danzo frowned slightly. Without his pressure, the conversation drifted back toward the conservative side. That wasn't what the Third wanted.

After a brief silence, the Hokage brought the meeting to a close.

The clan heads left the room, but the Jonin squad leaders, advisors, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya stayed behind for a smaller meeting.

Koharu, reading the Third's mood, immediately confronted Orochimaru. "Your suggestion is far too aggressive. We're nowhere near needing to take such a step."

"What, are we supposed to wait until Kusanagi attacks Konoha first?" Orochimaru replied, sarcasm in his voice. "If they choose to become our enemy, they should be ready to pay the price."

"They only attacked the Iron Country, a neutral power. We don't have any justification to act," Koharu said sternly. "You're going too far."

"Ah..."

Orochimaru let out a quiet laugh and didn't bother replying.

Stupidity could not be cured. Unlike individual fights, wars between ninja villages weren't governed by any laws or higher powers. There was no justice. The only thing that mattered was the village's survival and interests.

Kusanagi aligning with the Land of Earth — or possibly the Land of Lightning in the future — was a direct threat to Konoha. Not retaliating would be pure foolishness.

And if they really needed a "righteous cause," it was easy enough to fabricate one.

But Orochimaru didn't say all this out loud. It wasn't worth it. Let someone else play the villain. That used to be Danzo's job, and the Third didn't want it anymore. Why should he take the blame now?

After pretending to ponder for a moment, Orochimaru spoke again, a sly smile on his face. "If we don't want a full-blown war, but still want to check Kusanagi's growth, we have another option."

He tapped the map where the Iron Country was located.

"Even though the Box of bliss destroyed the samurai village, quite a few warriors escaped. We can offer them some… support."

Koharu frowned, clearly unhappy. "You want to use Konoha's resources to train samurai loyal to the Iron Country? That seems like a waste. Why not invest in our own forces?"

The Third didn't look pleased either. Training those samurai would take time, and by then, the opportunity would be lost.

"Don't get me wrong," Orochimaru said, his grin widening. "I'm not talking about normal support."

"Do you remember the Body Reinforcement Surgery?"

Everyone froze. Danzo's eyes narrowed slightly.

"You're still studying that forbidden technique?" Koharu snapped.

"I'm not," Orochimaru said calmly, eyes fixed on the Third Hokage — and then shifting toward Danzo, with a smirk. "But some people couldn't help themselves. Danzo-sama, you've clearly had some... enhancements."

"Shut your mouth, Orochimaru!" Danzo growled. "Stop spouting nonsense!"

"Tsk tsk… shall I bring the evidence?" Orochimaru said with amusement. "Let's not forget who developed that technique. If I speak, some things may come to light that wouldn't look good for anyone."

"Hmph. I've only undergone treatment for injuries from Kabuto. It has nothing to do with your so-called experiments," Danzo said, face blank.

"Is that so…"

Orochimaru turned away, still smiling.

"Body reinforcement surgery carries high risks for non-Uchiha subjects, but these samurai — desperate for revenge — won't care. They'll accept it. Willingly."

It was, from Orochimaru's perspective, the perfect plan — disposable subjects for his experiments, a way to refine the procedure, and a proxy war force to contain Kusanagi's expansion.

Even the Third hesitated. It felt like feeding a wild beast.

But Orochimaru didn't need their approval. This wasn't a request — it was an announcement.

Even without Konoha's help, he would find the samurai and offer them power. And as far as conducting human experiments outside the village? That was nothing new.

The interrogation team did far worse to prisoners with their mental techniques.

The Third Hokage understood all too well what Orochimaru was thinking. After a brief silence, he finally said:

"…Very well. The village will give you some support."

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