Orochimaru’s Magic Lamp

"The village will provide some support," the Third Hokage said.

"That's not necessary," Orochimaru replied with a small laugh. He shook his head and continued,

"Aside from contacting the samurai of the Iron Country and acquiring the necessary medical supplies, I don't want any further interference."

Turning toward Danzo with a sly grin, he added,

"Of course, if Lord Danzo is willing to share the surgical technique used on himself, it might be of some use."

Danzo narrowed his eyes but didn't rise to the bait.

"Everything I do is for the good of the village," he said calmly. "If you want that little trick, then take it. It came from you anyway."

Danzo knew full well that the surgery's success wasn't due to some technological breakthrough—it was just the result of throwing enough money at the problem. Orochimaru would only waste his time trying to replicate it.

Orochimaru chuckled. "So generous, Lord Danzo. I'll accept it, then."

He didn't care what strings might be attached—he had no intention of actually using it. What mattered now was advancing his human gene fusion experiments in an orderly fashion.

The Third Hokage glanced at Orochimaru, sensing some hidden danger in his words, but he didn't press the issue. Instead, he turned to the village advisors.

"Even though we're currently taking a conservative approach, we still need to prepare for possible encirclement scenarios.

You two are now overseeing the intelligence division. Keep a close eye on the movements of the Land of Sound, the Land of waves, and the Land of Hot Water."

With that, the meeting came to an end.

After everyone left the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained behind, alone, smoking his pipe. His deeply wrinkled face looked wearier than ever.

Supporting the Iron Country and negotiating with Kusanagi Village… in his eyes, that was just a desperate compromise. Too soft.

What they should be doing, as Orochimaru suggested, was launching a swift, decisive attack to shatter Kusanagi's ambitions before they took root.

But Hiruzen no longer had the strength—or authority—to force such a decision through.

Sigh...

"The Fourth Hokage died too soon…" he muttered internally.

Leadership meant everything. Ever since the village had fallen back into his hands, it had grown stagnant. More than a year had passed, and they still hadn't recovered from the Nine Tails' attack.

He knew that staying in this position wasn't good for the village. But still—he had to endure it.

Power didn't come from titles. It came from the people beneath you.

With Orochimaru, he could still give orders. With Jiraiya, it would be more like requests.

Danzo had always dreamed of becoming Hokage, but between him and Orochimaru, everything boiled down to cold, calculated exchanges. Nothing more. If either tried to seize power by force, the village would inevitably fracture.

It can't go on like this...

He gripped his pipe and closed his eyes, pondering who could truly take on the mantle of Fifth Hokage.

---

Meanwhile, in a dense forest, three figures darted rapidly between the trees. They were clearly exhausted, but none of them dared to stop.

Cough… cough…

Iron Country's leader, Mifune, lay slumped on a warrior's back, his breathing ragged and blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

When Kusanagi Village attacked, Mifune, as the samurai leader, had taken up arms to defend his people. His strength was nearly on par with a Kage, far beyond the average jōnin—but even he couldn't stand against the monstrous entities unleashed from the Bliss Box.

They were simply too incompatible with the way of the sword.

Even with ninjutsu support, their blades could barely scratch the monsters. If not for his warriors' sacrifice—giving everything to defeat the queen—Mifune would likely have died on the battlefield.

"Leader?!"

Blood soaked into the collar of his uniform. The samurai carrying him halted on a thick branch, quickly taking out a hemostatic pill to slow the bleeding.

The two other samurai landed nearby, glancing around warily for any sign of pursuit.

"Chongsuke… leave me here," Mifune rasped. "You might still escape with your life."

He looked deathly pale—so weak a child could kill him—but his voice was firm.

Chongsuke ignored the command and focused on tending to the wound. His face was dark with fatigue, but a fierce light burned in his eyes.

"Don't say that again, Leader. If it comes to it, we'll fight to the end."

"Foolish…" Mifune muttered, though touched. "You must live—for the sake of the Iron Country. You are its hope."

"No. Without you, there is no hope for our country."

Without another word, Chongsuke hoisted Mifune onto his back again and resumed running toward the nearby land of Hot Water.

He wasn't afraid of death—but to carry the future of the Iron Country on his back? That was a heavier burden than dying.

Not everyone is meant to be a captain. Some are just crew.

Chongsuke knew his limits. At best, he could serve as a first mate.

"Just ten more miles to land of Hot water!" he roared. "Hold on—we'll be safe there! Kusanagi wouldn't dare—"

Shff! Shff! Shff! Shff!

Suddenly, the wind around them howled with incoming projectiles. Wooden spears launched in all directions.

"A trap?!"

Chongsuke's eyes narrowed. In one swift motion, he drew his sword and slashed wildly, forming a defensive web of steel.

The spears shattered. A nearby wooden barricade, made of vines and branches, collapsed.

Chongsuke kept his sword raised, scanning the forest. Something didn't add up. The trap was… childish. No real ninja would fall for something like this.

"Who's there?!"

One of the other samurai sliced through a trunk and some vines with a burst of wind from his blade, clearing the area.

"HEY! What the hell! That was dangerous, you jerks!"

A silver-haired boy burst out of the treetops, his purple eyes blazing with fury.

"You ruined my bear trap—and tried to kill me?!"

"Bear trap?"

Chongsuke spotted a honey-dripping beehive nearby. Clearly bait. He immediately realized they'd triggered the wrong kind of danger and clenched his jaw in frustration.

But seeing it was just a kid, Chongsuke held back his anger. They didn't have time for distractions.

Kusanagi's pursuers could arrive at any moment.

He turned and resumed running.

But the boy wasn't done.

"You destroyed my trap and tried to kill me? No way I'm letting you go!"

_____________________

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