191-195

Chapter 191: Return to Konoha 

Under Orochimaru's guidance, Shindai and Pakura successfully reached the border of the Land of Water. From there, they hopped on a boat, sailing straight for the Land of Fire's coastline. Orochimaru had already sent a summoning beast ahead to Konoha to report Pakura's situation to Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi. 

On the Boat 

Pakura's eye twitched as she stared at her ninja sandals. Seriously, a whole layer of them had been completely worn away. And the culprit? Who else but Shindai. 

Shindai, sitting right in the middle of the boat, just kept on rambling: "See that? I asked you, did you see?! Who said I couldn't carry you? Didn't I carry you all the way onto this boat? Apologize!" 

Pakura looked at Shindai, utterly dumbfounded. "What did you just say? You want me to apologize to you?" 

Shindai puffed out his chest, completely sure of himself. "That's right! Apologize! Who told you to underestimate me and make fun of my height? I'm telling you, I just haven't fully grown yet! Once I do, I'll be two heads taller than you, believe it!" 

Pakura rolled her eyes. "Believe you? I'll believe a giant demon's head before I believe you! Apologize to you? Maybe in your next life! Just you wait!" 

Pakura's words totally infuriated Shindai. "You! Not only are you heavy, but your mouth's pretty tough too!" 

"Who are you calling heavy?!" 

Pakura headbutted Shindai, their heads colliding with a dull thud. 

"Ouch!" 

Shindai and Pakura both hissed in pain at the same time. Especially Pakura, whose wound got pulled because of the sudden, big movement. 

Shindai desperately rubbed his own head. Pakura, however, couldn't rub hers for fear of pulling her wound, so she quickly told Shindai, "Quick, rub my head for me! It hurts like crazy!" 

Shindai, rubbing his own head with his left hand and Pakura's with his right, grumbled, "What the heck?! You headbutt me, and then you expect me to rub your head for you? What kind of sense does that make?!" 

Pakura retorted, annoyed, "Who cares about that! You're the one who made me mad!" 

Orochimaru had been facing away from Shindai and Pakura the whole time, his eyes slightly closed, completely expressionless. However, a vein on Orochimaru's forehead kept throbbing. Ever since they got on the boat... no, scratch that! Ever since Shindai first laid eyes on Pakura, those two haven't stopped talking. It felt like a speaker blaring static was stuck right next to Orochimaru's ear. Even Jiraiya had never annoyed Orochimaru this much. He really wanted to sew those two's mouths shut. Shindai's mouth, especially, would need several layers of stitches; he was by far the most annoying one. 

News from Konoha 

They finally reached the Land of Fire's coastline. A ninja bird flew down onto Orochimaru's shoulder, a scroll tied to its leg. Orochimaru untied the scroll and opened it, reading its contents. 

After reading it, Orochimaru turned to the still bickering duo and said, "Lord Hiruzen wants us to return to Konoha immediately. There's no need to go to the border; the situation there has stabilized. Also, the Daimyo of the Land of Water has conceded and decided to initiate a Daimyo conference to discuss ending the war. Unless something unexpected happens, the war is about to end." 

Shindai was overjoyed at the news. "Yay, that's great!" 

Shindai was thrilled, but Pakura couldn't bring herself to feel happy. The war was ending, but she had been betrayed by her own village and could never go back. 

Shindai patted Pakura, trying to comfort her. "Come on now, that rotten, ungrateful village, if you can't go back, then don't go back! No need to be sad. I'm telling you, Konoha has tons of great food places. I'll make sure Obito and the others treat us, and we'll go try them all out. Eating delicious food always makes you feel better!" 

Pakura lowered her gaze, looking at Shindai. "Where are you putting that pig's trot... I mean, your hand?!" 

Shindai glanced at where his hand had landed, quickly pulled it back, and chuckled awkwardly, "Oops, my bad, pure accident." 

"Alright, that's enough talk. Let's hurry back to Konoha," Orochimaru interrupted. He just needed to endure a little more of this torment, and then he'd be free. Orochimaru didn't want to waste another second. He just wanted to get back, kick Shindai away, and finally have some peace and quiet. And... this return to Konoha was also an opportunity for Orochimaru to discuss his experiments with Hiruzen Sarutobi. 

Entering Konoha 

After another period of travel, they finally arrived at Konoha's main gate. Pakura, who had been forcibly carried on Shindai's back, instantly tensed up. After all, they were enemies before, and that mindset couldn't just switch off instantly. How could Pakura not be nervous entering the enemy's main stronghold? 

Shindai tried to reassure her. "Relax, don't be nervous. I was super nervous too when I first came to Konoha, but you get used to it. The people inside are pretty great. Plus, you're better off than I was; I was all alone back then, but now you have me with you." 

Hearing Shindai's reassurance, Pakura relaxed a little. She thought about how Shindai had come to Konoha all alone back then; he must have been so lost and helpless. 

"Speaking of which," Shindai continued, "when I first came to Konoha, Lord Minato treated me. I remember that tempura place was really good. The first time I ate something that delicious, I ate so much I almost threw up! But after eating good food a lot, it just feels... ordinary, I guess. Barbecue is definitely better. But barbecue is expensive, and Obito and the others definitely wouldn't be willing to treat us. If we want barbecue, we'll have to get Lord Minato or Aunt Kushina to pay..." 

Pakura pursed her lips. Lost and helpless, huh? It sounded like Shindai had a pretty good time when he first came to Konoha! 

Shindai's eyes brightened as he looked at Orochimaru. "Lord Orochimaru, do you want some barbecue? Pakura and I really want some!" 

"No, I don't," Orochimaru replied. "When you see Lord Hiruzen, just get him to treat you. I'm sure he'd be delighted. Now hurry up and get inside!" 

Orochimaru was utterly speechless at Shindai's thick skin. He was clearly terrified of him, yet sometimes Shindai acted like he wasn't afraid of him at all. Treat Shindai to barbecue? Well, it wasn't impossible, but after enduring all that mental torture on the way... treat him to a meal? It would be an act of great kindness if he didn't sew Shindai's mouth shut. 

Now that they were about to enter Konoha, it wouldn't look good for Shindai to keep carrying her, so Pakura got off his back and followed Shindai and Orochimaru into the village. Once inside Konoha, Pakura's eyes were wide with wonder as she looked at the bustling surroundings. Even though it was wartime, there was absolutely no atmosphere of war in Konoha. It looked incredibly prosperous. Even outside of wartime, the atmosphere in the Hidden Sand Village and Konoha was completely different. After all, in the sand-swept Hidden Sand Village, everyone's primary focus was just survival. 

Shindai asked with a smile, "So, what do you think? Konoha's not bad, right?" 

Pakura's eyes couldn't take it all in, but she nodded, "Yeah, it's really great!" 

Following Orochimaru, Shindai and Pakura arrived at the Hokage's Office building to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi. 

Chapter 192: Are You Short on Cash? 

Shindai and Pakura followed Orochimaru into the Hokage's Office in the Hokage Building. 

When Hiruzen Sarutobi saw Pakura following Shindai, his face lit up with a smile as wide as a blooming chrysanthemum. 

Pakura, a bit reserved, politely greeted Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Lord Hokage." 

"Welcome, welcome! This is wonderful, Pakura! On behalf of Konoha, I welcome you to our village!" 

Hiruzen Sarutobi was absolutely thrilled. First, Shindai arrived, and now Pakura! This meant Konoha had gained two new bloodline limits! 

Shindai couldn't hold it in anymore and nudged Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Lord Hokage, maybe reel in your gums a bit. It's not really helping your shining image." 

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately closed his mouth, instinctively running his tongue over his gums. 

Did I really show my gums just now? It feels cool when I lick it, so I guess I did. 

This kid... couldn't he have said it quietly? Saying it out loud just makes my image even worse! 

"Ahem!" Hiruzen Sarutobi cleared his throat and said, "Pakura, I'll explain the process for joining Konoha. As a ninja joining our village, you need a guarantor. I'm sure Shindai would be more than happy to vouch for you, seeing as he's your fiancé..." 

"Ah, cough, cough, cough!" 

Shindai suddenly burst into a violent coughing fit, cutting off Hiruzen Sarutobi. At the same time, he was giving Hiruzen Sarutobi an intense series of winks and facial contortions. 

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked puzzled. "Shindai, what's wrong? Do you have a cold?" 

Fiancé? 

Pakura remembered, she almost forgot about that! Orochimaru had also called her Shindai's fiancée back then. 

Pakura gave Shindai a scrutinizing look. 

Shindai quickly bluffed, "Pakura, don't overthink it! What Lord Hokage means by 'fiancé' and 'fiancée' isn't what you're imagining. In Konoha, those terms actually mean 'good friends'!" 

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked bewildered. "Shindai, what are you talking about? How could it mean that?" 

Shindai again gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a series of winks and eye gestures, his face practically twisted, trying to get Hiruzen Sarutobi to just shut up. 

Why can't this old man get the hint?! 

Pakura had originally wanted to hold back. After all, she was in front of Konoha's highest leader, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and didn't want to lose her composure. But Shindai was pushing it too far. "Do you think I'm stupid? Lord Hokage, please tell me, what did Shindai say?" 

Hiruzen Sarutobi spilled everything. "Shindai told me before that you two were childhood sweethearts! He said you promised to get married when you grew up, which is why you're his fiancée. He even said he's a man of his word and has a high status in his household." 

Pakura said to a now profusely sweating Shindai, with a hint of sarcasm, "Oh? Childhood sweethearts, huh? You promised to get married? And I'm your fiancée?" 

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Shindai and Pakura with intense interest in his eyes. 

Actually, the moment Shindai said "good friends," Hiruzen Sarutobi had already guessed what was really going on. 

Everything he said after that was entirely on purpose. 

It served Shindai right for talking about "manly prowess" and "household status" earlier. It made Hiruzen Sarutobi a bit envious, and when he tried it at home, things went south immediately. 

Shindai used his擅长 (shàncháng - specialty) trick: changing the subject. 

"None of that is important, Lord Hokage! Since I'm vouching for her, can Pakura get her identification card right away?" 

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, "Pakura, do you want to join Konoha as a villager or as a ninja right now? If you join as a ninja, you'll need to complete a certain number of missions to become a Konoha ninja. If you join as a villager, after living here for three years with no bad records, you can also apply to become a ninja." 

Pakura replied, "I'll join as a villager. I'm very tired right now and don't wish to be a ninja." 

Pakura was still heartbroken from being betrayed. Plus, if it weren't for Shindai, she wouldn't even be joining Konoha, so being a villager was fine. 

Shindai looked confused. "Wait, that's not right! Why did I have to contribute something to be vouched into Konoha back then?" 

Hiruzen Sarutobi explained, "That's because it was wartime back then. Now, the Daimyo of the Five Great Nations are discussing ending the war, so we can be a bit more lenient. I've already made arrangements. Shindai, you can just take Pakura to get her identification card later. 

Later, take Pakura for a good tour around Konoha. As for where to live..." 

Pakura immediately interjected, "I can just stay at Shindai's place. You don't need to arrange separate accommodations for me." 

Shindai tugged on Pakura's arm and whispered, "Hey, are you crazy? If you get a house and don't live in it, you can always sell it later! Why say no to something free?!" 

Shindai quickly told Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Lord Hokage, Pakura was just kidding! She wants the house!" 

Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched. This kid, Shindai, really was obsessed with money. 

It was just a house. Keeping talent like Pakura in Konoha was worth any cost. 

Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, "Alright, accommodation will be arranged for you. Pakura, you can live wherever you like. Shindai, I won't be assigning you any missions for a while. Just spend time with Pakura and help her get familiar with Konoha. Alright, you can go get your identification cards now. It looks like Pakura has some injuries, so after you get the ID, go to the Ninja Hospital for proper treatment." 

Just as Shindai was about to take Pakura away, he remembered something and extended his hand to Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Lord Hokage, Lord Orochimaru just said you should treat Pakura and me to some barbecue. Can I get the money?" 

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Orochimaru, bewildered. 

Orochimaru stared at the ground without speaking, though the single vein on his forehead was now joined by a few more. 

He had clearly told Shindai to tell Hiruzen Sarutobi to treat them, not that he was telling Hiruzen Sarutobi to treat them. 

The way Shindai put it made it sound like Orochimaru couldn't even afford one barbecue meal. 

Hiruzen Sarutobi took out his wallet, pulled out a few bills, and handed them to Shindai. "Is this enough?" 

Shindai counted them and shook his head. "Not quite enough. Barbecue is pretty expensive, and Pakura and I can eat a lot." 

Pakura tugged at Shindai's clothes. 

Pakura was getting a bit of a headache now. What did he mean, 'Pakura and I can eat a lot'? It was just Shindai who could eat a lot! 

She had just arrived in Konoha, and it was her first time meeting Hiruzen Sarutobi. She wanted to make a good impression, and now Hiruzen Sarutobi probably thought of her as 'a big eater'. 

Still... Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, felt genuinely different from the Kazekage of Sunagakure. He was quite approachable. 

Hiruzen Sarutobi pulled out several more bills and handed them to Shindai. "Is it enough now?" 

Shindai's face lit up with a brilliant smile as he stuffed the money into his pocket. "Thank you, Lord Hokage!" 

Shindai, beaming, pulled Pakura along to get her identification card, and then to the Ninja Hospital after that. 

Now only Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru were left in the office. They looked at each other, and a silence fell between them. 

After a moment of silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi was the first to speak. "Orochimaru, are you very short on cash these days?" 

Orochimaru's face immediately darkened. "I am not short on cash!" 

Orochimaru took a deep breath, then, with a serious expression, said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Hiruzen-sensei, there's something I need to talk to you about." 

Chapter 193: Too Noisy 

Orochimaru told Lord Hiruzen he needed to discuss something, and the Third Hokage's demeanor immediately turned serious. 

Lord Hiruzen nodded. "Go on, Orochimaru." 

Orochimaru then laid out his entire plan to Lord Hiruzen. The core idea was that he was willing to put restraints on himself and accept a certain level of surveillance in exchange for Lord Hiruzen's support for his experiments. As Orochimaru spoke, Lord Hiruzen became a veritable chimney, puffing constantly on his pipe, showing just how unsettled he felt. 

After Orochimaru finished, the office fell silent. Lord Hiruzen didn't immediately reply, still puffing on his pipe. After a long moment, whether he'd finished his pipe or not, Lord Hiruzen finally put it down and sighed. "Orochimaru, I'm truly relieved and happy that you're willing to speak with me so frankly. It's been so long, I don't know when it started, but it felt like we, master and student, were drifting further and further apart. There was a rift between us. I had no idea what you were thinking, or what you were doing, and it worried me greatly. Before I answer you, I have a question I want to ask: what exactly do you hope to gain from these experiments that could be called forbidden?" 

Orochimaru looked at Lord Hiruzen and asked, "Sensei, do you remember? When I was little, you accompanied me to my parents' graves to offer flowers. On the way, we happened to stumble upon a white snake's shed skin. I asked you what it was, and you told me it was a white snake's shedding, symbolizing luck and rebirth, something incredibly precious, and that finding it there was very fortunate." 

Lord Hiruzen thought for a moment, then nodded. "That's right, that did happen. You were so different back then, I could feel the warmth in your heart." 

Orochimaru replied, "That white snake's shed skin was the beginning. It was the genesis of my expanded thinking, allowing me to no longer be confined by the individual. A person's life is too short. I want to learn all ninjutsu, but these mere few decades are simply not enough. And all I'm pursuing in this... is to find a truth." 

Lord Hiruzen frowned and asked, "Truth? What truth?" 

Orochimaru admitted, "I don't know. If I knew, perhaps I wouldn't be pursuing these things anymore." 

--- 

### The Third Hokage's Decision 

Lord Hiruzen pondered for a moment before saying, "Regarding your proposal, I can support you. However, your research must be conducted without endangering others' lives, and the subjects of your experiments cannot be forced; they must be volunteers who willingly accept the experiment. Also, if your research involves certain forbidden techniques, they must not be taught to others and must be strictly sealed away. After the war ends, I will begin preparations to establish a dedicated scientific research department to standardize these efforts. Orochimaru, you shall be the head of this new scientific department." 

A smile then returned to Lord Hiruzen's face. "It's truly wonderful to have this long-lost feeling back. I was very worried about you before, worried that you might walk down the wrong path. But now, it's good that you've come to this understanding yourself. I'm your teacher. If you have problems, we can work through them together. Next time something like this comes up, don't keep it bottled up by yourself, understood?" 

Orochimaru nodded and agreed, "Yes." 

Lord Hiruzen then instructed Orochimaru, "Alright, go find Danzo later. Under the pretext of joining my Anbu, leave the Root immediately. Once the next Hokage takes office, it will be time to rectify the Root. Danzo is an old friend of mine, and I can't bring myself to do it, so the next Hokage will have to deal with that problem." 

Orochimaru looked surprised. "The next Hokage... Sensei, you already have someone in mind? Is it Jiraiya?" 

Lord Hiruzen smiled. "I do have someone in mind, but it's not Jiraiya. You know Jiraiya's personality; he's not suited to be Hokage, nor would he want to be. However, Jiraiya's student, Minato, is an excellent candidate. Minato has performed exceptionally well in this Great Ninja War, turning the tide in difficult battles multiple times and changing the course of the war. At the same time, Minato embodies the Will of Fire and is willing to sacrifice for the village and his comrades. Almost all the villagers trust Minato. So, in my opinion, Minato becoming Hokage will make him a truly outstanding leader." 

--- 

The Noisy Apprentice 

Orochimaru nodded. "Jiraiya's student certainly is a good choice. So, when do you plan to have him succeed you?" 

Lord Hiruzen replied, "Although Minato has a high reputation, he's still quite naive when it comes to managing a village. So, I need him to study thoroughly. Therefore, once the war ends, I'll have Minato learn directly from me, and then, when the time is right, Minato will succeed me as Hokage. 

"And what about you, Orochimaru? How's that kid, Shindai, working out for you? Even though he can be a bit off-kilter sometimes, there's no denying he's an exceptional child. Is Shindai qualified enough to become your apprentice?" 

Just thinking about Shindai, Orochimaru couldn't help but "tsk" and scowl in disgust. "He certainly has the qualifications, but I still don't want him as my apprentice. He's too noisy." 

Lord Hiruzen froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. Lord Hiruzen's laughter made the people passing by the Hokage's office a bit curious. What could make Lord Hiruzen so happy? Ever since the war began, they had barely seen him smile, only solemn expressions. 

Lord Hiruzen laughed so hard tears started to well up in his eyes, while Orochimaru's expression grew colder and colder. 

Lord Hiruzen gasped between laughs, "My apologies, apologies, Orochimaru! Your expression just now, I really couldn't hold it in! He's truly something else, to make you show an expression like that, besides Jiraiya. However, Shindai has social anxiety; he only talks a lot with people he's close to. Minato told me that. So, Shindai being talkative around you just means he feels close to you. Isn't that a good thing? Orochimaru, your personality is too quiet; I think it's great to have Shindai to complement you." 

Orochimaru didn't want to discuss this matter with Lord Hiruzen any further. He wasn't opposed to Shindai becoming his apprentice, but Shindai's mouth really put him off. So, Orochimaru had to carefully weigh the pros and cons, because if Shindai became his apprentice, they'd be spending more than just a day or two together. 

"Oh, by the way, Lord Hiruzen, that kid Shindai has some ideas about Konoha's orphanage." Since he had settled things with Lord Hiruzen, Orochimaru could now personally discuss Shindai's plans. 

Chapter 194: I'm Your Big Brother! 

Orochimaru filled Hiruzen Sarutobi in on everything: Shindai's money-making plan for the orphanage, and Danzo's desire to get Yakushi Nonō back into Root as a spy. 

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression immediately turned serious. "That Danzo... he wants Nonō to go back to Root and keep spying? 

The kids at the orphanage really look up to Nonō; they see her like a mother. If Nonō leaves, those kids will be heartbroken. Plus, Nonō is truly dedicated to those children, and there's no one who can replace her. 

Most of those children's parents sacrificed themselves for Konoha. Nonō actually talked to me about this before, hoping I could allocate funds for the orphanage. 

But since it's wartime, Konoha's funds are low, and all resources need to prioritize the war effort. I promised her I'd give her some initial funds, and then I'd allocate more once Konoha's finances improved a bit. 

Shindai's plan does seem viable. If it goes smoothly, it could solve the orphanage's financial problems long-term. In that case, I'll personally organize a charity event to collect donations. 

As for the orphanage opening a shop or whatever, I won't interfere. I'm the Hokage, it's not really my place to meddle in such things. You guys can represent it then. 

The orphanage's situation definitely needs to improve. At the very least, we need to make sure they have enough food and clothes and get an education. 

Orochimaru, when you go to Root, tell Danzo directly: he is not to lay a hand on Nonō." 

Orochimaru nodded, agreeing, "Understood. I'll head to Root now." 

Meanwhile, Shindai had already taken Pakura to get her Konoha identification, and she'd finished her treatment at the Konoha Ninja Hospital. Now, they were strolling through the village. 

"Pakura, look over there, that place selling dango. Don't go there often, it's too sweet. Sweet enough to rot your teeth. One stick is enough for me; eat too many and you'll definitely get fat." 

"That okonomiyaki place is really good, and it's cheap too. Pretty tasty." 

"This sukiyaki place? Super delicious, but super expensive. Unless someone else is paying, I wouldn't dare." 

Shindai was giving Pakura a running commentary on each shop. 

Pakura, with a forehead full of black lines, asked, "Besides food, is there anything else you can tell me about?" 

Shindai spread his hands. "Why would I bother learning about other stuff? Plus, I don't go out that often, so I don't know much else. I'm taking you home now, and then we'll find Aunt Kushina and get her to treat us to barbecue." 

"What?" Pakura stopped, confused. "Didn't you just get money from Lord Hokage? Why do you still need someone to treat you?" 

Shindai said matter-of-factly, "Now that this money is in my pocket, it's mine! If someone else is treating, why would I spend my own money? Am I right?" 

Pakura sighed. "You're really shameless!" 

Shindai defended himself, "Me, shameless? Do you have any money on you? Look at your clothes, not even a pocket. I don't even need to look, you definitely don't have any money. That means I have to support both of us now. 

Later, I'll have to buy you daily necessities, changes of clothes, pillows, blankets, and stuff like that. All of that costs money! I'm saving a bit so we can live a more comfortable life, you know?" 

Pakura fell silent. 

Because Shindai was right. She had joined Konoha but wasn't a ninja, so she had no income. She really would have to rely on Shindai to support her. 

"Here, for your spending money." 

Shindai took out the money Hiruzen Sarutobi had given him, then pulled out some more from his own bulging wallet and handed it to Pakura. 

"Spend it wisely. Tell me when you run out. I'm your guardian now, so you'd better treat me well from now on! Understand?" 

Pakura didn't hesitate at all, stuffing the money into her ninja pouch. "We'll see." 

Shindai grumbled, "What do you mean, 'we'll see'? I'm being so good to you, doesn't your conscience bother you?" 

On their way home, Shindai spotted Yakushi Kabuto. 

"Hey, I see my little bro!" Shindai happily waved at Kabuto. "Kabuto! You're back?" 

Kabuto looked at Shindai, glaring at him unhappily, then tried to run away. 

Because Shindai had clearly promised him he'd talk to Yakushi Nonō about those money-making plans, but then Shindai just vanished. 

This made Kabuto think Shindai had tricked him and that he'd been taken advantage of. 

Shindai scratched his head, puzzled. "What's wrong with him?" 

Pakura sounded a little gleeful. "Looking at him, he doesn't seem like your little brother at all. He looks more like you tricked him." 

"What? I never tricked him! I'm gonna go catch him and ask." 

Shindai ran after him and grabbed Kabuto by the collar of his shirt. 

Kabuto struggled forcefully. "What are you doing? Let go of me!" 

Shindai asked, "Don't run! Why are you glaring at me and running away when you see me? I'm your big brother!" 

Kabuto said, full of resentment, "What big brother? What kind of big brother disappears right after promising me something?" 

Shindai suddenly remembered. Because of the Pakura situation, he really hadn't talked to Yakushi Nonō about his plan. 

At the time, he was too busy with Pakura's situation to even think about that. 

"Uh... so it was about that. I had an emergency at the time, remember? Is your director in Konoha? If she is, I'll go talk to her later. How about I treat you to barbecue now as an apology?" 

Kabuto looked suspicious. "Really? You're not lying to me?" 

Shindai patted his chest. "I'm your big brother! When have I ever lied to you?" 

Kabuto said with a resentful look, "You just became my big brother and you already lied to me!" 

Shindai released Kabuto's collar. "That was an accident, it doesn't count as lying! Alright, let's go, I'm treating you to a big meal." 

Pakura muttered from the side, "You're treating? You really know how to make yourself look good." 

Shindai pretended not to hear and led Pakura and Kabuto back to his house. 

Shindai proudly declared, "Look, this is my house! What do you think, not bad, right? It's a standard three bedrooms, one living room, one kitchen, and two bathrooms!" 

Pakura looked around what would be her new home and nodded. "Hmm, it's pretty good." 

Kabuto looked at Shindai's house with some envy. The orphanage was crowded, with six or seven people sharing one room. 

"Hmm? I hear movement next door. Lord Minato should still be out, so it must be Aunt Kushina." 

Just as Shindai stepped out, he saw Kushina Uzumaki also stepping out. 

Kushina was delighted to see Shindai back. "I heard a commotion and came out! It really is you, Shindai!" 

Shindai greeted her with a wide smile, "Long time no see, Aunt Kushina~" 

It seems like things are starting to settle down for Shindai and Pakura in Konoha. But with Orochimaru heading to Root and Shindai back to his usual antics, what do you think will happen next? 

Chapter 195: Leaving Root 

Shindai met up with Kushina Uzumaki. She took one look at Shindai, gave a quick greeting, then her gaze immediately shifted to Pakura, who was behind him. Kushina's eyes lit up, and she excitedly asked, "Hey... you're Pakura, right?" 

Pakura was a little surprised. "How do you know me?" 

Kushina smiled. "Shindai told me all about you. You're his only friend from the Hidden Sand Village, and you have that unique reddish-brown and green hair, so you're easy to recognize! Who would've thought, Shindai, you go out for a mission and bring someone back to Konoha with you? But... isn't the relationship between the Hidden Sand Village and Konoha pretty tense right now? Is it really okay to bring Pakura back?" 

Shindai explained, "Pakura isn't going back to the Hidden Sand. From now on, she's a Konoha villager, and she'll be staying at my place." 

"Oh, I see." 

Kushina noticed the bandages on Pakura's body, with hints of red seeping through, clearly indicating she was injured. So, Kushina guessed that Pakura must have abandoned the Hidden Sand Village for some reason and returned to Konoha with Shindai. Concerned about upsetting Pakura, since something unpleasant must have happened for her to make such a choice, Kushina decided not to press for more details. 

"And this child is...?" Kushina looked at Kabuto Yakushi. 

Shindai introduced him. "Oh, this is my little brother I just took on, Kabuto Yakushi." 

Kabuto was a bit nervous as he greeted her. "H-hello." 

Kushina raised an eyebrow. "Well, look at you! You're really moving up in the world, taking on a little brother already!" 

Shindai urged her, "It's getting late, Aunt Kushina! Hurry up and grab some money and let's go!" 

Kushina looked puzzled. "Money? Why do we need money?" 

Shindai pulled Pakura and Kabuto in front of him. "It's Pakura's first time in Konoha, and this is my first ever little brother, so don't you think you should do something for them? I've already decided, a barbecue feast will do! Hurry, hurry, I've been craving it for ages!" 

Pakura, not as thick-skinned as Shindai, had already lowered her head, her cheeks flushed. This is so embarrassing! 

Kabuto looked at Shindai in disbelief. "Didn't you say you were going to treat me?" 

Shindai replied, "Yeah, that's right! Aunt Kushina treats me, and then I take you to eat, so doesn't that mean I'm treating you?" 

Kabuto was completely confused by Shindai's logic. He racked his brain, but all he could figure out was that Aunt Kushina was paying for this meal, not Shindai. Suddenly, he wasn't so sure about being Shindai's little brother anymore. He wondered if he could back out. 

Under Shindai's relentless urging, Kushina went into her room with a dark expression to get money, then led the three of them out. 

Orochimaru's Break from Root 

Meanwhile, at the Root Anbu Headquarters. 

Orochimaru arrived at Danzo's office. Danzo spoke to Orochimaru, "I heard from Hiruzen earlier that he's looking for a successor for the Fourth Hokage after this war ends. Orochimaru, I plan to recommend you for Hokage. Hiruzen, on the other hand, will likely recommend Jiraiya. Compared to Jiraiya, you have a much better chance of winning. As long as you win and become Konoha's Fourth Hokage, you won't need to worry about managing the village; I'll handle everything for you, and you can continue your research in peace." 

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly. "You want to strengthen your own power after helping me rise to the top, don't you? Don't worry, Jiraiya won't become Hokage. Lord Hiruzen has no intention of making Jiraiya Hokage." 

For Danzo, the news that Hiruzen wasn't considering Jiraiya for Hokage was excellent. It meant Orochimaru would have no direct rival. 

Danzo excitedly confirmed with Orochimaru, "Did Hiruzen already talk to you about wanting you to succeed him as Hokage? That's wonderful! With my recommendation and Hiruzen's, your position as Hokage is practically set in stone!" 

Orochimaru replied, "Lord Hiruzen just spoke with me about it, indeed. However, he doesn't want me to succeed him as Hokage, and I have no interest in becoming Hokage. I'm here today to leave Root. I'm joining Lord Hiruzen's Anbu." 

Danzo froze. This news was so sudden that he couldn't process it at once. After a moment, Danzo slammed his hand on the desk, stood up abruptly, and glared at Orochimaru, demanding, "Are you planning to betray me?!" 

Orochimaru calmly stated, "Betrayal? It hardly seems like betrayal, does it? Root was originally an Anbu training department, so there's no issue with me joining the Anbu. Besides, I was never loyal to you; we simply had a cooperative relationship." 

Danzo raged, "Orochimaru, you're on the same boat as me now! If you follow Hiruzen, will he support your research the way I have?" 

Orochimaru's expression didn't change. "Lord Hiruzen certainly cannot support my research unconditionally like you can. However, there are pros and cons to both. While your support allowed me to research recklessly, you couldn't provide me with an ideal research environment, and any exposure of my research would force me to flee. Lord Hiruzen, on the other hand, can provide that research environment, with some restrictions as boundaries, allowing me to conduct my research peacefully. After weighing the advantages and disadvantages, I chose Lord Hiruzen." 

Danzo's face turned incredibly grim. "So, you and Hiruzen have already discussed this?" 

Orochimaru frankly stated, "That's right. Lord Hiruzen supports my decision, so there's no longer any need for me to remain in Root, nor to continue cooperating with you." 

Danzo was so angry that veins pulsed visibly in his neck and forehead. Orochimaru was the most promising candidate for the Fourth Hokage, and more importantly, Orochimaru didn't value the Hokage's power. If Orochimaru became Hokage, Danzo's own power would reach its peak. Then, given the right opportunity, he could have Orochimaru step down and succeed him as the Fifth Hokage, with everything falling perfectly into place. He had always believed Orochimaru was deeply bound to him, but he never expected Orochimaru to turn against him at such a crucial moment. 

Danzo threatened Orochimaru, "I know many things about you! Don't you forget that!" 

Orochimaru replied indifferently, "So what? Since Lord Hiruzen and I have already reached an agreement, those things won't affect me at all. In fact, you, Danzo, don't you forget that I also know many things about you." 

Danzo was fuming, gritting his teeth. Orochimaru ignored him and continued, "I've informed you. Have someone cancel my Root records. Oh, and one more thing: you cannot touch Nonou Yakushi. Lord Hiruzen asked me to tell you that." 

After saying that, Orochimaru left Root.