The doorbell rang incessantly, echoing through the quiet house. Orochimaru, hunched over his manuscript and scribbling frantically, did not look up. "Tsunade should be here. Go open the door," he said casually to his Shadow Clone. "I'll finish soon."
"Understood," the Shadow Clone replied, moving toward the door.
When the door opened, Tsunade stood there, her arms crossed and a look of clear annoyance on her face. She carried a large bag, and the air around her seemed to vibrate with the promise of a well-aimed hit.
"Don't hit me, I'm a Shadow Clone," the clone said quickly. "The main body is busy with a manuscript."
Tsunade huffed, frustration evident in her stance, and stepped inside. She scanned the room, her eyes landing on Orochimaru, who was furiously writing. Crossing her arms over her chest, she leaned slightly forward, peering over the desk at his work with a mix of curiosity and irritation.
"Konoha's celebrity, huh?" she said, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm. "Orochimaru, the center of attention. How do you feel now?"
Orochimaru finally paused, lifting his gaze to meet hers. "Jealous of me?" he asked, his tone teasing yet calm.
"Jealous?!" Tsunade flared, her face brightening with indignation and her fists clenched. "Not at all! But such an important matter, and you didn't even call me? That's rude! I was the one who went with you to invite the Iburi Clan to join Konoha. How could you exclude me now?"
Her cheeks flushed a vivid red, and she puffed them out in a display of frustration, glaring at Orochimaru.
He looked up at her calmly, setting his pen aside and meeting her gaze with genuine sincerity. "I'm sorry, Tsunade. Do you want to go to the Casino to make up for it?"
At this moment, logic had no place. Tsunade wasn't interested in his explanations; she cared only for the way forward, for a chance to be appeased. Children, after all, respond most readily to the things that excite them.
"I have no money!" Tsunade exclaimed, though her eyes betrayed her eagerness. She crossed her arms, trying to suppress the grin threatening to break across her face.
"Yes," Orochimaru said simply, pointing at himself with a thumb. Money was no longer an issue for him. He could not generate ten million ryo instantly, but hundreds of thousands—or even millions—were well within reach. He also knew that Tsunade could easily recover any losses at the Casino. This wasn't a risk.
"Don't think I'll forgive you for this!" Tsunade warned, but her expression betrayed the excitement bubbling inside her.
Orochimaru sighed inwardly at the sight of the large bag she carried. "By the way, what's this?" he asked.
Tsunade smiled mischievously, pulling a purple scarf from the bag. "A scarf for you," she said, gesturing to the red scarf around her own neck. "It's the same as mine."
"A gift? Then I shall accept it," he said with a nod. Orochimaru took the scarf, placing it gently on the table before heading to the wardrobe.
"I'll change my clothes, then let's go to the Casino," he said.
"Ok, my love!" Tsunade cried, throwing her hands into the air in pure excitement, completely forgetting the anger that had previously dominated her expression.
---
The hot spring bathhouse on Hot Spring Street was bustling, even in winter. Steam rose from the water, mingling with the chill of the snowy air. Large snowflakes fell gently, melting as they touched the warm water.
"Why do I always lose?" Tsunade gritted her teeth, frustration etched deeply across her face. It was another day of gambling losses.
"Yeah… why?" Orochimaru replied calmly, squinting at the falling snow as he observed the serene yet cold environment.
"Absolutely! You're affecting my luck!" she shouted, splashing water in his direction. "Every time you come with me, I lose!"
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, studying her carefully. "You won when I didn't accompany you?"
"No… I didn't win," she admitted, her voice soft and lacking confidence.
He spread his hands, shrugging. "The facts prove that I do not influence your luck. Your gambling luck has been poor from the start."
Tsunade's face darkened as she clenched her fists and leapt toward him.
"Frog?" Orochimaru muttered, noting her hopping stance. Before he could react further, she pressed against him.
"Not good!" he thought.
"Tile Destruction Jutsu!" she screamed.
Vaulting over him, a loud splash reverberated through the hot spring as Tsunade's voice rang out in anger.
"You disgusting Orochimaru! How dare you call me a toad! You're the one who's ruining my gambling luck!"
Orochimaru held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, I admit it. I've affected your gambling luck…"
Pinned against the rocks at the edge of the spring, Orochimaru's face pale and eyes slightly reddened, he reluctantly raised a white flag. He had underestimated her strength. Even though he had always known her power was formidable, he hadn't anticipated such speed and precision.
In the original timeline, even the Fourth Raikage, a man who had spent twenty years lifting weights professionally, could not match her. He had only bested her in an arm-wrestling match by cheating.
"Uh huh! That's better!" Tsunade exclaimed, satisfaction replacing her previous frustration. She glanced at Orochimaru's flushed, helpless expression, and a curious pang of amusement passed through her. Her face gradually reddened, reflecting both embarrassment and excitement.
Suddenly, a warm sensation spread across her nose. She hastily raised her hand, bolted from the water with a loud splash, and rushed into the room.
Orochimaru blinked, confused by her sudden retreat. He watched as a drop of blood slowly formed on the surface of the water.
Do nosebleeds result from ruptured capillaries caused by dry nasal passages? he mused. So her luck isn't just bad at gambling—it's bad overall.
Rubbing his own nose, he concluded: Power and strength mean nothing if one must constantly adapt to such unpredictability.
"Tsunade, are you alright?" he asked, genuine concern in his tone.
"I… I'm fine," she replied, eyes avoiding his. The incident had stirred feelings of embarrassment and guilt over her previous behavior.
"Nothing to worry about," Orochimaru said with a gentle wave, indicating she shouldn't be embarrassed.
Realizing that he genuinely didn't care, Tsunade relaxed. She remembered his controversial writings and how differently he viewed the world. Her worry subsided, and she re-entered the hot spring, sitting beside him.
And so, the two, once again misunderstanding each other, continued to enjoy the hot spring together, laughter and warmth returning to their shared moment.
---
The following day, Orochimaru stepped into Nara Pharmacy, only to be greeted by Nara Matsuka's teasing voice.
"Nope! Our celebrity has arrived!" she said, her smile full of amusement.
"Matsuka-nee, I didn't want to come; Hiruzen-sensei insisted," Orochimaru replied, brushing snow from his hair. He glanced around, feeling the weight of curious stares. Many people along the way had stared at him as if he were a rare creature.
"That scarf looks beautiful! It suits you so well," Nara Matsuka said, practically leaning against the counter as she admired the purple scarf around his neck.
"A friend gave it to me," Orochimaru replied simply.
"That perverted white-haired kid?" she asked, recalling her few impressions of Jiraiya—his flamboyance and unparalleled confidence.
"No, Tsunade," Orochimaru corrected, with a wave of his hand.
"Oh! First Hokage-sama's…" Matsuka paused, sensing the impropriety of her words, and stopped herself.
"Matsuka-nee, the skincare products I gave you seem to be working well," Orochimaru continued, noting the improved condition of her skin.
"Like this?" she asked, cupping her cheeks and smiling radiantly. "Many customers ask me what I use. Are you interested in selling these products in Konoha?"
Orochimaru considered her suggestion. He had never thought of Ninja as consumers for such products; his target market had always been the wealthy elite. Most ninja could not afford high-end skincare.
"Ninja seek a good life too," Nara Matsuka countered, wagging her finger impressively. "Female ninja want to maintain their beauty, and men will spend a fortune pleasing women. You cannot underestimate this market."
Orochimaru listened, astonished. Her insights were far more valuable than years of study. He realized his previous assumptions had been narrow-minded. Ninja, like all people, had needs beyond combat.
"Matsuka-nee, a partnership?" Orochimaru asked, taking her hand warmly.
"That's exactly what I was thinking," she replied.
"Then let's involve the Akimichi and Yamanaka Clans. We'll all make money together," Orochimaru decided. Konoha would be their testing ground; if the products sold well here, expansion to the Land of Fire would be straightforward. Adjustments would be made for other regions with different climates or skin types.
"Nara Matsuka, you are truly generous!" she said, surprised by his willingness to share such a lucrative opportunity.
---
Meanwhile, at Leaf Hospital, Hiruzen Sarutobi held a pipe in his hand, suppressing the urge to smoke, mindful of the hospital setting. He turned to Furofuki and asked, "Furofuki, is the medicinal tea I've been drinking any good?"
Since drinking the tea Orochimaru had prepared, Hiruzen had felt unusually energetic. Though he trusted Orochimaru's abilities, curiosity and caution nagged at him. What ingredients does he use? Could prolonged use have hidden effects?
Barring any unforeseen issues, Orochimaru's contributions had secured him immense prestige. When he matured and gained further experience, there was little doubt he could rise to become the Fourth Hokage.
---
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