After a ninja reminded them, people suddenly realized they had forgotten to get Orochimaru's autograph. They pounded their chests and stamped their feet in regret—but it was already too late.
Orochimaru was sweet, quiet, and powerful. By the age of eight, he had already become a Chunin, making many remarkable contributions to Konoha. His future seemed limitless, and everyone could see that he was destined to become a great figure.
In Konoha, numerous young men and women secretly admired him, captivated by his intelligence, charisma, and extraordinary talents.
Returning home, Orochimaru used the Flying Thunder God Technique to deliver the flyer and a letter to Qing He's desk. Since the tea already had a name, the herbal tea to be sold by White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company would naturally be called Shimura Herbal Tea—but the trademark would be White Snake.
When Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu learned of this, they could hardly contain themselves. They immediately rushed to Danzo Shimura's base, the Root headquarters.
Bang!
Utatane Koharu slammed the brochure onto the table, frustration etched deeply on her face. "Danzo! Danzo! What exactly is going on? As Assistant Hokage, as the head of the Anbu training department, how can you act so… immoral? Look at what you've done!"
Selling herbal tea to the nobles of the Land of Fire was one thing, but now they were selling it openly in the Village and promoting it with such effects? How could anyone tolerate this?
As an advisor to Konoha, she felt her face burn with shame.
"Koharu, everything I do is for Konoha," Danzo said calmly, mentally bracing himself.
"For Konoha?" Utatane Koharu stared at him, incredulous.
"Absolutely! I, Danzo Shimura, am doing everything for Konoha! My goal is to help Konoha rise from the shadows of the Ninja World War and regain its strength as quickly as possible!"
Danzo's words were firm, resolute, and devoid of guilt, as if every action he took was perfect.
Utatane Koharu's face flushed red, and she shouted, "Isn't this just an herbal tea with aphrodisiac effects?! Have you even considered the feelings of the Shimura Clan?"
Danzo's gaze was unwavering. "Koharu, do you not understand? Why do the nobles buy Shimura Herbal Tea? Is it merely for amusement? No—they do it to have grandchildren. Konoha's population must be rebuilt immediately. What harm is there in enduring a little embarrassment?"
He placed his hand over his chest, his voice resonating with conviction. "My reputation may be tarnished, but I act for Konoha! Even selling aphrodisiac tea, my conscience is clear. I, Danzo Shimura, can hold my head high and proclaim to the First and Second Hokage atop Hokage Rock that everything I do is for Konoha!"
His heartfelt words struck deep, shaking Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado to their core.
Danzo Shimura may have wished to become Hokage, but opportunities were few. If he could increase Konoha's strength in the process, a little loss of face mattered little. One day, everyone would remember his contributions.
(Danzo Shimura embodies a philosophy similar to "what I believe is right is right, even if it's wrong." Once he decides on something, he follows through. While he hasn't fully reached the level of the original Orochimaru, his passion and determination are beginning to show—enough for Hiruzen Sarutobi to guide him.)
"Koharu, let's return," Homura Mitokado said gently. Seeing Danzo's determination, he understood that arguing further was pointless. Utatane Koharu reluctantly followed.
---
The next day, the Shimura Herbal Tea Shop officially opened. Its effects were so unique that finding models to demonstrate them publicly was impossible—after all, they couldn't exactly have a few muscular men drink tea and stage a "bulging package" demonstration.
The Aburame Clan provided the insecticides, while the Sarutobi, Shimura, and Uchiha Clans oversaw production. They expected that few people would buy tea openly on the first day, perhaps only secretly.
What they hadn't anticipated was the overwhelming turnout. A long line stretched outside the shop, and each customer offered an excuse: "I'm buying it for a friend," "It's for my father," or "A friend authorized me to purchase it." Nobody seemed to know so many friends personally—they had fabricated them on the spot.
On the roof of the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura leaned on the railings, watching the queue stretch far below.
"It's truly unexpected," Hiruzen murmured, amused and slightly exasperated by the crowd's excuses.
Danzo Shimura observed the long line with a complex expression. Weren't the words he spoke to Koharu and Mitokado also meant for himself? Since he had accepted the responsibility, the only option was to push forward.
Still, he hadn't expected so many to line up with such clumsy pretenses. Even as a man, he couldn't fathom why they would go to such lengths. Yet, he understood one truth: for men, honor—even if ridiculous—was unshakable.
---
Chapter 69: Poor Orochimaru Must Have Been Bullied
"Grandpa, protect me… don't let grandma find me!" Tsunade whispered, carefully opening the door. She peeked behind her, and seeing that Uzumaki Mito hadn't noticed her, she dashed outside, closing the door gently behind her.
Uzumaki Mito shook her head in exasperation. Tsunade was unwilling to learn the Sealing Technique and had no choice but to sneak out.
As a descendant of both the Senju and Uzumaki clans, her talent overflowed naturally. Yet she was frustrated: Why insist on learning the Sealing Technique? Isn't mastering the Yin Seal enough to preserve Chakra?
Tsunade groaned, kicking a pebble. Not far away, she spotted a brochure on the ground and picked it up: Shimura Herbal Tea?
Her mind instantly conjured a vivid scene: Assistant Hokage Danzo Shimura pressuring Orochimaru for the recipe, Orochimaru tearfully giving it up, and Danzo laughing maniacally as he sipped the tea. Tsunade's fists clenched audibly.
"How dare you, Orochimaru! I will kill you!"
She stamped the ground, shattering it. In a flash of smoke and dust, she vanished.
"What happened?" Four members of the Uchiha Military Police Force Third Company, patrolling nearby, rushed over. They looked at the destruction and then the sky, fearing an enemy invasion.
But the Barrier Team hadn't sounded the alarm. With no signs of intrusion, a skilled Earth Release ninja repaired the road.
---
At the Third Training Field, Orochimaru sat cross-legged, attempting meditation. Today is the Shimura Herbal Tea launch, he thought, trying to calm his mind. He struggled to immerse himself fully, curious how Hiruzen Sarutobi had convinced Danzo to take this step.
Initially, he had assumed selling herbal tea in Konoha would be secretive, a black-market affair. Instead, Hiruzen and Danzo promoted it openly and widely. Even Chiriu, leader of the Iburi Clan, came to ask if the tea's effects were real.
Could such promotion yield unexpected results?
Ding-dong, ding-dong!
The emergency doorbell rang. Orochimaru's Shadow Clones, occupied with research, quickly resolved who would answer. A rock-paper-scissors game, executed so fast it left afterimages, determined the "loser." That clone ran to the door and opened it just in time.
"Don't move. I'm a Shadow Clone," it said.
Tsunade froze, her question about Orochimaru temporarily halted.
"The main body went to the training grounds," the clone added.
The image of Orochimaru hiding behind a stake, secretly crying, flashed in Tsunade's mind. Lightning Release Chakra surged, activating acupuncture points, causing her veins to bulge, hair to stand on end, and her ponytail to lift as if electrified. In an instant, she vanished.
---
At the training field, Orochimaru sensed a fast-approaching lightning bolt.
Tsunade?
She appeared, enveloped in Lightning Release Chakra. "Orochimaru! Are you okay?"
"If you squeeze any harder, you'll send me to the hospital," he muttered, surprised.
Tsunade grinned, turning off her Lightning Release Chakra Mode. Her hair fell back into place, slightly messy from the surge.
Orochimaru picked up a wooden comb and began untangling her hair. "While I do this, think about how you're going to explain yourself. Weren't you supposed to learn the Sealing Technique with Grandma Mito today?"
Tsunade hesitated. "Well… I mean… it's all Danzo Shimura's fault!"
Orochimaru frowned, perplexed. What is Danzo doing now?
Her frustration radiated as he carefully combed her light blonde hair.
"That herbal tea!" she shouted, stamping her foot.
"Shimura Herbal Tea?" Orochimaru asked, tying her hair with a clip and gently stroking her head. "Don't be angry. I gave the recipe to Lord Danzo as a token of thanks. He's funded my research, and my mastery of Wind Release Ninjutsu is also thanks to him. I'm grateful. The tea recipe was just a gift."
"Oh… so Orochimaru, you knew it would have that effect?" Tsunade asked, surprised.
"How could I? I only learned of its effects recently. I thought Professor Sarutobi drank it daily because he liked the taste. I never imagined its effects or that it would be sold in Konoha."
"I saw the queue outside the shop. Didn't you lose anything by giving it to Danzo?"
Orochimaru shook his head. "No. The recipe was also shared with White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company. Lord Danzo can only sell it in Konoha."
Relief washed over Tsunade. She no longer worried about money or lost opportunity.
---
patreon (Obito_uchiha)