For days, Orochimaru's plans had revolved around one objective: locate Jugo's clan. But the original history offered no clues about where they lived. With no leads and no known survivors, even the black market had failed to produce information. Anyone foolish enough to fabricate intel had been killed by Kakuzu. No one swindled Kakuzu and lived—not since Senju Hashirama, whose Wood Clones once fooled him, had died nearly twenty years ago.
---
Arrival in the Land of Waves
A roaring sound cut through the morning mist as a sleek black car shot across the sky above the Wave Country port. Merchants and sailors looked up in awe. The car bore the insignia of Amegakure, unmistakably manufactured by the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company.
People whispered excitedly.
When will the cars be sold to the public?
If I had one of those, I'd be the talk of the market!
But the company had made its stance clear. Even the Daimyō of the Five Great Nations couldn't purchase one—so ordinary traders stood no chance.
---
Meeting at the White Snake Headquarters
In the presidential office, Hanzō stepped forward with a rare smile. The prosperity of the Rain Country rested heavily on the company's shoulders, and he knew it.
"President Aokawa. It has been too long."
"You look much healthier, Hanzō," Aokawa replied warmly.
They exchanged friendly words before Aokawa cut to the heart of the visit. "You didn't come all the way to the Land of Waves just for a change of scenery. What's happened?"
Hanzō's expression darkened. "The climate of the Rain Country… I fear it will become a problem. Tension between nations grows every day. If war breaks out again, our people—concentrated now in White Snake Electric Town and White Snake Central—will suffer first. All our food is imported from the Land of Fire. One disruption, and famine will follow."
Aokawa understood instantly. "You're worried the Rain Country won't survive another war."
"Exactly. Since the joint attack on the Whirlpool Country, conflicts have grown sharper. A new war is inevitable." Hanzō lowered his voice. "And the Rain Country will be caught in the middle again."
Aokawa sighed. "But to change the environment of Amegakure, Rain Mountain must be destroyed. It's the only way to break the constant downpour. And that mountain… it's your salamander, Ibuse's home. Are you willing?"
Hanzō remained silent for a long moment. Months ago, he'd refused this idea completely. But now—
"Ibuse will have to relocate."
It was painful, but unavoidable. As the leader of his people, he couldn't prioritize a summon beast over the survival of the entire nation.
Rain Mountain need not be flattened—only breached enough to improve airflow. And Ibuse lived along the foothills. He would survive.
Aokawa nodded. "I'll send a team to survey Rain Mountain and determine where to detonate for the best result."
Relief washed over Hanzō's face. "Thank you. Truly."
Changing the climate meant the Rain Country could finally grow crops. The constant rain seemed suitable for rice, but reality proved otherwise—the flooding choked oxygen from the soil, destroyed photosynthesis, and invited pests. Nothing survived. With proper environment control, that could change.
---
Kakuzu Brings Troubling News
Not long after Hanzō left, the office door opened again. Kakuzu, wearing sunglasses and looking exhausted from travel, stepped inside.
"Aokawa. I heard Hanzō was here."
"He asked for help again," Aokawa replied.
"Tch. That man never comes with good news."
Kakuzu sat and pulled out his calculator. "So what does he want this time?"
"He wants the Rain Country's environment fixed."
"That requires blowing up Rain Mountain." Kakuzu paused. "He refused that before, didn't he? Orochimaru used that excuse to test chakra explosives."
Aokawa nodded. "Hanzō now fears war is coming. And all Rain Country food comes from Fire Country."
Kakuzu closed his calculator. "Orochimaru won't refuse that request."
Aokawa was about to speak when Kakuzu leaned forward seriously.
"There's something Orochimaru must know. Something big. It's about the survivors of the Whirlpool Hidden Village."
Aokawa's eyes sharpened. "Is there a leak?"
"You tell me," Kakuzu grunted. "Black market intel is circulating—saying survivors were spotted in the Land of Waves. Other villages believe none escaped. But if this intel spreads, someone will inevitably investigate."
Aokawa's face hardened.
No one from White Snake would leak something this sensitive.
"That means someone infiltrated the company."
"Exactly. A highly skilled intelligence-nin," Kakuzu said. "If the major nations learn, the situation will escalate quickly."
Aokawa stood up immediately. "Setsuryu—contact Lord Orochimaru at once."
"Yes," she answered, turning into mist as she disappeared.
Aokawa grabbed his coat. "Kakuzu, I must inform Uzumaki Chigusa. She deserves to know."
---
Orochimaru Receives the Message
Deep inside his laboratory, Imu approached with a letter delivered by a white crow—the summon beast eyeing Orochimaru's moving snake-tail with unease.
Orochimaru opened the letter, scanning its contents. His eyes narrowed.
He had expected news to leak eventually. But this soon? Only Black Zetsu could infiltrate that deeply.
But even Zetsu underestimated one thing—the absolute dependence the Ninja Villages now had on White Snake Pharmaceutical's healing medicine. No village would dare sabotage relations by targeting the Whirlpool survivors directly. Without the company's Healing Pills, casualties in any upcoming war would skyrocket.
And if Konoha discovered survivors, they might attempt to take them in—but they would never allow another Whirlpool tragedy to happen while the company's influence loomed overhead.
Orochimaru stood. "Imu, Mio—prepare a fresh Zero-Tails flesh sample. Bring me the Reverse Cursed Seal Blood Mark scroll. We leave for the Land of Waves shortly."
The letter dissolved into ash in his hand.
The two assistants bowed. "Yes, Lord Orochimaru."
After preparing the sealing techniques, Orochimaru placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
Shhh—!
The Flying Thunder God Technique activated, and the three vanished.
---
Return to the White Snake Headquarters
"Imu!"
Setsuryu rushed forward, hugging her younger sister tightly. Both belonged to the Iburi Clan, their parents long dead from the clan's cursed bloodline sickness.
Imu beamed. Setsuryu stroked her hair.
They rarely saw each other now—each serving Orochimaru in different divisions.
---
The Whirlpool Clan Leader Speaks
In the office, Uzumaki Chigusa faced Orochimaru. Her expression was calm, but worry flickered beneath it.
"Orochimaru… won't our presence here complicate things for you? If the villages learn we survived…"
"Do not trouble yourself," Orochimaru replied confidently. "The Four Great Shinobi Villages no longer trust each other. Their collaboration ended the moment they jointly attacked the Whirlpool Hidden Village. That alliance will never reform."
Unbeknownst to the world, when the village fell, Orochimaru had secretly relocated the Mask Temple and the Uzumaki sealing texts beneath the company's headquarters. The invaders found only scraps and decoys.
"You are safe under the White Snake Company's protection," he continued. "If any village attacks you now, it means severing ties with us—and losing access to the Healing Medicine. No leader is foolish enough to cripple their forces on the eve of war."
Chigusa took a slow breath.
She preferred rebuilding the Whirlpool Village rather than joining Konoha.
Konoha meant adjusting to foreign customs, foreign systems, foreign expectations.
But here—here they were treated as partners.
Orochimaru added, "Hanzō himself came requesting help to prevent famine when the war begins. Even he knows the world is about to change."
The room fell quiet.
The Rain that never stopped.
The war that would soon begin.
The survivors hiding in plain sight.
And the White Snake Company, standing in the center of it all.
Orochimaru's golden eyes glinted.
"Do not fear, Chigusa. So long as you are under our protection… no one will dare touch the Uzumaki ever again."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)