In the forest near Konoha, the snow crunched underfoot. Orochimaru watched Tsunade out of the corner of her eye, wondering what mischief she was up to, as Tsunade molded a snowball.
"Orochimaru!"
Tsunade held her hands behind her back, ready to throw the snowball.
Orochimaru heard Tsunade call her name. As she turned, she tilted her head, dodging the snowball Tsunade threw.
"How did you know I was going to hit you with a snowball?"
Tsunade thought she had been careful enough, but Orochimaru still discovered her.
"I've been watching your movements the whole time, and besides, you were making so much noise molding that snowball, how could I not hear you?"
Orochimaru said helplessly; it was impossible not to notice.
"Ugh…"
Tsunade pouted, her cheeks slightly puffed out in defiance.
"Orochimaru, look over there!"
..."Orochimaru, look!"
..."Orochimaru, what's that in the sky!"
...Maybe I should just let her hit me with a snowball once?
Orochimaru thought, feeling a little tired. All along the way, Tsunade had used various methods to distract her, just to hit her with a snowball once.
"Wow! Orochimaru, look what that is!"
Tsunade's bright brown eyes widened as she looked at the snowy ground, as if she had seen something extremely strange.
If Orochimaru dodges this time, I'll give up!
I bet Orochimaru can't dodge it!
Tsunade thought this, and when Orochimaru looked over, she threw the snowball in her hand.
Bang—!
The snowball hit Orochimaru's face, shattering into pieces that fell to the ground. Some stuck to her face, and flecks of bright red dripped from her reddened nose, the striking crimson particularly noticeable against the snow.
"Ah! Orochimaru, you, why didn't you dodge?!"
Tsunade rushed over, one hand using Mystical Palm Technique to heal Orochimaru's bleeding nose, while the other pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and offered it.
"You molded the snowball too hard."
Orochimaru wiped her nosebleed with the handkerchief. The moment the snowball hit her, she felt as if she had been punched in the face.
"I'm sorry… I thought you would dodge it… I bet in my mind that you wouldn't dodge, and I didn't expect to win…"
Tsunade looked at Orochimaru's reddened nose and the lingering streaks of blood on her pale skin, feeling very guilty.
"I thought if you hit me once, you wouldn't keep trying to hit me with snowballs. I forgot to protect myself with Chakra."
Orochimaru smiled slightly, reached out and took Tsunade's hand, put away the handkerchief, and led her towards the cave where the Iburi Clan lived.
"Isn't this great? Tsunade, who has terrible luck with gambling, finally won once, even if I was the unlucky one…"
Normally, being hit by a snowball wouldn't be a big deal, but this was a snowball molded by Tsunade, as solid as a rock.
"It's not good at all! Who wants to win a bet like this?!"
Tsunade shook off Orochimaru's hand and said angrily. She was angry at Orochimaru, and even more so at herself.
Pfft—!
Orochimaru molded a snowball and smeared it on Tsunade's face, then clapped the snow off her hands and said, "Here's your snowball back."
"Ugh… Orochimaru!"
Tsunade clenched her fists and lunged at Orochimaru.
Orochimaru dodged Tsunade and hurried towards the cave where the Iburi Clan lived.
"Don't run!"
Seeing Orochimaru trying to escape, Tsunade chased after her.
"This is the cave where the Iburi Clan lives."
Orochimaru stopped in front of the Iburi Clan's cave and looked at the slightly panting Tsunade, "Tsunade, I'll wash your handkerchief clean before returning it to you."
"Orochimaru… you, why did you run in that posture?"
Tsunade thought of Orochimaru's running posture just now, which wasn't with her arms behind her back.
Orochimaru walked into the cave and explained, "My posture just now saved more stamina. Ninja run with their arms behind them so they can quickly take out and use Ninja tools at any time."
"Orochimaru-sama?"
Smoke condensed into a young woman, who covered her mouth in surprise when she saw Orochimaru.
"Setsuryu, may I ask, is Clan Head Aokawa here? I have an important matter to discuss with him. I represent Konoha and Hokage-sama on this trip."
Orochimaru said with a smile, the information in her words making Setsuryu understand what was happening.
"Orochimaru-sama, Clan Head Aokawa is not here. Vice Clan Head Chiriu is."
Setsuryu's face showed a hint of difficulty.
Aren't you going to introduce me?
Tsunade, standing beside Orochimaru, thought with great displeasure.
"Oh, right, this is Tsunade, my friend."
Orochimaru introduced Tsunade to Setsuryu, then continued, "Please take us inside."
"Understood, please follow me."
Setsuryu led Orochimaru and Tsunade into the cave, which had a barrier at its entrance. Warm lights illuminated the darkness, keeping the cold outside.
"Orochimaru-sama, please wait a moment. I will go call Vice Clan Head Chiriu."
Setsuryu transformed into smoke and drifted into the distance.
She can now use her Bloodline Limit normally; the stabilizing pills are quite effective.
Orochimaru was very satisfied with the effect of the stabilizing pills she had developed.
"Orochimaru!"
Tsunade walked in front of Orochimaru, her beautiful bright brown eyes staring at her, her face almost touching Orochimaru's.
"What's wrong?"
Orochimaru asked curiously.
"Why did Setsuryu call you 'sama' just now?"
"Because the medicine I developed solved the Iburi Clan's bloodline disease, that's why they address me that way." Orochimaru explained, then tapped Tsunade's forehead with her finger and pushed her back slightly.
"You're too close."
"Are you disgusted with me?"
Tsunade didn't back away; instead, she leaned in closer.
"How could I be? You wouldn't want Vice Clan Head Chiriu to come over and see us in this position, would you?"
Orochimaru gestured for Tsunade to pay attention to their current posture.
"Ah…"
Tsunade finally realized she was practically leaning on Orochimaru. Her cute little face flushed, and she pulled away, saying stubbornly, "Hmph! I don't care what others think!"
Orochimaru and Chiriu sat at a table, the freshly brewed tea fragrant. Tsunade stood behind Orochimaru, bored, waiting for their conversation to end.
Chiriu asked with a serious expression, "May I ask what Konoha and Hokage-sama want from you?"
"Hokage-sama wishes to invite the Iburi Clan to join Konoha. Vice Clan Head Chiriu, can you make this decision? Or do we need to wait for Clan Head Aokawa to return?"
Orochimaru stared at Chiriu, wanting to know if he could make the decision. If the Clan Head was absent and he couldn't decide, they would have to wait for the Clan Head to return.
"Clan Head Aokawa fully entrusted me with clan matters before he left, but I cannot make a decision on behalf of the entire clan."
Chiriu showed no desire to join Konoha, nor did he refuse. Instead, he seemed to be waiting for something.
Orochimaru said knowingly, "Hokage-sama will arrange a place in Konoha for the Iburi Clan as their clan territory, help the Iburi Clan build new homes, and provide a settlement fund for the Iburi Clan."
With the Iburi Clan's Bloodline Limit, and no longer plagued by their bloodline disease, they would be highly sought after wherever they went. Orochimaru believed the terms she offered were not excessive and were within Konoha's capacity to bear.
It was all because her dear sensei, Hiruzen, had forgotten about this, and she, too, had forgotten this most important thing.
Chiriu knew that these were the benefits Orochimaru-sama had secured for clan members joining Konoha. He immediately appeared tempted, but said with difficulty, "Orochimaru-sama, I cannot make this decision on behalf of the clan members. Some will be willing to join Konoha, and some will not, as our clan has lived here for a very long time."
"Then, Vice Clan Head Chiriu, I will await your good news."
Orochimaru picked up her teacup, took a sip of tea, put it down, and stood up to leave.
Tsunade followed behind Orochimaru, observing the cave's environment along the way. She didn't understand why anyone in the Iburi Clan would want to stay here.
"Phew…"
Chiriu let out a long breath, wondering if he had said anything improper just now.
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