Uzumaki Chigusa blinked at Orochimaru, saying in a playful tone, "It's hard to believe you're Miya-sensei... Oh, should I call you Miya-chan now?"
"You should still call me Orochimaru. You already know my name, don't you?"
Orochimaru had long anticipated what would happen if her real self met Uzumaki Chigusa, and this was what she desperately wanted to avoid. She never expected her to come from Uzushiogakure to Konoha to visit Grandma Mito.
Sigh, if I had known she was at Tsunade's house, I wouldn't have gone no matter what.
Hmm... if I didn't go, Tsunade might have carried me over.
Orochimaru's mind conjured an image of Tsunade, after being refused, carrying her home with the Senju Clan's monstrous strength to complete her grandmother's task.
"I've heard about what you've done in Konoha. All your achievements are completely unrelated to Miya-sensei, the author of banned books."
Uzumaki Chigusa gazed at the lake, her peripheral vision on Orochimaru, "If it weren't for my Kagura Shingan being able to sense Chakra auras, I wouldn't believe you are Miya-sensei. I never thought our next meeting would be in such a setting."
"Without Kagura Shingan, you wouldn't recognize me at all! Your ability is so annoying, I really dislike your ability!"
Orochimaru's quiet, cool little face showed undisguised dislike for the Kagura Shingan ability. The Uzumaki Clan's abilities were just too bothersome!
"I'll take your dislike for my ability as a compliment."
Uzumaki Chigusa looked at the small expression on Orochimaru's face, reached out and pinched her cheek, then let out a giggle, pushing back a strand of hair that had been blown onto her face by the wind.
"Honestly, it feels like a dream. Why are you Miya-sensei? You're still so young, how could you write such banned books?"
Uzumaki Chigusa still couldn't believe it, but the Chakra she sensed wouldn't lie to her—it was the same calm and profound aura as Miya's.
Now, though, it carried a slight hint of gloom, showing how much her true identity being discovered affected her.
"Of course, it's to earn money from adults like you who enjoy reading forbidden books."
Orochimaru said with a hint of disdain in his voice.
Uzumaki Chigusa patted Orochimaru's head and asked with a smile, "So, have you figured out how to persuade a terrible adult like me, who enjoys reading forbidden books?"
What can I do?
Orochimaru pushed away Uzumaki Chigusa's hand and said in annoyance, "Let's negotiate terms, within what I can accept."
"I want a manuscript written by your own hand."
Uzumaki Chigusa stated her condition; it was a rare opportunity, and she wouldn't miss the chance to get a manuscript worth treasuring, even if it meant making demands of a child.
Who told Orochimaru to be Miya's? She couldn't treat her as a child anymore. What child writes forbidden books at eight years old!
And forbidden books with constant explosive content!
"Hmph, dreaming, are you? You might as well buy it. I'll consider selling it to you cheaply."
Orochimaru crossed her arms, looking at this terrible and shameless adult. She wouldn't agree to Uzumaki Chigusa's condition so easily, haggling, "My manuscript's price in the black market is around one million ryo. How about I charge you five hundred thousand ryo?"
"No! I want you to write 'Gifted by Miya to her dear reader, Uzumaki Chigusa' on the manuscript! Otherwise, I'll tell Grandma Mito about your forbidden books!"
Uzumaki Chigusa held her face, sighing, "Grandma Mito mentioned you to me and said she wanted to teach you Sealing Technique. She asked for my opinion, and as the Clan Head of the Uzumaki Clan, I naturally had no objection. What would happen if Grandma Mito found out you were writing forbidden books? Ah… it's truly a headache."
Uzumaki Chigusa said, glancing at Orochimaru. Seeing that she was still unmoved, she continued, "Grandma Mito would definitely be sad, wouldn't she?"
How could the Uzumaki Clan have such a shameless Clan Head like you… Are you really from the Uzumaki Clan?
Your red hair isn't dyed, is it!
Orochimaru looked speechlessly at the theatrical Uzumaki Chigusa performing a solo act, raising a hand to her forehead and saying, "Alright, I agree. But you must keep this a secret. If you dare let anyone else know, you'll never see any more books written by me."
Orochimaru now felt that the money earned from writing adult novels was not proportional to the risks involved, but she was a little reluctant to give it up.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
Uzumaki Chigusa smiled contentedly. Coming to Konoha this time was truly worth it. Not only did she learn Miya's true identity, but she also got a handwritten manuscript from Miya. She would treasure it and take it to her grave later.
"I thought you hated my books."
Orochimaru was a bit surprised to see Uzumaki Chigusa so happy. She still remembered Uzumaki Chigusa's reaction last time, commenting on the plot of her book from beginning to end.
"Well, it's not exactly hate, nor is it particularly love."
Uzumaki Chigusa scratched her cheek, a suspicious blush appearing on her face. How to put it, it was a bit embarrassing for a child like that to know she liked reading forbidden books.
"What a strange person."
Orochimaru extended her hand to Uzumaki Chigusa, "We should go back. Remember, I met you during a mission."
"Got it, got it."
Uzumaki Chigusa took Orochimaru's hand.
Orochimaru used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Uzumaki Chigusa back to Tsunade's house, where she was, without surprise, interrogated by Tsunade about how she knew Uzumaki Chigusa.
Uzumaki Nano was not at all worried about Uzumaki Chigusa's safety; instead, she was very interested in Tsunade interrogating Orochimaru. She had heard Grandma Mito talk about the power of the Flying Thunder God Technique before.
That was an S-rank Space-Time Ninjutsu!
"Speaking of which, Orochimaru, you're so proficient with the Flying Thunder God Technique, why didn't you tell me?"
Tsunade suddenly remembered this, putting her arm around Orochimaru's shoulder and pinching her cheek to express her dissatisfaction.
"Your relationship is so good."
Uzumaki Nano rested her chin on her hands, staring at Tsunade and Orochimaru.
"Jealous?"
Tsunade made a face at Uzumaki Nano, holding Orochimaru's arm a little tighter, as if she might be snatched away if she wasn't careful.
"Jealous? I'm not jealous at all!"
Uzumaki Nano reacted as if her tail had been stepped on, pressing her forehead against Tsunade's.
"I think you are jealous!"
Tsunade looked at Uzumaki Nano in displeasure, pushing her forehead slightly harder.
"I'm not jealous!"
Uzumaki Nano endured the pain and pushed back.
"You are jealous!"
The two kept pushing each other, and Orochimaru, caught in between them, looked bewildered as she swayed back and forth, her body moving involuntarily. It was incredibly uncomfortable.
That's enough… I should have checked the almanac before going out. Today is not a good day for going out.
After dinner, to avoid sleeping in the same room as Uzumaki Nano, Tsunade forcibly made Orochimaru stay the night.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya, who had come to Orochimaru's house hoping for a free meal, looked at the dark, unlit house and began to grumble to himself.
Is Orochimaru out on a mission?
What a mission fanatic!
Jiraiya sighed inwardly, having no choice but to find a random restaurant for a quick bite. If he weren't too young, he would definitely still explore the adult world, to critically examine how dirty the adult world was!
The next day, Uzumaki Chigusa and Uzumaki Nano walked out of Konoha's gate. Their purpose for coming to Konoha was to visit Uzumaki Mito; visiting Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen was merely an afterthought.
They had visited everyone they needed to, so it was time for them to return to Uzushiogakure.
Whoosh—!
A Kunai landed in the ground in front of Uzumaki Chigusa. On the Kunai's hilt was Orochimaru's Flying Thunder God Technique formula, and a letter was tied to the hilt's ring with steel wire.
"Enemy attack?!"
Uzumaki Nano untied the straps on her body, and the large scroll on her back fell to the ground. She cautiously looked around.
"Little Nano, you're too tense, it's not an enemy attack."
Uzumaki Chigusa pulled the Kunai out of the ground, took the letter, and began to read it. Watching the letter self-ignite, a smile appeared on her face, and she put away the Kunai with the Flying Thunder God Technique formula.
---
"Why are we acquiring this factory that's about to go bankrupt? This is a waste of money!"
Kakuzu looked at the tightly shut gates of the home appliance factory in front of him and said decisively. He couldn't understand why the "Lord" Aokawa spoke of wanted to acquire this factory on the verge of collapse.
In his opinion, factories go bankrupt because they don't make money. What's the point of doing business that doesn't make money?
If it weren't for the money, Kakuzu would never waste time coming here with Aokawa.
"With your shallow understanding, you cannot comprehend the greatness of that Lord. The importance of this factory and the profits it can bring to the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company will exceed your imagination."
Aokawa glanced at Kakuzu and quickly walked forward.
Shallow?
Kakuzu narrowed his eyes at Aokawa's retreating back. If he didn't know his attacks were useless, he would have punched him with a tentacle.
Home appliance factory, factory director's office.
"Mr. Aokawa, are you truly willing to acquire our factory?"
The factory director excitedly shook Aokawa's hand, his eyes filled with hope.
"Please take a look first."
Aokawa took out a contract and handed it to the director.
The director read the contract and immediately signed his name without a word.
This production factory was now completely a burden on his hands; he could barely pay his employees. Someone willing to buy it at a good price made him happy, so he naturally wouldn't haggle.
What if he scared off this easy mark?
Kakuzu watched Iwasaki Taro leave with two boxes of money, then his gaze fell on Aokawa, and he said in a deep voice, "It's about time you told me who this 'Lord' you speak of really is."
"The identity of that Lord? You'll know when you meet her, Mr. Kakuzu. I hope you pay attention to your attitude when you meet that Lord."
Aokawa put away the contract and glanced at Kakuzu from the corner of his eye. He planned to walk around the factory and look everywhere.
Kakuzu clenched his fists; his fists and arms turned black, then the color faded, returning to their original skin tone.
Let me see if this "Lord" you speak of is worth me wasting so much time.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"