Stepping out of the Hokage Building, Tsunade recalled the pained expression on Sarutobi-sensei's face. She tugged on Orochimaru's sleeve and said, "Orochimaru, just now Sarutobi-sensei hesitated for a long time even for an A-rank mission. Is Kusagakure not paying us for our help? Konoha and Kusagakure don't have any particular ties, do they?"
"Hmm, there are two possibilities."
Orochimaru held up two fingers and said, "The first is that Kusagakure didn't offer much money. The second is that Konoha, as one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, how could it possibly ask for money when a weaker Shinobi Village requests help? You know Sarutobi-sensei's principles."
In Orochimaru's view, this matter was mainly about prestige. The Five Great Nations and Five Great Ninja Villages had their pride as great nations and great Various Ninja Villages.
Well... except Kumogakure.
When faced with a request for help from a small Shinobi Village like Kusagakure, and since Konoha and Kusagakure had no grievances, it was a situation where helping was fine, and not helping would also not be criticized.
Furthermore, the samurai of the Land of Iron wanted to attack, but hadn't yet. It was Kusagakure that actively provoked the Land of Iron, and then made a brilliant decision to shift the battlefield to the Land of Rain.
Hanzou attacking the Land of Iron and Kusagakure was reasonable and fair; no one would condemn him. On the contrary, they would be awed by the power he displayed in the war.
Besides, he didn't wipe them out. The poison they were afflicted with wasn't incurable. If they died from the poison because they couldn't be cured, who could they blame?
Look at the Ninja World now, who doesn't know the fearsome reputation of Hanzou?
This is about hitting once to avoid a hundred blows!
Even the great Various Ninja Villages would have to think twice before choosing the Land of Rain as a battlefield.
In Orochimaru's opinion, Hanzou was already very restrained in this matter. If he were more ruthless, it wouldn't be impossible for Hanzou alone to wipe out Kusagakure, that little transparent Shinobi Village of the Ninja World. With Ibuse the Salamander's wide-ranging poisonous mist, it wouldn't take long for the entire Kusagakure to be enveloped.
"But why do we have to go?"
Tsunade said reluctantly. If it were a combat mission, she would be quite willing, but going to save Ninja from another Shinobi Village, she was a thousand times unwilling. Her current self-identification was a combat Medical Ninja.
"Tsunade, let me correct you. Originally, Sarutobi-sensei wanted you to go. You were the one who insisted on dragging me along."
Orochimaru pinched Tsunade's cheek, having to remind her who dragged her into this.
If it weren't for Tsunade, she would already be in the Laboratory, not having to go home, pack her luggage, and go to the Land of Grass with her.
Orochimaru could very well understand why Sarutobi-sensei would choose Tsunade to go to Kusagakure to treat those poisoned Kusagakure Ninja.
In Konoha, the only Ninja who were proficient in Medical Ninjutsu and also possessed considerable strength were Tsunade and herself.
In case they encountered enemy Ninja on the way, Tsunade's strength would be sufficient to handle it.
Tsunade's own strength, not counting Slug, was already very formidable among Jonin. The full power of her Lightning Release: Extremity Healing and the short-term burst of power from her Yang Release Chakra-enhanced body could severely injure even a Kage-level expert if they were hit by her attacks.
Coupled with her mastery of Lightning Release and Water Release Ninjutsu, and some proficiency in Fire Release and Earth Release, she was a completely versatile Ninja, except for her inability to use Genjutsu and her somewhat lacking sensory abilities.
"Ugh..."
Tsunade felt a momentary pang of guilt. She put her arm around Orochimaru's shoulder and threatened, "Just tell me if you're going or not!"
"Did you forget that I've already accepted the mission?"
Orochimaru looked at Tsunade with an expression like she was looking at an idiot. "If it weren't for me, the mission you accepted would be a B-rank mission, not an A-rank mission. Preparing an antidote is not difficult for you."
Ibuse the Salamander's poison wasn't difficult to cure either. Orochimaru had studied Ibuse's poison, thinking about whether it could be used to improve Chakra Poison.
As a result, it wasn't a wasted effort. She thoroughly researched Hanzou's and Ibuse's poisons, improved Hanzou's antidote, and if Hanzou and Ibuse agreed, she could even transform Ibuse into other highly venomous species.
"Damn it..."
Tsunade's head got hot. Angrily, she bit Orochimaru's cheek, mumbling that even without Orochimaru, her mission to help detoxify in Kusagakure would still be an A-rank mission.
"The Inuzuka Clan's Ninja dogs have a place for you."
Orochimaru looked at Tsunade speechlessly.
Coming back to her senses, Tsunade realized what she had done. Her eyes widened, her pupils trembled, and her face turned red at a visible speed, from her ears to her neck.
"W-we'll meet at the Konoha Gate in a bit!"
Seeing her own saliva on Orochimaru's cheek, Tsunade's face turned even redder. She didn't dare to stay for another second, her whole body faintly flickering with lightning, and she disappeared with a whoosh.
"Is she in such a hurry?"
Orochimaru shielded herself from the dust, looking at Tsunade who had even used Lightning Release: Extremity Healing. She wiped Tsunade's saliva from her face, thinking that she couldn't be too slow either, and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to go home.
"Are you going to conduct an experiment?"
Hyuga Mio looked at Orochimaru who appeared in the living room, turned off the TV, and stood up to get the white coat hanging on the coat rack.
"Mio, I have to go to Kusagakure in a bit. The experiment can only be left to my Shadow Clone."
Orochimaru sighed and said, if she were to use a Shadow Clone to go on the mission with Tsunade, and if Tsunade found out, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Then I'll help you pack your luggage?"
Hyuga Mio put down the white coat and skillfully packed Orochimaru's change of clothes and underwear, the Ninja tools she needed to carry, soldier pills which were essential, the Reverse Cursed Seal Blood Imprint scroll, and seasonings needed for cooking ingredients. After thinking for a moment, she took out papers sealing Chakra explosives from a hidden box.
"Stop, stop, stop! This mission doesn't require fighting enemy Ninja. Bringing the Reverse Cursed Seal Blood Imprint scroll is one thing, but why are you bringing so many papers sealing Chakra explosives? I'm not going to blow Kusagakure to smithereens."
Orochimaru quickly stopped Hyuga Mio's overly cautious behavior.
She was already cautious enough, but she didn't expect Hyuga Mio to become even more so under her influence.
Aside from anything else, just a few sheets of paper sealing Chakra explosives would be enough to level the entire Kusagakure.
The power of Chakra explosives was incomparable to exploding tags, especially Chakra explosives infused with Chakra to their critical point.
Keeping a few at home was also for dealing with unexpected situations.
"If Kusagakure tries to harm you and Tsunade, then blow Kusagakure to smithereens!"
Hyuga Mio said seriously, as if she had truly considered this possibility.
"You're something else."
Orochimaru gave Hyuga Mio a thumbs up, patted her shoulder, and said, "You're being overly cautious. Kusagakure, no matter how bold, wouldn't dare to harbor ill intentions towards us, unless they think their Shinobi Village has existed for too long."
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Orochimaru formed hand signs.
Bang--!
A Shadow Clone appeared beside Orochimaru.
"During my time away from Konoha, I'll leave things to you."
Orochimaru said to the Shadow Clone.
"You can go without worry."
The Shadow Clone waved its hand and said to Hyuga Mio, "Mio, get ready."
"Okay."
Hyuga Mio stood up to get the white coat hanging on the coat rack.
At the Konoha Gate, when Orochimaru arrived, Tsunade had not yet arrived.
It seems I arrived too early.
Orochimaru sat on a stone bench nearby, waiting for Tsunade, while rummaging through her memories of Kusagakure. After thinking for a long time, she couldn't find any information related to Kusagakure. Even in the original story, Kusagakure was a quite insignificant Shinobi Village.
The most prominent thing that showed its existence was when Kusagakure Ninja bit Karin's mother to death and covered Karin with bite marks.
The survivors of Uzushiogakure are all in the Land of Waves; it's impossible for there to be any members of the Uzumaki Clan in a place like Kusagakure, right?
Tsunade saw Orochimaru sitting quietly on the stone bench, head down, deep in thought. Her black hair obscured her face, but her iconic white robe, the bluish-green magatama earrings, and her unique aura still allowed Tsunade to recognize Orochimaru at a glance.
Tsunade slowed her steps and tiptoed closer.
"You're slow. I've been waiting for you for ten minutes."
Orochimaru turned her head to look at Tsunade, who was crouching. Their faces were almost touching, and they could clearly feel each other's breath.
Too... too close... Tsunade looked at Orochimaru's face, felt her breath, and remained motionless as if petrified.
"Are you doing some kind of performance art?"
Orochimaru looked confusedly at Tsunade, who seemed to be playing '1, 2, 3, Red Light, Green Light'.
Tsunade looked at Orochimaru's opening and closing lips, completely not hearing what she was saying. At this moment, the agitation in her heart reached its peak, as if a voice kept whispering in her ear.
Kiss her!
This idiot, what is she spacing out for?
Orochimaru flicked Tsunade's forehead and said, "Stop spacing out. We should leave. If we're too slow, the poisoned Kusagakure Ninja might not survive."
Orochimaru didn't care for the A-rank mission's reward, but she also didn't want the mission to fail.
What was wrong with me just now...? Tsunade snapped back to reality, unable to imagine that she had just thought of doing that. Her face felt hot. She watched Orochimaru walk towards the gate and quickly followed.
It must be Orochimaru's forbidden books that influenced me!
Orochimaru was completely unaware that another blame had been placed on her.
Leaving Konoha, Orochimaru and Tsunade hurried towards the Land of Grass, located northwest of the Land of Fire.
"Orochimaru, should we put on our headbands?"
Tsunade took out her headband from her embrace. She rarely wore the Konoha headband, but wearing it at a time like this could avoid some trouble.
"Wearing headbands can show our identity, but it also makes us easily targeted by Ninja who bear ill will towards Konoha."
Orochimaru landed on a tree branch, took the headband from Tsunade's hand, and put it on her.
"Then why are you still putting it on me!"
Tsunade realized something and said with a sudden understanding, "Ah! Orochimaru, you're not trying to use me as bait, are you! You're too mean!"
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
Bang--!
Orochimaru knocked Tsunade's forehead.
"Ugh..."
Tsunade covered her forehead with both hands. Even with the headband for protection, being knocked by Orochimaru still hurt a lot.
"Who would use you as bait? You better explain yourself clearly."
Orochimaru pinched Tsunade's cheeks, a faint smile on her face.
"I'm sorry..."
Seeing Orochimaru angry, Tsunade blinked her bright brown eyes and looked at her piteously.
"You only say foolish things."
Orochimaru took out her headband, put it on her forehead, and adjusted its position.
Tsunade was someone she had watched grow up, so how could she let her be bait?
Wouldn't a Shadow Clone be better?
"Orochimaru... you're wearing your headband backward... Pfft-hahaha!"
Tsunade burst out laughing when she saw Orochimaru's headband on her forehead with the design upside down.
From childhood to adulthood, Orochimaru's moments of absentmindedness were few and far between, countable on one hand.
"Stop laughing."
Orochimaru glared at Tsunade, who was laughing heartily. He took off his forehead protector, and before putting it back on, checked to make sure it wasn't upside down.
Seeing Orochimaru's action, Tsunade laughed even harder.
Orochimaru looked at Tsunade, who was laughing so happily, and said in annoyance, "I've never worn a forehead protector before, so it's understandable if I put it on wrong once, right?"
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