"…"
Orochimaru's golden, slit-pupiled eyes fixed on Fujimoto Tōma.
He had imagined many possibilities, but this was not one of them.
Recruit him?
The thought was almost laughable. He was a man who had attacked Konoha, a man Tōma himself had nearly killed. And yet, here the Hokage stood, calmly extending an invitation.
"May I ask why?" Orochimaru asked at last, his tongue flicking across his lips. His voice carried no refusal, only curiosity.
"Of course," Tōma replied.
If he wanted Orochimaru's cooperation, half-truths would be useless. Tōma laid out his intentions plainly.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then Orochimaru burst into laughter.
"Ha… hahahaha!"
Tōma casually sat atop one of the nearby coffins, watching him laugh without interruption.
"Fujimoto-kun," Orochimaru said at last, eyes gleaming, "I knew it. You're nothing like that stubborn old fool of a teacher."
If the Third Hokage were standing here, Orochimaru was certain he would be preaching about the Will of Fire, dressing cowardice up as virtue. Compared to that hypocrisy, Tōma's honesty was refreshing.
Orochimaru almost wished Hiruzen were still alive, just to see his expression when he learned what Tōma truly intended.
"So?" Tōma asked calmly. "Your answer?"
"Before that," Orochimaru said softly, "allow me one question. Do I even have the option to refuse?"
Because if he refused, would Tōma really let him walk away carrying knowledge that could shatter the Five Kage Alliance?
The moment he understood Tōma's goal, Orochimaru knew he had been forced into a choice.
Tōma smiled faintly. "What do you think?"
The smile sent a chill down Orochimaru's spine.
"…I see," Orochimaru said, laughing again. "So I don't."
"You could always pretend to agree," Tōma added mildly, "then betray me after I leave."
"What an entertaining suggestion," Orochimaru replied, licking his lips. "But I decline."
"Why?"
"Because you are not the type to act without certainty," Orochimaru said. "Even if I exposed you, you would still succeed. And afterward, I would end up on your execution list. Am I wrong?"
"Possibly," Tōma said. "But if I can avoid extra effort, I prefer to."
Orochimaru's grin widened. "Then tell me. How exactly do you want me to help?"
"Research," Tōma answered immediately.
Orochimaru's eyes lit up. That alone was enough to tempt him.
"And," Tōma continued, "you understand that any nation requires power that operates in the shadows."
Orochimaru paused, then chuckled. "Danzo?"
Tōma nodded, then shook his head.
"When Root became common knowledge, and Danzo himself was exposed, he was no longer suitable to lead such a force," Tōma said. "A blade that cannot be controlled should be broken."
Danzo had died not just because Tōma despised him, but because he was dangerous in a way Tōma could not fully leash.
Still, a hidden hand was necessary. ANBU were no longer truly hidden. Tōma needed something darker, something invisible.
Sasuke was trustworthy, but unsuited for such work.
That left Orochimaru.
Orochimaru studied him closely, his smile deepening. "You really are different from every Hokage before you."
"So," Orochimaru asked at last, "what do I gain from this?"
Tōma met his gaze and answered with a single word.
"Immortality."
Orochimaru's pupils shrank.
Then he laughed again, louder than before.
"Magnificent," he said. "Absolutely magnificent. You never disappoint, Fujimoto-kun."
Longevity was not Orochimaru's final goal, but it was the foundation of everything he sought. Without time, mastery of all jutsu was impossible.
"And your answer?" Tōma asked again.
"I accept," Orochimaru said, then paused. "On one condition."
Tōma raised an eyebrow.
"Before the war ends," Orochimaru continued, "I want to test something. I intend to involve myself with that false Uchiha Madara."
"You want to help him," Tōma said flatly.
Orochimaru nodded. "You won't object?"
"If I did," Tōma asked, "what would you do?"
"I would question whether your promises are sincere," Orochimaru replied smoothly.
Tōma chuckled. "Fair enough. Do as you please."
Orochimaru's eyes burned with excitement. The path Madara walked, the path that might lead toward the origin of chakra, fascinated him.
"I won't stop you," Tōma added. "Just don't endanger the alliance more than necessary."
Then, after a moment's thought, he said, "Add one restriction to your techniques. Avoid killing allied shinobi if possible."
Orochimaru blinked, then slowly smiled as Tōma explained his reasoning.
"…I see," he murmured. "A clever use of mercy."
"Also," Tōma continued, "if you encounter Kisame Hoshigaki, recruit him. He owes me."
Orochimaru laughed softly. "You've planned far ahead."
"Enough to act," Tōma replied.
He turned to leave, then paused. "One last thing. You know where 'Madara' is hiding, don't you?"
"…Roughly," Orochimaru said.
Tōma provided the exact location.
Orochimaru froze.
After Tōma vanished, Orochimaru stood alone in the dim hall, a slow, delighted grin spreading across his face.
"How fascinating," he whispered. "Truly fascinating."
...
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