"Although it's not true immortality, it's enough for me!"
"Hehe, let's skip the small talk. You didn't come here personally today just to catch up. Tell me your purpose!" Isamu said calmly as he took a sip of wine.
Actually, he had already guessed why Orochimaru had come. At this point in time, there was only one thing Orochimaru would be doing, and that plot-driving event was about to happen.
"Hehe, as expected of Big Brother Isamu, your intuition is still as sharp as ever. I indeed have something I need your help with this time. I just don't know if you can do your younger brother this favor?"
"Bowing your head like this isn't your style. It seems this matter is quite significant. I'm truly curious what kind of favor could make Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, lower his head!" Isamu looked at Orochimaru with curiosity.
According to the original story, he could have completed that plan alone; there was no need to drag him into it.
"Hehe, I believe you'll be very willing to help with this. During the Chunin promotion season next June, I will execute the Konoha Crush Plan, targeting the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi!"
After hearing Orochimaru's words, Isamu's face remained expressionless, but internally he thought, As expected, it's this plan.
"You don't have any major grudge against Konoha, do you? Targeting your teacher makes me a bit curious. Let me guess—a beloved disciple, wanting to preserve the perfect image of his teacher in his heart, decides to end him here so that his teacher can remain perfect forever. Am I right?"
Seeing that Isamu had directly stated his true thoughts, Orochimaru didn't offer any rebuttal. Instead, he said calmly, "Teacher has grown old. He is no longer the Shinobi Hero he once was. His series of wrong decisions proves this. I once took him as my goal and worked hard toward it; he was my idol. But now, this weak and incompetent Third Hokage is truly disappointing. Rather than watching him continue in this incompetence, it's better to end him here. That way, he can keep his title as the Shinobi Hero instead of being despised by others!"
"What a moving bond between master and disciple. Sarutobi is indeed old, and he truly no longer deserves the title of Shinobi Hero!"
"So, does that mean you agree to help me?"
Isamu didn't answer immediately but fell into silence. He could either help or refuse, but the situation was a little different now. Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado of the Elder Council had already been eliminated by him. Once Hiruzen Sarutobi died, there would be no one left to keep them in check. It was hard to say whether the leaders of the other clans could suppress Danzo Shimura.
Now was not the time for Danzo to take power.
Seeing Isamu fall silent, Orochimaru spoke again, "I don't think you have any reason to refuse me. Regarding Senba's matter, I don't believe you have no resentment toward the Third. He was your biological son. Big Brother Isamu, I don't believe you're such a heartless person. That's not the you I remember!"
Hearing Orochimaru's words, Isamu clenched his fists. No matter how much trouble Senba had caused, he was still his biological son. How could a father tolerate the killer of his son living freely?
The reason he had been suppressing his urge to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi was entirely to avoid disrupting his future plans. He had originally thought that after Hiruzen Sarutobi was killed by Orochimaru, he would simply go and desecrate the corpse. But now that Orochimaru had suddenly approached him, his plans had been disrupted.
"Big Brother Isamu!"
"Fine, I'll do it. Since Hiruzen Sarutobi is being heartless, he can't blame me for being unjust. Whatever friendship we had vanished when he moved against Senba. You handle the operations; I will fully cooperate with you!"
Ultimately, Isamu gritted his teeth and agreed. The revenge for his son's death had to be taken. This was his bottom line—an inviolable bottom line.
"Hahaha… Good! With Big Brother Isamu joining us, the success rate this time is nearly one hundred percent. This time, I will personally send off my teacher!"
Seeing Isamu agree, Orochimaru broke into a smile.
After finalizing the details, Orochimaru left behind his contact information and address before departing.
For the sake of the Konoha Crush Plan six months later, Isamu took Garuda and Tsunade far away from Konoha Village's territory, leaving the Land of Fire to travel through some neighboring small countries.
After the spring of the following year, Orochimaru also began a series of deployments and preparations. In March of that same year, Isamu and his group, who had been wandering through the small countries, arrived in the Land of Waves by sea.
On the wooden boat, Tsunade looked at the horizon and complained incessantly.
"What a dump this is. There's nothing but seawater everywhere. It's not even as fun as the place we were before. This isn't fun at all!"
"You have the nerve to say that? Didn't you say the previous place was too boring and wanted to change? Complaining now is a bit of a double standard, isn't it?" Isamu looked at Tsunade speechlessly. His ears were practically growing calluses from her constant complaining.
"I told you to change places, not to bring me to this godforsaken hole! There are plenty of prosperous places you could go, yet you insist on wandering through these small countries. Not only are they chaotic, but there's nothing fun to do. How many times have bandits tried to rob us? I just don't understand why you always like wandering around small countries. Isn't the Land of Fire fun? Honestly!"
Isamu didn't know what to say for a moment. He couldn't exactly tell her that he was dragging her through small countries because he was afraid she would disrupt the Konoha Crush Plan. He couldn't say that.
After thinking for a moment, Isamu's eyes darted around, and he quickly came up with an excuse. He said calmly, "I brought you to these small countries so you could see how difficult life is here and broaden your perspective!"
"Perspective? What perspective? I'm just a defenseless woman. Why do I need a broad perspective? Besides, if the sky falls, a tall guy like you will be there to hold it up. What do I have to worry about?" Tsunade looked completely indifferent.
"You can't say that. Perhaps one day, witnessing the experiences of these small countries will be of help to you. For example…"
"For example? For example what?"
"Hehe, for example, if you become the Hokage of Konoha Village, then this kind of experience would be quite useful!"
"Hokage? Hmph, to hell with the Hokage! Whoever wants that seat can have it; I'll never take it!" Tsunade looked disdainful. She had no interest in the position of Hokage and even found it somewhat repulsive.
"Don't be so sure. Perhaps one day that position will truly fall onto your shoulders. After all, you are the Princess of the Land of Fire, personally titled by the Daimyo!"
"Hehe, Princess of the Land of Fire. What's the use of such a hollow title?"
Seeing this, Isamu didn't say anything more. He was helpless when it came to Tsunade. He could only rely on a hot-blooded, chuunibyou youth to wake her up. Lacking those attributes himself, he really had no way.