125 Saving Lives Also Requires Skill

"I should just take that mother and daughter away myself!"

As this thought crossed his mind, a long-dormant warmth ignited in Orochimaru's chest. He felt as if he had been transformed into a champion of justice, his very spirit sublimated.

The sensation was alien, yet strangely... not unpleasant.

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips as he walked through the streets of the Grass Village, heading straight for the medical facility. He had already learned from a helpful Grass ninja that the Uzumaki mother and daughter were kept captive inside, with virtually no chance of escape.

That was convenient. It had made it easy for the Grass ninja to exploit them, and now it saved him from running back and forth.

...

The street where the medical facility stood was close to the Grass Village’s mission center. While not as bustling as Konoha, the shops along the way were mostly open, and the flow of people made it quite lively. Unlike the villages of the great nations, the Grass Village's mission center also functioned as a black market of sorts, a chaotic place where all manner of people came and went.

In other words, it was a place where hidden tigers and crouching dragons resided.

Of course, Orochimaru did not hold these so-called tigers and dragons in any regard. If he were truly intent on killing, he could slaughter them all given enough time. But after all, he was currently operating only as a shadow clone, and his weaknesses were too pronounced. Furthermore, the purpose of this trip was to rescue, not to kill.

Orochimaru understood the mindset of villains perfectly. If these Grass ninja realized his intent and saw that they could no longer hold onto the mother and daughter, they would immediately seize the opportunity to leverage the situation and demand concessions. If he refused, they would sooner destroy the captives than let Orochimaru have them.

A villain living in this world must learn to endure humiliation and dissemble, but one thing he must never do is appear weak or easily bullied.

However, Orochimaru had no intention of offering any form of compensation, not even a superficial one. To sneak in and fight his way out with the two of them was not impossible, but the risk was too high; as a shadow clone, if he failed, there would be no room for recovery.

It was better to use more direct methods.

*Whoosh.*

Accompanied by the sound of rushing wind, Orochimaru leaped onto the roof of the medical facility and shouted down in a chilling voice, "I have come to settle a grudge. All unrelated personnel are to vacate this area within ten seconds."

The sound waves rippled outward, and everyone within a hundred meters felt the voice explode against their eardrums. The ninja at the mission center scrambled out, and upon feeling the terrifying pressure of his chakra and catching sight of the figure on the medical building, they cried out in terror, "Orochimaru! It’s one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha!"

In the ninja world, Orochimaru’s cold, serpentine face was unmistakable. Panic erupted instantly, and the crowd began to scatter. From a bird’s-eye view, the scene looked like an anthill that had been dug up, with people scurrying out in chaotic disarray.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...*

Amidst the fleeing masses, several teams of ninja moved against the tide. At their lead were two elite jonin wearing ox and sheep masks, respectively. The Grass Village had no Kage; it was governed by four elders, and these two were among them.

The elder in the ox mask leaped onto a rooftop, facing Orochimaru from a distance, and called out, "Orochimaru, we have not provoked Konoha. On what grounds do you claim to be settling a grudge? Even as one of the Sannin, you cannot act with such impunity in the Grass Village!"

His words were firm, sparking a wave of collective indignation among the Grass Village's Anbu. Yet, the great distance the elder kept from Orochimaru betrayed his true fear.

It was a necessary precaution. Ordinary ninja might not grasp the extent of Orochimaru’s power, but the elders of the Grass Village knew it all too well. If nothing else, the recent turmoil with the Cloud Village—where this man had transformed into a serpent-like monster, capable of resisting the fully transformed Eight-Tails with his bare flesh—had left them trembling. If such a powerful ninja were to become an enemy of the Grass Village, it would be a catastrophe.

But this made no sense. Konoha already had enough enemies; even if Orochimaru were powerful, he could not simply wipe out the Grass Village on a whim. Did he not fear that other small villages, seeing this, would feel a sense of shared grief and turn to other great nations for protection?

Orochimaru’s lips curled in disdain. He did not bother to engage in conversation, merely counting down in his mind. When the ten seconds elapsed, he performed a series of hand seals. "Summoning Jutsu!"

*Boom!*

After a cloud of white smoke cleared, a massive python emerged. It was not Manda, nor any of his other top-tier giant gray-backed pythons. They were simply too gargantuan; to unleash them here would be inappropriate. Even so, the python's body filled the wide street completely. Its head lowered slightly, revealing fangs in a terrifying, savage display.

A horrifying shadow descended instantly. The elders in the ox and sheep masks felt a chill in their hearts. They realized immediately that Orochimaru was not merely making threats—he was serious. They could no longer maintain their previous composure.

They had managed to keep the Grass Village alive through several ninja wars by playing both sides and dissembling. But if this man refused to listen to reason and insisted on using raw power to crush them, he was striking at their most vulnerable point.

The sheep-masked elder spoke up quickly, his tone significantly lowered; he was, after all, the one tasked with playing the conciliatory role. "Lord Orochimaru, the Grass Village has economic ties with Konoha. We are practically allies. If you have come to settle a grudge, surely you should provide some explanation."

With a wave of his hand, Orochimaru held the giant python back, a cold smile etching itself onto his face. When dealing with villains, if you beg, you end up like that Uzumaki mother and daughter—sought for shelter, yet ruthlessly oppressed and drained of all value. If you treat them as equals, seeking exchange and cooperation, you must still guard against their deceit and betrayal, as one would with Danzo.

Talking sense to them was exhausting, and trying to establish honest cooperation was far too troublesome. But fortunately, besides a tongue that could spout logic, he possessed other means to make them listen.

"Konoha has no great grievance with you, at least not enough to warrant my personal intervention." Orochimaru looked down, a cold laugh escaping him. "However, someone has hired me. She offered a price I found compelling to help her settle a grudge. Heh... this is not a matter of personal intent; it is merely a mission. Surely you understand—after all, we are all ninja."

*No, we do not understand!*

The elders in the ox and sheep masks exchanged glances, their heads throbbing. If it were anything else, there might be room for negotiation. But to frame it as simply executing a mission for a reward left nothing to be said; that was the fundamental duty of a ninja.

The sheep-masked elder’s eyes shifted, and he said in a deep voice, "Lord Orochimaru, whatever reward she offered, the Grass Village will double it. Please, kill her instead."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk... I am not like you. I am incapable of betraying my employer." Orochimaru smiled with contempt. "However, I will give you a chance. The target of her grudge is inside this medical facility. Bring them all out. Kill him, and I will leave. Otherwise, everyone here shall perish."