129 Shifting Perspectives, Mastering the Art of Expression

This was a successful mission.

Although the client was a mere eight- or nine-month-old infant who had not yet learned to speak, the commissioning and execution of this mission had taken place in earnest. It was common enough for those who could not speak to have their words spoken for them by others. By now, the red-haired woman could not deny the validity of the mission; even if it had been a forced transaction, it was rooted in the fundamental bond between mother and child.

With the mission completed, the price had to be paid. There was no need for gratitude, nor was this a case of extortion via debt, though the reality was not far off. The red-haired woman did not wish to renege; she was not so foolish as to be beyond saving. She understood that she and her child possessed nothing now, and what this powerful ninja coveted was nothing more than their bloodline. He had taken an interest in Karin’s potential and would need to nurture her first before he could claim what he desired. Until the final moment when the payment was collected and the blade struck, they were, in a sense, gaining.

The red-haired woman raised her head, her gaze shifting evasively, yet she struggled to avoid looking into those cold, serpentine eyes. "What do you want Karin to do? I—could I take her place?"

"You? Certainly not."

Her heart sank, but Orochimaru continued, "At least, not for now. If you work hard enough to fully awaken the Uzumaki bloodline, then perhaps you might be able to replace her."

"I... I can do it."

The red-haired woman gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand, desperate to demonstrate the strength of her constitution.

"Heh... big words can wait for later." Orochimaru chuckled, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You only need to know that I will require you both to perform a task in the future. When that time comes, whichever of you is stronger will be the one qualified to do it. This is not something proven by words alone."

The red-haired woman nodded with difficulty, her eyes flickering with intense resolve.

Orochimaru gave a subtle nod, a hint of a smile appearing at the corners of his eyes. He had lied—or at the very least, withheld the truth—deliberately creating an atmosphere that suggested performing the task would lead to death. In reality, much like Yamato, all he truly needed were cells from one with an awakened Uzumaki bloodline. Periodic extraction would not cause the host significant harm.

However, this woman clearly could not be left to fend for herself like Yamato. She was too old. At twenty-four or twenty-five, she had long passed the peak period of a ninja’s growth, not to mention the long-term depletion of her bloodline. To reach a point where she could provide cells of sufficient potency, she would have to undergo grueling trials; the hardship and struggle involved went without saying.

The immense vitality of the Uzumaki bloodline, combined with the drugs he would provide later, might offer some assistance in terms of physical constitution, but they could not grant her the will to endure. She had to find her own motivation, her own conviction. The power that erupts from a desire to protect or guard something was a force that even Orochimaru dared not underestimate. His role was to cultivate and exploit that power, which was, after all, what he did best. Ninjutsu was secondary; this was the greatest ability he had learned from the Old Man.

*The Will of Fire... Heh, I wonder if this counts as carrying it forward?*

Orochimaru licked his lips and glanced at the trembling, unsteady woman. "Rest for now. Tomorrow, I will have someone attend to your physical recovery. By the way, what is your name?"

The red-haired woman opened her mouth and murmured a soft sound.

"Forget it. Names are merely labels. You shall be called 'Aoi,'" Orochimaru said with a slight smile. "As for your daughter, whether she keeps her name in the future will depend on your efforts."

The red-haired woman—Aoi—nodded in silence.

...

The next day, Orochimaru entered the room again and brought the well-rested Aoi and Karin to the medical wing. Along the way, the passing Konoha ninja cast strange glances at them. After Orochimaru had sent food to their room earlier, the news had already spread throughout the fortress, yet seeing them in person left many perplexed. Why had a pair of strangers—a mother and child—appeared in the fortress? What was their relationship to Lord Orochimaru? And what were those marks on their arms and shoulders?

The fire of gossip burned fiercely in their hearts, and the desire for knowledge skyrocketed. Of course, who would dare cross Orochimaru? They could only exchange guesses through rapid glances, even spontaneously developing a new set of silent codes.

However, while the ordinary ninja dared not speak, someone else did.

As soon as they entered the medical wing, Tsunade, who was sitting by a hospital bed, spotted the trio. A look of intrigue crossed her face. She raised an eyebrow and teased, "How rare. Even you, Orochimaru, are walking around with a mother and child. It’s quite out of character. Who are they? Your daughters?"

"These two have little to do with me, but they have a great deal in common with you," Orochimaru said, a mocking curve to his lips. "The Uzumaki clan and the Senju clan are distant relatives, after all."

Tsunade frowned slightly, her gaze drifting to the hair of Aoi and Karin. Red hair was not exclusive to the Uzumaki, but a pure-blooded member would certainly have it. She had suspected as much when they entered, but she hadn't expected it to be true. Yet, this woman’s vitality was so weak—was she a half-blood?

"Heh..."

Seemingly sensing Tsunade’s confusion, Orochimaru chuckled and briefly recounted their life story. He wasn't worried about secrets leaking; the chaos he had caused in the Grass Village could not be hidden for long. Soon, most of Konoha would know about this, including her special constitution. There would be no covetousness—Konoha’s advanced medical ninjutsu far surpassed that of the Grass Village. Even for someone like Danzo, it wasn't the medical utility of this physique that would capture his interest.

"Those damn Grass ninja!"

After hearing the story, Tsunade’s expression darkened with rage. With a thunderous boom, the square table beside the hospital bed shattered.

"Don't be so angry. The Grass ninja were merely acting for the sake of survival." Orochimaru remained calm and composed, squinting his eyes as he played the role of a rational observer, actually attempting to excuse the cruel actions of the Grass ninja.

Tsunade glared at him in disbelief, but Orochimaru continued, "They are despicable, they are cruel, but if they did not do this, they would die."

"In the face of life and death, all moral standards are merely shackles."

"You want to criticize them? But you must realize that not every village has Konoha’s medical resources, and not every ninja has your natural talent. When they are injured, they cannot simply leave it to heal on its own."

Tsunade detected the hidden meaning in his words. She glared at him. "Orochimaru, what exactly are you trying to say?"

"There are many cruel things in this ninja world, and many are done out of necessity. You cannot manage it all," Orochimaru said with a smile. "But in the field of medicine, you, Tsunade of Konoha, the most brilliant medical expert in the world, can do so much."

"Improve medical ninjutsu, establish a comprehensive medical system... the more you do, the less of such evil will exist in this world."

Watching the stunned Tsunade, Orochimaru curled his lips, a look of irony appearing in his eyes. "Or is it that you wish to continue wasting your talent, remaining immersed in the shadow of the deaths of Nawaki and Dan?"

"Shut up!" Tsunade stood up abruptly and struck Orochimaru in the chest, sending him flying.

*BOOM!*

He crashed through a wall, landing in the rubble, yet a faint smile remained on his lips.