Chapter 363 No Change Whatsoever

"Void, where are you going?"

Hyuga Mio watched Void walking out, thinking she was going to find Orochimaru.

"I'm going back underground."

Void pointed underground, "That's where I live."

Slap—!

Hyuga Mio slapped her forehead, feeling immense pressure. Teaching Void, who knew nothing, was truly a heavy burden!

"Void, listen carefully. You're not the same as before, understand? You're human now… at least outwardly human, so you need to learn how to be human. This is also Orochimaru's command to you."

Hyuga Mio was worried she couldn't control Void, so she simply brought up Orochimaru. She didn't believe Orochimaru couldn't keep Void in check.

"Orochimaru-sama's command, I understand. I will learn how to be human."

As soon as Void heard it was Orochimaru-sama's command, she obediently followed Hyuga Mio, diligently remembering every word she said. If she didn't understand, she could ponder it later; for now, she would just remember it.

Living Room

Uchiha Hikari leaned against the sofa, holding a scroll, and had fallen asleep sideways.

Orochimaru walked into the living room and saw this scene. She tiptoed to Uchiha Hikari, tied the scroll in her hand with a string, and threw it to Ichikishimahime, asking her to hold it. Then, she gently picked up Uchiha Hikari and walked towards the room.

"Mmm…"

Uchiha Hikari slowly opened her eyes, found herself in Orochimaru's arms, and the cat-ear-like hair on both sides of her head twitched.

"Am I dreaming? Orochimaru, weren't you doing an experiment?"

"It's not a dream, no. I'm going to the Hokage Building later."

Orochimaru looked tenderly at Uchiha Hikari, who was half-asleep, curled up in her arms like a kitten.

"Is that so…"

Uchiha Hikari rubbed against Orochimaru's chest.

"Did you get too wild last night?"

Ichikishimahime poked Uchiha Hikari's cheek.

"As if you weren't wild last night."

Uchiha Hikari glared at Ichikishimahime.

"Tsk tsk tsk!"

Ichikishimahime wagged her finger, placed her hand on her chest, and said proudly, "I'm not like you. No, I'm not like you all. I'm a Sage."

"The famous flat-chested Sage of Ryūchi Cave, right?"

A sudden voice came from above.

"Yes, yes, yes, the famous flat-chested Sage of Ryūchi Cave…"

Ichikishimahime only reacted halfway through her sentence, looked at Tsunade walking down the stairs, pointed at her, and said, "Don't you know that small breasts are a rare value?"

"But I see envy in your eyes?"

Tsunade puffed out her re-developed chest, making Ichikishimahime grit her teeth, wanting to bite her chest to wipe the smug look off her face.

"Orochimaru, aren't you busy?"

Tsunade looked at Orochimaru and asked curiously.

"Someone from Anbu came. Didn't you know?"

Orochimaru had a hint of surprise in her eyes.

"Uh… I, I was just too engrossed in reading."

Tsunade didn't want Orochimaru to know she had fallen asleep while reading.

"Is that so…"

Orochimaru walked past Tsunade, carrying Uchiha Hikari, and asked, "I'm going to the Hokage Building later; Sarutobi-sensei needs to see me. Tsunade, are you coming?"

"I'm not going. Just tell me what Sarutobi-sensei wanted when you get back."

Tsunade didn't want to go to the Hokage Building. She had been incredibly busy lately and didn't want to help at the hospital for a while, unless there was a patient that the doctors and Medical Ninja at the hospital couldn't handle, then she would go see. If she couldn't handle it, then only Orochimaru could.

"Alright."

Orochimaru said with deep regret. If Tsunade were there, Sarutobi-sensei probably wouldn't have the nerve to bring up the Uzumaki Clan's matter.

"Sarutobi-sensei looking for you is definitely not good news."

Tsunade grinned, turned, and quickly walked up a few steps, then leaned over and kissed Orochimaru's lips.

"If it's something too excessive, just refuse. You can't let Sarutobi-sensei always use 'for Konoha' to fool you!"

"Do you think I'm as stupid as you?"

Orochimaru thought that only Tsunade would be easily convinced by that rhetoric.

"I'm not stupid!"

Tsunade stomped off in a huff.

Orochimaru watched Tsunade's receding figure, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes.

She couldn't help with the Uzumaki Clan's matters, and even if she could, she wouldn't.

"Orochimaru, should I go with you?"

Uchiha Hikari yawned, stretched in Orochimaru's arms, and wrapped her hands around her from under her armpits.

"If you come with me, you'll just be waiting outside the Hokage Office. You might as well get some sleep at home."

Orochimaru politely declined Uchiha Hikari.

"Xiao Shi, could you open the door for me?"

"Always ordering me around."

Ichikishimahime gestured at the scroll in her hand, floated over like a wraith, and opened the door.

Orochimaru carried Uchiha Hikari into the room and gently placed her on the bed.

"I can't quite fall asleep now."

Uchiha Hikari sat up and said. She had been quite sleepy, but after a while in Orochimaru's arms, she wasn't anymore.

"Don't always stay cooped up at home. Go out for a walk sometimes."

Orochimaru stroked Uchiha Hikari's hair, "Of course, by 'walk,' I don't mean training at the practice grounds near home, got it?"

"Mm."

Uchiha Hikari nodded.

"Xiao Hikari, this is your scroll."

Ichikishimahime placed the scroll Uchiha Hikari was reading earlier beside her.

"Xiao Shi, let's go."

Orochimaru walked out, with Ichikishimahime following behind her.

Uchiha Hikari watched them leave, picked up the scroll, and began reading, pondering where she could go for a walk that Orochimaru wouldn't think she was just humoring her.

The howling cold wind whipped up the snow, turning the world into a blanket of white.

"It's snowing so heavily!"

Ichikishimahime reached out to catch a snowflake, looking up at the sky gradually covered by dark clouds.

"I'm going somewhere warmer to hide from the snow!"

Ichikishimahime smiled slyly, transformed into a White Snake, and slipped into Orochimaru's clothes through her collar.

Orochimaru shivered at the cool sensation, patted her chest, and threatened, "If you move around again, I'll throw you out."

If I don't move, I don't move... Ichikishimahime coiled around Orochimaru's neck, peeking her head out to look around.

Hokage Building, Hokage Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up at the sound of the door opening, a smile appearing on his worried face as he saw Orochimaru walk in.

"Orochimaru, you're here."

"Hiruzen-sensei, is there something you need me for?"

Orochimaru caught the change in Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression the moment she entered the office.

"I need to go to the Land of Waves for something these two days. Orochimaru, do you have time to come with me?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, considering Orochimaru's relationship with White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company, having her there would make things easier.

"Hiruzen-sensei, what are you going to the Land of Waves for? Is it convenient to tell me?"

Orochimaru asked, puzzled.

"Actually, it's like this..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi told Orochimaru about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

"I see..."

Orochimaru frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Hiruzen-sensei, Konoha has a Sealing Team specifically for Tailed Beast Jinchuriki. Why must the Nine-Tailed be kept in Konoha? If the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki can't suppress the Nine-Tailed and it loses control and rampages, how much destruction will it cause in Konoha?"

"A Sealing Team alone isn't enough. Sunagakure's Ichibi is not a threat. Hidden Mist, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure all have two Tailed Beasts. According to the intelligence Ninja, those Tailed Beasts are sealed within Jinchuriki."

Hiruzen Sarutobi expressed his concerns, "Tailed Beast Jinchuriki aren't the problem; what's terrifying is the cooperation between Tailed Beast Jinchuriki and Ninja. It's not easy for the Sealing Ninja of the Sealing Team to approach a Jinchuriki protected by Ninja."

"Hiruzen-sensei, don't forget, Konoha still has us. Having a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki or not will not affect Konoha's overall strength. War can never be swayed by Tailed Beast Jinchuriki. Haven't you realized this yet?"

Orochimaru wanted to persuade Hiruzen Sarutobi to give up this idea.

She truly didn't understand why the Konoha Higher-Ups were so convinced that Konoha absolutely needed a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and that without one, it would be inferior to other Ninja villages.

Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up his pipe, took a deep puff, shook his head, and said, "Orochimaru, this is a decision that has already been made."

He didn't believe Orochimaru would say such things after witnessing the Nine-Tailed's power. If the Nine-Tailed's power wasn't so immense, why would Mito-sama have risked sealing the Nine-Tailed within her for so many years?

"Hiruzen-sensei, regarding the trip to the Land of Waves, please find someone else. I have important research that I can't step away from."

Orochimaru suppressed her anger. Getting angry at this moment wouldn't change the situation and would be meaningless.

"I still have things to do."

Orochimaru took a step back, turned, walked to the door, opened it, and walked out.

Bang—!

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the closed door and sighed helplessly.

Orochimaru put on her hood to hide her face. She didn't want anyone to see her expression at that moment; it must have been terrible.

Hokage Rock, the statues of the three Hokage were once again covered in snow, and the people responsible for clearing it hadn't arrived yet.

Orochimaru stood on Hokage Rock, overlooking all of Konoha.

"Orochimaru, are you alright?"

Ichikishimahime rubbed Orochimaru's chin, emerged from her collar, and transformed into human form, floating beside her.

"It's nothing. I just can't understand why they insist on doing useless things, why they won't listen to others, stubbornly stick to their own opinions, and only realize their regret after causing a great disaster?"

Orochimaru felt incredibly sad. She had already foreseen the potential disaster but was powerless to stop it.

"You've tried your best to stop it. If anything happens, it can't be blamed on you."

Ichikishimahime patted Orochimaru's shoulder. Seeing her upset, her own mood also worsened.

"I'm sorry, Xiao Shi... I shouldn't let my emotions affect yours."

Orochimaru raised her hand and stroked Ichikishimahime's cheek. She was just sad that she had done so much for Konoha, yet Konoha hadn't changed at all. She didn't know what meaning there was in doing those things for Konoha... "Don't say that! We're lovers, after all! I've lived for thousands of years, so just tell me whatever's on your mind!"

Ichikishimahime said, patting her flat chest.

"Mm. Thank you, Xiao Shi."

Orochimaru smiled slightly, looking at Ichikishimahime tenderly.

"I didn't do much!"

Ichikishimahime's face flushed, and she felt her heart accelerate uncontrollably.

-------------------------

If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!

Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.

Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.

[email protected]/Greyhounds

"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"