Blood dripped onto the long conference table, mingling with bits of flesh. Red splashes stained the surface in every direction.
Jiraiya's eyes flickered with surprise.
Like the other clan elders, he had assumed Orochimaru would preserve the Byakugan for future research. After all, the white eyes held undeniable value.
But he hadn't expected this. Orochimaru had destroyed them outright.
Why?
Was it a deliberate severing of ties?
Jiraiya glanced at the unconscious Neji and gave a subtle nod.
For a branch member of the Hyuga clan to lose his Byakugan—it would mean a lifetime of whispers and shame among his kin. Perhaps it was better to sever everything early.
As speculative gazes turned toward him, Orochimaru remained indifferent. He calmly pulled out a cloth and wiped the blood from his hand.
Then, after a brief sterilization routine, he took a small cultivation jar from his scroll and swiftly replaced Neji's missing eyes with a pair of normal, undistinguished ones.
Just ordinary eyes. No chakra trait. No bloodline.
"Tsunade, I'll leave the rest to you," Orochimaru said with a slight curl of his lips, handing Neji over to her.
When it came to medical ninjutsu, Orochimaru had no shortage of skill—but Neji was still a child, not even a full-fledged shinobi. Delicate adjustments would be needed, and no one was more suited to such care than Tsunade.
Hiashi watched Neji in Tsunade's arms with a storm in his heart. His face was dark, and he said nothing.
Orochimaru's intent was clear: sever the Hyuga clan's claim completely. And to do so in front of everyone was galling.
Even worse was the way Orochimaru treated the clan's precious kekkei genkai—one of the proudest legacies of the Hyuga—as if it were trash to be thrown away.
Yes, he knew the Byakugan was mostly useless the moment it was removed… but to see it crushed so unceremoniously—it was deeply humiliating.
---
The meeting eventually ended.
Nara Shikaku, who had watched the entire scene unfold in silence, left with the rest—Hyuga Hiashi, Uchiha Fugaku, and the grim-faced Hyuga elders.
As they stepped out of the Hokage's conference room, Shikaku paused.
From the corner of his eye, he glanced back toward the long table.
He knew very well—one meeting might be over, but another was about to begin.
Orochimaru had gained nothing from the earlier bargaining. The only concessions he made to the Hyuga were in the interest of the village—something uncharacteristic of him.
Which could only mean one thing: what Orochimaru truly wanted wasn't something the Hyuga could give.
Only the village could offer it.
And the idea that Orochimaru had "generously" handed over his modified son for the public good? Shikaku wouldn't buy that even if he borrowed his son's naïve imagination.
A shame, really. He wouldn't be around to witness the next round of negotiations.
Casting one last glance at Hiashi and his son still standing in the hall, Shikaku turned and walked away.
---
Back in the room, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a slow drag from his pipe before speaking.
"Orochimaru… what is it you want?"
Like Shikaku, the Third Hokage had sensed it. Orochimaru hadn't come all this way just for this.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Old man, is that really how you see me?" Orochimaru gave a sly smile, feigning mock offense.
Then his eyes sharpened.
"But… yes. There is one more thing."
No one in the room looked surprised.
They had all expected it.
Hiruzen stared at him. "Speak."
Orochimaru licked his lips, eyes gleaming.
"Just a little thing."
Orochimaru pulled out a scroll and unfurled a document, waving it lazily before the room.
"With this," he said, smiling, "I want every ninja in the village to undergo a series of tests."
Before the Third Hokage could speak, Koharu Utatane slammed her hand down and cut him off.
"Absolutely not! That's impossible."
Testing the entire ninja population? The workload alone would paralyze village operations.
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "Then I'll compromise. Let's say… just the majority. Specifically, those under twenty-five."
Koharu scoffed. "That's still a massive number."
Orochimaru ignored her and turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
In truth, this wasn't a negotiation. It was a declaration. He could walk away at any moment, and they all knew it.
This wasn't a transaction. It was a condition. One set from the start—non-negotiable.
"I can agree to it," Sarutobi finally said, knocking his pipe against the table. His voice was low and firm. "But we need a reason. What's your justification?"
Orochimaru smiled under their scrutinizing gazes.
"Oh, that's easy. Let's say… the newly appointed head of the hospital wants to launch a full-scale medical exam across the village."
Tsunade's brow twitched in irritation. This bastard—he was dragging her into this mess.
"As for my true purpose…" Orochimaru's tone became vague, evasive. "We'll talk about that later."
In reality, the tests were designed to screen for compatibility with the Spiritualization Technique. But Orochimaru wasn't even sure if the results would be useful. It was still too early to say.
And he wasn't worried about Hiruzen declining. As the lamp god once said—it's a seller's market. They don't have the luxury of saying no.
Sure enough, Orochimaru didn't have to utter a single threat. Hiruzen agreed immediately, planning to mask the tests as routine medical exams.
Tsunade glared daggers at him. She already had enough on her plate. And now this?
But she had promised Jiraiya. Backing out now would make things messy.
"The peace talks are in two days," Hiruzen reminded him. "Don't forget to attend."
"There's no need for me to go to that kind of meeting," Orochimaru replied, raising an eyebrow.
"The Kumogakure delegation?" He scoffed. "They're clinging to the edge of a cliff, desperately grabbing at straws. Talking to them is a waste of time."
It was obvious what the Third Hokage was hoping for—that Orochimaru would show up, shake things up a bit, and use his reputation to intimidate the delegation.
But Orochimaru had no interest in playing games. That kind of stunt was too clumsy—and too dangerous. Push the wrong button, and Kumogakure could lash out violently.
Hiruzen frowned. "Then what are you planning to do?"
"Simple. I'm going to Kumogakure myself."
Orochimaru licked his lips, grinning.
"Three missions. All three sabotaged. I'd like to discuss those 'problems' directly with the Raikage."
Hiruzen's expression darkened with realization. "You suspect there are masked agents operating within Kumogakure as well?"
"Obviously." Orochimaru nodded slightly. "If there's corruption in there own village, the Raikage won't sit still either."
He chuckled.
"And if you want to spin the story as me 'going rogue' or 'sabotaging the peace talks'—go ahead. I don't care."
Hiruzen closed his eyes. Koharu looked away, clearly uncomfortable.
Only Danzo said nothing—but his eyes gleamed with a subtle light. One Orochimaru did not miss.
A soft, venomous laugh echoed in Orochimaru's heart.
Heh… Danzo. You have no idea why I really asked to leave the village.
____________________
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