Naruto: Reborn as Orochimaru

Chapter 108: World Peace?

The explosion not only killed the Iwa ninja, but also sent Yamata flying back. 

"Damn it, what a waste!" 

Yamanaka Yanichi, who had rushed over, sighed with regret.

Yanichi was a member of the Yamanaka clan, a group famous for their mind-control and mental-invasion techniques. They specialized in spiritual power, giving them the ability to probe an enemy's mind and extract valuable information. On the battlefield, this skill was especially useful for gathering intelligence. Orochimaru had captured the enemy alive specifically to give Yanichi a chance to explore his memories. Unfortunately, the enemy had self-destructed before that could happen.

"Still lacking battlefield experience, I see," Orochimaru muttered, narrowing his eyes at the body of the Iwa ninja. Though his raw power was undeniable, he recognized that battle-hardened instincts were just as crucial. A brief lapse in vigilance had allowed another enemy to spot the situation and sacrifice himself to take out his comrade. 

It was a reminder that even he wasn't infallible. 

Shaking off the frustration, Orochimaru turned his attention to the larger situation. He glanced at the two remaining jounin who had slipped away earlier, then back at his own forces. "Stick to the previous formation and sweep the area clean," he commanded. "If you encounter an enemy you can't handle, use the signal flares."

"Understood!" 

"Shingo, Ryuichi, and Zen, let's head out!"

"Woof!"

"Yanichi, Kakui, sweep this area!"

"Keep moving!"

The Konoha forces split into smaller teams of three, leaving a few behind to guard the pier while the rest pushed deeper into the territory surrounding Uzushiogakure. Orochimaru and Tsunade partnered up and made quick work of their section.

Despite their swift movements, it was clear that they had arrived too late. Aside from the stragglers they had encountered earlier, there were very few enemies left.

---

The once peaceful and vibrant Uzushiogakure was now a devastated wasteland of ruins and debris. As Orochimaru and Tsunade entered the village proper, they were greeted only by the stench of death and the sight of bodies strewn across the streets. Whoever had attacked had long since fled.

Orochimaru had witnessed such scenes before, yet there was still a certain weight to seeing so much destruction firsthand. 

War brought nothing but death. And in its wake, even a proud village like Uzushiogakure had been reduced to rubble.

Tsunade, however, was seeing this level of devastation for the first time. Her fists tightened, her heart filled with rage. "Damn them... unforgivable! This is absolutely unforgivable!" she spat through gritted teeth, barely able to contain her fury.

But Orochimaru's response was cold, detached. "It's already done. There's no point in getting worked up over it now." 

"Where are we going?" Tsunade asked, forcing herself to keep her emotions in check. 

"

The jonin looked grim. "That lines up with what we found. If all four major villages are involved… this situation just got a lot more complicated."

One of the jonin stepped forward. "We'll report this to Hokage-sama immediately and continue searching for survivors. You and Tsunade can do the same."

Orochimaru nodded in agreement. "Let's keep moving."

---

As they walked away, Tsunade's thoughts churned. "Orochimaru, do you really think this could've been avoided?" she asked, her tone almost pleading.

"For now, this is inevitable," Orochimaru replied bluntly. "The world isn't going to change because we wish for it."

"But you've thought of something, haven't you? A way to stop all this senseless killing?" Tsunade pressed.

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"

Tsunade looked at him with conviction. "My grandmother told me that your dream was always world peace. With your talent, I know you must have come up with a way by now."

Orochimaru chuckled. "World peace? That was a childish dream."

"You're lying!" Tsunade shot back, her eyes searching his face for some hint of the truth.

"Believe whatever you want," Orochimaru said, turning his gaze ahead.