Naruto: Reborn as Orochimaru

Chapter 305 (BONUS)

"Orochimaru, what nonsense are you talking about now?"

Hearing this, Tsunade dismissed the topic of Hokage altogether, instead glaring at him in frustration.

She then glanced at Kushina standing nearby, her meaning clear. While she and Orochimaru might occasionally joke about certain things in private, wasn't it inappropriate to say something so suggestive in front of Kushina?

Orochimaru, unfazed, smirked. "I didn't say anything inappropriate. I just have something to tell you."

"What is it?" Tsunade asked, her tone tinged with suspicion.

"Kushina wants to have a daughter with me. What's your opinion on that?"

"What?"

"Huh?"

Kushina froze, completely caught off guard. She hadn't expected Orochimaru to bring up such a sensitive subject so casually.

Tsunade, on the other hand, was utterly dumbfounded.

"Kushina? What is this about?"

"I'll explain it all later," Orochimaru said, cutting off any questions. "For now, I'm going to check the town for any survivors."

Without giving them a chance to respond, Orochimaru moved swiftly toward the ruined town.

The floodwaters had receded, leaving behind a grim scene of devastation. Bodies were strewn across the streets, and the buildings were little more than rubble.

Orochimaru, accustomed to such sights, surveyed the destruction calmly. Standing atop a roof, he began scanning for any signs of life.

Meanwhile, Tsunade and Kushina followed at a slower pace. Though they had both seen their share of death, the sheer brutality of the scene made their hearts ache.

"Seven Ninja Swordsmen…" Orochimaru muttered to himself as he concluded his

Tsunade knew that, regardless of her abilities, her impulsive personality made her ill-suited for the position.

Orochimaru simply chuckled. "Hahaha, Tsunade…"

"What now?" she asked, annoyed.

"Do you know why you have to take the Hokage position?"

"Why?"

"Because," Orochimaru said, his tone turning slightly darker, "if you don't… I might just lose control one day and destroy Konoha myself."

"You—!"

Tsunade froze, stunned by the blunt admission.

She wanted to retort but found herself at a loss for words.

Having grown up alongside Orochimaru, she understood him better than most.

What had happened to him years ago had been deeply unjust, and with his vengeful nature, it wasn't surprising that he might harbor resentment toward the village.

It was for this very reason that she had pleaded with him to leave Konoha alone.

But she hadn't expected him to use her as a safeguard against his own darker impulses.

"Fine… I understand," Tsunade finally said, exhaling heavily.

"Good." Orochimaru's expression softened. "Wait here. I'll take Mi back to the lab and come back for you two."

He threw a kunai into the ground, marked with a seal, then picked up Si and vanished in a blur.

Orochimaru quickly returned Mi to the lab's rest area, then reappeared to retrieve Tsunade and Kushina.

Meanwhile, his clones finished burning and burying the corpses in the town using Fire Release techniques.

Back at the laboratory, Kushina remained silent, her mind racing.

The conversation between Orochimaru and Tsunade had revealed far too much information, leaving her overwhelmed.

The Third Hokage is stepping down?

Tsunade is the default choice for Hokage?

And the reason for that is… Orochimaru, a traitor?

How could a rogue ninja have such influence over Konoha's leadership?

And if Tsunade didn't take the role, was Orochimaru really capable of destroying the village?

Kushina's thoughts turned to the hidden forces within the lab, the modified clones Orochimaru had created, as well as the reanimated figures he had summoned.

Two of them, the First and Second Hokage, were terrifying enough.

Shaking her head, Kushina decided to stop thinking about it. Her straightforward personality left her ill-suited for Konoha's political games, and she preferred to leave such matters alone.

"Oh, right!" Tsunade suddenly said, turning to Orochimaru. "Why did you say earlier that Kushina wanted to have a daughter with you?"