Konoha was under siege by four major ninja villages. Although Kirigakure's main forces had yet to arrive, their vanguard had already begun probing attacks.
Konoha was now fully mobilized, with even Danzo—who typically stayed in the shadows to guard Konoha's foundation forced to step into the fray for special operations.
This left Konoha Village itself with minimal defenses. Aside from civilians and academy students, the only ones left were the two village elders, Koharu and Homura, a handful of genin too weak to deploy, and essential staff like teachers and some ANBU.
Orochimaru strolled leisurely toward the village. The gate guards noticed him immediately.
"Hey, you—"
Before they could finish their warning, their bodies collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
With Orochimaru's current mental strength, there was no need for physical action to deal with guards of their caliber.
As he entered Konoha, walking along the familiar streets and past the recognizable buildings, Orochimaru couldn't help but reflect on how much time had passed.
But he didn't linger in his thoughts. Instead, he walked directly toward Kushina's house, his objective clear.
---Because most of Konoha's defensive forces were stationed at the borders or on the battlefield, the village's internal defenses were practically nonexistent.
It didn't take much effort for Orochimaru to reach Kushina's residence.
The door creaked open.
"YOU BASTARD!"
A flash of red shot through the air as a furious figure leapt at him.
Orochimaru smirked slightly, taking half a step back just as a kunai glinted dangerously close to his face.
"Missed?" Kushina muttered under her breath, quickly flipping the kunai in her hand to stab again, her movements fluid and precise.
This time, her strike was aimed directly at his heart.
However, before the blade could reach him, Orochimaru calmly caught her wrist, halting her attack completely.
She struggled fiercely, throwing punches and kicks, but Orochimaru easily evaded her strikes and subdued her, pinning her hands behind her back.
"Still as fiery as ever," Orochimaru said, his tone a mix of amusement and mockery.
"Let go of me, you jerk!" Kushina snapped, trying to break free.
Orochimaru chuckled softly. "Kushina, it's been a long time, and yet you're still this feisty?"
Hearing his voice, Kushina froze for a moment, her eyes widening.
"Wait... that voice... Lord Orochimaru?"
The familiarity of his voice struck her instantly.
Orochimaru released her, and she turned to confirm his face.
"It is you!" Kushina exclaimed in disbelief.
---
Kushina's home was quiet and empty. The Third Hokage had evidently decided to allow Orochimaru to take her away, unable to refuse the terms of the agreement.
Sitting across from each other at the table, the atmosphere between them was tense.
Kushina still couldn't wrap her head around it. "You're actually here in Konoha... but didn't you defect?"
Though she didn't know the exact reasons for his defection, she had always believed Orochimaru wasn't inherently evil. He had saved her life once, and for that, she remained grateful.
But now, seeing him here, she felt utterly confused.
Orochimaru studied her silently. Dressed in red short-sleeves and green shorts, Kushina was a far cry from the little girl he had once saved. She had grown into a beautiful young woman, though her fiery temper was still as evident as ever.
"You attacked me the moment you saw me. I didn't expect you to be so alert now," Orochimaru remarked casually, breaking the silence.
"Well, after that incident back then..." Kushina scratched her head sheepishly, her cheeks slightly flushed. Trying to steer the conversation away, she asked, "Why are you here in the village? I mean... weren't you..."
"It's a long story," Orochimaru replied dismissively. "But I'll explain everything to you later. For now, I've come back to Konoha to take you with me."
"Take me... away?" Kushina's voice faltered, her expression shifting to one of shock.
Though she trusted Orochimaru because of their history, his words immediately raised alarms.
She was the Nine-Tails Jinchuuriki, a role of immense strategic importance. Even in times of war, Konoha had kept her within the village under heavy security.
For Orochimaru to suddenly announce that he was taking her away? It made her uneasy.
"Yes, take you with me," Orochimaru confirmed with a small, knowing smile.
"Why...?" Kushina asked cautiously. Her wariness was evident, and she wasn't the naïve girl she used to be.
Orochimaru noticed her apprehension and chuckled. "Konoha made a deal with me. In exchange for my help, they've agreed to let me take you."
Kushina's jaw dropped. The sheer weight of his words left her momentarily speechless.
"I mean, think about it," Orochimaru continued. "How else would I know that you're the Nine-Tails Jinchuuriki? That's not information they'd casually share, now, is it?"
Hearing this, Kushina's doubts began to waver. He had a point. Aside from a select few, no one in Konoha knew she was the host of the Nine-Tails.
"But... Hokage-sama never mentioned anything to me about this," Kushina mumbled, still reluctant to fully trust him.
"An announcement from the Hokage?" Orochimaru rubbed his temples, exasperated. "Kushina, do you really think the Third Hokage would announce something like this? Especially when it involves someone like me?"
Kushina lowered her head, guilt flickering across her face.
Back then, Orochimaru had saved her life, treated her with kindness, and earned her gratitude. But his defection from Konoha had made her question everything she thought she knew about him.
Sighing, Orochimaru said, "Fine. If you don't trust me, I'll just talk to the Nine-Tails directly. Look into my eyes."
"Wait, what?" Kushina blinked in confusion but instinctively obeyed.
The moment her eyes met Orochimaru's, her mind was flooded with a surge of overwhelming spiritual energy.
Before she could react, her surroundings shifted.
---
They were now in Kushina's mindscape.
The space was dark, the ground covered in shallow water. Ahead of them stood a massive iron gate sealed with a talisman.
Behind the gate lay an enormous fox with glowing red eyes, its oppressive presence unmistakable.
The Nine-Tails slowly opened its eyes, its massive form radiating malice as it noticed the intruders.
Kushina stared in disbelief as Orochimaru strolled through her mindscape as if it were his own.
"H-How are you walking around in here so casually?" she stammered.
Orochimaru didn't answer her. His focus was entirely on the fox.
The Nine-Tails sneered at the sight of him.
"Those eyes..." the beast growled, its deep voice reverberating through the space. "An Uchiha brat dares to stroll into my presence? Arrogant fool. I'll kill you where you stand!"
With a roar, the fox lunged forward, its massive claws piercing through the iron gate and striking directly at Orochimaru.
***
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