"Orochimaru, are you finally letting these little ones out?"
On the Hokage Rock, atop Hashirama Senju's likeness.
Lying sprawled on a delicate lounge chair, pilfered from the Senju compound, the Nine-Tails luxuriated in being fed by three goddesses.
A powerful sensory scan revealed another Orochimaru, accompanied by four youngsters, slowly departing the village from its western gate, heading towards the Land of Demons.
Orochimaru looked at the Nine-Tails, his expression a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
"Kurama, is this the important wish you spoke of?"
Tatsuta Hime thoughtfully brought Orochimaru a chair, placing it beside the Nine-Tails. After inviting him to sit, she quickly served a platter of delicious grilled meat, artfully enhanced by Tashin Hime's genjutsu.
Orochimaru sat next to the Nine-Tails, his expression impassive as he picked up a cup of lukewarm sake and took a couple of sips with the grilled meat.
Without deliberately dispelling the genjutsu on the food, the taste was surprisingly good.
"Delicious, isn't it!"
The Nine-Tails chuckled twice, then swallowed the piece of grilled meat offered by Ichikishima Hime.
"Let me tell you, my greatest wish before was to destroy this Leaf Village that bastard Hashirama Senju built, once I was freed from my seal."
"But ever since I met you, my wish had to change."
"This is good too. With Hashirama's head under my feet, watching the scenery he can no longer see, I feel my life has been worthwhile!"
According to the Nine-Tails' logic, stepping on the Hokage Rock was equivalent to stepping on the first Hokage's head, and Orochimaru suddenly felt a prickle of unease on the soles of his feet.
"Whatever you say! As long as Tsunade doesn't find out, these are minor matters."
"Right..."
Orochimaru looked at the grilled meat on the platter, and a question suddenly came to mind.
"Where did you get the money to buy this from Yakiniku Q?"
The Nine-Tails gave Orochimaru a look of disdain, replying matter-of-factly:
"Of course, I used your name to get it!"
"You never gave me any pocket money, so how could I buy it?"
"That fatty from the Akimichi clan is quite decent. He saw me once before and readily gave me so much grilled meat."
"Remember to settle the bill for me when you have time. I already promised him..."
Orochimaru suddenly felt that the sake in his hand tasted unpleasant, and the meat lost its flavor.
"I think it's necessary for me to inform Tsunade!"
"To tell her that a fox stole Mito-sama's lounge chair and is now sunbathing on top of First Hokage-sama's head..."
...
"Captain Kushina, let's go!"
Kushina, wearing a Konoha forehead protector she'd found at home, waved her little fist with a determined spirit and charged ahead.
"Why does Kushina have a forehead protector when she hasn't even graduated?"
Nonō asked curiously, watching Kushina run off.
"I know about that."
Shizune, for once, was unusually coherent, looking at Kushina with a hint of pity.
"Before coming to Konoha, Kushina was already a genin in the Land of Whirlpools."
"Land of Whirlpools? Isn't that..."
Nonō blinked, then seemed to understand, falling silent.
"Mm!"
Shizune nodded sadly.
His sister had told him that their parents seemed to have perished in the battle to protect the Land of Whirlpools.
"To prevent Kushina from dwelling on the past, we rarely mention the Land of Whirlpools in front of her."
"So, let's just consider Kushina a Konoha genin!"
"It's perfectly fitting for a Konoha genin to be the captain of three academy students!"
Nonō nodded gently. Minato Namikaze, standing nearby, felt a stir within him, excused himself to Orochimaru, and quickly hurried after Kushina.
"Kushina, wait for me!"
Shizune and Nonō exchanged a look and, in unison, smiled.
"Let's follow them too!"
"Teacher, we'll meet you ahead!"
Orochimaru watched his cheerful disciples, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he slowly followed.
...
In the Land of Demons, outside the altar where Mōryō was sealed, the young Miroku stood at a sealing node, gazing through the seal, as if seeing the fate that awaited him.
"Miko-sama, the ones sent to the Five Great Nations' ninja villages for reinforcements have returned!"
A maid wearing a tall headdress burst into the altar, her face grim as she delivered unwelcome news to Miroku.
"Except for Konoha, which has explicitly stated that they will send one of the Sannin, Lord Orochimaru, to assist, the other ninja villages' attitudes..."
Miroku, as if expecting it, nodded calmly.
"I understand!"
"Has that rogue ninja, who caused so many deaths of ninjas and civilians in the Land of Demons, left?"
The maid lowered her head, her expression filled with indignation.
"No!"
"That person seems to kill purely for the sake of killing. In the two days I've been waiting for news, many more have died."
"Moreover, as the resentment from the deceased increases, their corpses are showing signs of being eroded by Mōryō's power."
"Many bodies have risen again, becoming puppets controlled by Mōryō's power!"
"Our soldiers guarding the sealing altar are on the verge of collapse!"
Miroku turned around with a sorrowful expression and gently shook her head.
"If you can't hold on, then arrange for them to escape the Land of Demons!"
"This is simply my fate as Miko. There's no need for these people to sacrifice themselves in vain for me!"
"I have already seen it..."
Miroku slowly raised her hand and clasped the bell hanging around her neck.
"The Miko's fate will meet its end in this catastrophe."
"Either Mōryō will be completely annihilated, or the lineage of the Miko will be extinguished with me..."
"The fate of the Land of Demons can only be entrusted to Lord Orochimaru of Konoha..."
Tears welled up in the maid's eyes, and she stubbornly shook her head.
"Miko-sama, I will stay by your side until the very last moment."
"Our companions who have diligently guarded the altar feel the same way."
"The meaning of our existence is to assist the Miko in guarding the seal. If the Miko is no longer here, what meaning will there be for us?"
Miroku reached out to wipe the tears from the maid's face, a gentle smile appearing on her lips.
"If you don't leave now, you will die!"
"You know I have the ability to foresee death."
"So, while Mōryō's puppets haven't broken through the altar yet, take those loyal guards and leave!"
"My power and Mōryō mutually restrain each other. Until he fully breaks free from the seal, he cannot harm me!"
The maid tightly gripped Miroku's hand, shaking her head forcefully.
"Miko-sama, I will not leave!"
"Not a single citizen of the Land of Demons would abandon their Miko!"
"Please rest, and I will go and see if the reinforcing ninjas have arrived!"