During the cultivation process of Mi, Orochimaru used special methods to accelerate his growth. Once cultivation was complete, Mi's growth rate returned to that of an ordinary person.
Currently, Mi looked no older than twelve or thirteen years old.
The boy had originally ventured out to meet some old friends today, but when he arrived in this small town, he was greeted with devastation. The place was riddled with destruction, and bodies littered the ground.
Seeing the horrific scene, his normally innocent demeanor gave way to fury.
Fortunately, the culprits had yet to leave.
On the other side, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were visibly taken aback by the sudden surge of power emanating from the boy standing before them.
Meanwhile, in the laboratory's monitoring room, Kushina sat surrounded by dozens of screens, her playful nature causing her to immerse herself in operating the high-tech equipment.
From the monitoring room, Kushina's voice rang out.
"You said Tsunade-sama would be coming today, right?" Kushina asked, her voice carrying a hint of nervousness.
Since their return from Rōran, Kushina's feelings toward Orochimaru had become complicated. Knowing that she would one day have a daughter with him was something she couldn't wrap her head around.
The idea left her feeling strange and conflicted.
Orochimaru, however, had been so preoccupied with his experiments that he had shown no interest in pursuing any personal relationships. As a result, things between them had remained calm.
But today was different.
Tsunade was coming to the lab, and Orochimaru planned to tell her everything about what had happened in Rōran.
Kushina, aware of all this, couldn't help but feel uneasy.
She wondered what Tsunade's reaction would be.
Would she be angry? Would she hit her? Or worse, hit Orochimaru?
The uncertainty gnawed at her nerves.
Hearing Kushina's question, Orochimaru responded casually, "According to her last message, she should be here today. Why? Are you nervous?"
Orochimaru chuckled. "Don't worry. Based on her personality, I'd say you're very much her type. She won't reject you."
"Wha—what kind of thing is that to say? Shouldn't this be up to Tsunade-sama to decide?" Kushina muttered, exasperated.
As she glanced at the monitors, her eyes widened. "Ah! Tsunade-sama is here! I'll go meet her!"
Without waiting for Orochimaru's response, Kushina bolted toward the laboratory's entrance.
Watching her retreating figure, Orochimaru fell into thought.
The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki…
He recalled that Mangekyo Sharingan and Wood Release could suppress tailed beasts, yet Nagato with the Rinnegan had struggled against Naruto in his memories. 𝙍𝙖𐌽ỌᛒЁ𝐬
Was it due to some other factor?
After all, Uchiha Madara had used the Rinnegan to subdue all nine tailed beasts.
Perhaps Nagato had only reached his full potential after being reanimated.
Orochimaru nodded slightly at his own conclusion.
Suddenly, a frown crossed Orochimaru's face. "Hmm? The seal was released? What happened?"
At that moment, Tsunade's voice echoed from the laboratory's entrance.
"Orochimaru, so this is where you've been hiding! You actually built a massive underground lab here?"
Orochimaru snapped out of his thoughts and replied nonchalantly, "Tsunade, you came at the perfect time. Come with me."
"What? I just got here, and you're already dragging me off. Where are we going?"
"To the nearby town. Kushina, you're coming too."
Five kilometers away from the laboratory, the once lively town had been reduced to ruins.
The air was thick with smoke, and the streets were riddled with craters.
Seven Kirigakure ninjas surrounded a boy in a white robe, their expressions a mix of wariness and disbelief.
Juzo, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and the wielder of Kubikiribōchō, couldn't hide his astonishment.
"Hey, this kid's using snakes? Could he be… Orochimaru?"
"Yeah, it kind of feels like him…"
"Don't be stupid," another swordsman interrupted. "Orochimaru fought in the Second Great Ninja War. He'd be in his thirties by now. There's no way he's this kid!"
"Stop talking and stay alert!" Juzo barked, snapping his companions back to focus.
At his warning, Raiga leapt backward, narrowly avoiding a massive strike that caused the ground to collapse in a cloud of debris.
"Damn it! What's with this kid?"
"We need to retreat! There's no point fighting him!"
"Agreed. Let's leave before Konoha's reinforcements arrive."
"Fuguki, Raiga, cover our retreat!"
The two Mist ninjas quickly formed hand seals.
"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
"Lightning Release: Sky-Splitting Thunder Snake!"
A massive torrent of water engulfed the town, surging like a flood. At the same time, crackling lightning snaked through the waves, creating a deadly combination.
The wide-range attack forced Mi to halt his pursuit, his summoned giant python dissipating into white smoke from the electrical charge.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen used the opportunity to retreat.
Mi leapt onto a raised rock, narrowly avoiding the water. His fists clenched as he watched the enemies escape. He wanted to chase after them, to bring them to justice.
But before he could act, a figure appeared in front of him, blocking his path.
"Stop," Orochimaru said firmly. "Your body can't handle this level of power. If you push any further, you'll die."
"I know," Orochimaru interrupted. "I'll make them pay. Now stand down."
Hearing his father's words, Mi reluctantly withdrew his chakra. Fatigue overwhelmed him, and he fainted on the spot.
Orochimaru caught the boy as he collapsed.
Tsunade and Kushina arrived just in time to witness the scene, both looking surprised.
"Orochimaru, what's going on?" Tsunade asked.
"Is he alright?" Kushina added.
"He's fine," Orochimaru replied calmly. "To prevent him from overexerting himself and exposing his identity, I sealed most of his power temporarily. The sudden backlash was too much for his body, and he fainted."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "That kid is seriously this strong? If I'm not mistaken, those were the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, weren't they?"
"You're not mistaken, Lord Hokage," Orochimaru said with a playful smirk.
"Hokage?" Tsunade echoed, momentarily stunned. She let out a self-deprecating laugh. "So tell me, Orochimaru. How much of the Third Hokage's decision to make me Hokage had to do with you?"
Orochimaru shrugged. "Most of it."
"Because," he said with a sly smile, "I find supporting a Hokage far more interesting than being one myself."