Konoha, a Ninja Village built in a natural shelter formed by forests and rock walls, its scale was more like a prosperous town than a Ninja Village.
Orochimaru left the Hokage Building and walked down the street. The street near the Hokage Building was the busiest and most popular.
Has it been over a year already... Orochimaru paused, looking at the shops on both sides of the street and the people coming and going, touching a utility pole by the roadside. She felt a very strong sense of dissociation, as if she was detached from the world, not belonging here, yet living here... illusory yet real.
To be honest, her sense of belonging to Konoha wasn't strong. This feeling was like that of a wanderer working away from home, with no sense of belonging to the city where he worked.
Orochimaru's memories were only from these past few years; her infant memories were too blurry to recall. Her soul had merged, but Orochimaru's memories were truly insignificant compared to the other soul's vast decades of memories.
As for being a Ninja, Orochimaru defined herself as an employee.
If she were to risk her life for a mission that didn't pay much, she wouldn't kill the person who sent her to her death, that person would be lucky.
What's this about Ninja who can't complete missions being scum? I'd say go to your Six Paths Sage's Rasengan butt!
The relationship between Konoha and the Land of Fire, in Orochimaru's view, was more like that of mercenaries and an employer.
The Land of Fire allocated funds for Konoha to train Ninja, and Konoha was responsible for the Land of Fire's security. The Daimyo had the right to propose a Hokage, meaning the Daimyo would suggest a Hokage candidate, and the villagers would vote.
It seems I'm still too idle; when I'm idle, I think about some boring things.
Orochimaru quickened her pace and immediately spotted a very noticeable thick-browed boy in the crowd, wearing a distinctive green one-piece tracksuit.
Might Duy?
Might Guy's father... Is he still in the Ninja Academy now?
That really is a tracksuit passed down through generations... Orochimaru retracted her gaze and headed to the Ninja Tool Street. She wanted to buy some steel wire that matched her Chakra. Even subtle differences in steel wire material result in varying degrees of compatibility with a Ninja's Chakra.
Currently, green vests are not seen in Konoha. The green vests worn by Chunin and above in the original story seem to have officially appeared before the Third Shinobi World War; during the Second Shinobi World War, armor was worn.
Ninja Tool Street, this is a place often frequented by Konoha Ninja, with numerous Ninja tool shops selling various Ninja tools. Kunai, shuriken, Fūma shuriken, large shuriken, as well as chain sickles, Chakra blades, and other commonly used Ninja weapons can all be bought here.
exploding tags, smoke bombs, and flash bombs are essential Ninja tools in every Ninja tool shop.
So expensive... Orochimaru held a scroll, looking at its price, and secretly gasped. Even though she had received a lot of money from her angel investor, Danzo Shimura, seeing the price of scrolls made from special paper that could store Chakra, used to seal items as storage scrolls, still made her heart ache.
Expensive, damn expensive!
No wonder everyone says Tenten is rich; who else could afford such scrolls?
Orochimaru looked at the smiling shop assistant, bought two scrolls, and then bought 100 meters of steel wire compatible with her Chakra, 10 exploding tags, 5 smoke bombs, 20 Kunai, and 50 shuriken.
One hundred meters of steel wire might seem like a lot, but it's actually just a small roll. It has various uses in combat, whether for combining with Ninjutsu or setting traps, making it a very convenient Ninja tool.
"Thank you for your patronage!"
The shop assistant's smile was sincere; it was rare to encounter such a big customer.
"Come again next time!"
The shop owner was also all smiles. With so many Ninja tool shops on Ninja Tool Street, keeping a humble attitude and good service ensures customers return to buy Ninja tools.
Orochimaru put away the purchased Ninja tools, took out a blueprint, placed it on the table, and asked, "Shop owner, how long would it take to customize these parts?"
"Let me see."
The shop owner picked up the blueprint, looking at the oddly shaped parts on it. There were tubes that looked like blowgun darts, but strangely, why were there threads inside? And what were these springs for?
What is this little thing for?
As the manager of this shop and a craftsman who makes Ninja tools, he looked at the blueprint with a face full of questions, then at Orochimaru, wanting to ask if she was messing with him. But seeing Orochimaru's very serious expression, he figured she wanted a unique Ninja tool.
Ninja, after all, always have some strange ideas.
"What materials do you need?"
"The materials for a Chakra blade. I hope all the parts can match my Chakra. I'm sure you, Manager, have realized that I want to create a unique Ninja tool," Orochimaru said with a slight smile.
After testing several materials for making Chakra blades, Orochimaru found materials that suited her Chakra.
The manager quoted a delivery time of one week. Orochimaru left a deposit and then departed the Ninja tool shop.
The custom parts Orochimaru ordered were for a miniature pistol. As for the bullets, she could only craft them herself.
This item, when made, was not for frontal combat. Its main purpose was surprise, to deliver a fatal blow when the enemy was unprepared. A pistol made from materials that matched her Chakra would be ten times faster than a Kunai or shuriken. Even a Kage-level expert could be severely wounded, or even killed, if caught off guard.
Of course, this item would only be most effective the first time it was used. Orochimaru intended it as a last resort for self-preservation.
More powerful firearms would require slow research. She didn't remember the blueprints for those things, but having made a miniature pistol, it wouldn't be difficult to create more powerful firearms; it would just take some time.
Orochimaru was well aware that her relationship with Danzo Shimura was one of mutual exploitation. If they ever fell out, she would simply shoot him, send him to meet the First and Second Hokage, and then make a quick escape.
After killing Assistant Hokage Shimura Danzo, Konoha would definitely be out of the question.
While obtaining research funds from the big sucker—no, the angel investor Danzo Shimura—Orochimaru had also prepared for the worst-case scenario.
At the same time, in his underground base, Danzo Shimura inexplicably felt a chill on his head, as if his brain might suddenly burst open.
What's going on? Is the Sharingan having problems?
Danzo Shimura touched his right eye, which was wrapped in bandages, and called a Medical Ninja from the Root to examine his eye. Only after confirming there were no issues did he breathe a sigh of relief. Besides him, no one else in the Ninja World had transplanted a Sharingan from the Uchiha Clan onto themselves. It would be bad if something went wrong.
"Lord Danzo, this is Orochimaru's latest experimental product. The side effects have been reduced to one-third of a regular soldier pill. Orochimaru also asked me to tell you..."
The Root Ninja knelt on one knee, respectfully presenting the soldier pills in a bag, and conveyed Orochimaru's request.
The guard beside Danzo Shimura walked over and took the bag of soldier pills.
"I understand. Send another two million Ryo. Also, ask Orochimaru about the cost of the soldier pills and how much more expensive they are compared to regular soldier pills."
"Yes, Lord Danzo."