"This Orochimaru really knows how to handle things—and he's frighteningly good at it."
Haruya felt a twinge of regret.He hadn't been able to witness Orochimaru's clash with Shisui Uchiha.Just imagining it made his blood stir.
In the original timeline, Orochimaru was defeated by Itachi Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan, and ever since, he'd obsessed over those eyes.Unable to beat Itachi, he eventually set his sights on Sasuke Uchiha instead.
But now, with that beating arriving ahead of schedule, chances were high that Orochimaru would shift his gaze to the much younger Itachi.
As for why Shisui was also contributing destiny points…After thinking about it, Haruya found it perfectly reasonable.
Shisui Uchiha, much like Itachi, had a mindset that rose above clan loyalty—someone who genuinely embraced the Will of Fire.
He was just… more naïve, more principled to a fault.
When the Uchiha clan prepared to rebel, he didn't turn on them. Instead, he sought help from Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura—going so far as to expose the power of his Mangekyō Sharingan.The result was predictable.
Targeted by Danzo, cornered to avoid a struggle over his eyes, Shisui ultimately chose suicide.And that death delayed the Uchiha coup by two years.
Later, Itachi—having awakened his Mangekyō—teamed with the mysterious masked man behind the Nine-Tails attack, Uchiha Obito, and sent the entire clan to the afterlife… sparing only Sasuke.
But right now?Shisui was still a firm believer in the Will of Fire.
And Orochimaru—Hiruzen's own disciple and one of the Legendary Sannin—was considered an icon of that Will.
Now he'd been ambushed.
Shisui was probably questioning his entire worldview.And unknowingly, the threads of his fate had shifted.
Nineteen points.
Well… not much. Shisui's ending probably wouldn't change drastically.
Orochimaru, meanwhile, had contributed fifty-eight points. Only half of his destiny had shifted—far from a full rewrite.
Which made sense. Orochimaru wasn't like Kimimaro or Kabuto. He was capable, independent—and stubborn.Changing him completely was no simple feat.
"Haruya… I don't get this question. Can you teach me?"
A tiny, red-cheeked girl—way too nervous for her own good—stood in front of him.
Haruya glanced at the worksheet. "I don't know either. Ask Itachi Uchiha."
The girl froze.She'd deliberately picked an easy question—how could he not know it?
After staring at Haruya's pretty face for two seconds, she mumbled, "U-Um… I won't bother him. I'll ask someone else."
Itachi, thanks to his aloof personality—and the whole "terrifying Uchiha clan" rumor—wasn't someone most kids dared approach.
Haruya knew she was just trying to strike up a conversation.
Too small!Small in every possible sense.
Unlike Tsunade—who was big in every possible sense.
Anyone with common sense knew which one to choose.
Haruya didn't hesitate.
And so another day of school passed uneventfully.This time, Itachi wasn't picked up by Shisui but by Mikoto Uchiha.
She was—objectively—very pretty.
Haruya waited a bit longer… and saw Tsunade once again being chased down for her debts.Only this time the debt collector was an old man.
He raised an eyebrow. Time to plan ahead.
A few minutes later, the "old man" shed the disguise, turned back into Tsunade, and strolled up to him.
"Anything interesting happen today?"Tsunade pinched his cheek, then took his hand in hers.
"Nope."
Haruya shook his head. "Sis, did you go gambling again today?"
"Just a few rounds," Tsunade said casually. She never hid things from him anymore—they'd spent too much time together for that.
"How's your gambling skill these days?" he asked.
"Ah—well…"Tsunade paused, then answered with heroic emotional intelligence: "My luck's been bad."
Bad luck? More like no luck. She lost every single time.
Haruya didn't call her out. "Take me next time?"
Tsunade instantly frowned. "You're too young to get hooked on gambling. Wait until you're older."
She meant it.If Haruya didn't know she'd learned gambling at a young age from Hashirama Senju himself, he might've believed her nonsense.
"I'm not gambling—I'm making money."
Haruya explained, "Since you lose way more than you win, if you take me with you, I can just bet the opposite every time and we'll always come out ahead."
Tsunade blinked.Then her eyes sparkled with the pure, blinding light of cash.
What a genius! Why didn't I think of that?
She knelt, kissed his cheek excitedly, and said, "Smart boy! Here's your reward."
"Ugh—it's all saliva," Haruya complained.
Tsunade cackled—then, driven by pure rebellious impulse, doubled down and licked even more.
Haruya suddenly felt his whole face go wet.
Unforgivable.Just wait. In a few years, he'd pay her back for this. With interest.
"Tomorrow's Saturday. I'll take you to Tanshu Street near the village," Tsunade declared, already plotting. "We'll team up and clean the place out!"
For anyone else, she would've thrown a punch and barked, 'Are you questioning my gambling skills?!'But since it was Haruya, she accepted it instantly.
While Haruya enjoyed the bliss—and indignity—of Tsunade's "affection," Orochimaru was experiencing only one thing.
Pain.Excruciating, soul-deep pain.
This morning, Orochimaru had approached Shisui. Seeing how young the boy looked, he completely ignored Haruya's earlier warning.
Just like Jack in One Piece—charging in with a "Do you know who I am?" attitude.
At first, Orochimaru held the advantage thanks to his wealth of experience.
Then Shisui activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.Susanoo. Layered illusions.A barrage of mental slaughter.
Orochimaru couldn't handle it.
He was forced to reveal his identity.
Shisui froze the moment he recognized him—just long enough for Orochimaru to escape.
Once home, reality hit like a hammer.Everything Haruya had said… was true.
The Mangekyō Sharingan was terrifying.And if Shisui was this powerful at his age, what would he be like in a few years?
"I must obtain those eyes."Orochimaru licked his lips—only to taste blood. He coughed violently.
Not far away, Aburame Ryoma stared in shock.
Orochimaru—injured?Who in the village could possibly accomplish that?
After several seconds of stunned silence, Ryoma turned and headed toward Root headquarters. Danzo needed to hear this.
Orochimaru noticed him but didn't bother to act.His mind was consumed entirely by the Mangekyō.
He made up his mind—he'd speak to Danzo and get this moving.
Root.
"He was injured?"Danzo tightened his grip on his cane, deep in thought.
Unbelievable.Even without using Wood Release, he couldn't hope to injure Orochimaru.
"Any traces of the attacker?" he asked.
"None."Ryoma shook his head. "I didn't search deeper areas—I didn't want to alert him."
"In that case…" Danzo rose, a rare smile appearing. "Let's pay him a visit. Our ally is hurt—we must show concern."