Karin laughed so hard she nearly doubled over, as if Orochimaru's death were nothing more than a ridiculous joke—an anticlimactic farce.
Serpent Kabuto's distorted face flickered with something complicated. He seemed as though he wanted to object, to defend his former master—but in the end, he merely shook his head in silence.
Perhaps, deep down, even he felt that compared to Orochimaru's towering ambition and legendary power, his end had been… underwhelming.
Across the ninja world, many who already held no fondness for Orochimaru couldn't help but laugh as well.
Even the younger "Demon Child" Karin watching the Heavenly Screen burst into giggles.
Future-me is absolutely right!
Orochimaru died way too casually. No grandeur at all!
Only the real Orochimaru stood there with an increasingly dark expression. With every replay of his "death," and every merciless jab from Karin, his so-called legendary villain aura was sinking lower and lower.
He gave a cold snort—but did not argue.
After all, the one who died up there… was indeed him.
Konoha – Hokage's Office
Jiraiya had initially chuckled too.
"Orochimaru's really fallen far, huh? Getting mocked by his own subordinates like that… what a disgrace to the Sannin!"
But before he could finish laughing—
BAM!
Tsunade slammed her palm onto the desk.
"Enough, Jiraiya!" she barked sharply, her expression more severe than ever—almost anxious.
Jiraiya blinked in surprise.
Why was she reacting like this? She wasn't exactly fond of Orochimaru either.
Tsunade ignored him and instead turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been silent ever since Kabuto's story began. His face had grown paler with each passing moment.
She inhaled slowly before speaking in a steady but heavy tone.
"Old man… do you want to step out for a while? What comes next might be… difficult."
It wasn't mockery.
It was concern.
The upcoming events would likely tie directly into the timeline where Konoha suffered major upheaval—events rooted in problems left unresolved during Hiruzen's administration.
Hiruzen raised his head. His face was bloodless; his eyes carried exhaustion, guilt, and pain.
But he shook his head firmly.
"I'm fine… Don't spare me. What must be faced… must be faced. I bear responsibility."
Jiraiya's humor evaporated.
A bad feeling crept into his chest.
"What's wrong, Tsunade?" he asked quietly. "It's just Karin mocking Orochimaru."
Tsunade shot him a sharp look.
"Idiot. You're only hearing the laughter. Did you notice where she is?"
Jiraiya paused.
Tsunade continued rapidly:
"She's sitting on Hokage Rock. In Konoha."
Silence.
"That means Uchiha Sasuke—and likely his Team Taka—have infiltrated the village."
Her voice hardened.
"Think about the timeline. This is when Sasuke attacked Konoha. When Sakura was forced into rebellion. When the old man lost an arm."
Jiraiya's face drained of color.
He remembered.
"You're saying… Sasuke is attacking again? And now we add Karin and Kabuto to the equation?"
"Yes," Tsunade replied grimly. "We don't know the full outcome yet. But the Heavenly Screen already showed Konoha taking heavy damage."
"Against Sasuke's squad, plus Karin—whose allegiance is unclear—and Kabuto, who's been digging up graves and mastering Edo Tensei… what does Konoha even have left to counter that?"
She lowered her voice further, glancing at Hiruzen.
"And where did all of this begin, Jiraiya?"
"The Uchiha clan's annihilation. The distrust of the Uzumaki. The indulgence—and later loss of control—of Orochimaru. Root's treatment of Yakushi Nono and Kabuto."
"How many of these tragedies unfolded under the old man's watch? How many did he permit—or fail to stop?"
Jiraiya had no answer.
Tsunade was right.
Many of the powerful enemies and unstable variables Konoha now faced were bitter fruit borne from its own past.
And as former Hokage, Hiruzen could not escape his share of blame.
To watch the consequences of those decisions unfold before his eyes—
That was punishment enough.
The atmosphere in the office turned frigid.
The earlier levity vanished, replaced by sobering dread.
Back to the Heavenly Screen
Kabuto regarded Karin carefully.
"Where is Uchiha Sasuke? Wasn't he here for revenge? I don't see him."
There was calculation in his tone.
Karin's red eyes gleamed.
She leaned forward slightly, clearly entertained.
"What? You planning to kill him and 'avenge' Orochimaru?"
Her voice carried neither hostility nor loyalty—just curiosity.
Kabuto offered a "gentle" smile that looked unsettling on his twisted face.
"If you intend to assist him, I have no objection."
He was probing her stance.
Karin immediately scoffed.
"Your smile's way too fake."
She pouted in open disdain.
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