A New Snake In The Shinobi World

Orochimaru's approach to meeting the Queen of Rōran was as direct as it was crude.

In any normal circumstance, a little humility would have sufficed for gaining an audience with the queen. Yet, Orochimaru discarded even the most basic courtesies.

He chose a more straightforward and forceful approach not out of necessity, but because he simply didn't want to waste time.

In Orochimaru's view, when one lacks power, it's acceptable to act submissive, even cowardly, if it serves a purpose. After all, survival often requires adaptability. But when one possesses strength, there is no need to lower oneself. Instead, one should exude authority—project an aura that declares, You're not even qualified to speak to me.

This kind of domineering attitude was not inherently Orochimaru's style, but here in Rōran, he felt it was the quickest route to his goal.

Queen Sara descended the steps of her palace, her luxurious robes flowing behind her. Several guards followed closely, surrounding Orochimaru as they moved into formation.

Unfazed, Orochimaru strode forward with complete disregard for the tension in the air. His golden eyes locked onto Sara, and with a confident smile, he made his demands.

"Talk?" Sara repeated, her tone laced with distaste. "You're guests from afar, and as queen, it's my duty to welcome you. But the manner in which you barged into my palace leaves much to be desired!"

"My apologies for the unpleasant approach," Orochimaru said indifferently, his voice calm but utterly unapologetic. "I dislike wasting time with unnecessary pleasantries."

"The queen is, of course, free to refuse my request," he continued, his tone shifting to one of veiled menace. "But you must also be prepared to face the consequences."

"Impudent fool! Who do you think you are?" barked the guard captain at Sara's side. He clenched his fists, his face red with fury. "Seize him!"

Sara remained silent, but her guards stepped forward, ready to attack.

"Wait!"

Before things could escalate, Kakashi, who had entered the hall behind Orochimaru, quickly intervened.

Though Orochimaru didn't move a muscle, his silence seemed to grant tacit approval. Kakashi stepped forward, bowing slightly toward the queen as he began to speak in a measured tone.

As Kakashi explained, Sara's expression shifted. Her initial look of disgust melted into one of surprise, then shock, and finally, fear.

"How… how is that possible?" Sara murmured, her voice trembling slightly.

Loulan, though located in the Land of Wind, was an independent city and not under the jurisdiction of Sunagakure. Isolated from much of the outside world, it had little knowledge of Orochimaru's reputation. ꞦÃŊ∅ʙÈᶊ

But Kakashi's words carried weight. Unlike Orochimaru, Kakashi had likely interacted with Sara before, making him a figure she could trust.

"Mr. Kakashi, are you saying… he could destroy this entire city?" Sara asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

Behind his mask, Kakashi sighed deeply, a trace of helplessness in his voice. "Not just this city, Your Majesty. Even the entirety of Sunagakure itself would be powerless to stop him."

Sara's breath hitched, her disbelief evident. "How… how could someone hold such power?"

Kakashi's gaze didn't waver. "Please trust me, Queen Sara. Lord Orochimaru's strength is far beyond what ordinary shinobi can comprehend."

Sara looked at Kakashi, searching his face for any sign of exaggeration or deceit. But there was none. She knew Kakashi to be a man of integrity and that made his words all the more terrifying.

Though still skeptical, she couldn't gamble with the safety of her people. With great reluctance, she gave in. "Very well," she said softly. "Please follow me."

Orochimaru's lips curled into a faint smile as he followed her lead.

---

Inside the Queen's Palace

While the others—Kakashi, Team 7, Kushina, and Reige—waited outside, Orochimaru met with Sara in private.

Seated across from the queen, Orochimaru got straight to the point. "The dragon vein," he said. "Its power is unique, and it intrigues me. Since I happen to have some time, I thought I'd stop by and examine it."

His tone was casual, almost as if he were talking about a stroll through his own garden.

But Sara's expression remained guarded. "The dragon vein is the lifeblood of this land," she said firmly. "It contains chakra unlike any other. If tampered with, it could potentially destroy not just Rōran, but the entire earth!"

"Destroy the entire earth?" Orochimaru repeated with a chuckle. "You're overestimating its capabilities. As long as it's chakra, its power is inherently limited. At best, it might have the capacity to level this city—but the whole earth? That's absurd."

His casual dismissal of such a dire warning sent a chill down Sara's spine.

"Is… is that so?" she murmured, uncertainty flickering across her face.

"Indeed," Orochimaru replied. "Now, how long will it take to grant me access to the dragon vein?"

Sara hesitated before answering. "How long will your… studies take?"

"That depends," Orochimaru said with a shrug. "It could be three days, or three months. It all depends on the complexity of the dragon vein."

Sara bit her lip, clearly torn. "In that case, give me time to evacuate the citizens—"

"No need," Orochimaru interrupted with a wave of his hand. "I'm only here to study the dragon vein, not to harm it. There's no danger to anyone."

After some negotiation, Sara finally relented and agreed to lead Orochimaru to the dragon vein.

---

Back in the palace, the rest of the group was treated to Sara's hospitality while they waited. Kushina, in particular, seized the opportunity to speak with Reige and learn more about her future daughter.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru followed Sara deep into Rōran, his mind already racing with possibilities.

The ability to manipulate time and space was exceedingly rare. Space-based techniques like the Flying Thunder God, Kamui, and summoning jutsu were already formidable. But time manipulation? That was a realm he had yet to explore.

The dragon vein's potential to bridge both time and space made it an irresistible subject of study.

---

Elsewhere, the Third Great Ninja War raged on.

While Orochimaru delved deeper into Loulan, the infamous Battle of Kannabi Bridge unfolded on the Iwagakure frontlines.

In this decisive conflict, Minato lived up to his moniker of the Yellow Flash. With unmatched speed and precision, he single-handedly eliminated fifty Iwa Jonin and forced thousands of enemy ninjas into retreat, securing a crucial victory for Konoha.

But the war came at a steep cost.

Before the war, Konoha had a force of nearly 40,000 shinobi. By its end, fewer than 20,000 remained. Despite their best efforts, they were struggling to hold their own against Kirigakure's relentless offensives.

---

Back in Konoha

Hiruzen exhaled deeply, releasing a long trail of smoke from his pipe. His gaze was heavy with exhaustion as he addressed an elder advisor.

"So, have you truly decided to let Tsunade succeed as the Fourth Hokage?" the advisor asked.

Hiruzen sighed. "It seems I have no other choice. Inform her immediately so she can prepare herself."

***

For every 100 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on patreon to read 30+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!