Naruto: Reborn as Orochimaru

Chapter 33: Trap

Orochimaru's straightforward demeanor made Tsunade feel a bit uneasy, but she quickly brushed it off and caught up with him.

At the new barbecue restaurant, the food was mouth-wateringly delicious. The tender, juicy meat was a welcome change from the battlefield rations they had eaten over the past ten days.

Even Orochimaru, usually composed and reserved, found himself indulging, his appetite larger than usual. After all, they had been out in the field for quite some time, moving between the battlefield and the

Tsunade, equally curious, jumped to her feet and dashed outside to investigate. It didn't take long for her to piece together what had happened.

The war had ended, and Konoha had emerged victorious. The village's ninja forces were returning, and the villagers had organized a large-scale welcoming ceremony for them. Konoha's streets were now filled with returning shinobi, greeted by their emotional families.

Many families embraced their loved ones, their tears falling freely, overwhelmed with joy and relief. But not everyone was so lucky. For some, their family members had returned in body bags, leading to a different kind of tear-filled reunion one filled with sorrow and heartbreak.

Even though Konoha had won the battle, war was always accompanied by pain and loss. Tsunade watched the scene, a complicated expression on her face.

"It's strange…" she murmured. "Even after a victory, it still feels so sad."

Orochimaru, who had followed her outside, stood next to her. "This kind of war will go on for many years. You'll get used to it."

Tsunade looked up at him, her brow furrowed. "Will it really last for many more years?"

Orochimaru nodded without hesitation. "Of course. You didn't think that the end of this war would suddenly bring peace to the world, did you?"

He spoke with such calm certainty, but the truth in his words weighed heavily on Tsunade. 

In his mind, Orochimaru could already picture the endless conflicts to come the Second Great Ninja War, the Third, and even the Fourth. Corpses would continue to pile up in every war, and peace would always remain elusive.

Tsunade remained silent, still processing his words when Orochimaru suddenly spoke again, his voice low. 

"Strange... Why hasn't the Second Hokage returned yet?"

Tsunade snapped out of her thoughts, blinking in confusion. "That's true. Not only hasn't my granduncle returned, but Hiruzen-sensei is missing too!"

Her concern rising, she ran up to a nearby ninja who had just returned. "Sayama-senpai!"

The man turned at the sound of her voice, his expression brightening. "Ah, little Tsunade! What can I do for you?"

"Do you know where Lord Hokage is? Didn't he come back with the rest of the troops?"

"Oh, the Second Hokage?" Sayama paused, then smiled. "Lord Hokage and several other higher-ups went to the border to sign an alliance agreement with the Land of Lightning. They'll be back in two days."

"Oh, I see! Thank you, Sayama-senpai!" Tsunade replied cheerfully, her initial worry fading.

But while Tsunade seemed reassured, Orochimaru's mind was spinning.

The Second Hokage went to sign an alliance agreement with the Land of Lightning? He thought, frowning. Why does that sound so familiar...?

Then, in a sudden moment of clarity, it hit him.

The Kinkaku Force Coup! The Gold and Silver Brothers!

The Second Hokage was about to walk straight into a deadly trap.

The Second Hokage is going to die.