Chapter 29 – The Return of Konoha's White Fang, Orochimaru's Interest in Seiji
Seiji spotted a familiar figure in the crowd—Tsunade.
She seemed to be diagnosing someone, and standing beside her was Shizune, about the same age as Seiji.
"Seiji."
From behind the wooden gate, a boy with fluffy white hair stepped out and walked toward the wooden fence in front of the courtyard.
It was Kakashi Hatake.
"I came to check on you—see why you were absent today," Seiji said, offering a casual excuse.
"Nothing serious," Kakashi replied curtly.
His voice was distant, his eyes bloodshot with fatigue.
"Since it's your friend calling for you, why not invite him in?"
A voice called from within the house.
"…Yes, Father."
Kakashi stepped aside.
"Come in, Seiji."
"Sorry to intrude," Seiji replied politely, following Kakashi through the doorway.
---
The house was unexpectedly crowded.
Inside were Tsunade, Shizune, and even Orochimaru.
Two of the Legendary Sannin were present.
And at the back of the room sat a man with long silver hair tied in a ponytail. His body was wrapped in bandages, some of which were stained red with seeping blood.
Sakumo Hatake.
"Lord Sakumo," Seiji greeted respectfully, bowing slightly.
Then he turned and greeted the other two Sannin with equal deference.
"It's been a while, Lady Tsunade."
"Oh, it's you—the little Uchiha brat," Tsunade said, narrowing her eyes.
This kid's physical development was even better than she had expected.
In such a short time, he already had the physique of someone stronger than most his age.
"No need to be so formal," Sakumo said with a gentle smile. "I'm Kakashi's father, and since you two are friends, treat this like your own home."
It was clear from his demeanor that Sakumo was a kind and mild-natured man—
Perhaps that's why he had created such a ridiculous technique as "One Thousand Years of Death", and even passed it down to Kakashi.
---
"Uchiha, hmm…"
Orochimaru licked his lips slightly, his nostrils flaring, revealing the purple markings on his face and the earrings dangling from his lobes.
He had already heard of Uchiha Seiji from Danzo.
Now, he glanced at Tsunade, who was busy tending to Sakumo, and then at Seiji again.
"So, how does it feel to be in Konoha?" he asked.
At this point in history, only two foreign-born children had ever officially entered the Ninja Academy and qualified to become shinobi:
Uchiha Seiji, from the Land of Lightning, and Kushina Uzumaki, from the fallen Land of Whirlpools.
"It's been eye-opening, Lord Orochimaru," Seiji replied calmly.
"Only after coming to Konoha did I realize how many incredible ninjutsu exist. If I have the chance, I'd like to learn as many as I can."
Back in the remote village near the border of the Land of Lightning, even basic jutsu like the Clone Technique were inaccessible to him.
But in this world ruled by the strong, only power could ensure survival amidst endless chaos.
"Is that so?"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed with interest.
He had expected Seiji to gush about Konoha's prosperity—to say the air here was sweeter, the moon rounder, the people kinder, as most children from impoverished backgrounds tended to do when taken in.
After all, Seiji's current life was worlds apart from the one he'd left behind.
"Hehehe… What a shame, though," Orochimaru said in a silky voice.
"Everyone's time and energy are limited. In a lifetime, one can only master a handful of jutsu at best."
It was a truth he knew too well—he himself had once dreamed of mastering them all.
But human lifespans were finite.
"I want to live longer," Seiji said.
His statement caused the room to go silent for a beat.
Only by living longer, he reasoned, could one learn more.
It was a simple logic—but startling to hear from a child.
Even the adults were momentarily surprised.
Everyone dreams, at some point, of escaping death.
But to say it out loud, and so bluntly? That was rare.
Though Seiji had spoken with clarity and conviction, not many people took his words seriously.
Everyone present simply thought he was still a child, speaking nonsense, the way kids often shout about wanting to become Hokage someday.
"What do kids know? When it's time to die, you just go with it. Living too long isn't necessarily a good thing," Tsunade waved dismissively and told Shizune to pack up the medical equipment.
Shizune stepped forward, pulling out a sealing scroll to store away the tools.
As this happened, Seiji quietly observed their reactions.
In the shinobi world, even with technology progressing every year, most people's mindsets remained deeply conservative—some might say rigid.
For all the world's advancement over a thousand years, even Naruto, the man who dreamed of peace, never once suggested abolishing the outdated feudal system of daimyōs.
Instead, he bowed to it.
Even the Hyuga clan's cruel caged bird seal, which treated people like property, was never abolished—still enforced right under Naruto's nose.
Living longer… even achieving immortality… was a thought few dared to entertain.
Except for one person.
Seiji could feel it: Orochimaru's gaze, sharp and cold like a serpent's, fixated on him.
"…No, Tsunade," Orochimaru said suddenly, "He's interesting."
This was the first time Orochimaru had encountered someone who shared his obsession with eternal life.
He continued asking Seiji a few more questions—one after another—and Seiji answered each one carefully.
"…That guy Orochimaru…"
Tsunade frowned. It was strange to see someone as pragmatic as Orochimaru engaging in such a strange conversation with a child who hadn't even become a genin yet.
And they weren't here for small talk—they had important business.
"Sakumo-senpai, focus on recovering. Ignore the noise spreading through the village," Tsunade finally said.
After all, if even someone of Sakumo's strength was forced to choose between the mission and his comrades, the mission must've been unimaginably dangerous.
"…I understand."
Though he looked worn and weary, Sakumo still smiled in response.
"This wasn't Father's fault!" Kakashi suddenly said, his voice sharp.
"Anyone who doesn't value their comrades… isn't even worthy of being called a ninja!"
"…Enough, Kakashi," Sakumo's smile faded. "I failed the mission. Being criticized is part of the consequences."
Kakashi wanted to argue further, but Sakumo added:
"Go outside with your friend. I have some things to discuss with Tsunade and Orochimaru."
"…Yes, Father."
Kakashi lowered his head, still unable to understand what, exactly, his father had done wrong.
Why did even Sakumo himself believe he was at fault?
Seiji understood the meaning behind Sakumo's words—it was a polite way of telling them to leave—so he followed Kakashi out of the house.
Only when they had fully exited the compound did Seiji feel Orochimaru's piercing gaze fade away.
"Orochimaru will remember me now," Seiji thought to himself.
He had deliberately said those words to leave a lasting impression on Orochimaru—to form a connection.
Walking alongside a snake meant danger, but it also meant opportunity.
With the Third Shinobi World War approaching, Seiji needed to grow stronger fast—or at least get his hands on a life-saving jutsu.
And Orochimaru, Konoha's greatest scientific mind, held knowledge of countless forbidden techniques.
He was nearly impossible to kill, surviving multiple "deaths" and coming back again and again.
Not even Kabuto's master, Nonō Yakushi, could match him in this field.
More importantly, Orochimaru had unmatched experience in human experimentation, and access to information on both Cursed Seals and Sage Arts.
As for other paths to acquiring Sage Mode?
Tsunade wouldn't accept him.
Jiraiya only trained the Child of Prophecy.
So if Seiji wanted Sage Chakra, his only realistic option was Orochimaru.
In the future, with the threat of the Ōtsutsuki looming, without Sage Mode or advanced taijutsu, even landing a hit would be impossible.
And Sage Mode didn't just enhance ninjutsu—it also…
Boosted the physical body.
---