"I don't have that kind of free time," Orochimaru said with a subtle smirk, turning his teacup in his hands. "Though I find human behavior fascinating from time to time. Jiraiya asked me recently why you seem so melancholy when you're alone. That oaf couldn't understand it, but I saw the pattern immediately." His golden eyes fixed on Tsunade. "It's because Shin hasn't truly committed to you, has he?"
Tsunade went still, her fingers tightening around her own cup. She hadn't realized her feelings were so transparent. She studied his face, trying to discern his intentions.
"Why are we discussing this?" she asked. "What's your angle here?"
"No angle," Orochimaru replied, his expression neutral. "People assume I'm always scheming, but sometimes I'm merely observing. You don't have to tell me anything. Your response already confirmed my hypothesis."
Tsunade hesitated, weighing her options. Orochimaru was brilliant but dangerous, sharing vulnerabilities with him wasn't without risk. And yet, she found herself wanting to talk about it with someone who might understand the complexities.
"You're right," she finally admitted, the tension leaving her shoulders. "The village gossips about us as if we're officially together. He treats me with kindness and respect, but there's always this... distance. We've never defined what we are to each other."
She looked up. "How did you figure it out? Was it that obvious?"
"I notice patterns others miss," Orochimaru said, setting down his cup. "You walked through the village holding his hand that day, quite the public display. Yet afterward, there was no contentment in your demeanor. And Shin still spends most of his non-working hours at his family's home rather than with you."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "You've been watching him?"
"Quite regularly," Orochimaru admitted without a trace of shame. "There are three people in this village who pay particularly close attention to him."
He held up one slender finger. "You, obviously."
A second finger joined the first. "His younger brother, Minato, who practically worships him."
A third finger completed the count. "And me. My interest in him exceeds even that of Hiruzen-sensei or Danzō."
"Why?" Tsunade demanded, leaning forward. "What is Shin to you?"
Orochimaru's expression softened into something almost like respect. "I don't think you've fully grasped the extent of his intellect."
"What do you mean?"
"Three years ago, I came across a pharmaceutical study he'd conducted," Orochimaru explained. "We were working in the same field, but his approach was revolutionary, it challenged foundational principles I'd accepted for years."
"I thought I'd misunderstood the formula at first. And then there was the Revitalization Technique. When I analyzed its structure..." He shook his head slightly. "It was then I realized we might be kindred minds."
"That's absurd," Tsunade interjected sharply. "He is nothing like you."
"Poor choice of words," Orochimaru conceded with a thin smile. "Not in personality or values, perhaps. But in terms of intellectual approach, the way his mind works through problems, there are similarities."
He tilted his head slightly. "He's known about my occasional surveillance for some time. He's careful around me."
"Of course he is," Tsunade scoffed. "Anyone would be unsettled by someone secretly watching them. It's invasive."
"Not in the way you're suggesting," Orochimaru replied, unperturbed by her criticism. "His caution is professional, not personal. He recognizes another researcher's interest."
He leaned forward slightly. "Through this observation, I've developed insights into his character that might provide a different perspective than what you've seen. As a detached third party, I notice things a person emotionally involved might miss."
"And what exactly have you noticed?" Tsunade asked, her irritation fading into reluctant curiosity.
A rare, genuine smile crossed Orochimaru's face. "That he values emotional bonds far more deeply than most realize. But you already know this, don't you?"
Tsunade nodded slowly, acknowledging the point. "He's always been very good to his parents, and even better to his younger brother. It makes people envious."
"But," Orochimaru continued, "before this past year, did you ever see him extend that same warmth to anyone outside his family?"
"Uh…" Tsunade started to respond, then stopped, her brow furrowing as she considered.
"You might mention yourself, or Kushina, or your brother," Orochimaru added, "but those relationships are recent developments. If you think back further..."
"No," Tsunade admitted quietly. "He was always polite, professional, but distant. But why was he like that?"
"Because of his past," Orochimaru said. "When survival is your primary concern for years, emotional connections become liabilities. You become strategic in all your interactions, you have to be."
"To him, emotions were always unnecessary. At that time, he couldn't truly fall in love with anyone. He couldn't afford to trust easily. When your position is precarious, every relationship becomes a calculation. Who can help you? Who might harm you? What resources can you access through this person?"
Listening to Orochimaru's analysis, Tsunade wanted to argue. But the more she interacted with Shin, the more she realized he was right.
What was this, some kind of unspoken understanding between men?
"He used his position at the hospital strategically. He endured Koharu's condescension while making himself indispensable to her. He demonstrated just enough value to Hiruzen-sensei to make elimination an unacceptable loss. He carefully cultivated his image with Sakumo as someone who perseveres despite adversity."
Tsunade felt a chill spread through her as Orochimaru articulated what she'd sensed but never fully acknowledged.
"All of it was calculation and manipulation. I've found it fascinating to watch him navigate such complex social terrain without access to the privileged information that others had. His instincts for people's motivations are remarkable."
He paused, studying her reaction. "These meticulous strategies, layered upon each other, kept him alive through circumstances that would have broken most people. And eventually, they allowed him to reach his current position."
"And you, Tsunade, were the most important piece in his strategy."
"Me?" Tsunade felt her defenses rise immediately. She recognized the dangerous territory they were entering. Was Orochimaru trying to poison her relationship with Shin? To what end?
"You were at the center of his most careful calculations," Orochimaru said, his voice taking on an edge.
"Stop," Tsunade said, anger flaring in her eyes. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"On the contrary," Orochimaru replied calmly, unaffected by her rising temper. "I understand perfectly. But what I find most interesting is the one factor he failed to account for in all his planning, he never anticipated that he would genuinely fall in love with you."
The moment Orochimaru said that, all of Tsunade's anger evaporated. She stood there in stunned silence. A warmth spread through her chest, anchoring her to the moment. She felt her breath steady, her mind clear.
"What did you just say?" she asked quietly.