164 Physical Examination

Drip, drop...

Fresh blood dripped onto the long conference table, mixing with flesh and scattering in all directions.

A look of astonishment flashed across Jiraiya's eyes. Mirroring the thoughts of the head family elders, he had assumed Orochimaru would keep the Byakugan for future research. After all, Neji clearly had not yet been branded with the Caged Bird seal, making these eyes possess at least some research value.

Yet, he never expected Orochimaru to destroy the Byakugan in such a clean and direct manner. Why? Was it to draw a complete line of division?

Jiraiya glanced at the unconscious Neji and nodded inwardly.

A Hyuga branch family member who had lost his Byakugan would undoubtedly endure all sorts of strange and alienating gazes within the clan. Making a clean break early on was probably for the best.

Amidst gazes filled with various speculations, Orochimaru remained completely unperturbed. Unbothered, he pulled out a tissue and wiped the bloodstains from his palm.

After further disinfection, he retrieved a small culture tank from a scroll and efficiently replaced Neji's eyes with a pair of intact, ordinary ones.

Naturally, these were just standard eyes.

"Tsunade, handle the aftermath."

Orochimaru curled the corner of his mouth and handed the unconscious Neji over.

Had it been a matter of mere medical ninjutsu, he was confident he was second to none. However, Neji was still young and not even a shinobi yet, requiring much more delicate care.

In this regard, a traditional physician like Tsunade was undoubtedly much better suited for the task.

The head family elder watched Neji, who was now receiving care from Tsunade, wearing a grim expression and remaining entirely silent.

Orochimaru's sequence of actions clearly intended to completely sever any possibility of Neji remaining connected to the Hyuga clan. It was utterly infuriating.

His prized dojutsu bloodline limit had been treated like garbage and destroyed on a whim—a supreme humiliation, even though he knew those Byakugan were already half-ruined the moment they were extracted.

...

The meeting thus came to an end.

Nara Shikaku, who had spectated the entire ordeal with great amusement, felt deeply satisfied as he departed alongside the gloomy head family elder, Hyuga Hiashi, and Uchiha Fugaku.

Upon stepping out of the Hokage's office, Nara Shikaku paused slightly, his peripheral vision sweeping toward the long table.

He knew very well that as one meeting ended, another was about to begin.

Orochimaru had gained nothing from the previous exchange of interests, and the only condition he had proposed to the Hyuga clan entirely served the village's interests. That simply did not fit his character.

Chances were that whatever Orochimaru truly wanted, the Hyuga clan could not provide; only the village could.

As for the notion that Orochimaru had turned over a new leaf and become entirely public-spirited, Shikaku wouldn't have believed it even if he used his son's big toe to think.

It was just a pity that he wouldn't be able to stay and witness the upcoming bargaining.

Taking one last glance at Hizashi and his son who remained behind, Nara Shikaku stepped out of the Hokage's office.

Taking a puff from his pipe, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, spoke in a slow, deep voice, "Orochimaru, what is it that you want?"

Much like Nara Shikaku, he suspected Orochimaru had alternative motives.

"Tsk tsk tsk, old man, to think you'd view me in such a light."

Orochimaru chuckled, feigning resentment before shifting his tone. "However, this time, there is indeed something."

Everyone present showed no surprise, instead wearing expressions that clearly said, 'As expected.'

Staring at Orochimaru, the Third demanded, "Let's hear it."

"It's just a minor matter."

Orochimaru pulled a document from a scroll, waved it before everyone's eyes, and smiled. "There are a few tests outlined here. I want every shinobi in the village to undergo them."

"Out of the question!" Before the Third could speak, Utatane Koharu flatly rejected the proposal.

Testing every shinobi in the village was an immense workload and would severely disrupt normal operations.

Raising an eyebrow, Orochimaru offered, "Then I'll take a step back. Most of the shinobi... say, those under the age of twenty-five, how about that?"

Koharu continued relentlessly, "That's still a massive number."

Ignoring her entirely, Orochimaru shifted his gaze directly to the Third.

At the end of the day, pushing forward the previously discussed plan relied almost entirely on individual will, and he could halt it at any moment.

This wasn't a negotiation; it was something already decided from the onset, leaving no room for refusal.

"I can agree to this."

Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped his fingers on the table and said in a heavy voice, "But such a matter requires a reason. What exactly is your objective?"

Meeting the probing gazes of the others, Orochimaru smiled.

"Reasons are easy to find. For instance, the newly appointed hospital director needs to conduct a large-scale physical examination..."

A vein throbbed on Tsunade's forehead. That bastard Orochimaru only ever knew how to dump troublesome chores onto her.

"As for my objective, we can discuss that another day."

Orochimaru answered vaguely, unwilling to elaborate further.

This screening would filter out the vast majority of shinobi incapable of practicing the 'Spiritual Transformation Technique'. However, whether he could actually find what he was looking for remained uncertain, and it was far too early to speak of it now.

Nor was he afraid the old man would refuse. In the words of the genie, it was a seller's market anyway; whether they wanted it or not wasn't up to them to decide.

And indeed, facts proved him right. Without Orochimaru even needing to resort to threats, the Third agreed, planning to cloak the required tests under the guise of a routine physical examination.

Tsunade shot Orochimaru a fierce glare, deeply unhappy. This was obviously going to be a grueling task.

Yet, having promised Jiraiya beforehand, it was too late to back out now.

"The next peace negotiation meeting is in two days. Do not forget to attend," the Third reminded him.

"There is no need for me to attend such a meeting."

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "The remaining ninja of the Cloud Village delegation are standing at the edge of a cliff, clutching at their absolute last straw. They will not let go no matter what. Talking to them is nothing more than a waste of breath."

The old man's intention was clearly to have him disrupt the meeting, flex the prestige of the Legendary Sannin, and intimidate the negotiating party.

However, such antics felt beneath him, and the execution was far too troublesome. If anything went wrong, someone from the Cloud delegation might actually end up dead.

The Third frowned. "Then what do you intend to do?"

"Naturally, I'll take a trip to Cloud Village."

Orochimaru licked his lips with his tongue and smiled. "Three diplomatic missions, and all three ran into trouble. I intend to discuss these issues directly with the Raikage."

Reacting quickly, the Third asked with suspicion, "You suspect there are also agents of the masked man planted inside Cloud Village?"

"Obvious."

Orochimaru nodded slightly. "The Fourth Raikage certainly won't sit idly by once his own village faces such threats."

Saying this, the corners of his mouth curled into an even wider arc. "As for how willfully I might disrupt the peace talks, you are free to spin the narrative however you please."

The Third closed his eyes, and Koharu turned her head away, both wearing awkward expressions.

Only Danzo's eyes flashed with a peculiar, imperceptible light—though it could never escape Orochimaru's sharp perception.

"Heh heh heh..."

The same cold chuckle echoed in the depths of Orochimaru's mind.

Danzo, you surely cannot guess why I specifically requested to leave the village right now.