Shimizu's blunt request left Orochimaru momentarily silent.
Openly asking to take away someone else's student—especially his student—clearly touched a nerve.
After all, Megumi was a disciple of one of the Legendary Sannin. Was Orochimaru really supposed to just hand her over because Shimizu asked?
…Then again, considering the relationship between the two of them…
Maybe it wasn't entirely impossible.
With that thought, Shimizu found himself watching Orochimaru with a hint of anticipation.
Come on… let's see what this "relationship" is really worth.
"And why does Uzuki-kun bring this up now," Orochimaru finally asked, his tone calm yet probing, "Is there a particular reason?"
Shimizu had long prepared for this question.
"Recently, the Uchiha clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, has been recalling Uchiha members from various departments across Konoha back into the Military Police Force."
"Oh?" Orochimaru's interest was piqued. "That sounds like quite a significant move."
"I asked Fugaku about it," Shimizu continued smoothly. "He said the clan suffered heavy losses during the war with Iwagakure and urgently needs to replenish the police force."
"Take Uchiha Obito, for example—he left Minato's team not long ago and joined the police force."
"So," Orochimaru said with a faint, knowing smile, "you're acting as Fugaku's envoy this time. I didn't expect you to be so… helpful."
Shimizu remained unfazed. He had expected this level of suspicion—Orochimaru was never one to accept things at face value.
"Well, Fugaku was once Shisui's teacher, and I think quite highly of Shisui myself. With that connection, and since the clan head personally asked for my help… it wouldn't look good for me to refuse."
"I see…"
Orochimaru still hadn't agreed.
So Shimizu raised the stakes.
"I won't take advantage of you for free," he added. "I can give you another portion of the Hero Water."
"And if your research yields results in the future, that portion will be yours to use as you please."
"I had originally planned to teach them a bit more after finishing this phase of my research…" Orochimaru murmured, as if weighing the matter. "But since the Uchiha are undergoing such changes, I suppose I can agree."
At last, he nodded.
Though it was clear he hadn't been fully convinced by Shimizu's explanation—the deciding factor was that extra portion of Hero Water.
"Good enough," Shimizu said.
Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly paused and asked, "Did you gain anything from your trip to Takigakure?"
Orochimaru shook his head, a rare trace of regret flickering across his face.
"I thought a heavily injured Seven-Tails would've been an easy catch for you…"
There was a brief silence before Orochimaru spoke again.
"There's a very powerful shinobi in Takigakure."
"Isn't the Hero Water supposed to increase chakra tenfold? Even an ordinary jonin, with that kind of boost—"
Orochimaru shook his head slowly. "Not that kind of crude strength. A true powerhouse."
A true powerhouse?
Someone even Orochimaru acknowledged as strong?
Takigakure had someone like that?
Then why hadn't there been any mention of such a figure during the previous mission?
Suddenly, a fleeting shadow from Shimizu's memory surfaced.
…No way.
Don't tell me Orochimaru actually lost?
The thought was almost unbelievable.
To force Orochimaru to back down, the opponent would have to be at least Kage-level… perhaps even stronger.
"That person discovered me before I could act," Orochimaru continued, recalling the encounter. "He warned me not to take another step forward."
Knowing Orochimaru's temperament, Shimizu raised an eyebrow. "And you just listened? Didn't you fight?"
"…He used Wood Release," Orochimaru said quietly. "And he wore a white spiral mask."
For a split second, it felt like a thunderclap went off in Shimizu's mind.
No way—
It was him.
Tobi.
So the one who had secretly observed him stealing the Hero Water before… was him too?
Which meant…
Madara—that old monster—was also lurking in Takigakure?
"Surprised, Uzuki-kun?" Orochimaru asked, noticing the shift in Shimizu's expression.
"…Of course I am," Shimizu replied after a brief pause. "When I went to Takigakure before, there was no such person. And now you're telling me that out of nowhere, a shinobi capable of using Wood Release appeared and stopped you from taking the Seven-Tails…"
"At first, I was just as shocked," Orochimaru admitted. "But I still wanted to test the strength of Wood Release."
That much was expected. Orochimaru wasn't the type to shrink back at the mere mention of a name—he would always probe his opponent head-on to gauge their true ability.
"But at the same time," he continued, "I recalled a certain individual—a shinobi who wore a white spiral mask and used Wood Release—who once annihilated an entire ANBU unit led by Minato."
"With a record like that, their strength speaks for itself."
"So I chose not to act rashly."
Shimizu couldn't help but feel a trace of regret. The two hadn't actually fought.
"He's got quite the nerve," Shimizu said with a faint sigh. "Not afraid you'd return and report Takigakure's situation to Konoha?"
"He knows Konoha very well," Orochimaru replied, his tone turning slightly bitter. "And he knew exactly why I went to Takigakure."
That was the problem.
Orochimaru couldn't win outright on his own—and at the same time, he couldn't simply report the situation back to Konoha either.
If this matter were pursued to its roots, regardless of how that Wood Release came to be, the fact remained that he had gone there with the intent to seize the Seven-Tails. That alone was enough to damage the diplomatic relations between the two nations.
It was, in essence, a highly sensitive diplomatic issue.
"That's why he was so confident," Orochimaru concluded with a quiet sigh.
While Orochimaru felt constrained and frustrated, Shimizu's thoughts began racing.
Now that he knew the whereabouts of Tobi—and possibly even Madara—his first instinct was to inform Jiraiya and the Third Hokage immediately, gather a large force, and eliminate them on the spot.
But then came the problem.
Where would his information come from?
A coincidence? A hidden informant? Or would he just tell the truth?
That he had been secretly meeting with Orochimaru all this time?
…That was far too sensitive.
Handle it poorly, and he'd end up being interrogated by the Intelligence Division.
And his memories… were not something that could withstand scrutiny.
Until he found a perfect explanation, this information had to be suppressed.
Still…
Orochimaru hadn't told anyone else—so why tell him?
"Fortunately," Orochimaru said, breaking his train of thought, "your strength has already reached a level comparable to the Sannin."
"So I'd like to ask you for another favor."
…Ah.
Understanding dawned instantly.
So that was it—Orochimaru wanted him as muscle.
No wonder he had agreed so readily to let Megumi go.
"When you're free, let's make another trip to Takigakure," Orochimaru said calmly. "Just the two of us."
"…Fine," Shimizu agreed, though inwardly he could only brace himself. Then he added with a teasing tone, "You really are obsessed with Jinchūriki, aren't you?"
"The study of Jinchūriki has always been one of my goals," Orochimaru replied without hesitation. "And such materials are rare opportunities."
"And the Seven-Tails happens to be weak," he added with a cold snort. "I don't intend to miss this chance."
"I get it…" Shimizu said with a quiet sigh.
"Here—consider this an advance payment." Orochimaru suddenly tossed a sheet of paper toward him.
Shimizu caught it, glancing down.
It was a missing page from the Second Hokage's notes.
A genjutsu—
Bringer-of-Darkness Technique.
Not bad… though, for now, he had no real use for it.