"It seems you've misunderstood something."
Orochimaru curled his lips into a cold, ironic smile.
"Putting aside the risks, the physical enhancement surgery I perform can significantly increase a ninja's strength. Do you really think I'd offer something like that for free?"
Uchiha Shinsuke's face stiffened. The heat of his self-sacrificing resolve cooled in an instant.
Before he could respond, Orochimaru continued,
"Understand this—excluding my personal fee, the surgery alone costs thirty-five million ryō."
Shinsuke's eyes widened in disbelief.
Thirty-five million?!
An S-rank mission only brings in one to two million ryō. In this war against Kumogakure, only a few even qualified for that tier of reward. Most Chūnin and Jōnin received A or B-rank mission payments.
Thirty-five million ryō… That's practically the budget for the entire Konoha Police Force.
Even Fugaku frowned at the number. If the surgery guaranteed the return of a Mangekyō Sharingan user, perhaps the price was justifiable. But for an experiment? That was too steep.
The medical room fell silent. Everyone was stunned by the astronomical cost—everyone except the med-nin, who understood that Orochimaru's estimate likely included the price of rare and high-grade equipment.
Still, even knowing that, they chose to stay quiet.
Across the room, Koharu and Homura exchanged glances and exhaled in relief.
The process had been unpleasant, but the result was favorable: Uchiha had not been given any true advantage. Every proper step had been followed, enough to placate the clan politically.
"Now you understand."
Orochimaru glanced at Shinsuke.
"If it weren't for Shisui's contributions, and the elder advisors ordering me not to hide my knowledge, I wouldn't have even considered offering this surgery without payment."
Shisui gave a faint, bitter smile. He didn't know how to respond.
Koharu's expression darkened. She knew Orochimaru was mocking her on purpose, and she turned away in frustration, unwilling to look at him any longer.
On the hospital bed, Shinsuke's face turned pale, then flushed.
He had been willing to risk his life for Shisui, fueled by the spirit of sacrifice.
Now, all of that felt… meaningless—undercut by a few cold sentences.
Money. Favors. Deals.
It was too real, too grounded.
Wasn't this the time to talk about something noble? Something like the "Will of Fire"?
Orochimaru licked his lips, smiling faintly.
He did, in truth, need a loyal Uchiha elite Jōnin to advance his research into the First Hokage's cells.
But as he said, the surgery was still unstable. The chances of survival were slim—almost a guaranteed death sentence.
What would happen if his test subject died on the table?
Using a Leaf ninja in a risky human experiment that resulted in death could bring disaster, even for someone like him.
And most importantly—an experimental subject who willingly walked in on their own?
That kind of opportunity couldn't be wasted.
But for now, his reputation still mattered. He wasn't ready to be cast out of the village just yet.
So, if he was going to operate on an Uchiha Jōnin, he needed to change the narrative.
The surgery itself? No problem.
The cost? Outrageous—intentionally so.
That way, if anything went wrong, well…
Clearly, the problem wasn't the surgery.
It was you.
You got it for free. What more could you ask for?
"This is what you begged for, isn't it?"
Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk…
Orochimaru chuckled softly, a crooked smile tugging at his lips. After being played by the higher-ups for so long, he wasn't entirely without his own tricks.
"I can pay the thirty-five million ryō," Uchiha Shinsuke said, gritting his teeth.
His voice was strained, but resolute. Deep down, he couldn't accept that his wish might be crushed by something as mundane as money. It felt unjust.
Of course, Shinsuke wasn't naive. He knew he couldn't come up with that kind of money alone. So, he looked toward the Uchiha patriarch, banking on his support. For Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan, he believed Fugaku wouldn't let him shoulder this alone.
Fugaku gave a small nod in response.
As much as he hated parting with the Mangekyō Sharingan, the benefits of the surgery couldn't be ignored. If the price reflected the operation's effectiveness, it might be worth it. Shinsuke was already an elite Jōnin. With further enhancement—even without awakening the Mangekyō—he could reach Kage-level strength.
A high price, but not a losing deal.
Before Orochimaru could respond, Koharu abruptly cut in.
"I don't approve of this," she said firmly.
She turned toward Orochimaru, her gaze cold and sharp.
"The risk is far too high. This isn't a routine operation. If Uchiha Shinsuke dies on the table, can you even imagine the consequences? Orochimaru, surely you understand that."
She paused, then added with emphasis, "Even Hiruzen would never approve such a procedure."
Orochimaru's smile faded. His expression darkened, and a quiet chill settled in the room.
Koharu's breath caught in her throat for a
moment, but she held her ground, her stern gaze unshaken.
This wasn't just about Shisui's eyesight anymore. It was also about Orochimaru himself.
Everyone in Konoha's upper echelons knew of Orochimaru's obsession with immortality—and how far he was willing to go. The boundaries of his morals seemed to sink lower and lower with each passing year.
Experimenting on foreign ninja? They'd turned a blind eye.
But using their own? That was dangerous. Once the line was crossed, there was no going back.
And if the operation failed, if Shinsuke died? The rumors would spread like wildfire.
After witnessing the fallout from the Sakumo Hatake incident, Koharu had no doubts. It would tear the village apart.
But Orochimaru wasn't like Sakumo. He wouldn't just bow his head and accept blame. He would push back, maybe even… leave.
And now, with his power proven in the war, Koharu couldn't allow that.
The two stared each other down, tension crackling in the air.
Then, Shisui spoke softly.
"Please… don't fight over me."
He turned his head toward Shinsuke.
"Shinsuke, Master Orochimaru said it himself—perhaps in two or three years, when the technology is more refined, the operation can be done safely. I can't let you risk your life just to help me see again."
"But—" Shinsuke tried to argue, but Shisui cut him off.
Even with his eyes closed, he could sense the desperate look on Shinsuke's face.
"Please… don't make this harder for me."
Shinsuke's mouth opened, but no words came. He lowered his head, defeated.
With Shisui himself refusing the offer, Orochimaru saw no point in arguing. He shot Koharu a cold glance, let out a low snort, and turned to leave the medical room.
Fugaku handed Shisui over to the medics, then quickly followed after.
"Orochimaru-sama," he said, catching up, "is there truly nothing that can be done for Shisui's eyes?"
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