Early in the morning of the next day, Chao Yanqian had just finished his practice and returned to the camp when he received a new task—to escort the wounded back to Konoha.
There were not many wounded being transported this time, only a little over fifty people, and Hoshinohara was among them. Orochimaru assigned two escorts from Chūnin squads, and only nine people were included under the leadership of Chao Yanqian.
This mission was arranged with Orochimaru the night before. Chao Yanqian's teammate had been killed in battle and he himself was seriously injured, which justified sending him back to Konoha.
Firstly, Orochimaru didn't want Chao Yanqian to die on the battlefield, since he was a useful assistant; secondly, Orochimaru had given Chao Yanqian a secret mission.
Orochimaru and Tsunade had attended the Ninja Academy together and were both disciples of the Third Hokage. They performed missions together and later rose to fame during the Second Great Ninja War. So Orochimaru knew exactly how powerful Tsunade—also one of the Sannin—was.
Some of the secret techniques possessed by the Senju Clan had long been coveted by Orochimaru.
Therefore, Orochimaru hoped Chao Yanqian could develop a good relationship with Tsunade, in order to gain access to the Senju Clan's secret techniques.
This coincided exactly with Chao Yanqian's hopes. With the conflict between Konoha and Sunagakure intensifying, a decisive battle could break out at any moment. A Chūnin like Chao Yanqian dying in such a war would be too unremarkable.
Orochimaru also promised that he would try to contact Tsunade and find a way for her to take Chao Yanqian as a disciple.
This promise from Orochimaru was the best news Chao Yanqian had heard in a long time. Naturally, the connection between Orochimaru and Tsunade didn't need to be explained. If Orochimaru was willing to help him, with Orochimaru's abilities, it might actually be possible.
Moreover, in the camp, frequent contact with Orochimaru kept Chao Yanqian constantly on edge. He feared that one wrong move would make Orochimaru suspicious and cost him the little trust he had just established. It was exhausting.
On the way back to Konoha, Chao Yanqian had time to reflect on how to deal with Orochimaru in the future.
Although Chao Yanqian had read Naruto in his past life, he hadn't studied Orochimaru deeply. But judging by Orochimaru's full investment in training Sasuke, it was clear Orochimaru had absolute confidence. He was never afraid, nor did he ever consider that Sasuke might one day surpass him.
Orochimaru was called a rare genius by the Third Hokage for decades. He became famous during the Second Great Ninja War at a young age. During the Third Great Ninja War, he led Konoha's ninjas against Sunagakure, one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, and was admired by both the villagers and the ninjas of Konoha. He was the most favored candidate to become the Fourth Hokage.
At this time, Orochimaru should have been at the height of his pride and confidence.
So Orochimaru shouldn't be concerned about Chao Yanqian surpassing him.
From the original work, Orochimaru was excellent at using people. Whether they were subordinates or tools, he used them well. The only real loss for Orochimaru was his partnership with Shimura Danzō.
Even then, it might not have been a true loss.
Losing the position of the Fourth Hokage, he turned his full attention to researching immortality. At that point, Konoha may no longer have appealed to Orochimaru.
From the slow and deliberate nature of Orochimaru's defection, Chao Yanqian even suspected that the defection had been planned all along, and that the human experimentation was just a means of provoking disappointment from the Third Hokage.
But thinking further, Chao Yanqian wondered: could Orochimaru already be working with Shimura Danzō at this point to study the First Hokage's cells?
Judging from Yamato's age, it seems plausible. Even if the research hadn't started yet, it probably had been brewing for a few years.
That would explain why Orochimaru wanted to use the connection between Chao Yanqian and Tsunade to gain access to the Senju Clan's secret techniques.
If that were the case, then extreme caution would be necessary after returning to the village.
The Third Hokage was shrewd and cunning. He likely already knew about Orochimaru and Danzō's cooperation, and also knew they were studying the First Hokage's cells.
But as the Hokage, he had to maintain the image of sunlight. So all he had to do was wait for Orochimaru's research to bear fruit and reap the benefits. All the blame would fall on Orochimaru and Danzō.
What Chao Yanqian most wanted to know now was: did the Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō know he was following Orochimaru?
Thinking of the secret mission Orochimaru had given him, Chao Yanqian felt slightly relieved.
If Orochimaru truly wanted to obtain the Senju Clan's secret techniques from him, then he definitely wouldn't let the Third Hokage or Shimura Danzō know—because Orochimaru would want to keep that power to himself. He absolutely would not share it.
And the premise for all of this was that Chao Yanqian must not betray Orochimaru.
For now, Chao Yanqian would naturally continue to follow Orochimaru. The results of his research into the First Hokage's cells were worth pursuing.
The Senju and Uchiha Clans are descended from the two sons of the Sage of Six Paths. The bloodline powers of these two clans surpass all others in the ninja world.
If one could fully master the power of both clans, one could come close to the power of the Sage of Six Paths.
This was clearly shown in the original story.
And Chao Yanqian just happened to know all of this.
"Then where do I stand in Orochimaru's heart?" Chao Yanqian wondered.
Chao Yanqian had the ambition to pursue power, and Orochimaru must have seen that long ago.
But unlike Sasuke Uchiha, whose pursuit of power was driven by revenge against his brother, Orochimaru was still observing the direction and purpose of Chao Yanqian's ambitions.
"But ambitious people are often not easy to control. Orochimaru probably only intends to use me for his own benefit," Chao Yanqian thought. "But with Orochimaru's self-confidence, he shouldn't be afraid of me."
After this rough analysis of his relationship with Orochimaru, Chao Yanqian secretly sighed in relief.
As long as he didn't do anything against Orochimaru, completed the missions he was given, and continued to prove his value, Orochimaru should not harm him.
Dealing with someone as dangerous as Orochimaru was always risky, but if handled carefully, it could lead to real gains.
Mutual benefit.
Although these words sound cold, so long as no greater interests interfere, this alliance could be considered reliable.