Back in the meeting room at the enemy base, I sat with Sakumo at my right, with the two foot tall man sitting across from me. Han was predictably standing behind the Tsuchikage, at his left.

"What do you want?" The Tsuchikage ground out through clenched teeth. He was far more willing to speak to me, with the threat of this disease spreading throughout the entire camp.

It was a fast moving disease, but slow in it's infection. It did not make it any less difficult to be rid of. Especially when no one in this world seems to practice safe hygiene. I tilted my head in thought at Onoki's question.

Sensei had wanted Iwa to be running with it's tail between it's legs in this war. I was not opposed to making that happen, but this war was happening due to my skills and everyone wanting their hands on it. I was never against sharing my discoveries with other countries, and I still have not found a decent enough reason to keep my skills from them.

Sensei and the council wanted Konoha to be the strongest village in the elemental nations. They already were, however, they also wanted to hoard that strength and rub it in everyone else's faces. This is what caused this war.

Our village's blatant show of advancement and blatant refusal to share it with anyone else. What was the point of it?

We had a lot of land that no one was using that we could sign over to Suna, but Konoha wanted to hoard it. We had numerous textbooks I'd made to advance our society, and other villages wanted to buy shipments, but Konoha hoarded them. Konoha did not allow for the things made in Fire country to be sent off to Iwa or any other country simply because they did not want other country's to get stronger.

Konoha was afraid to be knocked off the highest hill and was willing to go to war to keep everyone else off of it.

What could be so wrong in letting other villages improve their livelihood? What could be so wrong in creating treaties that had mutual interests in it? Why did Konoha have to control and be in charge of everything?

Was this the method to peace that the first two Hokage's had developed and left behind for my Sensei to follow and enact? Or was my Sensei becoming a man increasingly obsessed with power? Was his sense of duty to his people so strong that he had lost the ability to care for people of any other village?

Or was this the basics of how this world ran. A world with five great villages at it's center fighting to create an empire through trickery and sabotage? A place where no one was content to just live their lives and enjoy the magic this place had to offer?

"I want this war to end." I sighed. "I was told that this war was due to the advancements I'd made in my village, correct?"

Onoki was stunned as he looked me over before he frowned. "Not entirely, brat. This war has been years in the making. Years of trying to make peace through agreements that no one ever agreed on. Your advancements were just the tip of the iceberg."

"I see, I don't suppose you'll share some of the contents in these peace talks? I find I am horribly misinformed." I said as I pulled out a bottle of my best sake and a few bowls and began pouring it.

"Hmph, as you should be. This is between me and your Hokage." The Tsuchikage growled as he accepted the sake and gulped it down like water.

"If that were true, then the both of you could fight it out and leave us out of it, no?" I suggested with a mocking sigh as I gestured to Han and myself.

The old man frowned as I poured him some more sake. "If something as simple as that could work to get something to be agreed on then I would have done it ages ago."

I hummed in response and waited patiently for the man to either tell me the reasons why this war is happening, or let his people succumb to the disease I'd set on his people. Onoki made his decision a moment later with a frustrated grunt.

"Your village has the peace loving Uzumaki as it's close comrades due to a marriage between the first Hokage and the Uzukage's daughter. From there your country has been advancing with the use of Uzumaki fuinjutsu. The Raikage and I have been demanding that your country share it's resources in exchange for peace between us. However, the Hokage had suggested that we offer our resources to your country, while also becoming the leader of ours. From there the Hokage would 'assist' it's minor village in it's advancement. Neither I nor the Raikage are willing to give up our entire village for a few resources. We are not weak."

I contemplated the words the Tsuchikage said, and the words that had gone unsaid.

The Kage had been arguing over resources for years for their people, without ever coming to an agreement. Which led to frustration, and impatience in each other. The Raikage and the Tsuchikage believed Konoha was being unreasonable and banded together to attempt peace talks once more. In that particular argument, my advancements were mentioned and the Hokage refused to let me go to their countries to help their people. It could be fear of my well being that caused for Sensei's immediate and harsh refusal, but the result was nevertheless an all out war that eventually dragged in Suna and Mizu.

It was growing to be increasingly obvious that giving out resources to the other villages was not going to work for long. Especially when everyone was of the mind to take without giving back. Mutual agreements did not seem to exist in this world at all.

Everyone in the villages were raised with a shinobi's mind set, which had become necessary in war times such as these. The only reason why the agreement between myself and Hanzo had worked was because of Hanzo's own mindset towards creating peace.

The man in front of me did not have the same look of kindness in his eye that I'd seen from Hanzo. He was an old stubborn man who had been in power too long and was far too used to getting his way.

"I believe I understand the reasons why the drawn up treaties were unacceptable. Both you, and my country wanted something from the other, without giving anything in return. Let me offer a suggestion, Onoki-sama." I said slowly. "You'll surrender this war and gather your losses, in return I will offer you the cure to the disease. From there, I will take part in any future peace talks between our villages and you can make me an offer for my services."

"Hmph" Onoki huffed as he sat back in his chair and looked at me with narrowed eyes. "Your saying if I surrender now, you'll help my people?"

"The help I can give, depends on what you can offer me Onoki-sama." I reiterated before calmly sipping my sake.

~

The three year long mission was cut down to one year.

In that year, I had brought Ame under Konoha's thumb, stopped the war with Iwa, and created a name for myself in this world as the Shinigami King.

Sensei was silent as Jiraiya and the others took turns telling the feats we had accomplished while in Amegakure.

The cold gaze he gave me in return when I spoke had confused me, since I had figured that we had done a good job in stopping the war and obtaining Ame's support. I thought we had been rather clever in returning in one year when the mission was supposed to last three.

"Orochimaru." Sensei said with a tone of voice I hadn't heard since the night I told him about my experiments under Danzo. My teammates stood straighter at the tone, but I was understandably confused. "My boy, I'm disappointed in you."

I stilled as I looked upon my Sensei's face. What had I done wrong?

Sensei sighed and rubbed at his temple. "Everyone out. I need to speak with Orochimaru alone."

I found myself alone with the Hokage a second later as everyone flickered out of the room. I glanced around, feeling apprehension as I looked back at my Sensei's face.

"When did you learn the Edo Tensei?" Sensei demanded coldly. I blinked slowly and wondered why that had to do with anything.

"Danzo gave me access to the village archives when I was working for him. I've been through every jutsu available in it." I answered honestly. The room grew colder as Sensei's face became somber. Like this bit of information just made the situation worse.

There was silence as my former teacher seemed to think before he spoke once more. "The books you gave to Amegakure, do you know the reasons why I didn't allow for other villages to acquire them?"

I frowned at that. I answered hesitatingly. "So Konoha...will have power over the other villages."

"That is part of the reason yes." Sensei replied immediately. "But not the whole reason, Orochimaru. The ideas you have, are incredibly dangerous if in enemy hands. Your textbooks hold the secrets that people have been struggling over for thousands of years. The information inside each textbook is priceless, and can cause the shinobi world to crumble. If everyone knew the things you did, then there will be no need for ninja. It was better for the village to keep this information inside the village. You have set in motion the very end of shinobi life as we know it."

I stood there silently with my hands in my sleeves, stunned.

It seemed to be an unfounded fear. If everyone had the ability to make their lives easier then everyone would be happier.

There'd be more jobs for the civilians with the knowledge I had in my textbooks, the smaller villages would have less poverty which in turn will bring down crime rates with bandits and the like. With everyone slowly becoming more educated about the world, there'd be more advancements in society, and less violence. If everyone had access to my textbooks then the world would generally be a better place to live in.

As things were now, all the villages were fighting over land for sustenance, medical advancements for their sick loved ones, techniques to strengthen themselves to protect each other and more.

Sure there were the people that only wanted these things for their own personal use, but there would always be people like that. It's the reason why police forces were created in the first place.

"It could also bring about an alliance between the five great shinobi nations sensei, isn't that what we've been striving for since the village was founded? Peace?" I questioned diplomatically. I could see that the man was growing increasingly frustrated with me and it was simply baffling.

"That is the preferred outcome, Orochimaru. However, things do not work that way, and you should know this by now. The only way we can have a peace like that in this world is if someone connects every shinobi together under one power, and Konoha should be that power." Hiruzen stated calmly. "You have single handedly jeopardized that by giving away priceless knowledge to a known enemy village."

I was silent. I stared blankly at my sensei as I began to realize where he was going with this conversation. I wasn't just here being lectured, I was being sentenced.

Hiruzen's eyes were resigned, but cold. A moment passed as I tried to think where I had gone wrong in this world to bring myself to this point. A point where I was on the brink of being arrested for crimes against my village.

It had to be the difference in mentality. I didn't think about world domination when it came to serving my village like every other person seemed to.

I didn't imagine Konoha being on top of the corpses of the other villages when I made my inventions and created my solutions for a better life. Everything I made was for the benefit of humanity as a whole.

I simply forgot I was in a world where everyone's mindset was completely different from mine. Even when I reminded myself of that fact as often as possible. No other village will use the knowledge I have for the benefit of humanity.

None of them.

My way of thinking was simply wrong.

I had thought it was too simple when Hanzo had taken my books in exchange for peace. I hadn't actually realized that my knowledge was so priceless. I was too used to a world that had knowledge available to everyone with the use of internet and google. If my knowledge was spread to everyone in this world, with the mindset they currently had, what would happen?

Would there be world peace because people would stop suffering?

No, people will keep the knowledge to themselves to advance and use that power over the ones who didn't have the knowledge.

Would there be a better understanding of nature and the like with my books?

No, it will let people realize that nature can be used for anything they want.

Will people come to me for peace talks to get me to bring back their loved ones?

No, I would get a bounty on my head and forced to do things against my will.

The people in this world were not raised to be equal to each other. This was a dog eat dog world, and anyone who is shinobi would use this knowledge for their own gain rather than to help others. I brought knowledge here, that no one was ready to handle right now.

And it was already too late.

Hanzo has had my books for weeks now and who knows how many copies he's made and who he's given them to. Who knows what he's actually doing with them.

Sure, my plans for peace could be working, but they could also be bringing about the end of humanity and I'm not confident enough to say they are using it for peace. In fact I'm quite sure they weren't.

I was very still as my mind worked it all out in a matter of seconds.

I'm an idiot.

I'm a trusting, gullible, idiot.

"I don't know where I went wrong in raising you, son." The Hokage sighed. I blinked up at him blankly. "The will of fire inside you is the strongest I'd ever seen, but your plans for peace will never work. Not here and not ever. What you have done, is put our entire village at risk. War has been stopped yes, but at what price? I will not give Iwa your knowledge, and after you leave I will be sending teams to retrieve what you've given to Hanzo of the salamander."

My heart stopped as the implications of those actions hit me. War was stopped yes, but not for long. The next war was around the corner and who knew if Konoha would prevail now that the enemy had a means to become more powerful.

I startled a little as I felt killing intent coming from my sensei.

"Orochimaru, I'm sorry. But the knowledge you have, and your way of thinking can no longer continue to be here." The Hokage breathed slowly before he stood from his chair and looked at me with the coldest eyes I'd ever seen. "I sentence you to treason of the highest order."

My eyes widened in disbelief as my sensei activated seals in the room and lunged at me in less than a quarter of a second. I was too stunned to move. Frozen in shock as the man I had admired most ran at me with the intent to kill.

My last thought as his kunai reached my throat was how fast the god of shinobi was.

The pain of having my head chopped off by a kunai was short lived.

Since I died.

~

The knowledge of Orochimaru being executed had been spread through out the shinobi nations within hours. The anbu had been stunned at their Hokage's brash actions and it spread out from there.

Everyone knew how valuable Orochimaru was, and no could truly understand why their Hokage would do such a thing.

Until the truth came out of Orochimaru's treason. Many of the people who read Orochimaru's texts understood where Orochimaru was coming from, and how kind of a man he was in his ideals for humanity. All of his texts had been written in journal form, with Orochimaru's thought processes and little jokes inside.

Even the people of Ame, who had read the five texts they had access to mourned the loss of such a great mind.

They understood where he was coming from, and also understood the reasons why their Hokage would execute such a beloved man.

The one's who hadn't read any of Orochimaru's texts believed the man to be evil in his entirety because of his looks, demeanor, and the way the truth was sent out to the people.

Orochimaru's death stopped another potential war, especially since the other village's eventually got access to the texts from Ame and began focusing on themselves rather than taking from others.

Since no one could get into Orochimaru's home, nor destroy it because of the seals, the place was left untouched.

Minato Namikaze, and the first two Hokage noticed Orochimaru had died the moment it happened.

"The seals dulled." Tobirama said to no one in particular.

The three of them were down in the lab. Each doing their own things since they had begun reading Orochimaru's texts and learning.

Hashirama was studying his wife's child form and making notes, Tobirama was busy creating seals and rereading Orochimaru's sealing journals to attempt to understand the thought processes Orochimaru had to think of such revolutionary inventions, while Minato was practicing his medical ninjutsu on a cadaver to make it look completely different with cell manipulation.

There was a moment of silence as the three of them realized three different things at once.

Hashirama realized that it was going to be some time before his wife would come back to life. Tobirama realized that he wouldn't get any of his questions he'd been writing down answered for a long time, and Minato realized he was going to have to get the holes in his fuinjutsu knowledge filled before he could even attempt to revive Orochimaru again.

"Shit."