I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 580 Everyone hates using public office for private gain, but no one would refrain from using their position for personal benefit.

"No way."

Inside Orochimaru's laboratory, Orochimaru, wearing an apron and rubber gloves, was cleaning the laboratory with Mitarashi Anko and Uchiha Shisui, who were dressed similarly.

As for Tatsuma, who was an "uninvited guest," the news he brought made Orochimaru's already dark face even darker. Taking care of one student was tiring enough, let alone having to help take care of Shisui.

Now Tatsuma wants to squeeze another one in here. What does he think this place is, a daycare center?!

The murderous aura emanating from Orochimaru caused the two little ones to involuntarily turn to face the wall, waving the rags in their hands even more vigorously. Anko stared straight at the white tiled wall, while Shisui was a little better, his eyes able to dart around.

Tatsuma, who was facing the murderous aura, seemed oblivious. He looked up and glanced at the laboratory, saying, "Lord Orochimaru, your laboratory is a bit dilapidated. It can't even achieve dust-free conditions, let alone sterile and static-free ones."

Technology is the primary productive force. Given such difficult conditions, the amount of futile effort required to achieve extraordinary results is simply too great.

Upon hearing this, Orochimaru suppressed his murderous aura, tilted his head back and flicked his hair behind him, looking at Tatsuma with a leisurely air.

Tatsuma understands Orochimaru, and Orochimaru understands his own needs. He realizes that Tatsuma is planning to negotiate, and Orochimaru doesn't have any absolute bottom line. As long as the conditions satisfy him, he is willing to do things he doesn't want to do.

For example, taking care of an extra, less intelligent child.

After Orochimaru withdrew his killing intent, Anko and Shisui breathed a sigh of relief. Anko even muttered to herself, "He wouldn't even let us use chakra to help. We could have controlled the water flow to wash him directly."

"What do you know? You've been washing bottles for a few days, and you really think you're qualified to tell me what to do with my business? Any residual chakra will cause unpredictable interference to the experiments."

You don't understand. You don't understand anything. All you think about is not being so tired. If you're afraid of being tired, then what kind of researcher are you?

Orochimaru snorted, but his tone wasn't fierce. Anko pouted, looking somewhat aggrieved, and said, "I'm clearly a ninja."

She clearly wanted to be a ninja, but last year, for her graduation exam, some bastard inexplicably added a test on cleaning experimental equipment, and she worked so hard to get first place.

In return, she got the opportunity to become Orochimaru's student. At first, she was very happy. After all, Orochimaru was one of the legendary Sannin. If she could become his student, she would definitely become a powerful ninja very quickly.

But no. Her ideals were lofty, but in the past year, what she did most was work at the camp, where she had to be an experimental assistant who washed bottles and cups whenever Orochimaru had a whim. She didn't even have the right to read the experimental log.

As for ninjas, Orochimaru only taught them once, whether it was knowledge, experience, skills, or proper ninjutsu, because Shisui could learn it in one go.

And what about her? She could only follow behind Shisui, who was several years younger than her, and wait for Shisui to give her some guidance during the training after he had mastered the skills.

Does lack of talent mean you deserve to die?!

Despite being a student of the legendary Sannin, he somehow managed to become Shisui's follower.

While her classmates were discussing whether or not to participate in the Chunin Exams, her teacher thought that she hadn't been given enough bottles to clean, giving her time and energy to overthink things.

Shisui was also in an awkward position. He understood what Anko was upset about, but there was nothing he could do. After all, Orochimaru had told him that if he couldn't learn it after being taught once, he wouldn't waste any more time teaching him.

Therefore, Shisui dared not pretend that he could not learn it and asked Orochimaru to explain it a couple more times so that Anko could also learn it a couple more times.

He could only try his best to master the knowledge Orochimaru taught him as quickly as possible, and then teach it to Anko after verifying it himself. However, he could not do what Jiraiya and Minato did, which was to break down the possible problems of a technique and teach them to Anko one by one.

Tatsuma watched Orochimaru with amusement, not because he wanted to see master and disciple turn against each other, but because Orochimaru was trying to use Anko to gain more leverage.

When you need funds, a very useful trick is to pretend that you are in dire straits. Orochimaru is undoubtedly using this technique now.

This includes, but is not limited to, the hardships of material conditions, as well as the hardships of mental conditions and interpersonal relationships. It's just that poor Anko, who can't understand anything, has already been used by Orochimaru as a bargaining chip in the tug-of-war.

Seeing that Tatsuma still wouldn't speak, Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, turned to Anko, and said in a slightly sarcastic tone, "Didn't you hear what our future Fourth Hokage said? Technology is the primary productive force."

What's so great about being a ninja? Don't be blinded by superficial glamour. Besides money, honor, flowers, and applause, there are also researchers like us who quietly drive the times forward.

"But I'm just a bottle washer, how can a dishwasher advance the times?"

Upon hearing Anko's answer, Orochimaru's expression froze for a moment. Clearly, Anko's reaction had taken him by surprise. Shouldn't a child of ten or so be overjoyed to hear about advancing the times?

Tatsuma suppressed a laugh and said, "Lord Orochimaru, you underestimate young people too much. How can you only let Anko wash bottles? I think tasks like inserting the gun and counting colonies can also be assigned to Anko."

Red Bean has been through so much, she should be capable of handling these tasks, right, Red Bean?

When Hongdou heard Tatsuma support her, she subconsciously nodded, but then she realized that the jobs Tatsuma listed seemed no different from washing bottles. The only difference was that these jobs would allow her to access the lab logs.

"Adults are all bad!"

Feeling repeatedly deceived, Anko blushed and glared fiercely at her teacher and Tatsuma, but her still chubby face lacked any intimidating power.

Shisui sighed silently. He now understood that his teacher was an excellent ninja, an indispensable ninja of Konoha, but he was not a good person.

Red Bean Senior, this is the price of growing up.

Orochimaru glanced at his student, thinking him rather foolish, then looked at Tatsuma and said, "Name your terms."

Since the hinting approach wasn't working, he had no choice but to be frank. He was also curious about what kind of bargaining chips Tatsuma planned to use to get him to make a move.

Tatsuma's smile faded, and he said quite seriously, "It will be next year."

The abrupt and cryptic words left Anko and Shisui somewhat bewildered, but Orochimaru understood. He took off his rubber gloves, accepted the documents that Tatsuma had just handed him, and said:

"All permissions for the Wood Release laboratory, as well as material reimbursement."

The previous talk about what would happen after Tatsuma became Hokage could all have been jokes. Now that Tatsuma has specified a timeframe and clarified that the negotiations starting now are truly effective.

Tatsuma didn't loosen his grip on the document, continuing to hold onto a corner, and said, "The village owns all rights to the results."

"Half and half, my research is for the village, not the whole picture."

Orochimaru's response was extremely quick, without even a moment's thought, clearly indicating that he was well-prepared. He enjoys conducting research, but if the village were to acquire ownership of the research findings, it would inevitably impose restrictions on the direction of his research.

Orochimaru didn't want that kind of research life. He needed some autonomy to conduct research. The village would never approve of it, let alone reimburse him for his work, and besides, he still had to make a living.

Tatsuma understood Orochimaru's meaning, but he did not agree immediately, because if it was a matter of the two of them "dividing the spoils", a 50/50 split would be a good choice.

However, Tatsuma was negotiating with Orochimaru from the perspective of the entire village, and there were too many factors to consider regarding the distribution of benefits. After a brief moment of thought, he said:

"40% each, 10% will be allocated to other relief funds."

"That's what the village is supposed to do, and the 'four' points the village receives will also be used for this purpose, so I'm losing out for nothing."

Orochimaru was not easily fooled, which was within Tatsuma's expectations. He had also come up with a follow-up plan, saying, "Establish a scholarship in your name, not only for the Ninja Academy, but the village will also try its best to extend it outwards. At the same time, you will have decision-making power no higher than that of the village."

Scholarships are not just about prestige; they also involve the emotional support of the students who receive them. For Orochimaru, who had always wanted to build a research team, this was very tempting.

A certain degree of decision-making power would also allow Orochimaru to provide targeted financial aid to students he favored. Orochimaru frowned and pondered for a moment, then nodded. But before Tatsuma could relinquish his grip, he spoke again:

"I need to exercise some permissions in advance."

Without needing to say anything more, Tatsuma knew what authority Orochimaru was going to exercise, so he nodded and released his grip on the documents.

"Tatsuma, your methods of abusing your power for personal gain are beyond my reach."

Orochimaru said sarcastically, "Tatsuma used some of the village's future resources to gain personal benefits. Although it is beneficial to the village overall, he has undoubtedly abused public resources for private gain."

Orochimaru didn't dislike it; in fact, he liked it. He used it countless times when he was conducting Wood Release experiments and helping Root with Cursed Seal experiments.

Chenma smiled shyly and said, "I'll learn from you."

"Oh!"

Orochimaru, too lazy to look at Tatsuma's face any longer, turned around and said to Anko and Shisui, "There's no need to clean up."

"Aren't we going to do the experiment?"

Hongdou said with surprise, "Orochimaru kept talking about reproducing the experiments of the past year on his way back. She thought she could only stay in the laboratory, but now it seems that there is another way out."

Zhi Shui's face showed neither joy nor sorrow, instinctively feeling that such a good thing could not happen.

Facing the students' expectant gazes, Orochimaru said, "I'll do it, but I'll do it in another lab."

"ah?!"

Hongdou's smile froze. She looked around and said, feeling wronged, "We've already cleaned half of this place. Do we have to go to another lab to clean it all over again?"

"The new lab doesn't need cleaning. I mean before the experiments begin."

After Orochimaru finished speaking, Anko stiffened her neck and said, "I'm not going! Unless you agree to let me participate in this Chunin Exam."

"it is good."

"Huh? I don't have to go anymore?"

Red Bean asked uncertainly, a sense of unease creeping in. Had Orochimaru abandoned her? While it might have felt good to speak her mind, if Orochimaru had given up on her, then perhaps no one would dare to take her as a student?

Fortunately, Orochimaru said, "No, I agree to let you participate in the Chunin Exams."

(End of this chapter)