Chapter 276:
Orochimaru was fully aware that if Konoha ever found itself in dire straits, Tsunade would inevitably think of him first.
This was something he could guarantee without any doubt.
Tsunade's trust in him made it inevitable that she would inform the Third Hokage about his existence. Orochimaru had accounted for this in his plans.
Once the Third Hokage learned of his whereabouts and sought him out, Tsunade becoming Hokage would be all but guaranteed.
And if Sarutobi didn't come to him? That was fine as well.
In such a scenario, Orochimaru could serve as a disruptive force in the conflict, taking advantage of the chaos to capture a tailed beast or systematically weaken each of the warring factions. This, in turn, would lay the groundwork for his long-term plans.
Now, with the Third Hokage having arrived and Orochimaru having agreed to help, everything was progressing smoothly.
Of course, throughout this entire process, Orochimaru never once considered returning to Konoha.
Such an idea was entirely out of the question.