Menma Uzumaki

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When I wrote the first chapter of this story, I didn't think too hard about Otogakure. To be honest, I just wrote it on a whim.

I had seen a picture on Google and assumed Otogakure no Sato was just a smaller, darker version of Konohagakure.

I imagined a quaint village with a handful of residents, and that was the extent of my worldbuilding. At the time, I wasn't invested in this novel—it was one of those "write it and forget it" projects, something I started because no one else seemed to be exploring the idea.

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Back then, my focus was elsewhere. I already had a novel that demanded most of my energy and attention. This was supposed to be a side project, nothing more. But as I kept writing, something unexpected happened: I found myself enjoying this story more than the one I thought I cared about.

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That's when I started doing research.

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When I finally looked into Otogakure, I realized how much I had misunderstood. Otogakure wasn't some like Konoha or Sunagakure. It wasn't even comparable to the smaller villages like Takigakure. No, Otogakure was something else entirely—a phantom created by Orochimaru to shield his operations. It wasn't a home, it was a cover.

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The more I dug, the clearer it became: Orochimaru didn't care about villages in the traditional sense. His ambitions were singular and self-serving, and Otogakure was just another tool in his arsenal.

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At first, I considered scrapping the idea of making Otogakure a true village and just rewrote chapter 1 and fix it. But then I thought, what if I leaned into this misunderstanding? What if I turned Otogakure into something unique— just make it real village

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Reimagining Otogakure as a True Village. I wanted Otogakure to feel like a real place, but not in the way Konoha or Suna does. Otogakure is not a bustling shinobi center with thriving markets, training grounds, and warm community bonds. It is a hidden stronghold, an extension of Orochimaru's will. It is dark, secretive, and sinister, existing on the edges of what we traditionally think of as a village.

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The purpose of a shinobi village has always been twofold: to conduct mercenary work and to defend the borders of the feudal lord's nation. Orochimaru, with his vast network of hideouts and his penchant for secrecy, can easily accomplish both without needing a massive settlement.

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In fact, when you think about it, Orochimaru is the only one with an actually hidden village.

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This concept of a truly hidden village makes Orochimaru's Otogakure feel distinct—more fitting for a character who thrives in the shadows and manipulates from behind the scenes.

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Orochimaru's Network of Lairs

In my research, I came across the eight bases associated with Orochimaru:

Land of Sound Base

Kusagakure Hideout

Southern Hideout

Northern Hideout

Eastern Hideout

Abandoned Hideout

Demon Island Laboratory

Island Laboratory

These locations are scattered across various regions, and each serves a specific purpose in Orochimaru's experiments and operations. While most of these bases are far from Otogakure, I decided to use the Land of Sound Base as the foundation for Otogakure.

By reimagining the Land of Sound Base as a true village, I could give Otogakure a tangible presence without contradicting the established canon. This new Otogakure is still small, still hidden, but it now functions as a proper village—albeit one shaped by Orochimaru's twisted vision.

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Why Otogakure Village Works

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Otogakure isn't a sprawling metropolis. It's not even comparable to a mid-sized shinobi village like Amegakure. Instead, it's a tight-knit, highly secretive settlement where every resident serves a purpose. It doesn't need thousands of citizens to function because Orochimaru's network of bases and rogue operatives supplement its manpower.

The village's primary purpose is to support Orochimaru's goals:

Mercenary Work: While Orochimaru himself doesn't take on contracts, his followers do. They complete missions to fund his experiments and gather resources.

Defensive Operations: Otogakure location is strategic, making it difficult to invade. Traps, seals, and surveillance techniques ensure that outsiders rarely make it far.

perimentation: Many of Orochimaru's experiments require live subjects, rare ingredients, and specialized tools—all of which are cultivated or supplied by the village.

By blending the traditional roles of a shinobi village with Orochimaru's unique methods, Otogakure becomes a believable addition to the Naruto universe.

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A Note to the Reader

If you've made it this far, thank you. Writing this story has been a journey of discovery, and your feedback is invaluable. When I started, I didn't fully understand what I was creating. I made mistakes, rushed through details, and relied on assumptions. But now, as I flesh out Otogakure and its surrounding lairs, I feel like I'm finally doing justice to the concept.

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This isn't just a side project anymore. It's a story I care about deeply, and I want to get it right. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or critiques, please share them.