"Pure Land?"
Kakashi froze as he heard the words. He hadn't expected that.
To most people, the Pure Land wasn't some mystical space carved out by the Sage of Six Paths using the Moon's Eye. It was far more sacred—the final resting place of souls. A place of peace. Eternity.
Could something like that even be explored?
Just imagining it filled Kakashi with unease. It felt wrong—like violating the sleep of the dead. But still… the curiosity tugged at him.
Is it possible?
Where is the legendary Pure Land?
Is it a paradise—or a graveyard?
And if they really reached it… would the dead be there?
His thoughts raced. He said nothing, neither agreeing nor refusing.
Orochimaru licked his lips, sensing Kakashi's hesitation.
"Worried?" he said casually. "Don't be. I guarantee your safety. I won't let you be trapped there forever."
Kakashi met his eyes.
"Why do you want to explore the Pure Land? Please… tell me the truth."
He knew Orochimaru well enough to be wary. If Orochimaru unleashed disaster in the Pure Land because of his own ambition, Kakashi would never forgive himself for helping.
Orochimaru chuckled.
"You want to know? Fine." He smiled thinly. "It's simple: I seek immortality."
"To truly 'live' forever, one must understand death. The Pure Land is where the dead go—naturally, I want to see it for myself."
He glanced sideways.
"And you're just the beginning."
His plan was simple: first, raise serpentis in the Pure Land, using Kakashi's spirit as its carrier. Once it matured and Kakashi's chakra soul body stabilized, Orochimaru could send himself next.
He didn't pretend it would be easy.
At forty, Orochimaru was already old by shinobi standards. Most died before thirty. The body failed no matter how strong the mind was.
Reincarnation, if memory could be preserved, might be viable…
But it was uncertain. Risky.
For now, he was researching Ryūchi Cave's "Immortal Technique"—a forbidden method of reversing aging through shedding one's form like a snake molts its skin.
Kakashi said nothing, but he was shaken. Orochimaru wasn't lying—his will was absolute. He would do this.
But immortality…?
Even though Kakashi had recently made peace with his past, he couldn't understand why anyone would want to live forever. After watching everyone he loved—his father, Obito, Rin, Sensei—die one by one, eternity just felt... cruel.
Orochimaru smiled again.
"So? Will you help? If not, that's fine. Just keep the secret. I won't force you. There are others who can use the Spiritualization Technique."
Kakashi replied calmly, "Aren't you afraid I'll tell the Third Hokage?"
Orochimaru laughed.
"No. Because I know even if you do, it'll only make things worse." He leaned in slightly, his tone amused.
"The old man won't turn on me over this. And why assume the village elders aren't interested in the Pure Land?"
He shrugged. "The more people involved, the messier it becomes."
That made Kakashi pause.
"I don't work with them because I don't want complications," Orochimaru added. "They'd interfere. But just because I don't let them help doesn't mean they couldn't—or wouldn't."
Konoha's upper echelon wasn't made of saints.
Kakashi sighed inwardly. There really was no clean way out. The best option now was to stay close and make himself irreplaceable—so Orochimaru wouldn't discard him.
It was twisted… but necessary.
"No point overthinking. Let's begin." Orochimaru gestured.
"If everything goes smoothly, you may even see someone you've been longing to meet."
Kakashi's heart skipped. Could that be true…?
He said nothing, but let the thought linger.
Then, focusing, Kakashi activated the Spiritualization Technique. His chakra soul separated from his body—a glowing blue spirit form now floating mid-air. A lazy white snake curled loosely around his arm.
Orochimaru wasted no time. Forming a seal, he activated Edo Tensei—the Impure World Reincarnation.
A second spirit appeared instantly, disoriented and blank-eyed.
Kakashi blinked, surprised, but Orochimaru called out:
"Grab his arm. Don't resist the pull."
Kakashi obeyed. As he reached out, the suction intensified—and in the next heartbeat, the two spirits and the snake vanished.
Only Orochimaru remained in the lab.
He chuckled softly, pleased.
"Success on the first try. No complications."
He turned to Djinn.
"serpentis is in your care. Don't let it eat anything it shouldn't."
Djinn replied smoothly, "Relax. It's just a snake. A bit of training is all it needs."
---
Elsewhere...
The world around Kakashi shifted.
A suffocating emptiness swallowed him. Darkness stretched in all directions—formless, endless. When he released the other spirit's hand, it vanished immediately, leaving only him and the white snake.
Oddly, his chakra soul—normally unstable—was calm here. Solid. It was as though the Pure Land's very nature supported his spiritual form.
Perhaps, he thought, when I return, I'll be able to evolve this technique further…
He glanced ahead into the void.
"This is the Pure Land…?"
Even standing within it, he could hardly believe it. This was a place the living weren't meant to enter.
Memories rose unbidden—like a lantern's flickering flame, illuminating the darkest corners of his mind. Loss. Love. Guilt. Pride. They came rushing back in vivid waves.
Father. Obito. Rin. Sensei...
"Will I see them here?"
Just then, the white snake tugged gently at his arm. It wanted him to follow.
He remembered Orochimaru's words:
"If things go well, you might meet someone you're hoping to see."
Without resisting, Kakashi let the snake guide him.
Time warped. It could have been seconds or days—but eventually, in the endless dark, a faint glow appeared.
A soft light. Then—
A familiar voice, deep and tired, broke the silence:
"Kakashi… is that you?"
A tall, laid-back man turned around, eyes filled with the weight of years.
"You came early. But never mind… tell me what's been going on."
Kakashi felt like a child again, coming home from the Academy. He sat down beside the man with a faint smile.
"It's a long story."
"That's okay," the man said. "Start anywhere."
Kakashi looked up at him and said softly—
"Okay… Dad."
_____________________
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