As a torrent of information flooded into his mind, Orochimaru was instantly forced out of his transformation jutsu. His body reverted to a younger, more vulnerable form. Veins bulged across his forehead, faintly tinged with blood.
And it didn't stop there—capillaries across his head began bursting in unison, dyeing his pale hair and face crimson.
Even with that damage, he couldn't pull away. The sheer volume of information pouring in from the Gedo Statue overwhelmed him, paralyzing his mental form. He was trapped—unable to disconnect or control himself.
"…Damn," muttered the Djinn inside him, immediately sensing something was wrong. But the data pouring in existed purely on a mental plane—even he couldn't control it.
"We have to retreat—now."
Frowning, the Djinn took control, severed the spiritual link, and forcibly ejected Orochimaru's mind from the Gedo Statue.
Everything had happened so fast that Nagato didn't even have time to react. As he landed atop the statue's head and saw Orochimaru covered in blood, he hesitated. Then, cautiously, he stepped forward to check his condition.
But before he could speak, Orochimaru's eyes opened, and he exhaled a deep, ragged breath.
Nagato's expression turned serious. Seeing Orochimaru in a juvenile state, yet alive and recovering, curiosity flickered in his eyes. "…What happened to you?"
"Just a little misstep," Orochimaru said casually, wiping the blood off his forehead. Underneath, his skin was already healed—good as new.
"But for now," he added, "the experiment's over."
"…" Nagato studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Fine."
He wasn't fooled. Whatever happened had clearly shaken Orochimaru more than he was letting on. But seeing that he hadn't lost control, hadn't turned unstable or reckless, Nagato had no grounds to protest.
Orochimaru descended from the statue and seated himself cross-legged against a nearby rock wall, slipping into a meditative pose. Natural energy began circulating around him, flickering like mist.
To Nagato and Konan, it appeared he was restoring himself. But in truth...
The Djinn, still in control of his body, sighed. "Tch. That didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped."
Even though they had severed the connection, the brief moment Orochimaru had been linked to the Gedo Statue had already dumped an absurd amount of data into his mind. It wasn't corruption, per se—just too much knowledge, too fast.
It was like being force-fed a feast too large for the stomach to contain.
"I guess I'll take over for now," the Djinn muttered with a smirk, "until you can digest all this."
With that, he took Orochimaru's form and rose to his feet, leaping back onto the statue's head.
"For now, let's call it a day. No method to separate the Tailed Beasts has surfaced."
Nagato had no objection, but one line caught his attention. "Today?"
"Yes." The Djinn—disguised as Orochimaru—smirked, licking his lips in familiar fashion. "Once we make more progress, we'll try again."
"You're persistent," Nagato said, his brow twitching. "But I'm warning you—this was the last time. It's too risky."
The Djinn said nothing. He smiled but didn't argue. Whether Nagato liked it or not, it wouldn't change anything.
After a beat, the Djinn continued. "Let's change topics. There's something I'd like to ask of Amegakure. A small request—let's call it a trade between Konoha and Kumogakure."
Nagato raised an eyebrow. "…What kind of trade?"
"I need a few Bloodline ninjas under your jurisdiction. Just one or two will do. I need them for some basic experiments."
Nagato's expression turned cold in an instant. "Absolutely not."
Konan's face hardened as well. Her brief warming toward the strange, youthful-looking Orochimaru evaporated.
"You misunderstand," the Djinn said smoothly. "Nothing cruel or unethical. Just standard analysis. You can observe the entire process if you'd like."
Nagato narrowed his eyes. "…That's all?"
The Djinn nodded, still smiling. "That's all."
"…Even so, why should I help you?"
Nagato's patience was wearing thin. The Gedo Statue was already reason enough to tolerate Orochimaru. There was no additional reason to assist with unrelated projects.
The Djinn tilted his head, amused. "Tell me... the man called Kabuto Yakushi—he's with you, isn't he?"
Nagato's eyes sharpened. His silence was answer enough.
Kabuto had stayed hidden in Amegakure to avoid drawing attention, but clearly, the Djinn had known all along. He'd simply chosen not to mention it—until now.
"I won't pursue Kabuto," the Djinn offered, "in exchange for a little cooperation. How about it?"
Nagato went silent for a long time, then finally replied, "…Fine."
Kabuto wasn't someone he particularly valued, but the man had helped with his transplant and healing. That was worth something.
"Good." The Djinn smiled and reverted to Orochimaru's adult form with a flicker of chakra. "Let's head back."
---
Back in Amegakure.
Negotiations between Konoha and Kumogakure continued in the underground meeting halls.
Nara Shikaku, sharp as ever, had been working behind the scenes—pressuring, maneuvering, subtly steering discussions to benefit Konoha. His goal? Ensure that Rain Village's alignment ultimately leaned toward the Leaf.
But Ghost Lantern City's lord, Naoyan, and the money-obsessed Kakuzu were no pushovers. Alone, they might not have matched Shikaku, but together, they presented a worthy challenge.
Shikaku had to play a slow game—chipping away in talks, searching for weaknesses, trying to secure any clause that would benefit the Leaf.
When Orochimaru (or rather, the Djinn) returned, he gave Shikaku a pat on the shoulder. "Well done. At this rate, even the beggars will be out of work."
Shikaku gave a strained smile. Naoyan grimaced. If Rain Village's economy collapsed, it would be on his head.
Kakuzu, naturally, didn't care. As long as the money flowed, people could starve for all he cared.
Jiraiya, listening nearby, said nothing—but he didn't like it.
"You've seen the power we wield," the Djinn said casually to Naoyan and Kakuzu. "Better to cooperate than clash. At least that way, there's a floor under your feet."
Naoyan gave a tired chuckle. "Cooperation sounds nice... but when you've been enemies this long, peace doesn't come easy."
"Then don't force it," the Djinn replied with a grin. "But know this—someone will take the first step. Might as well be you."
He didn't press further.
In a place like the shinobi world, power flowed like a spring—push down in one spot, and it would surge up somewhere else. Change couldn't come from the top alone, especially not in a world where even the weakest ninja could be deadly.
And so, the Djinn left the talks behind, said farewell to Jiraiya, and retreated to a quiet lake near Meteorite Island. With a few quick Earth-style jutsu, he raised a three-story stone dwelling, entered, and began meditating.
---
Three Days Later.
The Konoha–Kumo negotiations neared their conclusion.
Jiraiya and the others had returned home, leaving Orochimaru (still possessed by the Djinn) in Amegakure for joint experimentation.
During that time, several bloodline ninjas arrived: users of Lava Release, Boil Release, Ice Release from Kirigakure, and Storm and Magnet Release from Kumogakure. Even the Kaguya Clan sent a representative.
It was Kimimaro.
The Djinn studied the cold-faced youth, amused. So this is the boy who nearly wiped out the protagonist group in the original timeline...
In another life, Kimimaro had been Orochimaru's most loyal follower, offering his body and soul—but was discarded due to his terminal illness.
"If it weren't for that bloodline disease, the protagonist squad would've been toast," the Djinn mused. "Maybe this time, we can change that fate."
Then, a tremor.
Orochimaru stirred beneath the surface, golden eyes slowly opening. His gaze was unfocused—exhausted from days of internal strain.
"...You awake?" the Djinn teased. "You look like hell."
There was a long pause.
"…Maybe," Orochimaru murmured.
It wasn't physical fatigue—it was mental. Digesting the data from the Gedo Statue had left him drained, like he'd just pulled a month-long all-nighter.
But even in that haze, his voice trembled with something close to awe.
"…I think I know the origin of the Otsutsuki Clan."
The Djinn blinked. "What?"
Orochimaru didn't respond immediately. He closed his eyes again, breath deepening.
"Don't mess with me—what did you see?" the Djinn pressed.
"…It's a long story. I need to rest a bit more."
And then… he fell asleep.
The Djinn stared in disbelief. "Oh, come on…"
Of course Orochimaru would drop a revelation like that and then pass out.
The Djinn scratched his head in frustration. He could dive into Orochimaru's memories—but that would cross a line. Their bond, after all, was meant to be one of mutual respect.
And so he waited.
Time passed slowly… but at last, Orochimaru awoke again.
"Well?" the Djinn asked eagerly. "Tell me. What did you see?"
Orochimaru took a long breath.
"Surprising as it sounds… the truth is simple."
"The Otsutsuki Clan… are the Gedo Statues."
_____________________
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