The sky was bright. High above, the wind danced through rolling clouds that shifted shape and drifted away under unseen forces—just like the black substance swirling around Orochimaru on the hill.
What began as formless sludge gradually condensed, spinning as though shaped by invisible hands. Slowly, it formed into a perfect sphere.
Djinn tilted his head curiously. "Is that... a Tailed Beast Bomb? Or maybe a Truth-Seeking Ball?"
Orochimaru lifted the black sphere with calm pride, a faint smile on his lips. "I'm not sure what you mean by 'Truth-Seeking Ball,' but no, this isn't a Tailed Beast Bomb. It's a fusion of all five basic elements, yin, yang—seven natures combined into one."
Bloodline Elimination was once the pinnacle—a fusion of three chakra natures. But only the complete merging of seven types could be called the power of a "god."
This was Orochimaru's first time not only witnessing, but truly wielding, such power.
"But…" he added with a faint sigh, "it's ironic."
He'd always despised the notion of bloodline supremacy. Yet here he was—relying on the very system he loathed to reach this stage.
Djinn scoffed. "Is that all you're upset about? So it offends your pride a little. It's still the fastest path forward."
The truth was, the ninja world wasn't even capable of producing stable Kage-level shinobi consistently. Chūnin and Jōnin made up the bulk of its power—its civilization hadn't evolved far enough to support breakthroughs at this scale. For Orochimaru to design an entirely new tier of power—Six Paths-level—through pure research would take far too long.
"But if you already know the 'answer,'" Djinn continued, "you can work backward. Reverse-engineer the process. It's far more efficient."
Orochimaru nodded but frowned. "I understand. But if I lay out the entire path for them, it might become a cage. A standard model. Too many will imitate it, and that will kill innovation."
"There's your problem," Djinn said with a chuckle. "You're overestimating people's ability to copy you—and underestimating their creativity. Most of them won't even succeed at the basics. And when they fail, that's when they start inventing."
Then his expression turned serious. "But the bigger issue is: why would they even want this power?"
In the past, war was constant. No ninja, from any village, could afford to ignore power—it was a matter of life and death. But now? The world was stabilizing. People were losing that desperate drive.
"The threat from the Ōtsutsuki exists, sure," Djinn mused. "But it's too distant. Too big. Too abstract. People don't feel it."
Orochimaru thought deeply. "So… should I reintroduce conflict between nations? Maintain a state of war to keep progress alive?"
He shook his head. "No. If Jiraiya found out I was behind such manipulation, he'd never forgive me. Besides, the cost in lives… it's not worth it."
"Then think on it later," Djinn said. "We've got more urgent matters. I already made a deal with Ōtsutsuki Isshiki."
He laid out the agreement.
"So?" he asked, "Do you want to get rid of him now?"
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. "Not yet. Let him deal with a hidden threat for me first. It's time… for the little white snake to come ashore."
He summoned a snake to send word to the White Snake Sage. Then, retrieving a metal ring, he activated the link to Jigen.
The projection appeared instantly. Orochimaru smiled.
"It's time. Are you ready?"
Jigen didn't answer. A dark-purple portal opened behind him, and he stepped through, his expression grim.
"Take me there. Now."
He seemed more anxious than during their last meeting, but Orochimaru didn't flinch. He simply raised a hand.
"Before that… let's apply the full 'Karma Seal' you promised."
"What exactly are you planning?" Jigen asked, slightly wary.
But he didn't press the issue. Dark chakra surged across his arm, and a blue-black diamond-shaped pattern appeared in his palm. He slammed it onto Orochimaru's hand.
Immediately, blue markings spread across Orochimaru's arm.
But Orochimaru had prepared. He formed a seal with his other hand and pressed it onto his shoulder, overlaying the Karma with a black sealing formula that suppressed it.
Sealing Jigen's "Wedge," Orochimaru chuckled, "Let's go."
---
Meanwhile...
The pursuit had turned into a hunt.
"Arghhh!"
Danzo, cornered by the Uchiha clan, roared with rage. His scarlet eyes burned. "Madara, you bastard! You tricked me!"
He had placed his trust in the information network of the White Zetsu. As Konoha's former elder, he knew how reliable it was. That had been his confidence in fleeing alone.
But now, surrounded by Uchiha elites? Only betrayal could explain it.
"Danzo!" Uchiha Fugaku's voice thundered. "Where did you get that Mangekyō Sharingan?!"
The Mangekyō was a rare awakening even for true Uchiha. How could Danzo possess it?
Danzo snarled. "This is Madara's doing, that traitor. You want those eyes? Go to him—he'll give them to you."
He wasn't just lashing out. He wanted to stir discord—ignite conflict between Madara and the village. And if Orochimaru saw that happen, he wouldn't stay idle.
"Uchiha Madara… It really is him," Fugaku growled. "He's betrayed the clan's legacy. Kill him!"
At his command, kunai filled the air in every direction—aimed to seal every escape route.
Danzo sneered. "Cheap tricks."
His eyes darted, analyzing trajectories. With a flick of his wrist, he threw his own kunai—interrupting the flow, opening a narrow path.
Just as he prepared to escape, multiple Uchiha appeared before him, hands flashing through seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
Infernos roared from both sides. Kunai from behind. Fire from the front.
But Danzo didn't flinch. He charged straight at the fire.
Scarlet eyes shone—and the next moment, a black sword cleaved through the flames.
"AAAAH!"
A team of Jōnin screamed as they were cut down in a single sweep. Their bodies slammed into trees—ribs shattered, spines twisted.
But they lived. Badly broken, but not dead.
Danzo, from within his half-formed black Susanoo, scowled. "Damn Orochimaru."
He raised his sword again to finish the job—only to be slammed backward by a massive wooden trunk.
"Wood Style?!"
Danzo's eyes locked on a ninja standing atop the trees.
"Uchiha Shinsuke… you have Wood Style?!"
Danzo's confusion turned into manic laughter. "No matter. A little trick won't save you."
He lit his sword with black flames and charged.
But Shinsuke stood firm, hands forming seals. "Wood Dragon Jutsu!"
Thick roots coiled and merged into a giant wooden dragon.
His technique wasn't as refined as the First Hokage's, but against Danzo's incomplete Susanoo, it was enough.
The dragon lunged.
Yet when it clashed with Danzo's sword, the wood began to burn—eaten away by a strange black fire. Shinsuke's chakra drained rapidly.
"What the hell is this…?"
The wooden dragon collapsed into cinders.
Danzo laughed and raised his blade.
But before he could strike, paper-thin wooden branches burst from the earth and wrapped around Susanoo, restraining its joints.
"Got you."
Shinsuke exhaled in relief. Though his teammates were wounded and the formation broken, he couldn't let Danzo escape—not after what he did to the Uchiha, and not after what he made Kabuto become.
Another wooden dragon surged forth.
But Danzo, sneering, engulfed his blade in black fire once more and roared, "Die with your worthless tree!"
The flaming blade came down like judgment. The wooden dragon began to burn again.
Shinsuke's chakra was nearly gone.
Yet suddenly, thick paper branches exploded from beneath Susanoo, wrapping it tightly—holding it in place.
Danzo snarled in fury. "You—"
But before he could move, his joints locked again.
Shinsuke blinked. Then frowned. "Danzo… is he insane now?"
_____________________
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