The dimly lit basement echoed with quiet crackles as Kakashi peeled the first seal from the scroll. The large, old document was covered in faded ink and detailed calligraphy, Tobirama Senju's personal research notes.
With reverence, Kakashi placed it in the center of the floor. His Sharingan glowed faintly as he activated the Formula Reconstruction Technique, sketching a glowing chakra circle around the scroll with delicate precision.
The containment seal shimmered faintly in blue as it sealed the scroll's dormant chakra, preventing any unintended soul leakage or activation.
He sat cross-legged before it, opening the scroll with care.
His eyes widened. Inside were dozens of densely packed pages written in an orderly, methodical style. The first section broke down the Yin and Yang nature of the soul, the nature of chakra, and their interdependence.
The second examined the transfer and containment of the soul, referencing the Impure World Reincarnation jutsu and soul fragmentation. Tobirama had even included unfinished theories about soul purification, transferal techniques, and soul loyalty manipulation.
Further down, Kakashi found another scroll labeled: "Uchiha Studies: Genotype, Mangekyō Influence, and Yin Soul Amplification."
Kakashi's heart pounded with excitement. He wasn't just studying a dead Kage's work, he was studying the mind of the man who invented Edo Tensei and reshaped shinobi warfare. He couldn't help but think about what would happen if Tobirama were a scientist in the Boruto era.
For two full days, Kakashi rarely moved. He only left the circle to eat the food Tsunade, Anko, or Kurenai brought him.
Otherwise, his eyes devoured line after line of ancient research. His enhanced talent processed Tobirama's notes with astonishing efficiency. What would take a normal shinobi months, Kakashi absorbed in hours.
On the third morning, his eyes red from lack of sleep but sparkling with excitement, Kakashi stood.
"It's done," he whispered.
He walked to the back of the room and began drawing with a seal brush onto chakra-treated parchment. He used his Formula Reconstruction Technique, altering several of Tobirama's diagrams and fusing them with his own designs.
The result: a Soul Binding Seal, capable of tethering a free soul fragment into a chosen vessel. But that wasn't all, he made something more dangerous.
Using Tobirama's theoretical notes on memory-linked soul pathways, Kakashi constructed a Loyalty Seal that would etch itself into the soul itself, not just the mind. Any soul bearing it would be incapable of betraying its master and would prioritize assigned directives.
"Now for the vessel…" He leaned back, studying the finished formula.
This time, he didn't need a messy process. With the White Zetsu biomass fused into his body, all he did was open his palm. A green, pulsing seed bloomed from the center of his hand and fell to the floor. It hit the ground with a wet thump and instantly began sprouting into a pale figure.
In moments, another blank Zetsu clone stood before him, pale gray like fungus bark, with smooth skin, root-like veins, and no features on its face.
Kakashi stepped forward and engraved the Soul Binding Seal into the forehead of the clone. The glyph pulsed once and sank into the skin like ink into paper.
Next, from the scroll he'd carefully stored, he unsealed the Orochimaru fragment, the soul remnant he'd salvaged from Anko's curse mark long ago.
The faint wisp of soul energy hovered in the air like violet mist. Without delay, Kakashi pressed it into the Zetsu's forehead.
The clone twitched.
Kakashi didn't stop. He placed his fingers into a unique seal and injected Yin chakra into the clone's chest to stabilize the merging soul. The fusion pulsed, and the figure seized, its limbs twitching violently.
With another seal, Kakashi engraved the Loyalty Seal directly into the fragmenting soul, embedding commands:
Absolute loyalty to Kakashi Hatake.
Prioritize research over personal ambition.
Preserve all knowledge.
Maintain gentlemanly noble decorum.
The moment the command set was finalized, the spasms ceased. Slowly, a transformation began.
The blank face began to shift, indentations becoming features. Pale skin stretched over forming muscles. The clone's frame grew a little thinner, more snake-like. Long, straight black hair sprouted. A pair of narrow, golden eyes opened slowly, gleaming with a strange mix of awe and clarity.
Another Orochimaru had come into existence.
But not the same as the previous Orochimaru. This version was clean, calm, and his aura carried no malice, only wonder.
Kakashi handed the man a plain set of robes, which he accepted with grace. When fully clothed, he bowed low.
"…Kakashi-sama," Orochimaru spoke, his voice smooth and respectful. "You've given me… life."
"How do you feel?" Kakashi smiled beneath tired eyes.
"Stable. Whole. A soul of my own, no longer clinging to others like a parasite." He raised a hand and flared his chakra weakly. "I can feel chakra, though very little. I presume that was intentional?"
"You're a researcher, not a fighter. I didn't want to risk a power imbalance." Kakashi nodded. Though he didn't give him much Chakra just in case something happened.
"Wise, Kakashi-sama. When can I begin my work?"Orochimaru laughed lightly, a sound disturbingly elegant.
"Not yet. I'll build you a base for research soon. Wait for now." Kakashi held up a hand.
With that, he flared his chakra subtly, a prearranged signal to the women upstairs.
Within minutes, Tsunade, Kurenai, and Anko entered the lab. All three froze when they saw the man standing by Kakashi's side.
"Orochimaru?!" Anko's eyes widened in disbelief.
She didn't expect Kakashi to really succeed.
Orochimaru gave a smooth, gentlemanly bow. "Anko, Tsunade, Kurenai-san. I greet you all. Please don't be alarmed, I am under full binding and exist solely to serve Kakashi-sama's will."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes. She studied the soul aura and chakra, the alignment was perfect. There were no signs of resistance or deviation.
"Creepy… He even talks like a noble now…" Anko shivered.
"How do you feel, Orochimaru?" Tsunade stepped forward, eyes locked on the man she once considered a brother.
"Grateful. Kakashi-sama granted me a full soul, my own existence. I live to fulfill the research he entrusts to me. I owe him everything." He turned to her and said, with no trace of deceit,
Tsunade glanced at Kakashi. Her heart pounded, not with fear, but with possibility.
If Kakashi could do this… then maybe…
Her eyes welled as her thoughts turned to Nawaki.
Kakashi noticed her expression. He grinned softly and raised a thumb with a wink.
Tsunade blinked, and then her lips curled into a smile.
"If anyone could do it… It's you, Kakashi."
The mood lightened, though Anko still eyed Orochimaru like he might try to lick someone at any moment.
"You're insane, you know that?" Kurenai sighed and nudged Kakashi.
"I prefer 'visionary,'" Kakashi replied with a grin.
Behind him, Orochimaru gave a small chuckle. "You flatter me by creating me in your image, Kakashi-sama. I will not disappoint you."
Kakashi nodded. "You won't. Soon, I'll build you a lab where you can begin working again… under my direction."
"He'd better stay in line." Anko crossed her arms.
"Of course. I serve only Kakashi-sama." Orochimaru raised a hand, bowing once more.
"It's going to be strange getting used to this." Kurenai shook her head.
"Strange… but miraculous. You did something even my grand uncle probably couldn't." Tsunade placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder.
"And I'm just getting started." Kakashi smiled faintly.