Kakashi spoke with fervor, his eyes gleaming with intensity, completely ignoring Orochimaru's surprised expression.
"The Third Hokage is old," he began, voice cold and sharp. "He's hesitant and timid. He repeatedly condones Danzo's dirty dealings, turning a blind eye to the truth."
"He's no longer the ambitious ninja hero he once was. Now, he's just an old man obsessed with maintaining the status quo—too afraid to take action, too concerned about appearances."
Orochimaru's expression darkened slightly, intrigued by Kakashi's audacity.
"But Minato-sensei," Kakashi continued, "he's different."
"As long as your experiments don't cross the line of human decency—no kidnapping of innocent villagers or citizens of the Land of Fire—I believe Lord Minato would support your scientific endeavors."
"In fact," he added, "if you agree to cooperate, I can even convince him to negotiate with Clan Leader Fugaku to transfer death row prisoners from the guard prison for your experiments."
Orochimaru blinked, slightly surprised at the bold offer.
Kakashi didn't stop there. He reached into his ninja pouch and pulled out three sealing scrolls, laying them neatly on a nearby table.
"These contain the bodies of members from the Ice Release Clan, the Hiyoruichi Clan, and clones created using Hashirama's cells. I gathered them during a mission in Kirigakure."
Orochimaru's pupils constricted like a serpent catching prey. "Did you say... Hashirama's cells?!"
The words triggered an immediate reaction in the legendary Sannin. Orochimaru had poured years into trying to successfully transplant those cells. His one successful subject, Yamato, was the result of countless failures.
And now… Kakashi was telling him that someone had managed to create clones using those very same cells?
Impossible.
Without waiting for permission, Orochimaru grabbed one of the scrolls and opened it.
Bang!
A puff of white smoke filled the air. When it cleared, the floor of the laboratory was covered in roughly 200 burnt and deformed White Zetsu corpses—vegetative clones partially charred, but still largely intact for study.
A sickly burnt smell filled the room, pungent and bitter.
But Orochimaru didn't care about the smell.
His eyes sparkled with excitement.
He picked up one of the clones and began dissecting it on the spot. His fingers moved with surgical precision, separating tissue samples and analyzing its cellular structure.
"Sugoi… Subarashii…"
Half an hour passed in silence, broken only by the sounds of clinking tools and muttered analysis. Orochimaru finally paused, gazing at his notes.
"This… this creature is clearly a derivative of Hashirama's genetic structure. It's not perfect, but it's more advanced than anything I've created so far!"
He looked up at Kakashi, his voice trembling with both curiosity and admiration. "Kakashi-kun, where did this come from?"
Kakashi smirked, but instead of answering, he shifted the conversation.
"Master Orochimaru, what do you think about my earlier suggestion?"
Orochimaru paused, considering.
He had always believed in the pursuit of truth—science, immortality, knowledge—more than anything else. Ordinary lives? They were of little consequence to him. But he was still a shinobi of Konoha, still a Sannin, and in some way, still loyal to the village that raised him.
Unless pushed to the edge, he didn't wish to be hunted like a criminal.
So Kakashi's proposal wasn't unreasonable.
"I can support Minato," Orochimaru said slowly, "as long as I am allowed to collect materials ethically, and my bottom line isn't compromised."
Kakashi nodded with a satisfied smile. "Perfect."
Seeing his agreement, Kakashi decided to share a partial truth—just enough to gain Orochimaru's full cooperation.
"Lord Orochimaru, have you ever heard of the Sage of Six Paths?" he asked.
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Kakashi continued. "Legend says the Sage split the Ten Tails into nine separate entities—our current tailed beasts—and scattered them across the ninja world."
"That," he added carefully, "was the origin of this thing called White Zetsu. A creature created using the Ten Tails' husk and further enhanced with Hashirama cells."
Orochimaru's jaw tightened. "But how do you know this?"
Kakashi merely smiled. "Let's just say… I've had access to sources most wouldn't dream of."
"Once our cooperation deepens," he added, "I'll tell you everything. But you must swear—everything I've told you, and everything I've given you, must be kept strictly confidential. Danzo can never know any of it."
"Any results you obtain—any experiments, breakthroughs, or information—cannot be shared with him under any circumstances."
Kakashi's eyes sharpened. This was his bottom line.
Orochimaru licked his lips, intrigued. "It seems Kakashi-kun knows more than I expected."
"But fine," he said with a devious smile. "I accept your terms."
There was something in Orochimaru's gaze—recognition. He saw in Kakashi the same thirst for knowledge, the same hunger to uncover the truths of the world.
Danzo had always treated him like a tool—using him when convenient, discarding him when not. But Kakashi… Kakashi showed respect. He came with offerings. Knowledge. Opportunity. Equality.
And that made all the difference.
Orochimaru nodded. "You have a deal."
Kakashi smiled inwardly. He had gambled—and won.
He knew Orochimaru was not a man who lied easily, not when it came to science. And by intervening early, before Orochimaru descended fully into the dark deeds he was destined for, Kakashi might just redirect his genius to something more beneficial.
After all, once the bottom line is crossed, there's no turning back.
"By the way, Master Orochimaru," Kakashi added with a grin, "you and my teacher, Minato-sensei, were technically classmates. That makes you… my uncle, doesn't it?"
"Mind if I call you Uncle Snake?"
Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "Haha… sure."
He found the informal title amusing—endearing, even.
"Okay then, Uncle Snake," Kakashi said playfully, before shifting to a serious tone. "I have a favor to ask. I need you to work on the genes of the Dead Bone Pulse Clan. See if we can stabilize and even enhance their kekkei genkai."
Orochimaru paused to think. "That's doable," he replied. "But my primary focus will remain on Hashirama's cells. It may take time."
"That's fine. No rush," Kakashi replied.
"Oh, and Uncle Snake—about the White Zetsu—you might be interested in this."
He reached into his pouch again and pulled out a small vial. Inside was a clear liquid with a single cell sample suspended within.
"That's from Ah Fei," Kakashi explained.
Orochimaru's eyes widened.
"Goodness, boy… If I hadn't accepted your terms already, you'd have kept this hidden forever!"
Kakashi grinned innocently. "Maybe."
Orochimaru shook his head with amusement. "I like you, Kakashi-kun. Always a trick or two up your sleeve."
Kakashi chuckled, then brought up one last point.
"By the way, if Danzo comes to you asking for results, just give him low-quality samples. Enough to keep him human—but barely."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "Scheming again, are we?"
Then he smiled. "Alright, no problem."
There was a strange fondness in his gaze now. The more time he spent with Kakashi, the more he appreciated him.
A sharp mind. A cautious planner. A fellow seeker of truth.
He thought back to Nawaki—Tsunade's little brother. How brilliant he could have been if he'd survived. How wonderful it would have been to see him grow, perhaps even become like Kakashi.
A sigh escaped Orochimaru's lips.
He turned back to the dissected White Zetsu, his hands already twitching with the anticipation of further experimentation.
In his mind, one thing was now clear.
For the first time in a long while… he had found a kindred spirit.
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