Izumi glanced at Shisui, a rare warmth softening her normally cool expression.
"Their talents are excellent. Uchiha Renji and Uchiha Ayato are already close to Elite Jōnin level. Most of the others have reached Jōnin, and even the youngest, Chiba, is an Elite Chūnin."
She spoke with quiet satisfaction. None of the Uchiha children Naruto had saved were lacking in ability; otherwise, they wouldn't have been chosen for training.
Originally, they had been groomed to form the clan's elite, a squad meant to safeguard the Uchiha's future. But that plan had ended in blood—when Itachi, working with Konoha's leadership, annihilated the clan.
If not for Naruto's intervention, they would have been lost forever. Now, under a new banner, they had found purpose once again. The Uchiha could still continue.
"Very good," Shisui murmured, his eyes distant. "I never thought our clan would endure in this way."
His thoughts drifted back. Once, he had dedicated himself to bridging the gap between the Uchiha and the village. But he had been naïve. The conflict ran deeper than he had realized, and the clan's reputation within Konoha had been deliberately twisted.
Though the Uchiha were strict in their policing, their law enforcement was never without reason. Yet rumors of their cruelty spread unchecked throughout the village. Later, Shisui had understood—it was Danzo's manipulation of public opinion, preying upon the villagers' fears.
Back then, Shisui's grasp of politics had been far too narrow, leaving him at the mercy of both the Third Hokage and Danzo.
But the seeds of discord went back even further.
They had been sown by the Second Hokage himself, whose distrust of the Uchiha had shaped the village's policies. Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo had inherited that suspicion, but lacked Tobirama's wisdom. Instead, their clumsy politics had left Konoha fractured.
After Hiruzen came to power, the so-called "High Council" was essentially just the four of them—all disciples of the Second Hokage.
Their families prospered under their rule. The Sarutobi clan oversaw the ANBU and village finances, the Shimura clan controlled logistics, the Mitokado clan ran the largest casino in Konoha, and the Utatane clan held key offices. Around them, the other great clans dominated their own spheres.
Each of those clans had transitioned smoothly from the Warring States era, establishing industries across the Land of Fire. In this feudal society, they had become the nobility of the shinobi world.
The Hyūga Clan, in particular, carried themselves with etiquette rivaling that of the Fire Daimyō himself. Their lineage traced directly back to the younger brother of the Sage of Six Paths. In this world, that made them nobility among nobility.
Even the Daimyō could not dismiss them. Some even whispered that the Hyūga bloodline stretched back further still—to the progeny of the Divine Tree's goddess.
Such was the weight of noble bloodlines in the shinobi world. Even someone as radical as Orochimaru had required the Daimyō's approval to found Otogakure. Officially it was for research funds, but in truth, it also underscored how deeply entrenched noble authority was.
"…Enough," Shisui muttered, shaking his head and casting off the heavy thoughts. In a blur of body flicker, he vanished. Izumi followed, and in moments, the two disappeared, leaving only the devastated training ground behind.
Far away, in the Land of Rice Fields, within Otogakure…
Orochimaru, clad in a white lab coat, stood at his workbench, hands moving with surgical precision. At the doorway, a figure waited in silence, careful not to disturb the experiment.
At length, Orochimaru set down his tools, stripped off his gloves, and placed them on the table with deliberate calm.
"Kabuto. You're here. Is something the matter?" His golden eyes slid toward his subordinate, carrying their usual chill.
Kabuto lowered his head quickly. "Lord Orochimaru, as you instructed, we made contact with the Umbrella Organization. They are open to cooperation—but insist they must consult their superiors first."
Orochimaru's lips curved faintly. "Such airs they put on… but I suppose they have the strength to justify it." Though irritation flickered in his tone, his thirst for knowledge outweighed impatience. The thought of meeting the Umbrella's leader intrigued him greatly.
At that same time, Shisui was reviewing reports on Orochimaru's intentions.
"Cooperation? From Lord Orochimaru? That's unexpected." His voice was steady as he set a document on the conference table.
"But Naruto was right—Orochimaru is a man of talent. It seems he has taken notice of us."
Shisui sat at the head of the table, with Zabuza, Hane, and Izumi nearby. Two young Uchiha—whom Shisui intended to cultivate in political matters—were also present, alongside several other core members of the Umbrella Organization.
Zabuza picked up the document, his expression darkening as he scanned the contents.
"Orochimaru… one of the Sannin," he muttered. "That man is dangerous."
Zabuza had naturally heard of Orochimaru. The man was a dangerous legend—once a commander of Konoha's forces during the Third Great Ninja War.
Hane and Izumi, both originally from Konoha, needed no introduction either. They were well aware of Orochimaru's reputation.
Even though Orochimaru had long defected from the village, his past accomplishments still commanded respect.
"Hmph. Konoha is truly rotten—one by one, even their Sannin abandon them."
Hane's voice dripped with scorn. Ever since the massacre of the Uchiha Clan, his bitterness toward the village he once loved had only deepened.
"Let's bring this matter to Naruto," Shisui said at last. "Since he holds Orochimaru in high regard, we should leave the decision to him."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
From there, the meeting turned to other topics: the growing reach of the Seven Colors Trading Company, the spread of Umbrella's ideology, and the recruitment of fresh talent.
Orochimaru's approach was noted, but it was clear that, for the organization, long-term development mattered more.
Later, Naruto received Shisui's report. The news caught him off guard.
He had originally intended to reach out to Orochimaru only after graduation. He hadn't expected the Snake Sannin to approach first.
Still, Naruto had no illusions. Orochimaru wouldn't be swayed by Umbrella's ideals—he was far too self-serving for that.
No, what drew him must have been something else. Something like… science.
A thought sparked in Naruto's mind. Without hesitation, he drafted a reply.
In Otogakure, Orochimaru sat with the letter before him. His lips curled slightly, though not with amusement.
This was Umbrella's response?
To send such words to him—did they dare look down on him?
Killing intent seeped from him like a poisonous fog. That he had deigned to personally extend contact already showed the value he placed on Umbrella, yet their answer felt almost dismissive.
The messenger, trembling, spoke quickly: "Lord Orochimaru… the leader said there is something within that will surely interest you."
Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed, pinning the man in place. Then, after a moment, he waved his hand. "Leave."
The shinobi fled at once, grateful to escape with his life.
Only then did Orochimaru break the seal.
"Mr. Orochimaru, if you can grasp the following three points, you will witness the beginning of truth."
Why does water always flow downward?
Why does a fruit fall straight to the ground?
When a ship sails toward the horizon, why do we see the mast before the hull?
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed.
Naruto's words carried meaning beyond their surface. They hinted at a law unknown to this world—the law of universal gravitation. In his previous life, it had been discovered by Newton. But here, such a concept did not yet exist.
Science in this world was stunted, twisted, incomplete.
Naruto knew he couldn't correct it alone. He needed others—minds sharp enough, ambitious enough, to pursue the truth alongside him.
And in Orochimaru, perhaps he had found just such a man.
...
TN:
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