Orochimaru's gaze was sharp as a blade, piercing and predatory, yet deep within his eyes flickered a trace of unease.
Naruto's words had struck a nerve, dragging to the surface the truth Orochimaru tried to bury. The Living Corpse Reincarnation technique was the foundation of his existence—his key to clinging to life, the bedrock of his pursuit of eternity.
Every time he used the Cursed Seal, he left fragments of his own soul within it. That was a truth only he knew—one he had never shared, not even with Kabuto. It was the darkest secret of his survival.
But a soul fractured and incomplete was inevitably weakened. That fragility left him vulnerable to genjutsu.
Naruto's words at this moment were like a sudden revelation, forcing Orochimaru into vigilance. Coupled with the strain of the Living Corpse Reincarnation, the rejection between body and soul gnawed at his spirit, making him even more fragile.
Orochimaru had yet to notice these side effects fully. Or perhaps he had, but dismissed them. After all, his current vessel was unusually compatible with his soul.
But Naruto, with his perception, noticed immediately—the body Orochimaru now inhabited was female. This was the same vessel he had taken during the Konoha Crush, when the Third Hokage sealed his arms with the Reaper Death Seal. Unable to endure the agony of immobile arms, Orochimaru had been forced to reincarnate once more.
Experiments still awaited him, after all.
That vessel, however, could only last for three years. In the end, he had set his sights on Sasuke, only to be slain by him when his soul had grown too weak to resist.
"Oh ho ho ho…"
"It seems you know me quite well," Orochimaru said softly, his body coiling like a serpent ready to strike.
Naruto chuckled. "No need to be so tense, Orochimaru. Your goal is eternal life—the truth that lies at the heart of the world. Perhaps we're not so different."
Though their paths diverged, Naruto too harbored a fascination with longevity. In this world of extraordinary powers, the possibility was far from illusion.
With the knowledge he carried from another life, and his philosophy that Heaven rewards diligence, he believed that while true immortality might be impossible, extending one's life was not.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. Naruto's words carried an air of mystery. And then there was Shisui—standing here alive, despite his supposed death. Almost everyone had been deceived. That was the handiwork of the man before him.
And the Umbrella Organization—from their actions, it was clear their motives were anything but simple.
"Since you propose a collaboration," Orochimaru said, "what is it I stand to gain—or rather, what must I give?"
Naruto smiled faintly. "Straightforward. I like that. We may have many dealings in the future."
He studied Orochimaru, weighing his words carefully. "I want your knowledge of biology. In return, we possess technology and information far beyond what the shinobi world currently understands. But of course…" Naruto's tone deepened. "Neither of us would reveal all our secrets at our first meeting."
His gaze sharpened. "However, if Orochimaru-kakka were to join us, then some of those secrets would no longer be secrets."
Expectation glimmered in his eyes.
But Orochimaru only shook his head with a serpentine smile. "No, thank you. I believe a partnership, rather than subordination, will suit us better. Consider this my contact."
He summoned a small white snake, which slithered forward and spat out a scroll.
Naruto accepted it with a faint look of disdain, then reached into his pocket and handed Orochimaru something unexpected—a sleek mobile phone.
"This is the communication tool of our organization. Simply…"
He gave a brief explanation of its functions, leaving Orochimaru momentarily stunned. His scroll suddenly felt crude and outdated in comparison.
"Your organization is… remarkable," Orochimaru admitted with a thin smile.
The device was like an evolved form of radio technology—something the shinobi world had only just begun to experiment with, and with far more limitations. This alone spoke volumes about Umbrella's advancement.
After exchanging contact methods, Orochimaru began to turn away. But midway, he paused and glanced at Shisui.
"Shisui-kun," he hissed softly, "I have a plan. Would you care to join me?"
Shisui raised a brow. "Oh? And what kind of plan might that be?"
A cold smile spread across Orochimaru's face. "One I call… the Konoha Crush."
The plan was already complete, but with Shisui—or perhaps even Umbrella's influence—success would be all but guaranteed.
Shisui chuckled lightly. "As much as the idea interests me, my existence is already troublesome enough for certain people in Konoha. Still…"
His eyes glinted. "I'll send others to aid you."
Shisui spoke lightly, though his eyes gleamed with intent. Orochimaru's plan aligned perfectly with his own desires—causing turmoil in Konoha was exactly what he wanted.
It was time for Konoha to pay the price.
"Happy cooperation."
The two said in unison before Orochimaru turned and left with Kabuto at his side.
Once they were gone, Shisui's faint smile vanished. He glanced at Naruto and said quietly, "Orochimaru-sama is as cunning as ever. He tried to use my resentment toward Konoha to draw me out into the open."
Naruto chuckled.
"Of course. That's Orochimaru for you. If it had been anyone else, blinded by hatred, they might have acted rashly. But you… you saw through it."
Shisui nodded.
"Even so, this is still an opportunity. Sasuke and I will likely leave Konoha soon. When that happens, it'll be time for him to meet all of you."
Naruto's gaze turned profound as he looked in the direction Orochimaru had gone.
"That kid… he's been carrying a heavy burden. The hatred from the Uchiha clan's annihilation weighs on him every day. For years, he believed only he and Itachi were left."
At the mention of Itachi, Shisui's voice faltered.
"Yes… it was hard on him. He trained relentlessly, and his growth has been remarkable." Shisui's tone was tinged with regret.
Naruto also understood.
To the outside world, Sasuke might appear calm and collected. But without outside intervention, he would still be drowning in hatred. That very pressure, however, had pushed him to grow stronger.
Shisui sighed.
"Back then, I entrusted the clan's future to Itachi. I never imagined he'd choose such a path."
From his current perspective, Itachi's decision had been the worst possible one—and it had been his alone to make.
"Even if a coup had failed, if precautions were taken, at least some of the ordinary Uchiha could have survived," Shisui said bitterly.
"We could have arranged for families to leave the village, to live as merchants or civilians. But instead, he spared only Sasuke. How could one boy ever hope to restore the Uchiha alone?"
Naruto fell silent. He thought of the Boruto era—how many of the new generation even knew what the Uchiha clan had once been?
He placed a hand on Shisui's shoulder.
"Past choices led to this present. But the future will be Sasuke's to decide. He will surely demand justice. If he rejects the path Itachi carved for him… imagine what that would mean."
"Yes." Shisui's eyes hardened. "That night wasn't only Itachi's doing. The elders of Konoha were just as guilty. One day, they too will face judgment."
Then, almost wryly, he added, "If Sasuke never takes a wife, then a hundred years from now, the Uchiha will cease to exist. When that day comes, will Itachi still believe his choice was right? Or will he break under the weight of it?"
Naruto let out a faint laugh, though there was sorrow behind it. He thought of Sakura. Without her unwavering devotion, Shisui's words might well have become reality.
"There's truth in that," Naruto admitted.
"It only proves that Itachi's choice was wrong… and that this shinobi world itself is twisted."
Shisui nodded firmly. "Yes. This world is sick."
And wasn't this very path they walked together—Naruto's vision, their shared struggle—meant to cure that sickness?
For a moment, Naruto's figure loomed taller in Shisui's eyes, a beacon of change in a world mired in endless cycles of blood and hatred.
...
TN:
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