Anya recognized him instantly—the bloodline they shared couldn't be falsified. Sighing inwardly, she asked, "Ko Shang, was this name given by Orochimaru?"
"No, I didn't like the name he chose, so I changed it myself," Ko Shang replied, his gaze filled with reverence, eyes burning intensely. "I've read your first published book over and over again. Later, I chose the very first form described in it as my name. I want to be number one."
Anya remained expressionless, her tone calm as she asked, "Why did you have Kabuto create a Reanimated Army to join the Fourth Great Ninja War?"
Smiling broadly, Ko Shang replied, "I know what you intend—to change the entire Ninja World and eliminate the ninja system from existence. But there are things you can't conveniently do yourself. That's where I come in. I will clear away all obstacles for you and bear every sin."
Anya let out a cold chuckle. "All that talk—is your goal to get me to spare him?"
A flicker of hesitation crossed Ko Shang's face before he gritted his teeth. "If Father wants him dead, I can handle it."
So saying, he pulled out the thin needle stabilizing Kabuto's chakra and aimed it straight at his temple.
"There's no need for that. Whether he lives or dies doesn't matter to me at all." Anya asked seriously, "What I want to know is, what ideals do you have? Or rather, what is it that you want to do?"
Ko Shang declared fervently, "Your ideals are mine."
"No," Anya countered coldly. "There are no two identical leaves in the world. Forget even that your bloodline doesn't entirely come from me—even if it did, our thoughts would still differ. Your birth was too unexpected for me. Therefore, I hesitate over your future. I want to hear your true thoughts."
Her eyes turned deep and unfathomable.
Ko Shang quickly said, "That just now was my most—"
"If it's the same answer again, I'll consider removing your bloodline."
The coldness in Anya's voice caused Ko Shang's eyes to contract painfully. His face showed deep anguish and inner conflict.
"Why?"
A killing intent surged from Anya's body as her voice turned icy cold. "Answer me. I won't ask twice."
Ko Shang clearly sensed that sharp, piercing killing intent. He had no doubt that in an instant, its razor edge could wound him deeply. The gap between them, amplified through their shared bloodline connection, felt utterly hopeless. Yet everything he'd done was meant to...
Knowing he had no time to hesitate, faced with the intensifying pressure, Ko Shang's Sharingan involuntarily activated. Staring at Anya with blood-red eyes, he declared, "I want to become your successor—to lead the entire world."
Anya retracted her killing intent slightly and simply asked, "Are you sure?"
Ko Shang couldn't discern Anya's thoughts at all. But having come this far, there was naturally no turning back. He nodded firmly. "Yes."
"Fine, I agree to your request."
That simple?
Ko Shang couldn't believe it, stunned into stillness.
Hakuto quickly located Naruto through the Intelligence Division. When she noticed Kushina watching her with curiosity, she couldn't help asking, "What is it?"
"Nothing much," Kushina said, shaking her head. "I'm just curious—about your little... uh, your father. He has a daughter even older than Naruto? Yet in my life, I never saw him with any woman. So I'm really curious—who is your mother?"
"Sis, you were a Konoha ninja in your past life, right? Then you must know her."
At first, Kushina had been delighted to hear the familiar nickname, but now she fell silent for a moment, unable to react immediately after hearing that name. "Wait... what did you just say? I didn't quite catch it. Your mother is...?"
"Oh, you really don't know?" Hakuto mused to herself. "Looks like her reputation isn't as legendary as I'd heard. Well then, let me formally introduce her—she's one of Konoha's legendary Sannin—known as the strongest medical ninja ever."
"That's enough—I get it already," Kushina interrupted, stunned. "Never thought that shorty would actually end up with Tsunade-sama. They're completely different people. Your mother..."
Kushina let out a heavy sigh, saying nothing more, but regret flickered in her eyes, obviously feeling disappointed about Tsunade's choice.
Hakuto nodded in understanding. "Actually, aside from certain aspects, my dad's really not that bad."
Kushina couldn't help laughing. "Haha, sounds like you understand him pretty well."
"Let's go. I've already located where Naruto is."
A black portal appeared before them, and Hakuto grabbed Kushina's hand, pulling her through.
The moment they arrived, they saw Naruto and Killer Bee helplessly trapped in the grip of a red-haired limping man. Their bodies were violently yanked at, the Tailed Beast chakra inside almost torn out—it was only a hair's breadth away from being extracted.
Without thinking, Kushina immediately rushed forward.
But Hakuto's arrow was faster. The arrow whistled past her body and struck the red-haired man's arm first.
[Splitting Arrow]
Midair, the arrow split into two, successfully piercing through the man's arm and freeing both Naruto and Killer Bee.
"This... it's the Rinnegan," Hakuto recognized instantly, staring at a pair of eyes identical to her own.
"He's Nagato—resurrected using the Impure World Reincarnation (Edo Tensei) technique. Dammit, I won't forgive whoever that bastard is who dares to mock the dead."
Before Naruto could finish those words, he saw a red-haired woman rushing straight toward him. The figure was so familiar—like the one who had once taught him how to absorb the Nine-Tails' chakra.
"Could it be...?" His anger instantly turned into tears. "Mother?"
The mother and son embraced tightly, both shedding tears of emotion. It was a touching, heart-wrenching scene.
Meanwhile, Hakuto had already drawn her bow and was fighting fiercely against Nagato alongside Killer Bee.
Hakuto had already witnessed Nagato's abilities firsthand. As someone possessing the Rinnegan herself, she understood most of his powers. Each arrow she shot could limit Nagato's movements, and his [Blocking Technique Absorption Seal] couldn't even be properly utilized—he was constantly being hindered.
Yet a joyful expression appeared on Nagato's face. "Yes, that's right. I can only be sealed now. Be careful."
After shouting those words, Nagato—who was trapped in place—gathered massive amounts of chakra in both hands. A large, highly concentrated sphere of chakra formed into a black ball that floated into the air and began attracting everything nearby across a wide area—including people. Even Hakuto, who stood farthest away, could feel a powerful gravitational pull dragging her in.
[Planetary Devastation]! Everyone be careful!" Naruto exclaimed loudly, snapping out of the joy he felt at seeing his mother again.
Just as huge rocks were about to engulf everyone, a sudden flash of clarity surged through Nagato's mind mid-skill, restoring his consciousness. Immediately, he stopped releasing Planetary Devastation.
"What happened?"
The few individuals released from the gravity field all jumped down onto solid ground.
"The caster controlling me through Impure World Reincarnation has been defeated by someone. Now he's unable to control my actions. Quick! Seal me!" Nagato pleaded toward the group.
"Got it!" Having already witnessed Nagato's power firsthand, Hakuto knew this was their golden opportunity. She drew her bowstring back tightly, unleashing a transparent sealing arrow that struck Nagato squarely, fully sealing him away.
At the Five Kages' battlefield summit—Madara had activated his Rinnegan and successfully struck Minato using Blocking Technique Absorption Seal after absorbing Nine-Tails Chakra. Then, splitting into several Wood Release Clones, he kept launching successive attacks combining poisonous pollen gas, repeatedly scoring hits.
With Minato no longer covering the front line, Sasori's mechanized puppet suit was completely destroyed by Completed Form Susanoo, shattering into pieces and losing all its former parity against opponents.
"Hmph. Scrap metal."
[Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!]"
This fire technique was even hotter than before—and fueled by Wood Release combustion. This time, even Terumi Mei's Water Release couldn't extinguish it. Hit directly by a Susanoo illusion conjured from the Wood Release Clone, she flew backward violently.
Samiu seized Madara's attack opening, transforming her entire body into lightning as she appeared behind him. Lifting her Taiyang Blade high, she channeled all the chakra stored in her armor into a powerful [Lightning Blade Art] strike.
Surprisingly though, another face emerged on Susanoo's backside. Wielding an enormous greatsword, the rear-facing Susanoo intercepted Samiu's Taiyang Blade head-on with its own massive blade.
"Pkhh..."
A spray of blood arced through the air as Samiu's palm split open around her sword. Her body tumbled backward and crashed to the ground, unmoving. No one could tell if she was alive or not.
Meanwhile, Onoki had already sustained injuries under Heavenly Obstacle Quaking Star's assault earlier. Now caught again in the crossfire between flames and poison gas, he hovered dangerously close to death's edge.
Crushing the stone in his hand, flames reignited in Onoki's eyes. For this final battle before death, there was no way he would disgrace the title of Kage. His Will of Stone refused easy defeat.
[Dust Release]...
As Onoki prepared to make his last stand, a golden figure suddenly blocked his path forward.
It was none other than Minato himself—who had just moments ago been slashed by Susanoo. Right now, aside from torn clothing, the wound around his waist from that earlier slash had already healed naturally, leaving behind only a thin scar.
Smiling gently toward Onoki, Minato said, "We young ones haven't fallen yet. There's no way we'll let an old man go ahead and risk his life first, Lord Tsuchikage. Please believe in me."
"In the past, I refused to believe the prophecy Jiraiya—one of the Sannin—spoke of," Onoki's eyes changed as he held onto thoughts of mutual destruction, sighing involuntarily. "But now, seeing you, I finally understand—the prophecy might actually be true. You really are the Child of the Prophecy who brings hope to the entire Ninja World."
Uchiha Madara, noticing Minato had regained his combat ability, revealed surprise in his Rinnegan eyes before quickly grasping what happened. "So 'Hashirama's Essence' saved you? It may not match Hashirama's effortless self-healing capability, but it's not bad either. Next time, I will make sure to finish him off."
With that, the two threw themselves into battle once again.
"To obtain anything valuable, one must always give up something in return," Anya said calmly. "Since I've made a promise to you, I won't go back on my word."
Ko Shang suddenly understood and spoke with difficulty. "What must I sacrifice?"
"Firstly, you cannot claim to be of my bloodline. Secondly, though you won't become the ruler of the New World yourself, I will allow you to study under those two individuals and appoint you their sole heir. However, should you fail to meet their standards, we'll consider this arrangement null and void. Lastly, although I'm entrusting this world to you, experts will visit every ten years to assess your abilities. As long as your skills remain adequate and you don't grow weary of leading, you can continue ruling as long as you wish."
After finishing, Anya stared at Ko Shang's visibly pained expression and asked, "If you have any objections, now's your chance to say everything clearly."
Ko Shang shouted furiously, "Is this all because I'm an Artificial Person? Is it because you don't want to acknowledge my existence? Or perhaps you think I'll taint your bloodline?"
"I think you misunderstood something crucial. From the beginning, your parents were always Orochimaru. The reason I had no intention of reclaiming your bloodline was simply out of respect for him. The person you should truly be grateful toward is him—rather than me. As for matters concerning bloodlines, I personally never cared much anyway."
"Then, am I allowed to say I belong to the Uchiha Clan?"
"Do as you please."
"Alright then, I have no more questions. I'll do my best to serve well as the heir to the New World."
"Have Kabuto release the Impure World Reincarnation. This is my war to fight; you needn't interfere anymore."
Ko Shang appeared completely relieved and simply nodded slightly, replying briefly, "Fine."
Having settled everything, Anya left this place. Just as she reached the door, she saw Orochimaru leaning against the wall with a desolate look, standing exactly the same way as he had been all along.
This was the first time Anya had ever seen Orochimaru like this. She couldn't help asking, "Did you know about everything I just said to him?"
Orochimaru didn't answer directly. Instead, he started telling a little story: "When he was very young, he discovered through books that his bloodline came from the Uchiha Clan. After awakening his Sharingan, and asked me who his father was. For some unknown reason, when confronted by his innocent eyes—pure like clear water—I ended up telling him about your existence. Since that moment, he has collected everything related to you, gradually shifting from initially relying on me to keeping distance, until finally resenting me entirely."
"Resentment?" Anya frowned slightly.
"Yes, he thought he concealed it well. But I know. During one of the trials I set for him, an unexpectedly formidable opponent appeared — one not included in our intelligence."
Orochimaru got a faraway look in his eyes. "At that moment, I thought of the scene where Tsunade's younger brother died before me. I found myself wanting to rush in and save him. But before I could, in that moment between life and death, he activated the power hidden inside his cells — the power belonging to me. His body became covered in specifically structured scales, successfully blocking a fatal blow and turning the tide to kill his enemy. He didn't just lack joy after winning — quite the opposite."
At this point, Orochimaru paused, his pupils constricting into thin lines, visibly affected emotionally.
Anya couldn't help but ask, "What did he do?"
"He," Orochimaru gave a self-mocking smile, "went crazy and started peeling off the very scales that had just saved him."
Anya blurted out, "It's like turning on someone who saved your life!"
After Orochimaru lightly chuckled, he seemingly offhandedly asked, "Anya, have you ever hated me?"
Anya answered thoughtfully, looking back on everything they'd been through. "Not after getting to know you. You know, without you, I might've died long ago."
"It seems feelings aren't really tied to blood relations. Makes sense — after all, snakes are cold-blooded by nature."
"I was mistaken. It won't happen again, Father." Ko Shang had somehow arrived at the doorway, solemnly kneeling before Orochimaru.
"Haha. Ko Shang, it seems my decision to speak with you today was correct. You truly listened."
Anya let out a long laugh, then turned and left, giving the two some space to talk.
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