Under the twilight, in a secluded corner of Konoha Village.
After repeatedly confirming there were no traces of Anbu surveillance, Orochimaru and Yakushi Kabuto, meticulously disguised once more, were engaging in a conversation that was almost a "loud conspiracy."
"Lord Orochimaru..." Yakushi Kabuto's gaze behind his glasses was filled with incredulous astonishment. "Are you... are you sure? This target... will probably be several times more dangerous than any of our previous operations!"
He could barely digest the words he had just heard from Orochimaru's mouth—Tailed Beast? Perfect Jinchuriki? Symbiotic relationship?
"But... the target you were originally interested in wasn't that Uchiha's..." Kabuto's words carried deep confusion and bewilderment. He had followed Orochimaru for many years and knew of his lord's obsession with Bloodline Limits, especially with those legendary eyes. Why would he suddenly shift his attention to the Tailed Beasts, such violent, uncontrollable, and extremely dangerous existences?
"Hehehe..." Orochimaru let out a low, hoarse laugh, his snake-like eyes glinting with fanaticism and calculation in the shadows. "Don't worry, Kabuto."
He slowly licked his lips. "Compared to something like the Sharingan... I am now more interested in the 'eyes' possessed by 'our' mysterious leader, and the way he wields power."
"Although the power of the Tailed Beast is indeed dangerous... we... are not entirely without a chance."
In this world, because Itachi did not join Akatsuki, Orochimaru did not betray the Akatsuki Organization by attacking a teammate, and was not overwhelmingly defeated by Itachi, thus not developing that obsessive, crazy desire for the Sharingan.
A brief silence spread between them, and finally, Orochimaru's gaze fully turned to his most capable assistant once more.
"So... Kabuto, I need your assistance. Regarding how to obtain 'Naruto'... this time, I really have to thank the Old Man; otherwise, I wouldn't have thought of an opportunity to 'take him away.'"
"...Then what exactly should we do?"
The corners of Orochimaru's mouth curved into a cold arc, and he slowly said, "Approach Naruto. Not as an enemy, but as a 'friend.' Understand him, integrate into his life, stay by his side... that's all."
"Of course, also approach that little Uchiha girl... find a suitable time and tell her the 'truth.'"
"Imagine, Kabuto, what kind of environment has that child always lived in? Shunned, disliked, isolated... If his trusted 'friend' is ruthlessly 'dealt with' simply because Konoha's higher-ups fear unknown powers approaching the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki..."
"Tell me, at that time, how will Naruto, having learned all this... view this Konoha Village where the villagers shun and dislike him?"
Does he mean... I should fake my death?
Yakushi Kabuto immediately understood the core of Orochimaru's plan. He habitually pushed up his glasses and raised his doubts as a strategist. "Lord Orochimaru, but even if Naruto is disappointed with Konoha, he might not necessarily choose to go with us, right? The variables in this..."
"That's why we have to thank the Old Man... and Danzo." Orochimaru let out a sarcastic chuckle. "Heh heh... I never thought that man, even after being dead for so many years, could still send me such a 'grand gift.'"
He leaned forward. "Kabuto, think about it... if, after Naruto experiences his 'friend' being killed, and Uchiha Satsuki also leaves Konoha in complete disappointment over this matter..."
"When he is at his most vulnerable and most angry, I will tell him his true origins, the 'truth' about his parents... exactly as it is..."
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes stared intently at Kabuto, and he asked, word by word, "Tell me... at that time, what will Uzumaki Naruto, consumed by anger and a sense of betrayal... do?"
Finally, Orochimaru laid out the entire sinister plan. This plan was intricately linked, not only exploiting the feelings between Naruto and Satsuki but also deeply piercing the scars of Konoha's history.
As Yakushi Kabuto listened, a cold sweat broke out on his back. According to Orochimaru's scheme, it was almost as if he was thoroughly offending Konoha, Sunagakure, and also the extremely ideological and unfathomably powerful [Ember] Organization!
But, even if he didn't know how the [Ember] Organization, which upheld the philosophy of "whoever starts a war, I'll take them out," would retaliate later... as a subordinate, what other choice did Yakushi Kabuto have?
After a brief silence, Yakushi Kabuto took a deep breath, suppressing all his unease and considerations, and finally lowered his head.
"I understand, Lord Orochimaru."
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After the preliminary rounds, Naruto had something on his mind that made him think with a bit of helplessness, "So... how long is Kakashi-sensei going to keep things to himself?"
What came to his mind was that powerful Ninjutsu—Chidori, or rather, Lightning Blade—which greatly inspired Sasuke in the original story and eventually led to the development of "Chidori Stream."
In this world, Satsuki also needed such power to improve herself, and Naruto was eager to know when Kakashi planned to teach her this signature Ninjutsu.
Naruto had no idea that he had been completely targeted by Orochimaru, nor could he imagine that the insidious fellow had already devised a malicious plan targeting his origins and relationships... Of course, the premise for this plan's success was that Naruto was completely unaware of the "original story's" plot progression.
At this moment, two thoughts were circling in his mind: first, he genuinely hoped Satsuki could become stronger, and second, it was also to temporarily send Satsuki away.
Because he clearly remembered that, according to the original timeline, around this time, the man who would become his master in the future—Jiraiya—was about to return to Konoha Village!
Just thinking about being involved with Jiraiya, who had a wild and uninhibited personality and special "hobbies," Naruto couldn't help but foresee Satsuki's reaction when she found out.
She would definitely put on a stern face, stare at him seriously, and then declare in an undeniable tone, "You're not allowed to associate with such people anymore!"
To avoid such a troublesome situation, Naruto decided to take the initiative. After they were dismissed, he found Kakashi, who had left earlier and was staring blankly at the Memorial Stone.
"Kakashi-sensei!"
"Hmm?" Kakashi turned around. "What's wrong, Naruto?"
Naruto got straight to the point: "Sensei, can you teach Satsuki a Lightning Release Ninjutsu?"
"Huh? A Lightning Release Ninjutsu?" Kakashi seemed a bit surprised.
"Uh-huh, that's right!" Naruto nodded vigorously, gesturing with his hands. "It's the one you used back in the Land of Waves, Kakashi-sensei, that really powerful Lightning Release Ninjutsu where you gather lightning with a 'crackle, crackle' in your hand!"
"That one... you mean 'Lightning Blade.' Did you see it then?" He looked at Naruto thoughtfully. Was it because Satsuki lost to him in the preliminary rounds, so he wanted her to become stronger?
Kakashi couldn't help but interpret Naruto's actions as a clumsy form of thoughtfulness, and his tone softened.
"I don't have any objections, but, Naruto, that Ninjutsu is very difficult to learn, and it requires extremely strict control and shape transformation of Chakra."
"...As long as you can convince Satsuki to agree to learn it, that's fine."
"Or rather, 'if you can convince her to temporarily leave your side and focus on training.'" Kakashi silently added this unspoken thought in his mind.
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