Although the Wood Clone was technically a clone technique, in practice it behaved much closer to the Shadow Clone—complete with its own independent thinking.
The principle was simple.In the original canon, Yamato once reclaimed a wooden clone and reduced it to a small seed.That seed maintained chakra resonance with the user, functioning almost exactly like a Shadow Clone.
Orochimaru's courtyard was pitch-black under the night sky.Haruya's clone looked wary, scanning the area—no one in sight.
Puzzled, he pushed open the sliding door to the main hall.
Beneath the House — Orochimaru's Lab
Orochimaru held a scalpel, dissecting a corpse under dim lamplight.
A white snake slithered up beside him, flicking its long tongue.
"Someone has wandered in uninvited… a strange ninja with a strange scent," it hissed.
Orochimaru, who understood snake speech, immediately grew interested.He cast a glance down at the body and let the scalpel clatter aside.
The corpse belonged to a bloodline-limit ninja.
Ever since the death of his apprentice Nawaki, Orochimaru had become painfully aware of his own limitations.While researching immortality through Living Corpse Reincarnation, he was also working to break past the boundaries of inherited abilities—bloodline limits.
Both experiments were enormously difficult.
And so far, neither had yielded meaningful success.
But he had time.And now there was an unexpected visitor to deal with.
Orochimaru left the lab and stepped into the hall.
The sight of Haruya's clone made his narrow, serpentine eyes contract.
Something felt… off.He couldn't pinpoint it.
Orochimaru licked his lips and raised his hand.A cluster of venomous snakes shot from his sleeves and wrapped around the boy.
Naturally, anything that caught his interest had to be secured immediately.Pretty words were not Orochimaru's style.
He preferred to capture prey first—peel away the layers, literally and metaphorically—and study them at leisure.
But the next moment, something happened that even he didn't expect.
Haruya's body burst apart into branches, coiling back around the snakes that had grabbed him.
In seconds, the two were tangled together in a bizarre wooden-and-serpent nesting-doll mess.
Orochimaru froze.
Determined as he was to learn all ninjutsu, he recognized the technique instantly.
Wood Clone.
He had once collaborated with Danzo Shimura on experiments involving Wood Release and Hashirama's cells—implanting Hashirama's cells into ninjas or infants in hopes of awakening Wood Release.
But the rejection was too strong.Every test subject had died.
Orochimaru and Danzo were forced to suspend the project.
Yet now, suddenly, a ninja using Wood Release had just walked into his home.
It was beyond unexpected.
"Is this how Orochimaru—one of the Legendary Sannin—treats guests?"A second Haruya walked in from the door."If so, I'm very disappointed."
Orochimaru's expression darkened, though he didn't immediately attack.This newcomer carried the same chakra resonance as the previous one.
Another Wood Clone.
"Let me guess what you're thinking," Haruya said casually, pulling out a chair and sitting down as if he lived there.
Orochimaru noticed the boy's gaze—utterly indifferent.None of the fear or reverence most ninjas displayed in his presence.
This child was confident.Far too confident.
"You're wondering how someone can use Wood Release when every Wood Release experiment has failed," Haruya said calmly. "Am I right?"
Orochimaru stiffened.
Bullseye.
But only a handful of people even knew about those experiments.He would never leak it.
So… was Danzo the source?
"Who are you?"Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with danger.This kind of uncertainty put him on edge—made him murderous.
"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that I can give you what you want."Haruya picked up a teacup, voice slow and deliberate."For example… I can help make your dream come true."
"My dream?"Orochimaru scoffed."You claim to know my dream? And that you can fulfill it?"
"Immortality. And omniscience."Haruya smiled faintly."I know many secrets."
Orochimaru's composure cracked.
Impossible.Absolutely impossible.
No one knew his deepest ambitions.Not even his closest subordinates.
Had he slipped somehow?No—that was absurd.
"Who are you?"Same question, very different tone.
This time he was afraid.
A stranger who knew his secrets was terrifying.
Haruya chuckled.Information gaps were a beautiful thing.
"I am destiny. A hunter hiding within destiny, hunting those chosen by it. Do you understand?"
The line was something he'd heard in The One Who Strives for Shadow Power—but it sounded cryptic enough.
Orochimaru tilted his head.What nonsense is this?
In truth, Haruya was speaking literally.He possessed the Holy Ring of Destiny—and intended to hunt "fated" individuals.
"It seems you don't understand," Haruya said with a hint of disappointment.
"…."Orochimaru felt irritation rising.Can you speak like a normal human?
"It doesn't matter," Haruya said. "Let's talk business."
He raised two fingers.
"I want Hashirama's cells. In return, I'll give you two secrets."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
Haruya was mysterious.But mystery did not mean invincibility—this deal made that clear.
The boy had limitations.
Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth—his habitual gesture when intrigued.
"Hashirama's cells are priceless. Why should I believe your 'secrets' are worth the exchange?"
"I'll give you a small secret first. After the deal, I'll give you the big one."Haruya leaned back, relaxed."You're a good business partner. We could cooperate for a long time. Don't you think?"
Orochimaru frowned.
Truthfully, he disliked working with someone who knew so much yet remained so unknown.But Haruya knew too many dangerous things.
If Orochimaru wanted to uncover the truth about him, cooperation would be the fastest route.
"It depends on whether your secret is valuable," Orochimaru said. "If it is… cooperation won't hurt."
"You and Danzo's Wood Release experiment," Haruya said, "had one survivor. Someone who awakened Wood Release."
"What?"
Orochimaru's composure shattered again.
Danzo—how dare he lie to him?!
"The survivor is in Root. Codename: A."
Of course, Haruya meant Yamato.
In the original timeline, Yamato eventually escaped Root, joined the Anbu, and received his name from the Third Hokage.
Now, that destiny was about to change.
Haruya was curious—if Yamato stayed with Orochimaru, how would the future shift?
Most transmigrators tried not to alter the plot.But Haruya's power practically required it.
To become stronger, he couldn't cling to the original timeline.Once he grew strong enough, the plot wouldn't matter at all.
Orochimaru took a slow breath.
"I'll verify your claim. If it's true… our deal stands."
"A pleasure doing business."Haruya stood, smiling, and released the jutsu right in front of him.
If he didn't use multiple identities, he couldn't maintain multiple personas.He planned to appear from time to time as the leader of some mysterious organization.