Underground Base.
Orochimaru walked out from the inner sanctum, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Congratulations, Masahiko-kun. I hear you've been promoted."
"Orochimaru-sama, truly nothing escapes your eyes." Masahiko bowed respectfully, his expression calm and unreadable. "However, a Jōnin is nothing in your presence. It is hardly something to take pride in."
"You are too modest. Though, I must admit, I preferred your earlier posture—the one where you seemed ready to perish together with your enemy." Orochimaru's smile widened slightly, his golden eyes glinting with amusement. He then turned his gaze toward the boy standing nearby. "How was it, Kimimaro?"
"Masahiko-sama is incredibly strong," Kimimaro replied instantly, his voice filled with reverence. "I still have much training and learning to do before I can compare."
Orochimaru chuckled softly. "Go on, then."
Masahiko watched Kimimaro leave the room before turning his attention back to the Sannin. "Orochimaru-sama, is that child a descendant of the Kaguya clan?"
"Indeed. A child with remarkably high talent. I happened to come across him in the Land of Water by chance," Orochimaru replied smoothly.
'By chance? Masahiko internalized a cynical laugh. Hardly.'
He withdrew his gaze and asked, "He doesn't yet possess that power… the Cursed Seal?"
"The Cursed Seal?" Orochimaru looked at him, intrigued. "You've read the classified data?"
"No, I merely investigated Anko Mitarashi," Masahiko replied evenly.
Hearing that name, Orochimaru fell into a rare, momentary silence. A shadow passed over his face before he sighed lightly. "She was once a disciple I held in high regard. A pity…"
He paused for a few seconds, then smiled again, dismissing the sentiment. "That child, Kimimaro, desires the power, but the time isn't right. Perhaps… you should be more cautious with your inquiries."
Masahiko appeared to fall into deep thought, seemingly wrestling with a difficult decision. Finally, he spoke, his voice lowered. "Due to certain recent events, Lord Danzō has begun collecting data on the Shikotsumyaku again. I have seen some of the files and formed my own conclusions…"
"Masahiko-kun, there is no need for us to speak in riddles." Orochimaru's smile constrained slightly, his gaze sharpening.
He produced a scroll prepared in advance and placed it on the table. "This contains all the intelligence regarding Shisui and Itachi. Inside, you will also find what Danzō is looking for."
"The Third Hokage wishes to retrieve the Tailed Beast Chakra and verify the authenticity of the previous intelligence," Masahiko stated, maintaining his professional cover.
Orochimaru sat down, looking completely at ease. "It is all true. As for my reasons… you can interpret it as simple curiosity regarding the limits of the Uchiha. I merely wanted to cause them a little trouble."
"Understood." Masahiko nodded. He looked straight at Orochimaru. "According to the data I've gathered, there seems to be a fatal flaw within the Shikotsumyaku. The incidence of genetic disease within the Kaguya clan is alarmingly high."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. He leaned back, his face half-obscured by the shadows of the dim lab lights. "I am curious. Why is Danzō collecting information on this specific subject?"
"I am unclear on the specifics, but I have a conjecture," Masahiko replied, his tone suggesting he knew more than he was letting on. "It is possible they have encountered another wielder of the Shikotsumyaku."
Orochimaru frowned slightly, then nodded slowly. "I see. Thank you for this intelligence, Masahiko-kun."
"We are partners, after all. Your strength benefits me as well; it is a win-win situation," Masahiko said with a polite smile.
The corner of Orochimaru's mouth twitched upward. He produced another scroll. "This contains a portion of the Tailed Beast Chakra. I'm giving it to you—use it however you see fit. As for the rest… I won't be returning it to the old man just yet."
"Very well." Masahiko accepted the scroll.
Orochimaru's interest peaked. "How do you intend to handle it?"
"I also harbor some interest in Tailed Beast Chakra. Unfortunately, the conditions last time did not allow me to stay on the battlefield to observe properly. This portion… naturally, I will keep it for my own use," Masahiko answered.
In truth, Masahiko genuinely wanted to research the Jinchūriki mechanics, specifically the Tailed Beast Cloak. The so-called Chakra Mode shared the same fundamental principles as the cloak; the two could serve as mutual references to optimize his theoretical [Fluid Mantle].
Orochimaru laughed, a raspy sound. "I am truly satisfied with you. If only you were willing to pledge your loyalty to me… but alas, you are a man of ambition."
"Working with a snake is dangerous enough; being swallowed is another matter entirely," Masahiko replied ambiguously, bowing slightly. "If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
"Mm."
The Land of Grass. Outside a safehouse in Kusagakure.
A young girl with bright red hair was being dragged violently out of a house.
She was crying, screaming, her heels digging into the dirt. But the Grass ninjas showed no mercy. One of them increased his grip and delivered a vicious slap across her face.
Slap!
"Your mother is already dead! You should step up for the sake of the village! Do you want to watch everyone die? If you dare resist again, I'll kill you!"
"No, I…"
The girl looked up, staring into the savage, contorted faces of the adults. She sank into a state of panic and helplessness. Her head dropped, and she fell silent, no longer struggling, resigned to her fate as a human heal-pack.
At that moment, a strange, deep voice resonated through the street.
"To lose one's home, only to find that one's own excellence has become a burden… How truly tragic."
"Who's there?!"
The Grass ninja snapped his head up.
What he saw was a massive, black-and-white bear plummeting from the sky.
BOOM!
A deafening crash shook the ground.
"ARGH!!!"
A pathetic scream was cut short.
The massive creature had landed directly on top of the Grass ninja, sitting on him with tremendous force. It lay back, rolled slightly, and adjusted its weight—grinding the ninja into the dirt.
The creature didn't move much after that, but the ninja beneath it had gone completely silent.
The red-haired girl looked up, staring blankly at the terrifying creature before her. For a moment, she forgot her fear.
The giant bear looked down at her, then gently patted her head with a massive paw before nudging her aside.
Only then did she realize there was someone else standing behind her.
A mysterious ninja wearing a black robe and a white fox mask.
She swallowed hard, a mix of hope and anxiety rising in her chest. "Who… who are you?"
"Just a passerby," the robed figure said in a low voice. "But I can give you a chance."
"A chance?" Light began to return to Karin's dull eyes.
"Your body contains a powerful life force. This makes you an exceptional medical resource, but using you as a mere battery is a reckless waste of heaven's gifts." The Black-Robed Man looked down at her. "If you are willing to come with me, I will teach you to control this power. You will grasp your own destiny to a certain extent."
"Really?"
Karin's face flushed with excitement, and she nodded frantically. "I'll go! I'll go with you!"
"Then stand up and follow me."
The Black-Robed Man beckoned her.
In the distance, more Grass ninjas were rushing toward the commotion. Kunai and shuriken rained down on their position.
In the next second, the giant panda roared. It stood up on its hind legs like a human, positioning its massive bulk like a wall to block the incoming projectiles.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The kunai and shuriken failed to pierce its defense completely. Instead, they seemed to be caught by an invisible force. The beast infused its chakra into its skin, manipulating the iron weapons that struck it.
Whoosh!
The sky was suddenly filled with the returning fire. The collected kunai and shuriken were launched back at the attackers with terrifying velocity.
The Grass ninjas were thrown into chaos.
By the time they recovered from the confusion, the street ahead was empty. The Black-Robed Man and the girl were gone. Only the giant bear remained.
The Giant Panda lay lazily in the middle of the street. It looked harmless, almost bored. It even raised a single claw and hooked it toward the ninjas, a clear gesture of provocation.
Come and get it.
The Grass ninjas looked at each other, trembling. None dared to pursue, and none dared to approach the beast.
Finding the lack of sport boring, the Panda stood up, waddled arrogantly down the street, and a moment later, vanished in a puff of white smoke as the Summoning Jutsu was released.
Outside the Village.
Karin looked back toward the village. Remembering the panicked, fearful expressions of the ninjas who had tormented her, a wave of vindictive pleasure washed over her heart.
"Lord… where are we going?"
She looked up at the Black-Robed Man, her expression already filled with deep dependency.
"To find you a temporary residence."
The man paused, then looked down at her. "That Panda just now… did you like it?"
"Can I… have one?" Karin's eyes widened, sparkling with excitement.
The Black-Robed Man nodded. "Of course."
Karin beamed, gripping his hand tightly, afraid that if she let go, this dream would end.
The Black-Robed Man chuckled softly. "Let's go. First, we leave this place."
He grabbed Karin, and with a flicker of motion, they vanished from the spot using the Body Flicker Technique.
It was a long time after the two had disappeared before the ninjas of Kusagakure finally dared to chase out of the village gates.