Returning to the base, Kimimaro slowly exhaled and formed a series of hand signs. A moment later, a snake materialized before him.
Masahiko smiled. "Orochimaru-sama must value you highly to have given you the summoning contract for the Ryūchi Cave."
Kimimaro's expression darkened, and he remained silent. He pulled out a fresh scroll and focused entirely on penning a letter. Once finished, he carefully placed it into the snake's jaws, instructing the serpent to deliver the message. Only then did he stand up, his voice tinged with bitterness. "I only hate my own incompetence..."
"How well do you understand the Shikotsumyaku?" Masahiko asked, his tone conversational.
Kimimaro blinked, slightly confused. "Of course I understand it. It is my Kekkei Genkai."
"It is a powerful yet dangerous bloodline limit. It brings great strength, but it also carries a fatal bloodline illness. Your innate talent is overwhelmingly high, and precisely because of that..." Masahiko paused for dramatic effect. "...your risk of triggering the illness is equally high."
"Perhaps that is true," Kimimaro replied softly. "But if it grants me enough power, I can at least be of use to Orochimaru-sama."
"The Cursed Seal can be implanted sooner or later, but the loss of a genius is something that can never be recovered," Masahiko replied smoothly. At barely ten years old, Kimimaro could not fully grasp the profound implication behind those words, leaving him momentarily bewildered.
"Heh heh... Masahiko-kun, I suppose I should thank you for counseling Kimimaro on my behalf."
Right at that moment, another snake slithered out from the void of a spatial distortion. It rapidly unhinged its jaws, and Orochimaru crawled out from its throat. He was covered in a viscous, foul-smelling fluid, yet he paid it no mind. With a brief surge of chakra, the slime dissipated from his pale skin in an instant.
"Masahiko-kun, you coming all the way here... I assume it was not purely to mentor my subordinate?"
"Of course not," Masahiko smiled elegantly. "Orochimaru-sama, do you hold any grudges regarding the time Danzō sold you out, forcing you to flee Konoha in such a wretched state?"
Hearing this, Orochimaru could not help but eagerly lick his lips. "That sounds like an intriguing proposition. Let us hear it."
"Konoha has an upcoming operation. They plan to send Danzō out to handle matters that a legitimate Konoha shinobi cannot touch. Therefore... he needs to become a missing-nin," Masahiko explained.
Orochimaru tilted his head, his serpentine gaze fixing intensely on Masahiko. Several seconds passed before a cold, sinister smile crept onto his face. "Masahiko-kun... if Danzō leaves Konoha, the one to take over the Root organization will be you, will it not? And I wager you were the one who proposed this little operation to begin with." Orochimaru's tone was absolute. "Why should I help you?"
Masahiko chuckled effortlessly. "It matters little. If you choose not to come, I have alternative methods. I merely thought you might want the chance to vent some old frustrations." He paused for a fraction of a second, perfectly timing the bait. "Besides, we recently encountered Shinnō."
"Shinnō?" Orochimaru's expression instantly stiffened.
He carefully scrutinized Masahiko's unreadable face. "While I am intensely curious about what other trump cards you are hiding, I must admit... both Danzō and Shinnō pique my interest." A dark gleam flashed in his golden eyes. "On the day Danzō makes his move, I will be there."
Konoha, Hokage Building.
"Hokage-sama."
"Ah, you have arrived. Have a seat." Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, gesturing to the chair across from his desk.
Masahiko did not immediately sit down. Instead, he placed a sealing scroll onto the desk before taking his seat with practiced grace.
"I reviewed your proposal earlier, and it is undoubtedly excellent," Hiruzen said, his voice carrying the warm, heavy weight of his years. "I owe you a favor for this." The aging Hokage then drifted into a nostalgic sigh, reminiscing about the trials of the past. Masahiko sat to the side with a polite smile, quietly listening without interrupting.
A short while later, the office door opened. Kosuke Maruboshi stepped in. He paused in surprise upon seeing Masahiko, but quickly understood the situation and bowed respectfully. After exchanging brief pleasantries, the three of them moved to the building's rooftop.
"Try putting it on," Hiruzen suggested, unsealing the scroll Masahiko had brought.
In a puff of white smoke, a prosthetic leg that looked nearly identical to a normal human limb appeared before them. Alongside the leg were several fragmented mechanical components.
"Shall we take a look first?" Masahiko asked.
"Yes, of course..."
Kosuke took the items and inspected them closely, his eyes widening in astonishment. Having built his own wooden prosthetic limb in the past, he possessed a solid understanding of such craftsmanship. He could easily deduce that the artificial leg itself housed hidden mechanisms or concealed blades. However, the assorted mechanical joints and brackets completely baffled him.
'What in the world... are these for?'
Kosuke looked up at Masahiko in utter confusion.
"There is an instruction manual included, but I can give you a brief overview," Masahiko said, stepping forward. "A standalone prosthetic is difficult to exert force with and remains rather limited in its utility. These extra pieces, however, form an exoskeleton..."
He proceeded to explain the function of each component in precise detail. Kosuke's eyes lit up as he immediately grasped the tactical advantages of this revolutionary design. Following the instructions, the old veteran strapped on the artificial leg and the accompanying Puppet Exoskeleton.
A moment later—
Whoosh!
He vanished in a blur, reappearing a considerable distance away in the blink of an eye. Thrilled and somewhat in disbelief at the sheer responsiveness of his own body, Kosuke let out a joyous laugh. "Excellent! What an incredible piece of work!"
"Let me test it!" Seeing his old friend so invigorated, Hiruzen couldn't help but feel a surge of delight. The Third Hokage lunged forward, throwing a swift punch at Kosuke.
Bang!
Their fists collided, releasing a muffled shockwave. Hiruzen was forced back a step by the sheer kinetic force of the impact. Yet, instead of rejoicing, Kosuke looked at his own fist and sighed. "Hokage-sama... you really have grown old."
"Who doesn't grow old?" Hiruzen chuckled helplessly.
Looking at Kosuke, his heart swelled with genuine gladness. For a veteran like Kosuke, who had endured countless brutal injuries over decades of service, exerting physical strength had become a constant struggle. His aging body could no longer muster the explosive power of his youth. But with this specialized ninja tool... it was as if he had been entirely restored to his absolute prime!
Unfortunately, this newfound strength came with a steep cost: chakra. The exoskeleton effectively transformed the user into a specialized puppet, meaning physical exertion had to be supplemented by a constant flow of chakra to achieve maximum output. At their advanced age, their chakra reserves had inevitably dwindled, meaning they could not sustain such an intense state for extended periods.
Even so, possessing such a burst of power was an extraordinary trump card. Hiruzen was deeply moved. He cast a subtle, inquiring glance toward Masahiko. In response, Masahiko offered a discreet, reassuring nod.
Kosuke continued to marvel at the prosthetic, still struggling to comprehend its genius. "Masahiko, your mastery over Puppet Jutsu is phenomenal. Have you truly only been studying it for a little over a month?"
"I have been researching various aspects of it for quite some time, all things considered," Masahiko replied with modest elegance.
"A hero emerges from the youth!" Kosuke praised warmly.
Looking at the young mastermind, the Eternal Genin could faintly see the shadow of the Second Hokage. They shared that same overflowing talent, that same unparalleled, piercing brilliance. He turned to Hiruzen and gave a firm, approving nod.
Hiruzen exhaled slowly, a contented smile on his weathered face. After exchanging a few more words, Masahiko caught the underlying hint and politely excused himself, leaving the two veterans to speak in private.
As Masahiko descended to the lower floor, he found Shikaku Nara already waiting in the corridor. Seeing Masahiko arrive, Shikaku immediately raised a hand in greeting.
"Senpai," Masahiko acknowledged smoothly.
"Masahiko, I heard you custom-built a set of puppet gear for Kosuke-senpai?" Shikaku asked, his tone carrying a distinct, probing undertone.
Masahiko pondered for a moment before replying, "The Nara clan's Shadow Imitation Jutsu can indeed be seamlessly integrated with puppets and hidden weapons, but I imagine your clan would have little need for a heavy Puppet Exoskeleton."
"In that case..."
"I will draft a few designs for suitable hidden weapons and specialized ninja tools. I will let you review them when they are ready."
"I am counting on you!" Shikaku let out a deeply relieved sigh.
Leaning back slightly, the older Nara continued, "Our clan does not boast an excess of much, but we do have an abundance of medicinal herbs and deer antlers. We are also quite well-versed in pharmacology. I hear you are highly proficient in medical ninjutsu yourself. We should set aside some time to discuss it."
"With pleasure. I will be sure to pay a visit when time permits," Masahiko smiled.