At one of Orochimaru's hidden bases.
Kabuto Yakushi, draped in a dark cloak, walked slowly into the deep recesses of the cavern.
"Kabuto, what did you harvest from your trip to Konoha?"
Orochimaru asked without looking up, his hands busy mixing chemicals in a series of glass vials. Kabuto removed his hood, revealing his face.
"I clashed once with Uchiha Raizen. He is a cunning individual. His raw strength doesn't appear exceptionally high, but he is fond of using decoys and tricks. He managed to escape by a stroke of luck."
Orochimaru let out a dry, raspy chuckle. "The Uchiha were a prestigious clan for a reason. Raizen wouldn't have survived this long if he were a fool. Danzo leaked his information to me precisely because he found him troublesome to handle. It is only natural that you couldn't secure him easily."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "Lord Orochimaru, I discovered something quite interesting while I was in the village."
"Oh? Do tell."
Kabuto pulled a scroll from his robes. "This is a mission briefing issued by Uchiha Raizen himself."
"What kind of mission?"
"Seeking Heirs with Heavy Rewards!" Kabuto replied with a smirk.
"Seeking Heirs?" Orochimaru took the scroll and unrolled it, his eyes scanning the contents with growing curiosity. After a moment, he hissed a laugh. "This Uchiha Raizen is truly a fascinating individual!"
"After the massacre, he actually intends to revive the clan through his own... singular efforts. No wonder Danzo is anxious enough to risk coming to me for a collaboration."
"To pull a stunt like this right under Danzo's nose... he has courage. The Uchiha's fall certainly had the finger of Danzo and my old teacher in the pie. Raizen must know he's walking on thin ice."
Kabuto analyzed, "Lord Orochimaru, in my view, this is a gamble between the Konoha higher-ups. Raizen has been away for years and likely doesn't know the full truth of the massacre, so he trusts Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hiruzen, wanting to control the last of the Uchiha power, is protecting him."
"Meanwhile, Danzo wants to replace Hiruzen as Hokage but is suppressed by the other clans. He hates the Uchiha, so he strikes from the shadows to prevent Raizen from aligning with Hiruzen. It's a messy internal conflict."
"Logical," Orochimaru nodded. "Danzo's Root is formidable, but compared to my teacher's ANBU, it still lacks that final edge. That is why Raizen can survive in the village. Plus, with the terrifying Itachi Uchiha looming outside, my teacher's cautious nature ensures Raizen remains untouched—at least until Itachi is no longer a threat."
Orochimaru let out a sneer. "My research still requires time to perfect the next stage of the Transmigration Jutsu. We can leave Raizen be for now. Once the jutsu is complete, I will pay Konoha a personal visit."
"What about the collaboration with Danzo, Lord Orochimaru?" Kabuto asked.
"Hmph. Danzo only wishes to use me. I'll entertain him only when it suits my needs. For now, let the vessel 'grow' a bit more. Since he's so eager to seek heirs, let him father as many as he likes—it only increases the pool of potential vessels for the future."
Orochimaru tapped the mission scroll, his eyes flickering. "In fact, we can utilize this 'Seeking Heirs' plan for our own eternal objectives."
"Lord Orochimaru, do you mean...?" Kabuto, ever the mind-reader, caught the hint immediately. His intellect and medical talent were why Orochimaru favored him over those like Anko, who lacked the necessary depth.
"We need funding to develop the Sound Village," Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "By sending some women over, we can plant spies within the Uchiha and Konoha while simultaneously siphoning a massive amount of capital from his coffers. It kills two birds with one stone."
Kabuto bowed slightly. "A brilliant stratagem, Lord Orochimaru. I was only thinking of how to capture him, but you are thinking of the long game. I am impressed."
Orochimaru shot a knowing look at Kabuto. "You didn't 'just' think of capturing him. You brought this scroll back precisely because you knew I would see the opportunity. You were just waiting for me to say it so you could offer your praise."
"As expected, nothing escapes your eyes, Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto said humbly.
Orochimaru laughed, accustomed to the flattery. "Do we have any suitable kunoichi in the Sound Village? They must be beautiful and sufficiently skilled."
Kabuto pushed up his glasses. "There is one perfect candidate, though I wonder if you would be willing to part with her."
"Who?"
"Guren," Kabuto smiled. "Her appearance is exquisite; if she accepts the mission, there is a high probability he will take her in. Furthermore, her Crystal Release is powerful enough to subdue Raizen from within the compound whenever we choose."
"Guren..." Orochimaru went silent for a moment. She was one of his potential backup vessels. "Kukuku, let it be Guren. I have a better target now, so the backups are expendable. Just like Anko was."
"But Guren alone isn't enough. To be safe, prepare a group of beautiful women to accompany her. Some will be spies, some will be innocent decoys to mask the identity of the true infiltrators."
Kabuto bowed. "Your wisdom is boundless. I will make the arrangements immediately."
Orochimaru turned back to his vials. "Go. And bring me more fresh corpses. I need to continue refining the Reanimation Jutsu."
"Once it is perfected, it will be the jutsu that changes the world. And then, I shall use it to have a proper reunion with my dear teacher."
"Kukuku... my dear teacher, you'd better live a long life. I'm coming back for you!"