In the days to come, their strength would become indispensable. Right now, Kakuzu was focused on gathering and nurturing them. In the future, many matters would fall into their hands.
As for other children of the same age as Suigetsu who possessed exceptional talent but were still wandering outside the fold—there was one name that came to mind: Kimimaro. The Kaguya clan, to which Kimimaro belonged, should still be in Kirigakure. However, the Fourth Mizukage had already been assassinated, shifting the course of events. Was Kimimaro still in Kirigakure, or had he ended up elsewhere?
...
A few days later, inside a grand palace, Kakuzu sat sipping tea. Seated across from him was a young man with an eerie yet captivating appearance.
"Orochimaru, long time no see."
"Indeed, Kakuzu-sama, it's been quite a while. Seeing you in good health puts my mind at ease. Not long ago, your subordinates Yahiko and Konan celebrated their wedding, which coincided with the grand opening of the Dragon Country Ninja Academy. I may be late, but I brought a gift nonetheless. Please accept it as a token of my sincerity."
Orochimaru gazed at Kakuzu, his expression devoid of the youthful innocence he once had. Now, he carried an air of cynicism, as if nothing in the world truly mattered to him.
"Orochimaru, I assume your forbidden jutsu experiments have been successful by now?"
"Oh?" Orochimaru's lips curled into a sinister smile. "And what makes you say that?"
"The way you act—as if I could no longer kill you—tells me everything I need to know."
"Hehehe... you wound me. In my heart, you have always held the status of a mentor. How could I possibly harbor any disrespect toward you?"
Kakuzu merely let out a dry chuckle. He understood Orochimaru's mindset all too well. The arrogance of immortality—it was inevitable. When one no longer feared death by ninjutsu or taijutsu, one tended to act with reckless abandon.
"Orochimaru, the waters here run deep. You may not be able to handle them."
"Hmm? What exactly do you mean by that?"
Orochimaru was momentarily perplexed, but Kakuzu only smiled in response, offering no further explanation. After all, if the waters weren't deep, it wouldn't be normal.
"Enough with the pleasantries. Just state your purpose directly."
Hearing this, Orochimaru returned to his usual demeanor. He retrieved a gift and placed it on the table. Atop the package lay a scroll. While the scroll contained nothing more than words of congratulations, its implications were somewhat different.
"This type of document is typically used for diplomatic exchanges between nations. Could it be that you've established your own shinobi village?"
"Kakuzu-sama, why not take a guess?"
"Otogakure, isn't it?"
Orochimaru's smile momentarily froze. He wanted to ask how Kakuzu had figured it out, but in the end, he simply smirked instead.
"Kakuzu-sama, I hope that in the future, we can provide mutual support."
Orochimaru was seeking an ally. Kakuzu studied him in silence. If his guess was correct, Orochimaru had yet to reveal everything.
The establishment of Otogakure served two main purposes. First, it provided a base for his experiments. Conducting forbidden research required significant resources, and without the backing of a nation, sustaining such projects would be difficult. Otogakure became one of Orochimaru's primary financial sources. Even in later years, its funding stream remained intact.
Second, and more importantly, it was the foundation of his long-planned Konoha Crush operation.
According to the timeline, Konoha Crush was still about seven years away. Taking down the mighty Hidden Leaf would naturally require extensive preparation. Orochimaru's ambitions were far from small.
As for why he sought Konoha's downfall, the reasons were complex—his shifting sentiments toward Hiruzen Sarutobi, his unique relationship with the village, and more. In the shinobi world, where teacher-slaying traditions were not uncommon, such matters couldn't be understood through conventional reasoning. Moreover, Orochimaru was still young, his thoughts unpredictable and ever-changing. It wasn't something that could be easily explained in a few words.
"Orochimaru, I'll accept your gift. In return, you may take some research materials from my laboratory."
With a wave of his hand, Kakuzu wrote out a note and handed it to Orochimaru.
Suppressing his excitement, Orochimaru took the note and glanced at it, his eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity.
"Kakuzu-sama, I didn't expect you to have an interest in these subjects."
"What? Do you believe the world has nothing to offer beyond ninjutsu?"
Orochimaru shook his head. "You are right. I maintain a curiosity for all truths of this world. Sometimes, approaching research from an unexpected angle yields surprising results. I will safeguard these materials and ensure they are put to good use. If there's nothing else, I shall take my leave."
He stood, offering a respectful bow before turning to leave. Their meeting had reached its conclusion.
...
As he stepped out of the grand hall, Orochimaru's gaze locked onto three figures approaching from the other side. His eyes lingered on them for several seconds before his lips curled into that familiar villainous smile. His elongated tongue flicked out, wetting his dry lips before he silently departed.
Not long after, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato entered the hall, standing before Kakuzu. Yahiko took a glance at the doorway before turning back to Kakuzu.
"Kakuzu-sama, please forgive my rudeness, but I fear your dealings with Orochimaru may not be a wise beginning."
Kakuzu arched an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Have you investigated Orochimaru, or do you know him personally?"
Yahiko shook his head. "I've only heard of his reputation as one of the Legendary Sannin. Today was my first time meeting him. I shouldn't speak ill of your associates, but I can feel it—Orochimaru is not a man with pure intentions."
Kakuzu nodded in agreement. Yahiko had good instincts. If he had survived in the original timeline, Obito would have never been able to manipulate Nagato so easily.
"I understand. I'll handle it with discretion. Now, what brings you here today?"
Hearing this, Yahiko set aside his concerns and sighed.
"Kakuzu-sama, is there anything I can do to help?"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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