With the aid of the Sharingan, Sasuke was able to replicate Kabuto's years of grave-digging experience in just a short span of time. What had once been Kabuto's slow and methodical task turned into an efficient and precise operation now that Uchiha Sasuke was working beside him.
Their combined effort sped up the process immensely, and before long, what had started as a grim necessity had almost developed into a strange competition between the two. Each shovel stroke, each summoned snake, each manipulation of earth with chakra became faster and sharper, as if they were trying to prove who could unearth the remains more effectively.
A few hours later, Sasuke straightened, wiping the sweat from his brow. Kabuto exhaled deeply, relieved at their progress. Together, they had thoroughly dug through the Uchiha clan's graveyard, unearthing the skeletal remains that had been buried beneath.
Sasuke glanced at Kabuto, his tone calm but edged with impatience.
"Kabuto, all that's left is to inscribe the summoning formula and provide the sacrificial White Zetsu, correct?"
Kabuto shook his head slowly, adjusting his glasses as his expression darkened.
"Not quite. For such a large-scale resurrection, we still require someone's chakra. Someone indispensable."
Sasuke's brow furrowed. "Who?"
Kabuto looked directly at him. "Naruto. Without Naruto's chakra infusion, this mass revival won't be possible. Just like before—without the overwhelming vitality of the Nine-Tails' chakra, a ceremony of this magnitude cannot even begin."
Sasuke clicked his tongue, rolling his eyes.
"Tch. I thought you were going to demand something troublesome. Of course Naruto has to be here. He owes me this promise."
Almost on cue, a familiar voice rang out behind them.
"Oi, Sasuke, you're always running your mouth about me when I'm not around, dattebayo!"
Naruto materialized in a flash, his orange chakra cloak fading as he stepped forward with a grin. Kabuto greeted him politely, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Naruto, you arrived just in time."
Naruto nodded, then turned his gaze toward the vast pit in front of them. The sight was unsettling—the graves of countless Uchihas, now reduced to exposed white bones.
"Damn… Kabuto, you really work fast. Gotta hand it to you." He raised a thumb in approval.
Kabuto chuckled. "It was thanks to Sasuke. Without him, I wouldn't have completed this so quickly."
Naruto blinked, genuinely surprised. "Wait… Sasuke, since when do you know how to dig graves?"
Kabuto laughed outright. "He just learned. In less than ten minutes, he mastered the technique. Sasuke copied my movements with his Sharingan and replicated everything perfectly."
Naruto turned to his rival, admiration plain on his face. "As expected of you, Sasuke. You never stop impressing me."
Sasuke smirked arrogantly, folding his arms. "Hn. Don't compare me to yourself, dobe. I've always excelled at learning. It's nothing."
Naruto nodded with exaggerated seriousness. "Yeah, yeah. Compared to you digging up your own clan's graves, I really can't compete. That's some next-level stuff, teme."
Sasuke's eyes widened, his pride pricked. "You—!!"
Naruto slung an arm casually around Sasuke's shoulder before the argument could escalate. "Relax, it's just a joke. No need to get worked up."
He turned to Kabuto. "So, have you counted them all?"
Kabuto blinked, caught off guard. "Ah… I haven't yet. My apologies."
Naruto grinned. "Perfect. Let's count them together. No mistakes allowed. We'll each take turns—Sasuke, Kabuto, and me. One by one."
The three began moving along the rows of remains, counting carefully. After several passes and checks, the numbers aligned. Everything was in order.
Satisfied, Naruto left Sasuke behind to stand guard while he accompanied Kabuto to retrieve the sacrificial White Zetsu. With a flicker of chakra, he placed his arm around Kabuto's shoulders, and in a blur of speed they vanished, reappearing at the White Zetsu base.
As their feet touched down, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows.
"It seems my guests have arrived."
Orochimaru.
Naruto gave him a toothy grin. "Yo, Uncle Snake."
The Sannin's golden eyes gleamed with amusement. "Judging from your presence, I assume you're here to collect Zetsu specimens."
Naruto peered past him into the cave, where countless pods of White Zetsu slumbered. "Uncle Snake never changes. Doing experiments while still keeping watch over formations. Impressive multitasking."
Orochimaru chuckled, his voice smooth as ever. "It requires little effort. A single Shadow Clone can tend to such seals."
Kabuto approached respectfully. "Lord Orochimaru, I trust you've adjusted well to working here alone?"
Orochimaru gave a satisfied nod. "Indeed, Kabuto. You are my most capable assistant. This laboratory—constructed exactly to my specifications—truly pleases me. It reminds me of the old days beneath Konoha, when I buried myself in research. My health was poor back then… but the pursuit of knowledge kept me alive."
Kabuto bowed his head, smiling faintly. "It's my honor to serve and create a place fitting for you, Lord Orochimaru."
Naruto smirked. "Heh. Looks like you two still make a good team. Who knows, maybe you'll be working side by side again in the future."
Kabuto chuckled. "If the opportunity comes, I would gladly continue following Orochimaru-sama."
Orochimaru's gaze softened ever so slightly, his voice carrying rare pride.
"Kabuto… there is something I have never told you. I know you've stored countless scrolls in this lab—the records of your research. I've read them all. You are truly remarkable. Though I once declared Sasuke as my greatest disciple, in truth… you are my real successor. You've surpassed me. You've evolved beyond a snake—you've become a dragon."
The words struck deep. Orochimaru's pale hand rested on Kabuto's shoulder. Kabuto's breath caught, tears stinging the corners of his eyes.
Recognition.
That was what he had always craved.
In his previous life, Kabuto had been consumed by the search for identity, constantly splicing bloodlines, transplanting cells, chasing fragments of others to fill his void. That Kabuto had never truly been himself.
It was only when Itachi had forced him into Izanami that Kabuto realized who he was—the orphan from the Yakushi orphanage. That truth had set him free.
But in this new life, altered by Naruto's intervention and Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, Kabuto no longer wandered lost. Naruto's influence had grounded him. Following Orochimaru, assisting Naruto, continuing his research—this was his true self. And Orochimaru's words confirmed it.
Naruto, watching the exchange, allowed them a moment before clapping his hands. "Alright, enough sentimental stuff. Let's catch those White Zetsu already. Sasuke's still waiting."
Kabuto wiped his eyes, nodding firmly. Together, he and Naruto descended into the cavern. Orochimaru seated himself at the formation's center, his chakra anchoring the seals to restrain the Zetsu.
Naruto dropped into the midst of the White Zetsu army, golden chakra arms sprouting from his body as he grabbed, sealed, and immobilized dozens at once. Kabuto stood at the cliff's edge, extending his serpentine arm to reel in the sealed Zetsu and stack them neatly.
Their teamwork was efficient. In barely ten minutes, the quota was met.
Kabuto called down, "Naruto, that's enough!"
Naruto ceased, leaping back to the ledge. Dozens of sealed White Zetsu now lay in orderly rows.
"Uncle Snake, we're heading out," Naruto announced.
Orochimaru inclined his head in acknowledgment.
Naruto summoned a surge of Nine-Tails chakra, golden hands sprouting from his cloak as he lifted the sealed Zetsu. In the next instant, with Kabuto at his side, he vanished.
A buzzing hum later, they reappeared at the Uchiha graveyard beside Sasuke. But what greeted them wasn't silence.
All around them, figures stood—Uchiha shinobi, fully formed and alive. The Edo Tensei had already been activated.
"Huh? Sasuke… what the hell happened while we were gone?"
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