Orochimaru already understood Kakuzu's concerns. That was why he had planned to teach the Eye Sealing Curse to Uzumaki Chigusa and Uzumaki Nano — insurance for what was coming next.
Kakuzu placed the documents on the coffee table.
"When can Jiongu be replaced?"
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "You're not worried something might go wrong?"
He had expected Kakuzu to hesitate, maybe even refuse. Instead, Kakuzu answered immediately.
"I'm fully aware of Jiongu's weaknesses. If your modifications can overcome them and make me stronger, then I'm willing to take the risk."
Kakuzu was not someone who trusted easily — he trusted no one except money. But strangely, he trusted Orochimaru. The information in the documents convinced him. If the changes were real, then after the operation, he would be hundreds, maybe thousands of times harder to kill.
As long as even a single Jiongu tentacle remained, Kakuzu could never truly die.
This was the first time in decades he felt hope for genuine immortality.
Aokawa, standing nearby, blinked in confusion. "Jiongu modification…? May I take a look?"
"Go ahead," Orochimaru said casually.
Kakuzu didn't mind either. Once the modification was complete, he wouldn't need to worry about hearts anymore.
Zero-Tail cells would provide overwhelming vitality.
The Transformation Formula would allow him to freely use all five nature transformations.
With permission, Aokawa opened the document and grew more and more shocked the further he read.
So Orochimaru had secretly researched Jiongu all this time…
and even created a plan to replace it entirely.
"Before we start," Orochimaru said, rising from his seat, "you need to prepare. The Transformation Formula is yours — decide whether you'll engrave it on the mask or directly on the tentacles."
He paused.
"If anyone from the Chinoike clan causes trouble, find Chigusa. She has mastered techniques specifically designed to counter visible bloodline dojutsu."
Aokawa and Kakuzu fell silent. Seeing they had nothing more to say, Orochimaru turned to leave using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
But Aokawa, hesitating, finally blurted out:
"Lady Orochimaru… the lipstick mark on your cheek."
Orochimaru froze.
A droplet of water formed in the air, reshaping itself into a mirror.
"…This…"
A large, bright lipstick stain sat on his cheek.
He had been talking like this for ten minutes.
In front of Kakuzu.
In front of Aokawa.
The humiliation was immeasurable.
Orochimaru's voice dropped into a chilling monotone.
"You saw nothing. Understood?"
He wiped the mark off with a tissue, eyes filled with killing intent.
"I didn't see anything!" Aokawa stared firmly at the ceiling. "I was reading documents!"
"I also saw nothing," Kakuzu said stiffly. Even he, who feared nothing, understood how dangerous this moment was.
"Hmph."
With a cold snort, Orochimaru vanished.
Aokawa let out a long, trembling breath. If he hadn't reminded Orochimaru… the consequences would've been terrifying.
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed. "Uzumaki Chigusa… So Orochimaru has been targeting the Chinoike clan for a long time."
Aokawa glared. "Lady Orochimaru does nothing without absolute confidence. You've worked with her long enough — how do you still not understand this?"
"I'm not like you. I can't trust anyone so blindly."
He had been betrayed by Takigakure.
Since then, he trusted only money.
People always betrayed you eventually.
Aokawa snorted.
"Then why let Orochimaru modify your Jiongu?"
"I trust the research results."
"So you don't trust Lady Orochimaru, but you trust her research? Someone like you does not deserve her modifications!"
SLAM!
Aokawa stormed out.
A moment later, he came back, pointed at the door, and snapped:
"This is MY office! Get back to Finance!"
Kakuzu pursed his lips… and silently walked out.
---
The Land of Hot Springs — Hell Valley
Hell Valley was a land of sulfur, toxic steam, and blood-red boiling water.
Once a place of exile, it became abandoned after ninja villages formed and began using Hōzuki Castle instead.
The air still stung the lungs.
The heat shimmered violently.
But deep within a hidden barrier lay the land of the Chinoike clan.
Ashu returned and bowed to the patriarch.
"Patriarch Bafu. Something happened on the trip."
Bafu studied his expression.
"You met trouble?"
"…I met Orochimaru."
Ashu explained everything — leaving Hell Valley, traveling to Tanzaku Town in the Land of Fire, handing over his card, and Orochimaru's response.
When he finished, Bafu grew quiet.
"So we may leave Hell Valley… and move to the Land of Waves?"
He looked at the business card again — White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company.
Even from deep in Hell Valley, the Chinoike clan had heard of their meteoric rise.
But were the rumors true?
Could the Land of Waves really support a clan like theirs?
"Choose a few members to accompany you to the Land of Waves," Bafu ordered finally. "Investigate the White Snake Company. If the Land of Waves is truly prosperous… joining them may be our clan's best chance of survival."
The environment of Hell Valley had worsened every year.
If they stayed, extinction was inevitable.
Ashu bowed deeply.
"Yes, Patriarch!"
---
A Heavy Secret
As Ashu turned to leave, he hesitated.
"Patriarch… you don't mind that our hatred of the Uchiha is no longer justified?"
Bafu smiled bitterly.
"Ashu… exiled people need a reason to keep living. Hatred of the Uchiha kept us alive."
He sighed.
"But the truth? Our real enemies died long ago.
The daimyo's family that exiled us was replaced generations ago."
"…Patriarch, you knew?"
"I knew. But if I told the clan, what reason would they have had to endure the suffering of Hell Valley? Sometimes… illusions keep people alive."
Ashu silently clenched his fists.
Reality was truly ridiculous.
---
Meanwhile — Konoha
"Frogs are better!"
"Obviously slugs are superior!"
Jiraiya and Tsunade, who hadn't seen each other for half a year, immediately launched into an argument about their summons.
Orochimaru watched them emotionlessly.
Snakes beat frogs.
Frogs beat slugs.
Slugs beat snakes.
It was a perfect circle of mutual restraint.
No wonder they were called The Three Great Beasts.
"If we can't agree, then let them fight!" Jiraiya said proudly, biting his finger to summon a toad.
"Fine! I'll summon Katsuyu!" Tsunade snapped.
Orochimaru appeared between them instantly.
White snakes shot out from his sleeves, wrapping their wrists and stopping their hand seals.
Tsunade would cry if Katsuyu actually fought here.
Jiraiya would destroy half of Konoha.
This was not happening.
Watching via telescope ninjutsu, Hiruzen wiped sweat from his brow.
Thank god Orochimaru stopped them.
If Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta and Tsunade summoned Katsuyu in the middle of the village…
There wouldn't be a village.
---
Land of Waves — Arrival
The passenger ship docked.
Ashu and his companions looked around in awe.
"So this is the Land of Waves…"
Ran Do, the young girl, immediately began stripping off her coat.
The surrounding people all glanced over—
Only to sigh in disappointment.
Beneath her outer coat were full-body bandages and thin inner garments.
She was completely flat and thoroughly unenticing.
They had come dressed for cold weather — two layers each — because Hell Valley and Fire Country had been freezing.
But the Land of Waves was warm.
"Ran Do, be careful," Ashu murmured as onlookers lost interest.
"What does it matter? It's not like I have anything worth staring at," Ran Do muttered, flipping her messy blond hair.
"Ran Do."
Riku, her stone-faced brother, crossed his arms.
"Stay focused. Don't forget why we're here."
Ran Do slammed her foot on his.
"I didn't ask for a manager!"
Ashu sighed. Why were these two chosen again?
Behind them, a faint cloud of smoke followed silently — observing.
Then disappeared.
The group walked deeper into the city.
The closer they came to the White Snake Pharmaceutical headquarters, the more prosperous the streets became.
Buildings gleamed.
Merchants bustled.
People looked healthy and well-fed.
Ran Do's eyes sparkled.
Riku's widened despite himself.
Everything was different from their bleak Hell Valley lives.
Suddenly—
A golden box soared through the air.
"W-what is that?!" Ran Do shouted.
"I-I don't know…" Ashu rubbed his eyes.
It looked like a cargo truck—
except it was flying.
This was the world outside Hell Valley.
And it was just the beginning