Deep within Orochimaru's research facility.
Hyuga Gakuya sat in the chair Orochimaru usually favored, calmly surveying the room. Standing before him was Kabuto, hands still and expression guarded.
Orochimaru, meanwhile, remained trapped in an illusion, unmoving off to the side.
"Think about it," Gakuya said, his tone casual but confident. "Join me. With your talent, you can surpass Orochimaru. There's no need to spend your life caged in his shadow."
He stepped closer to Orochimaru, gathering a sphere of blue spiritual energy in his hand.
He had no intention of using his Mangekyō's soul-rewriting technique to alter Orochimaru's memories—far too massive a task. Orochimaru's ambition was monstrous, even with a rewritten soul, betrayal would only be a matter of time.
"No rush. Take your time to think it over," Gakuya added.
He pressed his hand directly into Orochimaru's chest, embedding the spiritual orb within. Then he withdrew, smooth and precise.
With a flick of his fingers, he released the illusion. Under Kabuto's astonished gaze, Orochimaru dropped to one knee.
"Gakuya-sama," he said, his voice void of resistance. "Your command is absolute."
Not a single ounce of struggle. From beginning to end, Orochimaru had been completely under Gakuya's control.
"This is one of my eyes' abilities. Impressive, isn't it?"
A bead of sweat slid down the side of Kabuto's face.
"Incredible... even Orochimaru-sama—someone that powerful—can be controlled."
Gakuya grabbed a thin stack of research notes from the nearby table and sat back down, flipping through the pages.
"Once I finish reading this, I'll expect your answer."
"Remember—whatever Orochimaru could offer you, I can match. And whatever he couldn't... I still can."
Just by sitting there, Gakuya exuded an unbearable pressure. Kabuto's back was already drenched in sweat.
His mind spun furiously. Could he save Orochimaru? No, ridiculous—he couldn't even beat a Kage, let alone someone like this man. The idea was discarded as quickly as it came.
What if he agreed to become Gakuya's subordinate? Would he be branded with a control seal like Orochimaru? Probably not. Orochimaru seemed... diminished, almost like he'd lost his edge. Gakuya likely wanted a subordinate who could think.
Before he could ponder further, Gakuya slapped the research notes onto the table.
"Well? Made up your mind?"
Kabuto countered with his own question: "I could become your subordinate... but Orochimaru-sama helped me discover myself. He gave me the opportunity to glimpse the truth of the world. What can you offer me?"
"Discover yourself?" Gakuya let out a scornful chuckle. He raised his hand, summoning a mirror of water that hovered in front of Kabuto's face.
"Take a good look. This is who you are now—a tool, passed around from hand to hand. Is that the person you wanted to become?"
"Is that what Nonō wanted for you? Or the friends you had back at the orphanage?"
The water mirror shattered in his hand, droplets scattering at their feet.
"You're not some rootless drifter. You've just buried your pain and memories. You've never truly faced the fact that you killed Nonō."
Activating his Sharingan, Gakuya said, "This illusion will help you remember. Let me bring it all back for you."
Demonic Illusion: Pit of the Abyss—a simple D-rank genjutsu, usually meant to confront a person with their greatest fear. But under the power of Gakuya's Sharingan, it also had the ability to revive cherished memories.
...
One minute later, Kabuto gasped back to awareness and dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face.
"No... no, Director... It's me, Kabuto! You... you don't recognize me?"
Gakuya stood over him, expression calm as he looked down at Kabuto's broken figure.
"So... you remember now?"
Kabuto looked up, grabbing Gakuya's sleeve like a drowning man clinging to a lifeline.
"I remember. I remember everything! Gakuya-sama—please, you have a way to bring the Director back, don't you?"
"You have to. I'll do anything. Serve you however you want. Just—please bring her back."
A smile tugged at Gakuya's lips. Finally, the fish had bitten the hook.
He pulled Kabuto to his feet. "I can help you kill Danzo. I can help you bring Nonō back to life. And I'll make sure you return to Konoha, to reconnect with everything you lost."
"Really?"
"You might not be able to pull that off—but I can." Gakuya grinned confidently and pulled out a sealing scroll. "Take a look at my latest research. It's still a prototype, but it's getting close."
Kabuto accepted the scroll with both hands, eyes scanning the contents with increasing awe.
After reading, he respectfully handed it back. "I have a question."
Gakuya smirked, as if expecting it.
"I know what you're going to ask. My endgame is to surpass the Sage of Six Paths himself. Once I get there, executing this jutsu will be child's play."
"This scroll is just a copy, by the way. It contains all my notes so far. Your task is to continue the research."
"The rest includes my theories for the next phase."
So far, Gakuya had completed more than half of the resurrection jutsu. The first step—summoning the soul—was already done using modifications based on the Earth-Style: Ultimate Revival Jutsu.
The second step—creating a new vessel for the soul—was still under development.
Kabuto carefully tucked the scroll away. "Understood."
Gakuya stood and gave his next command: "Take me to see Orochimaru's research."
"Right away."
...
Kabuto led him through the entirety of the lab's archives.
The vast collection of experimental treasures left Gakuya more than impressed. There was the severed horn of the Eight-Tails, an enormous tank full of Hashirama's cells, and—most importantly—Kimimaro, the final heir of the Kaguya bloodline, whom Gakuya had long coveted.
Gakuya didn't hold back. Activating his Bloodline Seizure technique, he consumed the entire tank of Hashirama cells, compressing it to the size of a basketball.
This shortcut allowed him to instantly awaken Wood Release and further strengthen his Sage Body.
Under Kabuto's guidance, Gakuya entered Kimimaro's chamber.
Kimimaro, sensing the intrusion, immediately sprang into action from the shadows. Bone projectiles fired from all ten fingers, aimed directly at Gakuya's forehead.
With a flick, Gakuya batted them away. He activated his Sharingan once more and rewrote Kimimaro's memories, replacing Orochimaru with himself.
"Gakuya-sama!" Kimimaro's demeanor shifted instantly, now showing utmost reverence.
Kabuto was stunned. Just how many methods does Gakuya-sama have for controlling people...?
"Kimimaro, ease up on your kekkei genkai from now on, understood?" Gakuya ordered. He needed Kimimaro alive—at least until he had fully mastered the Shikotsumyaku.
"Yes, Gakuya-sama."
Once outside, Gakuya asked, "If we stop Kimimaro from using his kekkei genkai from now on, how long can he live with proper treatment?"
Kabuto thought for a moment. "Ten years—so long as he never activates it again."
"That's more than enough. Begin regular blood extractions, but keep him in top condition. I'll absorb it all when I'm ready."
"As you wish."
Gakuya wasn't worried about any dormant illness in the bloodline. His Bloodline Seizure only absorbed the necessary genes—it didn't inherit the entire kekkei genkai blindly.
After reviewing all of Orochimaru's research, the two returned to Orochimaru's chamber.
Gakuya turned to the puppet-like Orochimaru and said, "Where's the Ryūchi Cave summoning contract?"
Orochimaru immediately gagged and vomited up a scroll over a meter long.
"Disgusting," Gakuya muttered, cleansing it with a Water Release jutsu.
He opened the scroll, bit his finger, and signed his name without hesitation.
The moment the ink dried, he felt it—an icy, serpentine presence watching him.
White Snake Sage, huh... Gakuya thought, eyes narrowing.
He tossed the scroll to Kabuto. "Hold onto it. Study Jugo's Sage Body if you can—maybe you'll become a Sage too."
This wasn't just an empty gesture. In the original timeline, Kabuto had become the first human Sage of Ryūchi Cave. Gakuya had every intention of letting him reach that level again.
"You've got your orders—start building the Sound Village. Orochimaru will stay here to assist. He can't do research anymore, but he's still a decent fighter."
Then Gakuya gave his final instructions: "Don't obsess over resurrection. Focus your efforts on the Reanimation Jutsu. Secretly collect the remains of powerful shinobi. Grow the Sound Village. Recruit rogue ninja. Chase down kekkei genkai bloodlines."
Before leaving, he handed Kabuto a puppet messenger bird.
"If you run into trouble, use this. My puppet has memorized your chakra signature. Be ready to receive orders."
"Understood."
Gakuya had handed down a flurry of commands. After all, he wasn't about to waste a true all-rounder like Kabuto.
And in this timeline, with a broader stage to perform on, Gakuya was sure—Kabuto would shine just as bright as before, if not brighter.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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