The forest wind stirred gently, sunlight spilling through gaps in the canopy above, scattering like falling stars.
After instilling his eyes with a surge of pupil power, the younger Orochimaru clasped his hands together and called out,
"Summoning Technique."
Boom!
Smoke and dust burst outward. Before the mist fully cleared, a flirtatious laugh echoed through the woods.
"Well, well… someone finally remembers I exist. If I hadn't had a few toys to amuse me lately, I might've gotten lonely—oh?"
As the haze dissipated, Togarihime's expression shifted from amusement to curiosity. Her gaze swept the scene, landing on the youthful Orochimaru and… another Orochimaru lying motionless on the ground.
Her eyes narrowed playfully.
"You've changed. Quite a bit, actually."
With her innate sage perception and serpent instincts, Togarihime could sense what ordinary eyes could not. There was something different—deeper—about the young Orochimaru. The pressure that emanated from him wasn't just power. It was evolutionary, layered, transcendent.
But what puzzled her even more was the presence of the second Orochimaru—the one who looked more familiar, weaker, yet still unmistakably him.
What happened here? she thought. Still, she waited, expecting the familiar voice to offer an explanation.
Instead, it was the younger Orochimaru who smiled and spoke.
"Togarihime, I summoned you today to deliver a message."
"A few days ago, I completed a surgery and transformed my very life. In gratitude to the White Snake Sage, I'm prepared to share the full method. Everything—the process, the theory, the results."
"Send someone to receive it. Preferably… him," he added, gesturing to the weakened Orochimaru. "He needs some rest first, but he'll manage."
The prone Orochimaru offered a faint, unbothered smile, clearly in agreement.
Togarihime's expression turned thoughtful.
"So generous…" she mused inwardly. "The transformation of life itself for just a little help from the Sage? Why not go yourself, then?"
But she didn't say that aloud. Even back then, the power dynamic between them had always been fragile. While she once felt emboldened by the support of the White Snake Sage, now, after this transformation, she no longer saw herself as Orochimaru's equal.
Some animals know better than to bare their teeth at a tiger. It's not fear—it's survival.
Her tone softened, respectful.
"Very well. I'll inform the Sage."
After all, she was only the messenger now. The real negotiation would come from the Sage herself—if she dared to challenge this Orochimaru.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
The young Orochimaru nodded. With a small bow, Togarihime vanished. A moment later, the older Orochimaru disappeared with a summoning puff as well.
The younger one turned to the hovering Lamp God beside him.
"Keep an eye on Ryūchi Cave for me…"
Before he could finish, a small viper flickered into existence and dropped a scroll into his hand. Orochimaru unrolled it.
"Kumogakure, Kirigakure, Iwagakure… so, Nagato's made his move."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"He's targeting the Jinchūriki of all three villages… Bold. Efficient."
He clicked his tongue.
"I don't have time to get involved right now, but the silver lining is… neither do they. Akatsuki won't have time to deal with me, either. Good. That buys me space."
He paused for a moment, then glanced toward Konoha.
"Still, I should at least let the old man know what's coming."
Even if he wasn't in danger, Konoha's ninjas were far more vulnerable. The Outer Path Gedo Statue was a threat far beyond any ordinary tailed beast. And in the battles to come, the ability to withstand it might come down to how many had received the wood-body fortification.
With that thought, Orochimaru formed a seal. Beneath him, a wooden clone sprang from the ground and took off toward the village.
---
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office…
A heated debate was underway.
"You're being unreasonable, Jiraiya!" fumed Koharu. "You want to send Konoha shinobi on a two-month round trip to aid Mount Myōboku? That's not how summoning contracts work. Not everyone can flit across the continent like you."
"I know it's a lot," Jiraiya replied, clearly frustrated, "but the toads of Mount Myōboku have been essential to the village's survival. If they fall, we lose one of our oldest allies."
Koharu scoffed.
"They're powerful, yes—but they're allies, not responsibilities. Konoha doesn't owe them a war effort. Send a Sannin, nothing more."
Jiraiya clenched his fist but said nothing. He wasn't truly asking for a full deployment—just recognition. He wanted the village to care. To not wash its hands clean when one of their greatest partners was in peril.
The Third Hokage sighed, pipe resting in his fingers.
"Jiraiya… I understand. But this is reality. We can't abandon the village's safety for distant obligations. Still…"
He turned to the advisors.
"The Sealing Corps has made progress with Flying Thunder God. If only one or two shinobi are needed, there's a chance we can send someone to Mount Myōboku quickly."
"And that person would be…?"
"Orochimaru. He can return via Ryūchi Cave if needed—"
"You might've asked me first."
The door creaked open, and Orochimaru stepped in, a slight smirk on his lips. "Is it really wise to assign me to something without my consent?"
A cold silence fell across the room.
Jiraiya and the Third exchanged a look. The others stared—some at his presence, some at his uncanny youthful form. But none could argue his efficiency.
Koharu frowned.
"So? Are you accepting the mission?"
"Of course." Orochimaru's voice was smooth. "But Mount Myōboku isn't the biggest threat right now."
Everyone looked at him.
He didn't wait.
"Nagato—leader of Akatsuki—has undergone physical enhancement surgery." His tone sharpened. "The kind of procedure that turned a mediocre ninja like Yakushi Kabuto into a Kage-level monster overnight. And now, Nagato has that power on top of the Rinnegan."
Silence fell.
Even the most hardened veterans in the room felt a chill.
Jiraiya slowly exhaled. Koharu went pale.
This was no longer about diplomacy or protocols. This was survival.
After a long pause, Hiruzen asked gravely, "Can you still stop him?"
Orochimaru nodded.
"I can repel him. Maybe even injure him. But I can't guarantee the safety of everyone. We need to expand the wood-body reinforcement program. Now. And—include Sunagakure."
"You negotiated with the Kazekage?" someone asked sharply.
"We made a deal." Orochimaru's smile didn't reach his eyes. "The terms are already in motion."
The Third simply nodded. "Tsunade will oversee the expansion."
Then he turned to Jiraiya.
"If Myōboku needs help, and we have an opening, we'll send someone. But only if it won't weaken us here."
Jiraiya nodded solemnly.
"Understood."
Orochimaru gave one last smirk before disappearing in a puff of smoke—just a wood clone.
---
High above the skies of the Stone Country…
The wind howled around Orochimaru as he stood in the clouds, surveying the rocky terrain below.
"Greed ruined this place," he murmured. "Even the desert offers an oasis, but here... there's nothing."
Lamp God floated beside him, ever grinning.
"You'll like this, master. There's a child below… twisted by natural energy. Just the kind you were hoping to find in Roran."
Orochimaru's interest piqued. "Really now? Let's take a look."
They descended swiftly toward a lone hill rich in greenery—an anomaly in the wasteland.
Orochimaru's eyes glowed faintly.
"The natural energy here is… potent. A leak from Ryūchi Cave, perhaps?"
"Exactly," said the Lamp God. "And the child is waiting inside."
Orochimaru licked his lips.
"Interesting. Let's pay them a visit."
_____________________
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