Minato's exclamation wasn't loud, but it was enough to draw the attention of the man not far away.
Orochimaru, which is occupying a female body, slowly turned his head.
His signature golden, snake-like pupils shifted, immediately locking onto the anomalous aura emanating from the seemingly ordinary couple nearby.
It was the unique Chakra Signature of the deceased, cleverly masked by a transformation technique, but it couldn't deceive an expert like him, who toyed with forbidden life-and-death technique.
A look of intense interest appeared on his pale face, the corner of his mouth lifting into an inscrutable smile.
Orochimaru casually waved a hand, signaling the researchers and Star Ninja's officers behind him to continue the handover and move the supplies.
He himself strode with an elegant, somewhat effeminate gait, walking unhurriedly towards Minato and Kushina.
He stopped before them, his golden vertical pupils examining them up and down with keen interest, as if appreciating two precious, long-lost artifacts.
He extended his tongue, habitually licking his lips… a gesture that appeared particularly unsettling coming from his current female form.
"What a... pleasant surprise, this reunion," His voice still carried that characteristic hoarse magnetism, though the pitch was higher than Minato remembered, better suiting his current appearance, "Long time no see, Minato-kun... and Kushina."
That Orochimaru could see through their transformation and recognize them didn't surprise Minato or Kushina.
This man's scientific prowess and understanding of forbidden techniques had long reached unbelievable levels. They were more curious about another matter.
"Orochimaru-sama," Minato remained cautious, his gray eyes meeting the other party's gaze directly, "Why are you here?"
He couldn't understand why one of Konoha's Sannin would be in this nascent Land of Stars, seemingly even cooperating with its military.
Orochimaru let out a low, soft chuckle, as if finding Minato's question amusing, "It seems you have only just 'returned' and are not yet well-acquainted with the situation here."
He turned slightly and made a 'please' gesture, "I am currently in a cooperative relationship with the founder of this city, Shura. How about it? Would you care to tour my laboratory? It might help you understand the... current state of affairs more intuitively."
Faced with this invitation, whose nature, friendly or trap, was unclear, Minato and Kushina exchanged a glance.
Minato pondered for a moment, then nodded.
He truly needed more information, especially regarding Orochimaru's relationship with this nation.
Although, before his 'death', Orochimaru's crimes involving human experimentation hadn't yet been exposed, as a candidate for the Fourth Hokage, Minato had vaguely known about some of the darkness surrounding Danzo and Root, and had heard rumors that Orochimaru's research utilized death row prisoners or enemy spies.
He needed to see with his own eyes what the nature of this 'cooperation' was.
After all, as a father, he was worried about what kind of bottom line his eldest son might have crossed in his dealings with Orochimaru.
"Then... we'll trouble you," Minato said gravely.
"Khu khu, follow me." Orochimaru turned and led the two towards a more heavily guarded complex of buildings within the military zone east of the Yuu River.
As they walked, Minato couldn't help but ask again, "Orochimaru-sama, have you... left Konoha?"
This question had been burning in his mind. Orochimaru was the Third Hokage's most accomplished student, a genius of exceptional talent and power, who should have been a key pillar of Konoha.
Orochimaru didn't look back, his voice flat, as if narrating a trivial matter unrelated to himself, "Why? It's simple. I once accepted Danzo's invitation to join Root, to research some... special Ninjutsu for him. This naturally involved some necessary human experimentation."
He paused, a hint of mockery entering his tone, "Later, because the source of the experimental materials... 'accidentally' included some of the village's 'own people', my teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, found out. So, I had no choice but to leave."
When they heard 'included some of the village's own people', both Minato and Kushina frowned deeply, expressions of disgust and anger appearing on their faces.
No matter the purpose, turning their blades on comrades was an absolutely intolerable line to cross!
But as a Hokage, Minato thought further, "Was it Danzo who instructed you to use village personnel for experiments? Or was it your own choice?"
Orochimaru glanced at Minato out of the corner of his eye, his look seeming to say, "You would actually ask such a naive question."
"Is there a difference, Minato-kun?" He chuckled in retort, "Danzo provided resources and protection, and I provided technology and results. A mutual exchange. As for the specific source of the materials... does it matter? In that environment, certain boundaries are easily blurred."
Minato fell silent. He understood Orochimaru's meaning. Danzo's Root was a massive quagmire… once you stepped in, it was hard to stay clean. Orochimaru, pursuing forbidden techniques and truth, and Danzo, needing dark power to consolidate his authority, were essentially accomplices.
Regardless of who led, Orochimaru participated, Danzo condoned or even supported it, and Konoha's Ninja became the sacrifices. This was the most naked display of Konoha's dark side.
As they talked, they passed through several layers of strict identity verification and barriers, entering Orochimaru's underground laboratory located in the Star City's military research zone.
The atmosphere here was completely different from the sunlit city outside.
The air carried a faint smell of disinfectant and formalin, occasionally mixed with a hint of blood.
Cold metal walls reflected stark white light. Precision instruments and glass containers filled with unknown liquids were everywhere.
The interior space of the lab was vast, filled with various sophisticated instruments and cultivation tanks.
Most striking were the several dozen observation rooms separated by reinforced transparent glass in the central area.
Each observation room contained one or more human bodies restrained in special devices, with clear numerical codes branded on their foreheads or arms. A quick scan by Minato showed the numbers already exceeded one hundred.
Researchers in white lab coats were busy recording data or injecting different reagents, Chakra, or even strangely glowing tissue samples into the experimental subjects via conduits.
Occasionally, muffled groans of pain or inhuman roars could be faintly heard from the soundproofed observation rooms.
The scene before them made Minato and Kushina extremely uncomfortable. Even though they were accustomed to the horrors of the battlefield, this was a cold, systematic cruelty that completely objectified human beings.
Orochimaru seemed pleased with their grim expressions. He spoke in a tone one might use to introduce works of art: "As you can see, this is my primary research facility now. Although Shura has placed some... restrictions on my research direction,"
His tone was slightly playful when mentioning 'restrictions', "Prohibiting the use of civilians and citizens of the Land of Stars, and encouraging the use of alternative materials... fortunately, the Land of Stars's resources of severe criminals and death row inmates are mine to pick from..."
"Of course, even severe criminals must 'voluntarily' sign agreements to participate in experiments. Survivors can receive reduced sentences."
His golden snake-like eyes swept over the numbers, "Moreover, thanks to our neighbors… the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth… continuously sending spies into the Land of Stars, we are never short of high-quality Ninjas to serve as experimental apparatus."
"Recently, the Land of Stars has just annexed the Land of Darkness, Land of Swamps, and Land of Snow.
Aside from the stubborn Yukigakure's Ninja from the Land of Snow who became prisoners of war, the Land of Darkness and Land of Swamps also had many Rogue Samurai and Ninja who served the old nobles and Daimyo, unwilling to lay down their arms and accept reformation. Most of these people are now here as well, contributing their final value to scientific progress."
Despite their innate disgust for human experimentation, Minato and Kushina's expressions softened slightly after hearing Orochimaru's explanation.
As Ninja, they knew well that mercy towards enemies was cruelty to oneself. Using these stubborn hostile elements for experiments held more 'value' than letting them roam free or simply executing them.
This cold-hearted logic, though hard to accept, was not incomprehensible in the Ninja World.
Just then, Minato's gaze was drawn to a figure in the corner of the laboratory.
The person wasn't tall, had messy white hair, and most peculiarly, possessed a pair of crimson eyes.
He wore a white restraint garment similar to a patient's gown and was pacing casually outside an observation room, watching a prisoner inside convulse in agony after being injected with some kind of cellular tissue. His eyes were as indifferent as if he were looking at a stone.
Orochimaru also noticed Minato's gaze. Following it, a meaningful smile curled his lips.
"Oh? Interested in my 'neighbor' as well?" Orochimaru said, raising his voice to call out, "Hiruko?"
The white-haired man named Hiruko turned his head at the sound, his face showing a trace of impatience at being disturbed.
He shuffled over, his crimson eyes sweeping over Orochimaru before indifferently glancing at Minato and Kushina. He didn't seem to recognize their true identities, only showing a slight curiosity towards the death-tainted Chakra of their Impure World Reincarnations.
"What is it, Orochimaru?" Hiruko's voice was hoarse and dry, lacking inflection.
Orochimaru chuckled lightly, "Still the same, only concerned with your research. I was just curious what brings you to my lab for a stroll?"
Hiruko snorted softly, holding up a small scroll, "I've run out of White Zetsu experimental materials on my end. Heard you still have some in stock, came to get a few."
His tone was matter-of-fact, but he added, "Of course, I won't take them for free. I'll trade you for my preliminary research data on the latest Storm Release Chakra Nature Transformation."
A glint of interest flashed in Orochimaru's golden vertical pupils. He was clearly interested in Hiruko's research data. After all, the Chimera Technique was something even Shura valued.
Orochimaru took the scroll, quickly scanned it, and a flicker of interest appeared in his eyes, "Storm Release data? That does have some value. But-" He dragged out the word, "My White Zetsu stock is low too. I can only spare you three at most. If you want more next time, apply to Shura-sama yourself."
"Three? So few!" Hiruko was clearly dissatisfied, but he seemed somewhat apprehensive about 'applying to Shura-sama'. He grumbled a few words but ultimately nodded, "...Fine, three it is! Hand them over quickly!"
Their conversation made Minato and Kushina's hearts lurch.
'White Zetsu? What was that? It sounded like an extremely special and precious experimental material.'
'And they discussed going to Shura to apply for it so casually, as if Menma were their superior supplier.'
Minato's gaze returned to Hiruko. Hiruko's defection happened early in the Third Great Ninja War, before Minato became Hokage, so they had no interaction.
But after becoming the Fourth Hokage, while reviewing the village's Missing-Nin files, he had seen Hiruko's profile.
He knew this was a highly talented and powerful Ninja from the same era as the Sannin, who defected due to forbidden technique research and was later classified as an S-Rank Missing-Nin.
He had never imagined this legendary dangerous figure had also been subdued by Menma.
What caught his attention more was the subtle difference in attitude between the two during their conversation.
When Orochimaru mentioned 'Shura', his tone was more like that of an equal, even slightly teasing collaborator.
But when Hiruko heard the name 'Shura', a hint of unconcealed apprehension and fear instinctively flashed in his eyes… a visceral reaction of a subordinate facing an absolute authority.
'Menma... just how did you manage to make these unruly, incredibly dangerous Missing-Nins work for you?'
Watching the scene, Minato gained a deeper understanding of his eldest son's abilities and methods, while a more complex emotion welled up within him.
This nation founded by his son was far more mysterious and unfathomable than he had imagined.