Hiruzen Sarutobi, clad in battle attire and wielding the Adamantine Staff, stood before the base's heavily shadowed entrance, taking a deep breath.
A year ago, he had received news that Orochimaru might be restarting the Wood Release human experiments.
However, whether it was due to the Village's urgent need for stability after the war, or his indulgence towards his most beloved disciple, Hiruzen Sarutobi ultimately allowed his research to continue in secret, only dispatching a small number of Anbu to monitor him.
Initially, it was still acceptable; although it was still illegal research, it remained within his bottom line, and Orochimaru's hands had not yet touched Konoha's Ninja.
But after a long period of suppression, there was a violent and sudden outburst.
Ultimately, it led to today's bitter outcome.
First, four days ago, he received news of the death of the monitoring Anbu. After beginning a preliminary investigation, he immediately received reports of missing family members or descendants from numerous Bloodline Limit families and civilian Jonin.
In just two or three days, the immense public and political pressure from all sides forced him to act without further thought, pushing him to begin today's operation.
Soon, his location was pinpointed.
The Hokage, who had led Konoha to victory in two Ninja World Wars, looked towards the dark entrance ahead, his eyes involuntarily drooping.
'Orochimaru...'
'Why must you go to such lengths?'
Though his thoughts were urgent, he had no choice left.
Hiruzen Sarutobi gradually composed himself and spoke in a deep voice to the Anbu Ninja behind him:
"Charge in and apprehend the suspect, Orochimaru."
"Dead or alive."
"Yes!"
With a single command, the Anbu members behind him responded in unison, breaking through the door in a standard reconnaissance formation and entering in single file.
Though Hiruzen Sarutobi held the esteemed position of Hokage, he charged at the very front of the entire procession, his Adamantine Staff breaking through one obstacle after another, heading straight down.
Whether it was out of protection for the young Anbu beside him, or certain unspoken selfish desires deeply hidden in his heart, he did not want these children to confront Orochimaru directly.
All of this was observed by Kakashi Hatake, who had been by his side the entire time.
Having served in the Anbu for so many years, with his intelligence, he had long been able to discern the old man's true intentions from his every move. He subconsciously relaxed a bit in his actions, clearly intending to slack off, at most putting on a show of effort once the fighting started, performing a few Lightning Blade for demonstration.
However, what surprised him was that throughout their journey, they hadn't encountered even the slightest resistance.
This abnormal phenomenon made him unconsciously tense up a bit.
Uchiha Itachi, who had been following him from the start, also noticed this problem.
"Captain Kakashi?"
The young man asked in a low voice, testing the waters.
"Be careful."
Kakashi Hatake replied in a deep voice.
Boom—
Soon, the last iron door was swept open by the heavy staff.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was ashen as he strode into the lowest room of the base.
However, what met his eyes was not the scene of Orochimaru conducting cruel experiments.
In the cold hall lay numerous corpses, already devoid of life. Most of the personnel wore white lab coats, clearly researchers.
Only on one side of the hall was there a breach, leading directly to the outside.
'Did he receive news in advance?'
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the silent scene before him, but inexplicably felt a sense of relief.
Many things in the world are like this.
As long as they are not caught on the spot, the two sides can often maintain their former peace on some level.
Even if it was just another form of self-deception.
One could only say that if there was even the slightest possibility, Hiruzen Sarutobi was unwilling to personally kill this disciple who had been with him for decades, like his own flesh and blood.
With his hair graying and his face showing signs of age, the number of times he compromised seemed to be increasing.
Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, a faint rustling sound suddenly came through his wireless earpiece.
Immediately following, he heard the urgent report from the Anbu member on the other end:
"Third Hokage-sama! Emergency!"
"Over three hundred households in Genba Town, and four Anbu and Root squads, have been completely wiped out! Numerous traces of battle and Wood Release experiments have been found nearby, along with seven bodies of Kumogakure Anbu members. The perpetrator has not yet been found."
"Based on the relevant traces, it is suspected... Orochimaru's doing!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's body, which had just relaxed, suddenly stiffened in place.
In the end, it was inescapable... A brightly lit corridor.
One large and one small figure walked slowly forward.
Yakushi Kabuto, following behind the other person, walked with hesitant steps, his posture rigid.
Aizen Sōsuke, in front, appeared relaxed, leisurely pushing open the laboratory door ahead.
What appeared before the two was a cylindrical specimen tank, held within multiple seals.
In the center of the tank was a pure white, vaguely unstable blade embryo.
'What an interesting world.'
He looked at the unformed zanpakutō, thinking to himself.
Aizen Sōsuke.
Former Captain of the Gotei 13's 5th Division.
Former most heinous criminal of the Soul Society, sentenced to 20,000 years.
Currently.
Konoha Jonin, Head of the Third Laboratory in the Hokage's Office Building.
The different identities in his past and present lives occasionally gave him a sense of disorientation. Thinking back, it had already been twenty-two years since he arrived in this world.
However, unlike his previous life, where he possessed extraordinary talent and innate wisdom far surpassing ordinary people.
In this world, he was merely a common Ninja from a civilian background, with no special bloodline or any miraculous encounters.
If he didn't rely on some small tricks, his strength would only be considered mediocre.
The only thing worth celebrating was that he retained the long memories of his previous life.
Now, after a long period of exploration and searching, he was finally not too far from achieving his first goal.
—To reforge a zanpakutō.
The first and greatest obstacle in his path was the huge difference in rules between his past and present worlds.
Unlike the previous world, where the Three Realms were entirely based on spiritual bodies, a nested structure derived from the sacrifice of the Soul King.
The world he was currently in was entirely based on pure matter and energy.
To this day, he had witnessed countless souls disappear, yet he had never seen a Shinigami appear.
From this, it could be seen that this world likely did not contain organized individuals like 'Shinigami'.
However, souls and spiritual energy still existed.
Not only that, but the upper limit of power in this world might far exceed the imagination of most Ninja.
After years of searching, he had consulted countless ancient texts and collected endless information, ultimately arriving at a rather astonishing fact.
—That there might have been a powerful individual named the Six Paths Sage in this world, who shared this power called Chakra with the natives of this planet.
And it was highly probable that there was more than one such powerful individual.
This Six Paths Sage once fought alongside a companion named Hamura against a goddess called Kaguya, and ultimately sealed her on the moon.
Although it sounded like nothing short of a myth or legend, when combined with this distorted reality, this story-like rumor became highly credible.
Moreover, he had already confirmed that the powerful individual named Hamura was indeed the ancestor of the Hyuga Clan.
Even now, the Hyuga Clan and a certain race on the moon still seem to have some secret connection.
At the same time, this Ninja World also seemed to be monitored by some force, and many secrets hidden beneath the deep sea remained unknown.
This was also one of the reasons why he had remained hidden until now, not truly stepping onto the stage.
The power he had accumulated was still far from sufficient.
However, compared to the powerful forces capable of destroying the world described in the information he had gathered, the abilities currently displayed by the Ninja and Kage of various nations were vastly different.
It was precisely for this reason that he needed to quickly regain his former strength.