Shiraishi's invitation to Orochimaru to tour his laboratory was not solely about the Uzumaki host project; there were numerous strategic matters to discuss.
Over the years, Orochimaru had established multiple bases in the Land of Fields and the Land of Rivers, heavily funded by Shiraishi. Since taking office as Kazekage, Shiraishi had actually increased this support.
To Shiraishi, Orochimaru was a top-tier scientific mind whose research capabilities were far more valuable than his raw combat power.
The rapid-growth tree-fruits currently blanketing the Land of Wind were a direct result of Orochimaru's bioengineering.
Furthermore, Orochimaru's experiments this year had yielded a specialized breed of poultry capable of surviving in the desert with highly nutritious meat.
These technologies were being integrated into every facet of the Hidden Sand's economy, which is why the Land of Wind provided Orochimaru with an endless stream of equipment and funding.
With the backing of a Great Shinobi Village, Orochimaru's research efficiency had reached unprecedented heights.
As Shiraishi stood with his back to Orochimaru, discussing project details, Orochimaru flicked his tongue, a dangerous glint flickering in his eyes.
Detecting the shift in atmosphere, Shiraishi slowly turned around. His gaze was indifferent but carried a heavy, authoritative pressure.
For a moment, their eyes locked. Orochimaru let out a dry, rattling chuckle and withdrew his predatory aura.
During the exchange, Shiraishi activated his Circular Eye, the colors within his pupils shifting. "Senior Orochimaru, is your Living Corpse Reincarnation technique nearing completion?"
Though Orochimaru appeared unchanged, Shiraishi could sense a restlessness in his soul—a volatile agitation.
"One step away," Orochimaru hissed, turning away. "The withdrawal from Konoha was too hasty; many secret arts and documents were left behind."
"You must learn to restrain your desires," Shiraishi warned coldly. "Do not be controlled by obsession."
Just moments ago, Orochimaru's greed had nearly driven him to attempt a reincarnation strike on Shiraishi. Had he acted, their partnership would have shattered instantly, a setback Shiraishi preferred to avoid for the sake of the Sand's development.
Orochimaru smiled thinly. "Hehe, I understand."
In Orochimaru's mind, the perfect vessel was Aoki Shiraishi. This man had risen from nowhere, mastering secrets and technologies that grew more unfathomable the deeper one looked.
Shiraishi was the "perfect container," but the difficulty of obtaining him was too high.
Orochimaru wasn't a fool; he wouldn't rashly destroy a relationship that provided him with such vast resources just because of a momentary lack of self-control.
Watching Orochimaru's retreating figure, Shiraishi's eyes were like ice. He hadn't expected the scientist to be so bold as to consider an attack within Shiraishi's own base.
The capable harness the devil; the incapable are enslaved by him.
Shiraishi removed his glasses and set them on the desk. Over the years, while he learned skills from the system, he had begun prioritizing chakra modification and original development to reduce his dependency on the glasses.
The true intent of this artifact remained a mystery, and given the grim fates of its previous owners, Shiraishi knew the system hidden within harbored secrets he had yet to uncover.
The Rain and the Mask
In the Land of Rain, where the downpour never stops, the high command of the Akatsuki was locked in a heated debate.
Hanzo of the Salamander had sent an invitation. He wanted to use their influence to propose a peace treaty with the Leaf, Sand, and Stone, aiming to make the Land of Rain a permanently neutral nation like the Land of Iron.
Nagato and Konan were skeptical; Hanzo had briefly cooperated with them against the Sand before turning his back and exiling them.
However, Yahiko was determined to gamble on this sliver of hope for the country's future.
"Yahiko speaks only of ideals," a masked man claiming to be Uchiha Madara said, watching Nagato.
"What does it matter if you understand others' pain? They will not understand yours, and the world does not wish for such a scenario."
Nagato looked at the masked man—Uchiha Obito—with wariness. "No matter what you say, I believe in Yahiko!"
"Despite possessing the Rinnegan, you are still but a mortal," Obito sighed, his body beginning to phase through Nagato.
The pieces in the Land of Rain were nearly in place. Hanzo and Danzo had joined forces to eliminate the Akatsuki. Obito intended to use this tragedy to wipe out the "obstacle" that was Yahiko and awaken the darkness in Nagato's heart.
Suddenly, Obito pivoted. His body twisted as he lunged toward a shadow in a different part of the area. He hadn't expected that while he was talking to Nagato, someone else was watching from the dark—someone who had evaded Zetsu's detection.
The shadow dissolved into a pool of black mist. As Obito made contact, his hands were instantly coated in a layer of frost. Simultaneously, a specialized dimensional rift opened before him.
Black Mist and Black Hole space-time ninjutsu?
These were the trademarks of the Fifth Kazekage. Obito's brow furrowed beneath his mask. He hadn't expected the Kazekage to be monitoring the Akatsuki so closely.
Before the real Uchiha Madara had passed away, he had warned Obito to be wary of Aoki Shiraishi, a man whose strength potentially surpassed that of Minato Namikaze.
After a single exchange, Obito realized his opponent was troublesome. As he scanned the surroundings, another small dimensional hole opened behind him.
A masked figure, dressed in an outfit strikingly similar to Obito's own, emerged from the void...
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: Patreon.com/kazama677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 60 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.