Curse Mark transformation. He was not sure what his own Curse Mark form would look like.
Then there was his natural affinity. Kawasaki could almost feel a special kind of energy in the air.
It seemed it was time to consider Sage Mode.
Kawasaki smiled and greeted Jūgo before turning to Orochimaru. "How are you suppressing his rampages now?"
Orochimaru explained, "It's only when the natural energy in his body becomes excessive and affects his mind. As long as we periodically extract the surplus energy, there's no problem."
Orochimaru patted Karin's head. "Little Karin has very strong sensory abilities. When Jūgo's natural energy is too high, she just needs to bring him over for an extraction."
Karin wore a proud expression.
Orochimaru glanced at the tubes on Jūgo's back. "Hmm, that should be enough."
Hearing this, Jūgo immediately disconnected the tubes from his back.
He was finally free to move.
Seeing that Jūgo no longer had to be "imprisoned," Kawasaki felt happy for him.
He then said, "Let me introduce you to some friends. I think you'll like them."
"Itachi, take Jūgo and Karin to meet their new comrades," Kawasaki instructed.
Itachi nodded in agreement and led Jūgo and Karin away.
In the original timeline, Jūgo was rescued by Kimimaro, who restrained him with his bones and fanatically promoted his superior, Orochimaru.
Now that he had been saved by Kawasaki ahead of schedule, he wondered if Jūgo would grow closer to Itachi or to Kimimaro in the future.
Wait, something felt off. It seemed someone was missing from the group, but Kawasaki couldn't recall who it was.
Oh well, it didn't matter. That person probably didn't have a significant role anyway.
Following Orochimaru into a secret study, the two sat facing each other.
Orochimaru gave Kawasaki an overview of the progress with Itachi and Shisui.
"The eyes are naturally isolated from the body's immune system. Under the influence of specific hormones in the brain, your Uchiha clan's Sharingan produces a large amount of Yin Release chakra, causing it to evolve."
"But this is an incomplete process. The Sharingan evolves without any regard for whether the body can withstand the strain. That's why Uchiha who awaken the Mangekyō eventually go blind."
"I've already prepared a medicine for Itachi and Shisui to inhibit the effect of that hormone."
"For now, their bodies will no longer be harmed by the Yin Release chakra, and Itachi's cellular inflammation has disappeared."
"However, the growth of their ocular power will be temporarily halted. I think it's best to wait until their bodies have developed more before continuing with the treatment."
Although Kawasaki didn't understand the specifics of the research, he was able to provide Orochimaru with quite a few theoretical ideas.
"How is the separation of the Hashirama cells coming along?"
Kawasaki hadn't contacted Orochimaru in a while and was unsure of his progress.
Initially, Orochimaru thought that directly injecting the Hashirama cells would suffice, but Kawasaki had warned him that the cells' will was too potent.
If injected without first isolating the Yang Release chakra, the subject might just turn into a tree.
"Separating Yang Release chakra at the cellular level is difficult, and I'm still missing many rare materials. However, Jiraiya came by about a month ago..."
Orochimaru recounted the details of Jiraiya's visit.
Kawasaki narrowed his eyes in thought. He had initially leaked the information about the infant Kinoe merely to add another mark to Danzō's already long list of crimes.
Danzō had so many black marks against his name that one more wouldn't make a difference.
He hadn't expected the Third Hokage to have other motives.
If the Fourth Hokage hadn't been chosen and Orochimaru hadn't delved into his dark research, would the Third have picked Orochimaru to be his successor?
In this world, Orochimaru had never joined the Akatsuki.
He hadn't assassinated the Fourth Kazekage, nor had he orchestrated the Konoha Crush.
He was purely a research fanatic. His past defection and human experiments were distant memories.
This world was cruel. Every ninja village had its secrets; outsiders just never knew about them.
After all, if even someone like Obito had people defending him, Orochimaru's past misdeeds were hardly worth mentioning.
Land of Rice Paddies, the Village Hidden in the Sound.
Itachi appeared with Karin and Jūgo.
They found Shisui sparring with Kisame. The two were fighting casually.
Shisui wasn't using ninjutsu or genjutsu, and Kisame wasn't wielding Samehada, using only an ordinary sword to test Shisui's taijutsu.
Shisui's movements were fluid and elegant, his attacks coming from unexpected angles.
Kisame's strikes were heavy and powerful. Though he lacked Shisui's agility, his offense and defense were incredibly imposing.
Clang!
Shisui's sword was sent flying by one of Kisame's heavy blows.
Shisui landed and rubbed his nose. "You win, Kisame."
A smile spread across Kisame's shark-like face as he glanced at a shallow cut on his shoulder.
He knew that if Shisui hadn't held back just now, he would have been seriously injured.
"Shisui of the Body Flicker, you truly live up to your name."
He was starting to like this place.
Itachi introduced Karin and Jūgo to everyone.
Although Haku's complexion had improved, he was still thin and frail. His timid expression reminded Karin of her former self.
She took some snacks from her bag and shared them with Haku, and the two quickly became friends.
When Jūgo met Kimimaro, it was as if he were seeing an old friend. An instant sense of familiarity and goodwill blossomed within him.
"My name is Jūgo..."
...
Land of Rain, where the downpour was relentless.
Pain stood with his hands behind his back, gazing out the window.
Konan finished arranging the sacrifices and turned to him.
"Nagato, I'm about to begin."
"Mm."
Pain's deep voice held a strange undercurrent of emotion.
Konan composed herself and began forming hand seals with solemn gravity, not daring to make the slightest mistake.
She had practiced this jutsu for a long time and was finally able to perform it.
However, the reanimated body it summoned would be weak, capable only of simple conversation.
She slammed her palm on the ground.
"Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation!"
A sinister wind whipped through the secret chamber, filled with the wails of countless spirits.
"Wooo... wooo..."
A circle of light appeared around the living sacrifice as talismans swirled from the floor and attached themselves to his body.
"Ah... ah... ah!"
The unconscious sacrifice awoke, his agony erupting in a blood-curdling scream.
The cry was as horrifying as that of a demon.
Konan instinctively stumbled back, bumping into Pain.
Pain had already turned around. He watched as the talismans dissipated, revealing the form of Idaten Kyūsuke.
It had been years, but Kyūsuke was still wearing the same clothes he had back then. Aside from the cracks of the reanimation, he looked just as he always had.
Life slowly returned to Kyūsuke's eyes. "I... didn't I die?"
Then, he saw Pain standing before him. Though he didn't understand the situation, he rushed forward excitedly. "Thank goodness, Big Brother! You're okay!"
Pain remained expressionless, allowing Kyūsuke to embrace him.
A moment later, Kyūsuke sensed something was wrong. The body of Yahiko in his arms was stiff and had no heartbeat.
"What's going on, Big Brother?! What happened to you!?" Kyūsuke asked frantically. As he looked up, he saw Pain's Rinnegan.
Kyūsuke stumbled backward and fell to the ground. "Th-those are Nagato's Rinnegan... What... what in the world is going on?"
Someone approached from the side. Kyūsuke looked up.
It was Konan. Her expression was filled with sorrow. "Kyūsuke..."
Kyūsuke's eyes seemed to light up at the sight of her. He stood and grabbed her hands.
"Konan, what happened to Big Brother? Didn't I die? Where's Daibutsu? Where's Nagato? What about the others?"
Hearing Kyūsuke's questions, images of their friends from their youth flashed through Konan's mind.
She closed her eyes in pain. "Kyūsuke, you, Daibutsu, and the others... you all passed away."
"Yahiko... is gone too."
"The person in front of you..."
"I am Nagato."
Pain, having seemingly gathered his emotions, finally spoke.
Kyūsuke took two steps back, bumping into the window frame. Only then did he notice the cracks covering his own body.
He held up his hand. "Is that so? It seems a lot has happened since I died..."
...
Kyūsuke sat cross-legged. "That day, while you went to negotiate with Hanzō, I received word from a comrade on the Konoha border that Leaf Anbu were heading toward Hanzō's position."
"I felt the timing was too coincidental, and Hanzō's words had been too agreeable."
"Suspecting a trap, I gathered some comrades to come and support you."
"But on the way, we were intercepted by two people. One had a face that was half black and half white, and his body looked like two aloe vera leaves stitched together."
"The other wore a mask and called himself Uchiha Madara."
"This Uchiha Madara wouldn't let us pass to help you. He said something about making you face reality. Then the black-and-white guy summoned a bunch of white monsters from the ground."
"The man calling himself Uchiha Madara had a bizarre ability. My attacks passed right through his body, and then he stabbed me with a sword."
"I was going to use a secret jutsu to take him down with me, but he managed to escape."
Kyūsuke recounted the story of his final moments with surprising calm. Having learned that his revival was only temporary, he quickly accepted it.
After all, resurrection was never truly possible.
However, both Konan and Nagato were unwilling to tell him the truth about Yahiko's death, or why Nagato was using Yahiko's body.
Konan couldn't help but ask, "Did the man who called himself Uchiha Madara say anything else?"
Kyūsuke thought for a moment. "Just before I died, I heard him speak."
"'For Nagato to awaken the true Rinnegan... This world carries a curse. How can there be any real peace?'"
"'Nagato should abandon his current dream and step through the gate to a new world.'"
With that, Kyūsuke looked up sharply. "Nagato, have you abandoned our ideal of peace?"
Pain was silent for a moment before answering, "No. I have merely changed my method."
"We were too naive back then. People only truly grow after experiencing pain."
"Those who do not know pain can never understand peace."
"I will bring peace to this world in my own way!" Pain declared, his tone firm.
Kyūsuke stared at Pain, feeling as if the Nagato before him was a complete stranger. "Nagato, no matter what you've been through, aren't you now just playing right into Uchiha Madara's hands?"
Pain's expression flickered slightly, and he remained silent for a long time.
Faced with Kyūsuke's relentless questions, he said nothing.
After a long while, he slowly shook his head.
Konan sighed and softly chanted, "Impure World Reincarnation: Release!"
Kyūsuke suddenly felt his body become lighter as his soul was pulled from its vessel.
He couldn't help but shout, "Nagato! Don't fall into their trap!"
"As war orphans, wandering without a home, the Akatsuki was the first glimmer of hope I ever saw, Nagato!"
"I will never forget that morning, at the break of dawn."
"Big Brother named our organization 'Akatsuki'."
"He said, 'This country, ravaged by war and soaked in tears, needs us to become the dawn that brings change...'"
His voice grew fainter and fainter, until it vanished completely.
Pain stared out the window, the chakra within him surging violently.
Konan looked at him with concern.
"Nagato..."
Pain's chakra stabilized. He spoke in a cold voice, "We will find Uchiha Kawasaki. He knows more of the truth!"
...
Land of Rice Paddies, the Village Hidden in the Sound.
Inside Orochimaru's laboratory.
In the original timeline, Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage, but that was only because the Third had died so suddenly.
Tsunade couldn't bear to see her grandfather's legacy ruined by Danzō, so she took on the heavy responsibility of the Hokage.
In truth, Tsunade's relationship with the village was currently strained.
The deaths of Nawaki and Dan had been far too convenient. Kawasaki refused to believe Danzō hadn't had a hand in it.
But whether Danzō had acted alone or with the Third's tacit approval was something no one knew.
Of the Senju heirs, one was dead and the other had gone mad.
The rest of the Senju clan had been wiped out in the pursuit of replicating the Wood Release.
Meanwhile, the Sarutobi clan's influence grew, and Danzō coveted the Hokage title.
Judging by who benefited most, both Danzō and the Third were suspects.
Kawasaki let out a sinister chuckle. "Orochimaru, do you want to be Hokage?"
"Hokage?"
Orochimaru mulled over the word.
He had never been particularly obsessed with the title, only resentful that the old man had chosen Minato over him.
However, outside of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, the Kage of other nations held little recognition beyond their own villages.
That was why one rarely heard of titles like Takikage, Kusakage, or Shimokage.
Orochimaru no longer had much interest in being a village leader. The pursuit of truth was his life's ambition.
"I have no interest in being Hokage," Orochimaru said, shaking his head.
"Ah, Orochimaru, such a narrow view," Kawasaki said, shaking his head with a knowing air.
"The Land of Rice Paddies is only so big, and its resources are not particularly abundant. The rare materials you struggle to acquire would not be difficult for a Hokage to obtain."
"Jiraiya only managed to get you those materials once. What if you were the Hokage?"
Orochimaru's interest was piqued. He was no fool; he was just so absorbed in his research that he often overlooked such things.
If he really became the Fifth Hokage, the fertile Land of Fire would be at his disposal.
The secret scrolls and medicines of numerous shinobi clans could all be accessed within Konoha.
After all, the Land of Rice Paddies was less than a tenth the size of the Land of Fire.
It lagged far behind in every aspect, from civilian life to military power.
"What's your plan?"
Orochimaru was a practical man. Once an idea took hold, he was ready to act. He immediately asked about Kawasaki's plan.
"Konoha is currently lacking in talent. There aren't many who can succeed as Hokage."
"Besides you, only Tsunade and Jiraiya are considered part of the Hokage's lineage. If the Third Hokage is unwilling to relinquish power, he won't consider anyone else."
After years of cultivation by the Third, the Sarutobi clan had a large number of ninja and significant influence.
But as for top-tier fighters? They had none. Asuma, the son he had high hopes for, was a rebellious spirit who couldn't be relied upon for such a great responsibility.
Other potential successors were either dead, had left the village, or had defected.
That was why the old man, nearly seventy, still sat in the Hokage's seat.
At this moment, Kawasaki wasn't counting Kakashi, who was still in his growth phase. The time was not yet right.
"Jiraiya would never want to be Hokage," Orochimaru said, knowing his old teammate's personality inside and out.
Kawasaki chuckled. "He couldn't even if he wanted to."
Orochimaru was already aware that Kawasaki had ruined Jiraiya's reputation and couldn't help but smile.
"In that case, the only one left is Tsunade."
Kawasaki thought for a moment and asked, "First, how did Nawaki and Dan die back then?"
Orochimaru understood the unspoken implication, and a sarcastic smile touched his lips.
"Nawaki was the sole heir of the Senju clan. Who benefited most from his death? How could a person of his status die in an accident?"
Kawasaki nodded. Orochimaru's thoughts aligned with his own. "And Dan Katō?"
"His Spirit Transformation Technique was perfect for reconnaissance. He died suddenly not long after beginning an investigation."
Kawasaki clicked his tongue. Those who were there always knew more.
Back then, Dan Katō's Spirit Transformation Technique had been a great asset to Konoha.
The technique's greatest weakness was that the user's physical body was left defenseless during spiritual projection.
What should have been a top-secret mission had somehow been exposed.
Dan was attacked while using his technique and died from his injuries.
Orochimaru's tongue flickered.
"At the time, only a few of us knew Dan's movements.
"Besides us, only the Third and Danzō knew."
"Is it possible the Third was involved?" Kawasaki asked.
Orochimaru nodded.
"He could have orchestrated it, or he could have found out after the fact and helped cover it up."
"Tsunade suspected something as well, which is why she left the village."
Although there was no direct evidence implicating the Third as the mastermind, he was undoubtedly the ultimate beneficiary.
Furthermore, the Third Hokage's repeated tolerance of Danzō's actions had led to a massive drain of talent from Konoha.
He had been dealt a winning hand and played it disastrously.
"Is Tsunade interested in the position of Hokage?" Kawasaki asked. When it came to Tsunade, asking her former teammate was the best source.
Orochimaru let out a soft laugh.
"Tsunade is a princess of the Senju clan and the First's granddaughter. She's had everything since she was a child. She has no interest in being Hokage."
"Of course, if Konoha were to fall into decline, she might go back to take the position."
It was undeniable that Orochimaru knew Tsunade just as well as he knew Jiraiya.
In the original timeline, Tsunade had returned for that very reason and become Hokage.
Kawasaki's eyelids drooped slightly. "As long as you becoming Hokage makes Konoha stronger, Princess Tsunade probably won't fight you for it."