Knowing Jiraiya's temperament, having Kakashi relay the message was already a considerable show of respect.
"Kakashi, I trust Jiraiya explained the situation."
Kakashi nodded. "Yes, Lord Jiraiya has already informed me."
"Orochimaru, Kakashi is in your hands. I have other matters to attend to. Let me know when you have results."
With that, the Third Hokage turned and walked away.
Orochimaru looked Kakashi up and down, a playful glint in his eyes. Kakashi's memory of Orochimaru was still rooted in the past, and despite the Third Hokage vouching for him, Kakashi couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of fear. The way Orochimaru scrutinized him, as if he had just discovered an interesting new toy, made Kakashi uneasy.
"Lord Orochimaru, what do you need me to do?" Kakashi asked, collecting himself and bowing respectfully.
Orochimaru could sense Kakashi's nervousness. However, since Minato was now his subordinate, he would naturally give his all for the sake of Minato's student and his eye.
"Follow me," Orochimaru said, turning. He then led Kakashi into his laboratory.
-
Within the borders of the Land of Lightning.
The borders of the Five Great Shinobi Countries were all incredibly vast. Although the hidden villages had outposts stationed along them, their purpose was more symbolic than practical, often serving as a place of exile for disgraced ninja. In times of peace, patrols were a rarity. Crossing the border was as easy as taking a stroll.
Inside a cave on the Land of Lightning's frontier, Sasori was surrounded by a myriad of tools. His collection of puppets lay disassembled and neatly arranged on the ground. He worked meticulously, tuning each component before applying a newly purchased poison and reassembling the puppet.
"Sasori, my man, you should have brought me into the organization sooner. This place is awesome, un!" Deidara exclaimed, excitedly kneading a piece of clay. It was a high-grade material he had bought on the black market, capable of increasing the power of his explosions by thirty percent. It was incredibly expensive, and he never thought he'd get to use such a fine material.
Since joining the Akatsuki, he hadn't been on many missions, yet he had recently received a large sum of funds to upgrade his equipment.
While applying poison to Hiruko's tail, Sasori replied nonchalantly, "You came at the right time. It used to be one mission after another, from assassinations to wars. There was hardly a moment to spare."
"The organization has given us so many resources and provided intel. I suspect a big operation is coming."
"Enjoy this peace while you can."
Deidara, busy mixing his clay, said without a hint of concern, "I'm not like those artists who only become famous after they're dead. A big operation means more people will get to witness my art, un!"
"I can't wait, un!"
Sasori's youthful face remained impassive, his hollow gaze fixed as he said, "You'll die, you know."
"But as an artist," Deidara countered, "if you don't seek out more intense stimulation, your senses will gradually grow dull, Sasori, my man." The mouth on Deidara's palm chewed for a moment before spitting out a lump of clay. With quick hands, he molded it into a lifelike spider. After infusing it with chakra, the spider sprang to life, its small, agile form scurrying away.
Deidara formed a hand seal. "Art is an explosion! Hah!"
Boom!
A sizeable crater was blasted into the ground.
Deidara cheered at the sight. "Woohoo! This new clay is amazing, un!"
"You call that art? Your explosions?" Sasori held up a puppet's arm, admiring the intricate mechanisms within. "Art is something that can be passed down for ages in a state of perfection."
"Eternal beauty is true art!"
Deidara turned his head. "Art should be a fleeting, brilliant beauty."
Sasori sighed. "It seems you still don't understand what true art is."
"I think you're the one who doesn't get it, my man."
"No, eternal beauty is true art."
"Don't be a fool. Fleeting beauty is art."
"What's your point, Deidara?" A sharp, poisoned blade extended from Sasori's arm.
Deidara turned away with a huff. "I'll prove it to you, Sasori. My art..."
Inside the Kamui dimension, Obito dispelled his Susanoo, panting heavily as he collapsed onto the ground, spread-eagled. Finally, the surge in his ocular power had subsided. Obito was now worlds apart from his former self in terms of strength. The only downside was that his current Susanoo consumed a tremendous amount of ocular power. Still, he felt that certain plans could now be set in motion.
A vortex swirled in mid-air, and Obito transported himself to Grave Mountain—the place where Madara Uchiha had truly hidden, a place filled with countless secrets. It was also where Black Zetsu had conducted many of his experiments.
Danzo lay unconscious on a laboratory bed, surrounded by several monitoring devices. Zetsu was examining his right arm.
"After all this time spent modifying you, the fusion rate is still so low." After finishing his examination, Zetsu felt he had gotten the short end of the stick with Danzo.
Perhaps it was because of Danzo's advanced age, but even with the modified arm, his compatibility with Wood Release remained extremely low. The recent attempt to use White Zetsu to enhance the activity of the Wood Release in his arm had nearly killed him on the spot. Though Danzo possessed the Sharingan, he clearly couldn't control any further Wood Release modifications. He could only rely on a White Zetsu to manage those bodily functions for him.
Danzo was nothing more than a failed experiment. It seemed he could only be used as a disposable pawn. The secrets in his mind, however, might still be of some use.
"He's just a failure," Obito said, seeing through Danzo's deficiencies at a glance. "Not worth wasting so much time on."
Hearing this, Zetsu shrugged helplessly. "I doubt this one will ever wake up. We'll just have to leave him for White Zetsu to use as a consumable."
"After all, not everyone can be like you."
Obito grunted. "What's the situation outside?"
Zetsu began to report on events in the outside world. "Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade have all returned to the village. Jiraiya and Orochimaru are staying in Konoha, while Tsunade is with the Uchiha clan. According to intel from the distillery, it seems she was recruited by Kawasaki."
"Kawasaki has taken over as the new head of the Uchiha, and both Itachi and Shisui have returned to the Sound Village. The cooperation between the Sound Village and the Uchiha has been made public, with the Uchiha currently holding the upper hand."
"What is this Uchiha Kawasaki playing at?" Obito asked, puzzled.
The Third Hokage's reputation had already been severely damaged by Danzo's escape. If Itachi and Shisui were both in the clan, Konoha would be hard-pressed to deal with them. Yet, Kawasaki had sent them both away to the Sound Village.
Black Zetsu chuckled sinisterly. "The Cloud Village has sent numerous spies to the Mist. The Mist Village has been desperately fending them off."
Obito raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying the Cloud is planning to move on the Mist?"
"The Mist's Yagura Karatachi hasn't been seen in a long time, and Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, has already defected..." Black Zetsu, with his years of experience, saw the situation clearly. He knew exactly what the Cloud was thinking.
"The Cloud held back from attacking the Mist because they feared Konoha would capitalize on the situation. Now, with Konoha preoccupied by the Uchiha, the Mist Village is weak. The Cloud will definitely make a move. The recent increase in spy activity is proof."
The outbreak of war would delight Obito more than anyone. A chaotic battlefield was the easiest place to capture Tailed Beasts.
"The Cloud certainly knows how to pick their moments," Obito said with a smirk. He was more familiar with the Mist Village's current state than anyone, even though he didn't yet know that Yagura Karatachi was dead. He had been the one to order the elimination of the Kaguya, Hozuki, and Yuki clans. He knew exactly how much damage the Mist had sustained.
When he left the Mist, the Fifth Mizukage had already taken power, but the village was still rife with internal factions and conflict. Because the Mist Village had historically been isolationist, other nations were accustomed to leaving it alone. Now, it seemed the Cloud Village, seeing that Konoha was tied up, was immediately testing the waters.
"Shortly after attending Uchiha Kawasaki's inauguration ceremony, the Cloud began probing the Mist," Zetsu said in his raspy voice. "Combined with Kawasaki sending Itachi and Shisui to the Sound Village, I suspect the Uchiha have already formed an alliance with the Cloud. If the Cloud commits to an attack, the Mist won't be able to hold out for long."
Obito frowned. What Black Zetsu said was very likely true. If the Uchiha also got involved in the conflict between the Cloud and the Mist, with the Cloud's strength and the Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan, conquering the Mist Village would be child's play.
He shook his head. "That won't do. If the war doesn't last long enough, how can we drag the other nations into it?"
"Ooh! So what are you going to do?" White Zetsu asked excitedly.
Obito pointed at his Akatsuki cloak. "Isn't that what we, the Akatsuki, are for?" A malicious smile crept across his face. His dual Mangekyo had not only granted him the Susanoo but also enhanced his ocular power. Most importantly, it had given him confidence. Once war broke out, he could use the chaos to begin collecting the Tailed Beasts ahead of schedule.
Black Zetsu sneered inwardly, his voice remaining gravelly. "Konoha is too peaceful right now. The Third Hokage will never clash with Kawasaki. That's not good enough. We need to fan the flames. He has so much dirt on him. If a new Hokage is chosen, Danzo becomes useless..."
Beep... beep... beep... The monitor tracking Danzo's brainwaves suddenly sounded an alarm.
"What's happening?" Obito frowned.
Zetsu went over to take a look and saw that Danzo's brainwaves were abnormally active, though still far from the levels of a conscious person. A moment later, however, the activity suddenly dropped.
Zetsu pondered for a moment. "Could our conversation have stimulated him?"
Obito's interest was piqued. He walked over to the unconscious Danzo and said, "Hokage?"
Beep... The brainwave index rose slightly, but not significantly.
Obito tried again. "A new Hokage?"
Beep... The increase was more pronounced this time.
White Zetsu caught on and said cheerfully, "Hiruzen Sarutobi is stepping down! They're about to choose the Fifth Hokage!"
"The Fifth Hokage is about to be selected!"
Beep-beep-beep... The index shot up dramatically.
Black Zetsu murmured in confusion, "Just how deep is Danzo's obsession with being Hokage?"
As the brainwave activity continued to climb, White Zetsu blurted out, "Ah, could the Fifth Hokage be Danzo Shimura?"
A faint, muffled voice spoke: "I am Hokage."
Obito watched in astonishment as Danzo's eyes opened. They were only half-open, his eyelids drooping heavily. After speaking, he remained in that state.
"So is he awake or not?"
Zetsu stepped forward to examine him. "His condition is very unusual. His primary consciousness isn't awake. This is just a subconscious reaction."
Obito shook his head and prepared to leave the lab.
Just then, the specialized White Zetsu attached to Danzo's arm poked its head out. "Something's strange with this guy's body. It seems to be... fusing with me."
Obito's interest was renewed. "Zetsu, take a look."
Zetsu had never encountered a situation like this before and hurried over to investigate. "Incredible. How could a body as old as his show signs of fusing with Hashirama cells?" This was a first for Zetsu in all his years of researching them.
Danzo's right side was slowly, almost imperceptibly, spreading toward his left. Though the process was slow, Obito and Zetsu were patient. After observing for a while, they confirmed it was happening.
When the encroachment reached Danzo's right chest, his body suddenly began to tremble violently. His skin bulged as if something were trying to break free from within.
Black Zetsu shook his head. "It's no good. The Hashirama cells are too potent, and his body is too weak. Unless he has a stronger ocular power to facilitate the fusion, Danzo will just turn into a tree. Even if he survives, the fusion will only be superficial."
"Didn't we find a few Sharingan on him when he was unconscious? Let's try implanting them back." Obito was also witnessing such an experimental process for the first time. His intention had always been to use Danzo as a test subject.
"You mean the ones we took from his arm?" Black Zetsu had assisted Danzo in removing the eyes before, so he knew about them. He was, however, puzzled as to why Konoha hadn't confiscated them when they imprisoned him.
"Yes," Obito confirmed.
Danzo's tremors grew more intense, his entire body convulsing.
"His limb is already connected to a White Zetsu's, and another White Zetsu has been integrated into him. I don't think we can install them the old way," Zetsu mused aloud.
Despite his words, he acted quickly, retrieving Danzo's Sharingan. He carved a hole at the junction of the White Zetsu limb and Danzo's body, near the collarbone. Crudely, he shoved the Sharingan inside. Since there were no optic nerves to connect to, the presence of the White Zetsu tissue gave the eye a high chance of survival.
After the eye was inserted, the wound healed rapidly. A few seconds later, the eye began to move erratically, and the rejection reaction from the Hashirama cells subsided. The cells then continued their slow crawl across Danzo's left side before gradually coming to a halt.
Zetsu shook his head. "The White Zetsu has a limited supply of Hashirama cells. This is as far as it can go."
A complex mix of emotions flickered in Obito's eyes. His own right side was a White Zetsu replacement, cultivated by Madara using Hashirama cells. In the past, using Kamui with his right eye consumed very little ocular power, allowing him to use it almost indefinitely. But after transplanting his left eye, he found that the Susanoo drained his power at an alarming rate.
Seeing Danzo's case sparked a wilder idea in his mind, motivating him to continue the experiment. "Use the pure Hashirama cell fluid on him. Let's see what he becomes."
Obito spoke with keen interest.
Zetsu was taken aback. The pure Hashirama cell fluid was extremely rare and was the primary material for strengthening White Zetsu. Although the cells were incredibly potent and only small amounts were needed for each experiment, the supply was not infinite. Over the years, Zetsu's stockpile had dwindled.
"Isn't that a waste? We could create at least one or two thousand White Zetsu with that."
"Use it," Obito said firmly. "Losing a thousand or two White Zetsu is irrelevant. They're just cannon fodder anyway."
"As you wish," Zetsu replied indifferently. He retrieved a syringe and drew one milliliter of the pure fluid from a vial. He then took out a large IV bag and injected the fluid into it, mixing the contents. Zetsu shook the bag, and as he held out his hand, a tree branch extended to hold it aloft. He attached a tube to Danzo's right arm, and the liquid began to flow into his body.
Just as expected, the encroachment of the Hashirama cells resumed, though the pace remained slow.
Obito stared at the dripping IV bag. "Interesting. What will you become in the end?" He turned to Zetsu. "You go deal with Nagato. I want to see how this thing with Danzo turns out."
Zetsu shrugged and placed a hand on his head.
In the Leaf Village.
Orochimaru's Laboratory.
Kakashi had been visiting for several days in a row. Orochimaru had conducted a thorough examination and formulated a plan for cultivating a new eye for him.
"All the necessary cell samples have been collected. Since we are cloning an eye, it will take some time—about one to two months. During this period, it's best you don't leave Konoha so I can monitor your condition."
Orochimaru explained everything in meticulous detail, and Kakashi listened intently. The Third Hokage seemed pleased to see Kakashi getting closer to Orochimaru, not only allowing it but subtly encouraging it.
With his frequent visits, Kakashi's fear of Orochimaru had gradually faded. Instead, the scholarly air about Orochimaru put Kakashi surprisingly at ease. Moreover, Orochimaru hadn't seemed to age a day over the years, appearing even younger than Kakashi himself.
Kakashi felt as though he were interacting with a peer.