"Konan, it seems this isn't working."
Before the words had even faded, Hidan's eyes snapped open.
Instinctively, Kakuzu lashed out with his Earth Grudge Fear threads, binding Hidan tightly in an instant.
Hidan opened his mouth and spat out a clump of dirt. "Cough, cough... Uchiha! I'll kill you and offer you to Lord Jashin!" he rasped, his voice hoarse and grating.
A look of interest appeared on Kakuzu's face. "He's really alive. What's going on?"
Konan shook her head. "I told you, he's immortal."
Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear threads, sharp as drills, pierced into Hidan's abdomen. "How strange. His blood is starting to flow." Just moments ago, Kakuzu's probing had confirmed it was a corpse.
"Ugh... Ah!"
Hidan screamed, struggling wildly. He grabbed one of the threads and bit down hard.
"Hmm?!"
Kakuzu swiftly retracted his Earth Grudge Fear.
"That hurts, you bastard!" Hidan bellowed. Paired with his zombie-like appearance, the sight was terrifying. "Time for divine retribution!"
Stomping on a drop of his own blood, Hidan quickly drew a circle with an inscribed triangle on the ground. Kakuzu watched with curiosity, wanting to see what he would do next. Hidan chewed on the piece of Earth Grudge Fear thread he had just bitten off. To his surprise, it contained blood.
"Alright, the ritual begins!"
Hidan's body turned black and white. Lacking a weapon, he raised his skeletal fingers and plunged them straight through his own heart.
Thump, thump!
Kakuzu's pupils contracted, and he fell to his knees with a thud. "What is this ability?!"
"Hahahaha!" Hidan laughed maniacally. "This is exhilarating! May Lord Jashin be glorious forever!"
Kakuzu bent over as his back bulged. The Earth Grudge Fear mask representing his Water Style heart flew out and then shattered into pieces.
"Damn it! Now I have to replace another heart!" Kakuzu stood up, seething. "Hey, you! Why aren't you dead?!"
"I'll slaughter you!" Kakuzu roared.
Hidan just smiled like a madman. "Think you can?"
Just as the two were about to clash, countless sheets of paper descended from the sky, forming a wall that separated them.
"Konan, do we really have to let this guy join?" Kakuzu asked.
Konan smiled. "This way, you won't be so quick to kill your partners, right?"
Hidan, standing to the side, started shouting. "What nonsense are you talking about? I don't know who you are, but I have to spread the word of Jashinism. I'm not interested in your little band."
"We're not a band," Konan said with a sigh. "And for the sake of your mission, you have to join the Akatsuki."
"Why's that?"
"Because the Akatsuki is an organization of slaughter," Konan explained. "We handle assassinations, wars, anything and everything."
...
In the Hidden Cloud Village.
Inside the Raikage's office, a travel-worn Dodai had just returned. "Lord Raikage, these are the conditions put forth by the Uchiha."
Dodai reported the details of his negotiations with Kawasaki, then unfolded a map and pointed out the four small islands Uchiha Kawasaki desired.
"Uchiha Kawasaki guarantees he will keep Konoha occupied. He will also send two powerful Mangekyo Sharingan users, Itachi and Shisui, to assist us on the front lines. He also mentioned that the Hidden Mist will have powerful external support."
A stood up. "None of that is a problem. As long as the Uchiha can stall Konoha, we can build a massive advantage in the early stages." He nodded with understanding. "So Shisui has a Mangekyo Sharingan as well. No wonder Danzo was so intent on stealing his eye. The later the Hidden Stone joins the fray, the greater our opportunity will be. As for the Hidden Mist's external support, that is something we need to pay attention to."
Though hot-headed, A was no fool. Otherwise, he never would have been able to lead so many successful campaigns during his reign.
"Dodai, do you think the Uchiha are reliable?"
Dodai replied calmly, "Lord Raikage, the conflict between the Uchiha clan and the Third Hokage is now irreconcilable. Unless the Fifth Hokage is an Uchiha, they will never compromise."
Raikage A contemplated the recent intelligence. Tsunade was currently with the Uchiha, and their relationship was complicated. The Third Hokage would likely not choose her as his successor. The latest news was that Orochimaru had returned to the village. But the Orochimaru of today lacked the prestige he once held as one of the Sannin. Returning now, with no foundation and no recent achievements, becoming Hokage was impossible for him. Jiraiya had been staying in the village recently... was it possible the Third intended for Jiraiya to succeed him?
Dodai continued, "Furthermore, the key to victory in this campaign depends on Yagura Karatachi. Since Uchiha Kawasaki has sworn that Yagura is dead, it is worth paying a price to verify the truth of this intelligence."
The Fourth Raikage A shared this line of thought. As long as they could ascertain the true situation in the Hidden Mist, the loss of a few spies was a price he was willing to pay.
After discussing the specific steps with Dodai, A gave his command. "Mabui, immediately dispatch all of our spies. Spare no expense. I want a full investigation into the situation in the Hidden Mist Village."
Mabui closed her notebook. "Yes, sir!"
...
In the Hidden Leaf Village.
It had been several days since Orochimaru's return. He was currently in his laboratory, taking inventory of the existing equipment and determining what needed to be repurchased. Most of his things had been left behind in the Hidden Sound Village, and while he had storage scrolls, transporting everything was inconvenient. He decided it was easier to buy new supplies.
Although Orochimaru was not short on funds, the Third Hokage, upon learning of his needs, had provided for all of them. This saved Orochimaru a considerable expense.
One day, after finishing an experiment, Orochimaru went to find Jiraiya, who was in the middle of a conversation with the Third Hokage.
"Come on, old man, if there's nothing else, I want to get back to my travels. It's been too long since I've updated my book," Jiraiya said, lounging carelessly in a chair.
In the days since Orochimaru's return, the old man's interactions with him had been surprisingly amicable. To be more precise, Orochimaru was not particularly warm toward the Third Hokage, but he caused no trouble either. He simply buried himself in his lab work.
Jiraiya, on the other hand, had been stuck in Konoha for a while due to the earlier incident with Kawasaki. Now, whenever he went out, he was closely watched by the Hyuga clan, especially in the vicinity of Hinata, where security had been tightened. This left Jiraiya with no choice but to drink alone in the entertainment district to unwind. But he found the people there to be entirely uninspired, offering him no creative spark.
The Third Hokage was annoyed. "How can you think of leaving at a time like this?"
"Shisui and Itachi are gone, but Tsunade and Orochimaru are both in the village. What are you so worried about?" Jiraiya replied with a nonchalant air.
The Third sighed. He had no idea how Orochimaru might retaliate against the Uchiha and, to be safe, was unwilling to let Jiraiya leave. He decided to change the subject. "The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, is dead."
Jiraiya froze for a moment, the information not immediately sinking in.
The Third Hokage continued, "The Cloud and the Mist will likely go to war."
"Another war?!" Jiraiya immediately understood the implications. Previous Great Ninja Wars had often started between two villages before gradually pulling in all five great nations.
The Third nodded, his brow furrowed, especially considering the Uchiha clan might use this as an opportunity to declare independence or force a change in leadership. "Once the Cloud and Mist start fighting, the Stone will not just stand by and watch. The situation will become complicated. In any case, you need to stay a while longer."
The Third didn't explain further, but with the seeds of war already sown, Jiraiya knew he couldn't just leave.
"Damn..." Jiraiya sighed. No word from Konan, no source of inspiration, and now an impending war. It was truly a turbulent time.
"There you are," Orochimaru said, pushing the door open. He first nodded to the Third Hokage before turning to Jiraiya. "Where is that boy you captured?"
"You mean Sai? He's training with the Anbu. How do you know about him?"
Instead of answering, Orochimaru said, "Bring him here. His brother's surgery is finished, and he needs someone to look after him."
Jiraiya was astonished. "But wasn't his brother terminally ill?"
Orochimaru gave a small laugh. "His lungs were failing, that's all. I simply cloned him a new pair and installed them."
Jiraiya was utterly shocked. "I've got to see this."
The Third Hokage's eyes lit up as well. "I would like to see it, too."
Orochimaru looked at them as if they were country bumpkins. "Very well. Let's go."
Jiraiya went to the Anbu headquarters to retrieve Sai. After arriving at the Anbu, Sai had undergone a simple interrogation and was released from surveillance. He was still too young and had only been in training at Root. Still, Sai showed great potential, and they planned to have him train in the Anbu for a while to cultivate his loyalty.
"Is there news of my brother?" Sai asked, finding it hard to believe. He had been desperate to find his brother, but the Anbu kept him under strict watch, making him study the Will of Fire day after day. He was frantic, knowing his brother's condition was critical and that time was running out. In fact, he had already been planning to escape when his guards weren't looking.
Jiraiya was unaware of the specifics of Sai's training in the Anbu. "Your brother is fine. Orochimaru saved him. The surgery is complete, and he needs someone to take care of him. Come with me."
Sai was stunned. His brother's illness had been deemed incurable, yet he had been saved.
Lord Orochimaru saved my brother!
The sudden good news left Sai's mind blank. He had thought his brother might already be gone, and now he was being told he was saved. It was too much to process.
Jiraiya led Sai to where Orochimaru was waiting with the Third Hokage.
"Yes, it's primarily research into genetic cloning," Orochimaru was explaining. "Cloning an organ like the lungs is relatively simple. Their structure isn't complex, and they are large. Most of the time was spent accelerating the growth process. The transplant itself was a minor surgery."
As soon as Sai entered the room, he saw Shin lying on a bed, his chest wrapped in bandages. The surgery had been over for several hours, and Shin was already awake. His eyes widened when he saw Sai.
Beside him, Karin gently placed her small hand on Shin's forehead. "Don't move," she said sternly. "What if you tear your wound open?"
Shin reluctantly gave up on trying to sit up.
Sai rushed forward, his eyes already brimming with tears. "Brother..." he choked out.
Shin, fresh from surgery, could only move his lips slightly, forming a weak, soundless reply. "I'm... fine... Sai." The sound was faint, but Sai, who had spent his life with Shin, understood him perfectly.
Wiping away his tears, Sai approached the bed. He looked at the bandages on Shin's chest, wanting to embrace him but knowing he couldn't.
Karin, chewing on a rice cake, spoke up. "You'll be taking care of him from now on. Remember, only liquid food for a week. He can get out of bed in two weeks. As for his daily routine..."
She went on to list several more precautions, which Sai carefully committed to memory. The facilities weren't exactly state-of-the-art, so to prevent Shin from dying during the operation, Orochimaru had the unconscious boy bite Karin as a failsafe. Karin, having contributed her own power, was eager for Shin to recover quickly.
After giving her instructions, Karin walked over to Orochimaru. "Lord Orochimaru, I'm hungry."
Orochimaru patted her head fondly. "Then let's go to the food stalls and get something to eat." Karin followed him out happily.
Jiraiya was a little dazed. When had Orochimaru become so gentle?
Just then, Sai stepped forward. "Lord Orochimaru, thank you for saving my brother's life."
Orochimaru looked Sai up and down. "I happen to be short-handed here. Would you like to come work for me?" he asked, openly recruiting talent right in front of the Third Hokage.
The Third showed no sign of displeasure. After all, Orochimaru only had a dozen or so subordinates since his return. Hiring one or two more, especially a child like Sai, was of little consequence.
Without a moment's hesitation, Sai replied, "Thank you, Lord Orochimaru! I accept!"
Orochimaru waved a hand. "Take good care of your brother for now. Come find me when he's recovered. Let me know if you need anything."
"Yes, sir!"
Orochimaru smiled and nodded, then left with the Third Hokage. Watching Orochimaru's retreating back, Sai silently vowed to repay this immense debt of gratitude.
Once outside, the Third Hokage turned to Orochimaru. "Orochimaru, do you have a solution for Kakashi's eye problem?"
A confident smile touched Orochimaru's lips. "It's just an eye. While it is delicate work, it's merely a matter of time."
"Heh, it sounds like your medical skills have surpassed even Tsunade's," the Third said. He knew little about medicine, but that didn't stop him from trying to build a better rapport with Orochimaru.
The compliment clearly pleased Orochimaru, but he answered humbly. "Tsunade's medical ninjutsu is in a class of its own. If she were here, Shin would probably be back on his feet within a day. However, she has not yet touched upon the realm of physical regeneration. Even if she had, the eyes and the body belong to two different immune systems. Cloning technology is not bound by such limitations."
Orochimaru proceeded to explain some of the technical details in simpler terms. Seeing the Third Hokage's bewildered expression, he trailed off, though he clearly had more to say.
From their conversation, the Third now understood that Orochimaru had spent years researching biological cloning. Although Orochimaru hadn't specified the full extent of his progress, it was clear that organ cloning was no longer a challenge for him. He could even replicate something as intricate as an eye, which demonstrated the immense strides he had made in the field of bioscience.
The Third had been disappointed when Tsunade couldn't find a solution for Kakashi, who was a rare talent. Transplanting another person's eye was possible, but it would always come with the risk of rejection; nothing could be as suitable as one's own. That Orochimaru's cloning technology could so easily solve this problem was a great relief.
Moreover, Orochimaru clearly held Tsunade's abilities in high regard. If Orochimaru and Tsunade could work together, Konoha's biotechnology would surely surpass that of all other villages.
The Third's mind began to race. "Jiraiya, go and get Kakashi. Let Orochimaru take a look at him." Kakashi had also been troubled by his eye recently. There was no time like the present.
"Don't you have Anbu for that? Why do I have to be the errand boy?" Jiraiya grumbled under his breath, but he headed out without another thought.
"Orochimaru, is there any movement from the Uchiha?"
Orochimaru shook his head. "The Uchiha clan has been quiet. As for Shisui and Itachi, they've arrived in the Sound Village, but they're keeping a low profile. There's no other news for now. However, reports say that the Cloud has dispatched a large number of spies to the Mist. It's hard to say when they'll make their move."
The Third thought for a moment. "It seems this war is inevitable." A massive deployment of spies was often a prelude to war.
"In about two months, I'd say," Orochimaru stated with certainty.
The Third took a drag from his pipe. The timeframe matched his own estimations.
Just then, the sound of footsteps interrupted their conversation. "Lord Hokage, Lord Orochimaru." It was Kakashi, one hand covering his eye, though for a very different reason than before.
"Lord Jiraiya said he was going to get something to eat and asked me to let you know, Lord Hokage," Kakashi added, relaying Jiraiya's message.
The Third waved a hand, indicating he understood.