Kabuto Yakushi waited quietly in the cave for several days. During that time, he repeatedly examined the Devil Fruit covered in snake-head patterns, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.
On one side was the familiar shinobi system and his long-laid plans involving the Impure World Reincarnation. On the other was an unknown yet powerful demonic force—and the horrifying secret that "chakra is merely food."
His fingers brushed over the surface of the fruit several times, yet he never quite made up his mind.
Until, at a certain moment, something seemed to click. His eyes suddenly turned resolute as he slowly picked up the Devil Fruit emanating an eerie aura…
Above, on the Heavenly Screen, Kabuto lifting the Devil Fruit instantly ignited a frenzy across the shinobi world.
"It's happening! Kabuto's finally going to eat it!" someone shouted, fists clenched in excitement.
"Damn, he's cautious. Stayed in that cave for days before deciding!" another exclaimed.
Amid the chatter, some were already prying for information. "Does anyone know where that cave with the Yamata no Orochi stone statue is? I'll pay handsomely for intel!"
Someone immediately sneered, "Trying to snatch the Devil Fruit too? You're too late! The Five Great Shinobi Villages started tracking that location the moment Kabuto entered the cave!"
"How do you know that?" someone shot back suspiciously. "You're awfully well-informed. What are you, a spy for one of the Five Great Nations?"
Each person harbored their own agenda. Discussions surged like waves, and the image on the Heavenly Screen became the sole focus of the entire world.
Yet compared to who would claim the Devil Fruit, more shinobi were troubled by something else entirely.
The mysterious voice had said, "Chakra is merely food for others." It had also claimed that shinobi were descendants of traitors. Those words were like a thorn lodged in their hearts, impossible to ignore.
"Chakra is someone else's food? Then have we been cultivating all these years just to fatten ourselves up for someone else?"
"How did shinobi betray the world? What really happened back then?"
"The world was betrayed? Did I mishear that, or am I losing my mind?"
Countless questions circled in everyone's thoughts. They desperately wanted answers, yet knew none would come—at least not for now.
Soon, however, a new idea began to spread:
"If Kabuto found that cave, then it must truly exist! If we start searching years in advance, maybe we can uncover the ruins and dig up the truth about chakra and the origin of shinobi!"
Like sparks igniting dry grass, the idea spread rapidly. The Five Great Shinobi Villages mobilized at once, and countless rogue ninja grew restless.
Across the world, a wave of searches for the "forest cave" began. Everyone shared the same goal—to find the relic and uncover the earth-shattering secret behind chakra and the origins of shinobi.
Outside a certain hidden base, Orochimaru's eyes first flickered with surprise as they landed on Kabuto, whose expression was grave.
He was inwardly astonished. For Kabuto to encounter such a heaven-defying opportunity was truly beyond expectations.
After a moment, he turned to the young Karin beside him and asked in a probing tone, "Devil Fruit. Have you heard of it?"
"Devil Fruit?" Karin blinked her large eyes and tilted her head in thought before shaking it. "No, I don't. Lord Demon God never told me about anything like that."
Orochimaru nodded slowly.
He understood. The future Karin shown on the Heavenly Screen might know these secrets, but the Karin beside him was still young. That so-called Demon God likely hadn't revealed anything important to her yet.
Suddenly, Karin puffed out her small chest and lifted her chin proudly. "But it definitely can't compare to the power Lord Demon God granted me! Even if someone eats it, they'd just become some minor demon at best~"
Her smug, tsundere confidence made both Orochimaru and Kabuto twitch at the corners of their mouths.
They exchanged a glance and wisely chose to remain silent. In this mood, Karin was not someone to provoke.
On the Heavenly Screen, Kabuto—who had remained silent for a long time—finally moved.
He gazed at the Devil Fruit in his hand and muttered with quiet resolve, "I've made up my mind. Once I eat this, I'll no longer be the Kabuto of the past. The turmoil of the shinobi world will have nothing to do with me."
With that, he hesitated no longer. Opening his mouth, he bit down hard on the fruit.
The very next second, his face contorted violently. His features twisted together, brows knotted tightly, his entire expression filled with indescribable agony—it looked worse than swallowing poison.
Yet he forcefully suppressed the urge to spit it out. Veins bulged along his neck as he swallowed the pulp down.
"As expected of a Devil Fruit… For something to taste this awful is truly impressive," Kabuto muttered hoarsely, still clutching his throat in discomfort.
He did not take another bite. Instead, he carefully stored the remaining portion away and analyzed calmly, "That voice said only the first person to take a bite inherits the Devil's power. Which means the rest is probably useless."
He tucked the leftovers away cautiously, excitement flashing in his eyes. "Whether it still has any effect is unclear. But it might hold the real answers—and it definitely has research value."
After storing it, Kabuto suddenly frowned. The excitement faded, replaced by confusion.
He raised his hand, sensing the changes within his body. "I ate the Devil Fruit… so where is the Devil's power? Why don't I feel anything?"
Just as doubt filled his heart—
The mutation began.
His entire body trembled violently as searing pain flooded every nerve. His face drained of color, as if his very soul were being torn apart.
"AAAAAAAH—!"
His piercing scream shattered the silence of the cave and echoed through the forest.
His body began to swell at a visible rate. Bones cracked loudly, muscles twisted and writhed, and grotesque serpent heads burst from his sides amid unbearable pain.
Moments later, a colossal serpent dozens of meters tall stood in the center of the forest. Eight massive, scale-covered heads writhed menacingly, madness blazing in their eyes.
"ROOOAR—!"
All eight heads howled at the sky in unison, shaking heaven and earth.
In the next instant, devastating attacks erupted.
Pitch-black venom corroded trees and earth alike. Violet lightning tore through the sky. Torrents of water and fire collided in violent explosions. Elemental forces rampaged in every direction, turning the entire forest into a living hell.
The Heavenly Screen slowly pulled back, presenting this apocalyptic spectacle in full view to the shinobi world.
Then the image dimmed.
And finally, it vanished.
The sky returned to normal.
But the entire shinobi world had fallen into deathly silence.
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