Watching Kabuto carry on this way, Sasuke gave a faint smile.
He had not used the Kotoamatsukami to force Kabuto into his service by rewriting his will directly, because what he had was only a short-term control, lasting around thirty days.
Given Kabuto's strength and mental fortitude, that window would likely be even shorter.
If he planted a command of loyalty through the Kotoamatsukami and it later dissolved, Kabuto would inevitably realize he had been under a genjutsu.
After all, his entire life had been spent in loyalty to Orochimaru. There was no natural reason he would suddenly choose to serve Sasuke instead. Even someone oblivious would notice something was wrong. That would only create unnecessary complications.
But this situation was different. Sasuke had not demanded his loyalty at all. In Kabuto's mind, his allegiance still belonged to Orochimaru.
All Sasuke had done was align Kabuto's willingness to cooperate with what helped him take control of the Hidden Sound. Even after the Kotoamatsukami faded, Kabuto would notice nothing unusual.
He would simply believe he had been enduring the situation and playing along with Uchiha Sasuke in order to recover Orochimaru's remains. Everything he did would be for Orochimaru's sake.
"I don't have a clear picture of the Hidden Sound's situation yet, Senior Kabuto. Do you have any suggestions?"
Although Sasuke had absorbed all of Orochimaru's memories, those memories spanned decades.
It would take time to sift through all of them carefully. In the short window he'd had, Sasuke had only looked for Orochimaru's cursed seal contingencies. The rest he hadn't gotten to yet.
Kabuto gave a faint smile, seeming to have shifted fully into focus, and spoke with composed clarity. "Lord Orochimaru commands deep loyalty in the Hidden Sound. Many of its members are devoted to him absolutely."
"If they were to learn he died at your hands, a large number would seek revenge. The rest would refuse to follow you and choose to become missing-nin instead."
Sasuke nodded. He agreed with Kabuto's assessment.
Whatever his various flaws, Orochimaru was undeniably a model of charismatic leadership.
In the original timeline, after Sasuke killed Orochimaru, the Hidden Sound scattered entirely. Part of that was Sasuke having no interest in them, but part of it was that they simply had no desire to serve him.
If not for the fact that Orochimaru's most devoted loyalists like Sakon, Kimimaro, and Guren were already dead or in seclusion, Sasuke would have faced retaliation from them before he ever reached his final confrontation with Itachi.
The original Sasuke had no use for Orochimaru's subordinates. But this Sasuke needed them.
Whether it was the combat ninja led by Kimimaro and Guren, the intelligence network Orochimaru had built, or the research and administrative personnel working under him, in Sasuke's eyes all of it was a significant asset.
These three years were meant to be years of quiet accumulation. Neither in combat nor in research could he do everything himself. Some things had to be delegated. His own role was to focus on building his strength.
With that thought, Sasuke asked. "So, Senior Kabuto, what would you suggest?"
"Then Lord Orochimaru cannot be dead. Or at least, the news of his death cannot be allowed out."
Kabuto answered without hesitation.
"Go on."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, a sharp light passing through his eyes. "Today, Lord Orochimaru did not die. The reincarnation ritual did not take place. Lord Orochimaru will declare that your talent has not yet reached its full expression, and push the reincarnation back by three years."
"And during those three years, you, Uchiha Sasuke, will be Lord Orochimaru's personally acknowledged disciple, with the authority to direct all of the Hidden Sound's personnel and resources."
"Interesting." Sasuke gave a quiet laugh. "That's actually a good proposal."
In the original timeline, after killing Orochimaru, Sasuke had dismissed all of his subordinates and released his prisoners, then made the news of Orochimaru's death widely known.
His purpose had been simple: to announce to Uchiha Itachi that the time for their final battle had come.
But that wasn't necessary now.
He had no interest in rushing into a decisive battle with Itachi.
He still hadn't sorted out the principles behind the Izanami, let alone the Totsuka Sword and the Yata Mirror.
Making full use of these three years, drawing on everything Orochimaru had left behind, and building steadily was the only sensible path.
"But." Sasuke continued. "There's one gap in this plan. Orochimaru is dead."
"That is not a significant problem. Someone can impersonate Lord Orochimaru."
Kabuto explained calmly. "Lord Orochimaru has always kept to his laboratories, rarely making appearances. As long as someone shows up occasionally, no one will suspect anything is wrong."
"That makes sense."
Sasuke stroked his chin, looking at Kabuto with an expression of quiet amusement.
"So you're planning to be the one to impersonate him, Senior Kabuto?"
"That is correct."
After a brief pause, Kabuto nodded. A faint, self-assured smile crossed his face. "In this world, no one understands Orochimaru better than I do."
Sasuke gave a quiet laugh.
"True enough. No one in this world understands Orochimaru better than you do, Senior."
And was that not accurate?
Kabuto had spent more time around Orochimaru than anyone. He knew more of Orochimaru's secrets than anyone.
The later Kabuto had practically become Orochimaru himself.
I've spent all these years at Orochimaru's side. I understand him completely.
If you want to claim your impersonation is more convincing than mine, step up and let's see who does it better.
In short: bloom, and let that be the end of it.
"And where does that leave you, Senior Kabuto?"
"As for my own identity, there's no need to worry." Kabuto adjusted his glasses again. "My position in the Hidden Sound is second only to Lord Orochimaru's, but I'm rarely actually present in the village. Most of my time is spent outside gathering intelligence and operating as a spy. My absence will raise no suspicions from anyone."
"Then we'll do it your way." Sasuke gave a nod, keeping it brief.
"I'll leave the arrangements to you from here, Senior. I trust you won't disappoint me."
Kabuto's eyes moved slightly, and he spoke in a voice that held something complicated. "When the time comes, I'll take on Lord Orochimaru's appearance and announce your identity. But there will likely be those who only comply on the surface while causing trouble for you in private. Those individuals..."
"Don't trouble yourself with that." Sasuke waved a hand, cutting him off, his tone unhurried. "Let them come. I'll make them fall in line on their own."
"Understood."
Kabuto gave a small nod, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. "Then I have nothing further to raise. From here I'll take on Lord Orochimaru's identity and help you bring the Hidden Sound under your control."
With Uchiha Sasuke's strength, anyone foolish enough to go looking for trouble would only be bringing it on themselves.
Sasuke smiled. "Then I'll leave it in your capable hands, Senior Kabuto."
"One more thing." Something else seemed to come to mind and he continued. "Once this is wrapped up, could you have the Hidden Sound's intelligence network look into the whereabouts of someone for me?"
"Who?"
"Founder of Moryo's cult, Yomi."
___
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