Chapter 517: Orochimaru Joins Kara
Team 7 had not frequented the barbecue restaurant as often as Ino's Team 10, but they had been a few times. Their daily taijutsu training was demanding, and Sasuke quite enjoyed barbecue.
The owner of the restaurant was thrilled to welcome the Fourth Hokage and immediately gave them a fifty percent discount.
The meat was served quickly. Neither of them was a boorish eater; they ate with a certain elegance.
Minato was a skilled conversationalist, and his demeanor was naturally disarming.
Knowing he wasn't familiar with Sasuke, he started the conversation with a mutual acquaintance: Naruto.
At the mention of Naruto, the usually taciturn Sasuke couldn't help but say a few more words.
He spoke of them climbing trees together, walking on water, and fighting Zabuza. As he talked, Sasuke's expression visibly relaxed.
Minato timed his next words perfectly. "Your friendship is truly something to be admired. Speaking of which, it reminds me of Naruto's mother, Kushina, and your mother, Mikoto. They were also very good friends, the best of friends, in fact."
This was something Sasuke had never known. Minato and his wife were already dead by the time he was old enough to remember.
Minato spoke of the friendship between the two kunoichi, then slowly transitioned to Sasuke's father, Fugaku Uchiha.
Minato smiled. "In my eyes, Mr. Fugaku was a man of great dignity. He had a strong sense of responsibility, was highly capable, and was an outstanding Konoha shinobi."
Coming from the Fourth Hokage, this was high praise for Fugaku Uchiha.
Sasuke's heart stirred with a bit of excitement.
The same words, spoken by different people, had different effects. Now, hearing the Fourth Hokage's affirmation of his father was deeply encouraging for Sasuke.
Minato glanced at his expression. "You must think I'm just saying nice things to your face, but that's not the case. Mr. Fugaku and I... well, how should I put it? We were rivals for a time. Back then, he was also a candidate for Hokage."
As if making casual conversation, he began to recount the history of the Hokage selections. "It's quite interesting, really. It seems the position of Hokage has always been entangled with the Uchiha clan. You see, the First Hokage fought Madara Uchiha, the Second Lord fought Izuna Uchiha, and the Third Lord, in his youth, had a certain rivalry with Kagami Uchiha. When it came to my turn, I competed with your father, Mr. Fugaku, for the position of Fourth Hokage. The Fifth? It seems there wasn't a closely related Uchiha for the Fifth. As for the Sixth Hokage, if it's Kakashi, then he and Obito Uchiha share another significant bond."
As he spoke, his gaze turned serious as he looked at Sasuke. "Sasuke, the Uchiha clan should not be a whetstone for the Hokage. In my personal opinion, since the Uchiha clan chose not to leave Konoha with Madara Uchiha, they are true Konoha shinobi. Kakashi has high hopes for you. Please do not disappoint him."
After the meal, the two went their separate ways.
Sasuke was left with many questions. What was the meaning of the Fourth Hokage's visit today? Was he implying that an Uchiha could also become Hokage?
The thought of himself becoming Hokage, ordering Naruto to do this and that, almost made Sasuke's stoic face break into a smile. The image was just too amusing.
Jiraiya believed that Orochimaru had changed, that he was no longer evil in the conventional sense. Worried that Konoha shinobi might go after him without his protection, he decided to let Orochimaru go before he left, just as he had let Konan go.
Orochimaru was indifferent to the matter. He no longer harbored his previous evil ambitions; all he cared about now was knowledge.
If this place doesn't want me, there are other places that will. It was just a change of workplace. What was the big deal?
While Jiraiya was searching based on the Yamanaka clan's intelligence, Orochimaru had already acted. With the help of the Toad clan, he found Koji Kashin first, and then, using Koji as a bridge, he made formal contact with the Kara organization.
With his outstanding scientific expertise, he passed two rounds of tests and successfully joined Kara, becoming an Outer scientist under their chief scientist, Amado.
He quickly acquired his own laboratory and a new research project: to study a strange cell sample that Amado had teleported to him.
At first, Orochimaru didn't think much of it. He had worked with cells from the Eight-Tails, Jugo, himself, Jiraiya, and even Hashirama. There was nothing new under the sun.
But the strange cells Kara gave him elicited a rare emotion in him, one that could be called astonishment.
He immediately contacted Amado. "Whose cells are these? Or rather... what species do they belong to?"
Far away in Kara's dimensional headquarters, Amado calmly took a sip of coffee and retorted, "Orochimaru, with your abilities, can you clone these cells?"
Orochimaru considered it very seriously for a moment. "I have cloned the cells of the Eight-Tails. The cells you've given me contain an incredible amount of energy, even greater than the Eight-Tails. The energy in this thing far exceeds the limits of ninjutsu and senjutsu. I need more information."
He waited for Amado's answer.
After about half a minute, Amado slowly said, "I call the energy in these cells 'Shinjutsu'."
"Shinjutsu?" It was the first time Orochimaru had heard the term.
"That's right. Imagine this: the owner of these cells could cause a massive storm with just a wave of his arm, and create a violent thunderstorm with just a roar. His very existence represents the ultimate power. This power is like a miracle. It belongs to the realm of the gods."
Orochimaru's interest grew even stronger. "Do gods truly exist in this world?"
Amado asked him, "Do you know of the Ōtsutsuki clan?"
"I do. The ancient Sage of Six Paths is said to have descended from the Ōtsutsuki clan."
Amado chuckled. "The Sage of Six Paths can hardly be considered ancient. There are many beings in this world far more powerful than him. For example, the owner of the cells before you."
Orochimaru hesitated. This so-called "power" had already surpassed the limits of his imagination. It was so strong that it seemed almost unreal.
He asked, "Such a powerful being... why did his body fall into your hands?"
Amado shook his head uncertainly. "Perhaps this god's power was too vast, his realm far beyond the limits of what we mortals can imagine. From my understanding, he must have crossed that threshold and entered a higher dimension, thus leaving his physical remains in our world."
The cross-dimensional communication soon ended.
Orochimaru stared at the data before him, carefully examining the cells in the container. He licked his lips. Transcending life and death, crossing dimensions... this was a scene he had never imagined. It seemed... very interesting?
He began his work with fervent enthusiasm. The first step was to clone the cells—he was going to clone the cells of this Ōtsutsuki god.
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