"Let's see... I have all the schematics for the thermobaric bomb design, so technically I can replicate the explosive core. But the problem is the ratio."
Ryujin Kenichi stood in the dimly lit lab, staring at the parchment laid out in front of him—an aged scroll containing a forbidden blueprint he'd stumbled upon in one of Orochimaru's deeper archives.
The scroll detailed the construction of a weapon unlike anything the shinobi world had seen. Though parts of the process were clearly marked—sealing formulas, containment methods, chakra inscribers—the actual ratio of the explosive ingredients was absent.
Kenichi frowned, fingers brushing against his chin. He'd only heard of thermobaric bombs in his past life—devices of horrifying power designed to suck the oxygen out of enclosed spaces before detonating in a second, more devastating blast. Perfect for underground warfare. No wonder they gave the Western nations in his old world PTSD.
But this wasn't his old world.
Here, chakra was the defining force. An energy system so refined it could split mountains or bring people back from the dead. A power source that made scientific logic bend and break. In that context, Kenichi began to wonder:
"Could chakra replace the missing ratio?"
That was the biggest difference between this world and the one he remembered. Chakra wasn't just energy—it was life force, spiritual will, and elemental nature all at once. And if ninjutsu could summon meteors or rewrite memories, why couldn't chakra be integrated into a weapon of this kind?
"Could even ocular powers... be embedded into a bomb?"
The idea seemed crazy—yet, not impossible. After all, hadn't Pain used the Rinnegan to level Konoha in a single technique? Chakra-infused constructs already existed: exploding tags, sealing jutsu, barrier arrays...
With sudden clarity, Kenichi darted to the bookshelf in the adjacent archive.
"I'm pretty sure I saw 'Exploding Tags: From Beginner to Expert' around here somewhere…"
He pulled the worn tome free and began flipping through the pages. Exploding tags were essentially basic fuinjutsu combined with Fire Release chakra, stored in thin, chakra-receptive parchment. Not difficult to make—at least not for someone trained in chakra control.
Then there were higher-tier variations: tags infused with Wind, Earth, even Sage chakra, or used for sealing tailed beasts. If those were possible, then building a chakra-reactive thermobaric explosive might just be a matter of scale and structure.
As he scribbled notes and diagrammed possible chakra pathways, a faint laugh echoed from the corner of the lab.
Orochimaru sipped tea with an amused expression.
Despite her recent 'weakened' state, this disciple of hers hadn't once considered betrayal. Instead, he buried himself in research. A rare kind of loyalty—rare, and useful.
Of course, she wasn't as weak as she let on.
The moment Kenichi left the lab, Orochimaru had sealed the doors and performed Impure World Reincarnation in secret. At first, the summoning ritual felt unstable—her soul tugged in strange directions. But now, she was almost fully restored, body and spirit both strengthened.
If Kenichi ever stepped out of line, she'd be ready.
Still... his curiosity intrigued her.
"Thermobaric chakra bombs… Such a blend of science and chakra. Fascinating," she murmured.
Her gaze flicked to the ring on her finger.
"Akatsuki… The Rinnegan is the eye of the Sage of Six Paths. Its abilities... perhaps even this 'bomb' could be a medium for such power."
But as she studied her reflection in the glass of the lab, Orochimaru scowled slightly. There had been an issue with the last Impure World Reincarnation. The vessel she had used—a former Root agent—twitched during the ritual. A single spasm, but it had been enough.
Now, she was absorbing fragments of the subject's memories. Useless ones, mostly—fragments of childhood, irrelevant mission reports. But they were there, and they were intrusive.
"Hmm. Still manageable," she said coldly.
With a wave of her hand, she shed her disguised appearance. Her features reformed—long hair returning, skin pale, slitted yellow eyes gleaming. Her body shrank just slightly, but it was barely noticeable.
Then, without warning, the space around her distorted. A ripple of chakra, a sudden pull.
"Orochimaru. Welcome to Akatsuki."
The voice echoed in a void of darkness, and a moment later, Orochimaru found herself standing within the eerie realm of the Akatsuki's astral meeting chamber—projected figures looming above, the Rinnegan's rings watching her.
She narrowed her eyes.
So… things were moving faster than expected.
Orochimaru turned his head slowly, golden eyes narrowing as he surveyed the dim, empty space. The surroundings were shrouded in darkness, and he immediately recognized that he wasn't physically present. This was a projection. A technique he knew of—but had never personally experienced until now.
"So… this is the Akatsuki's communication method," he murmured, his voice smooth and snake-like, as always. "A genjutsu-based projection technique via the rings... Hmph. Interesting."
Ryujin Kenichi, another new arrival, materialized moments later in the same spectral form. Though he'd read about this scene in the manga and watched it in the anime, experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely.
"This is our method for conducting long-distance meetings," the central figure—Pain—said flatly. His voice echoed with calm authority. "I did not inform you in advance because this is your first time. I will notify you next time before initiating the summoning."
Of course, that was only partially true. Pain had purposefully summoned them without warning. A subtle display of power—one that served to remind the newcomers exactly who led the Akatsuki.
After all, Orochimaru—once a member of the Legendary Sannin—and Kenichi, a recent defector from Konoha, were joining the group for the first time. Pain, or rather Nagato, needed them to understand: here, he held absolute authority.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed as he studied the figure before him. "Ah… the Rinnegan. So it wasn't just a rumor." The ripple-patterned eyes were impossible to miss, even in the dark. Mesmerizing. Divine.
"In the future," Pain continued coolly, ignoring the remark, "use your codenames during internal communication. That is the rule of the organization."
"Yes, Leader Pain," Kenichi responded with a smirk. "Got it."
Then, glancing toward the only other woman in the room—Konan—Kenichi raised a hand as if making a fashion request. "Sister Konan, is there any chance my robe could be modified a little? Something more stylish? A longer trench coat would be nice."
Konan blinked. Silence. Then a sigh.
"The cloaks are standard for all members," she said curtly. "Only size adjustments are allowed."
She honestly couldn't believe she was having this conversation. What did fashion matter in a group like this?
Kenichi seemed unfazed. "Well, what if we each had something small to personalize them? Like a—"
"Enough, Jade!" Pain snapped, using Kenichi's codename for the first time with a hint of annoyance. His chakra presence flared just slightly.
Kenichi raised both hands innocently and mimed zipping his lips. "Message received."
Orochimaru chuckled under his breath, folding his arms. He'd missed this kind of chaos.