The Concept of Unlimited Magic Heroic Spirits
"How is it, Shirō-kun? Have you finished thinking?"
"Ah, I've finished. So, Orochimaru-senpai, what do you want to trade with me?"
"Heh heh, as expected of Shirō-kun. I'll be direct, then. I want access to more of your magic data. Surely you have some, right?"
"I do," Shirō answered calmly. "But Orochimaru-senpai, what do you intend to exchange for it?"
Shirō wasn't surprised Orochimaru knew of his abilities. The Hawk Project had already exposed much about him, but with Sakumo Hatake backing him, he felt secure enough. As long as he didn't act against the village, Sakumo would protect him. That protection allowed Shirō to act more boldly than others his age.
At the same time, he trusted Orochimaru's intellect. Orochimaru sought knowledge above all else, not Shirō's body. He would covet magical theory, not the vessel carrying it.
And besides, with Sakumo still active, Orochimaru wouldn't dare act recklessly. For now, he would only engage in open trade.
Shirō accepted this. After all, you can't guard against a thief forever—better to negotiate openly and profit than to constantly worry about being targeted. Cooperation with Orochimaru could accelerate his own growth, though Shirō kept in mind this might be a one-time deal. The timeline had already shifted; he couldn't predict Orochimaru's precise intentions.
He wasn't sure when Orochimaru might betray the village, so it was best to take what he could while the window was open. Danzo's ambitions loomed as well. Shirō didn't believe the elder had no designs on him—he was likely just restrained by Hiruzen, Sakumo, and the other advisors.
But external protections were unreliable. Secrets never stayed hidden forever. Shirō knew he had to take risks and grow stronger if he wanted to face the storm that was coming.
"All I can offer Shirō-kun is Ninjutsu," Orochimaru said smoothly. "What does Shirō-kun have in mind?"
"Ninjutsu?" Shirō murmured, then narrowed his eyes. "Tell me, Orochimaru-senpai… have you heard of Edo Tensei?"
"The Second Hokage-sama's forbidden jutsu?" Orochimaru's smile widened. "Heh… Shirō-kun truly is extraordinary. Yes, I have it. Is there anything else you want?"
"That's enough," Shirō replied firmly. "In exchange, I'll provide the fundamental theories of magecraft and its research methodologies. Does Orochimaru-senpai require more than that?"
"No. That alone is invaluable to me. Then tonight, we'll trade through my subordinate, the Gray Snake. Happy cooperation, Shirō-kun."
"Mm. Happy cooperation."
And with that, an old fox and a young fox reached an accord, each walking away with something dangerous.
For Shirō, the request for Edo Tensei was partly a probe. If Orochimaru already possessed the jutsu, it meant he had ties to Danzo, since the Third Hokage would never pass it on. Shirō got his answer. But whether Orochimaru, now having magic in his hands, would still follow the same dark path remained uncertain.
Shirō wasn't entirely opposed to sharing magecraft. On one hand, it reduced the likelihood Orochimaru would target him directly. On the other, it strengthened a potential ally against future threats like Madara. Orochimaru's greatest danger lay in his obsession with knowledge, not necessarily disloyalty. If Danzo could be removed, there was a chance Orochimaru might never defect at all.
After all, becoming Hokage was never Orochimaru's true dream. That was an expectation Hiruzen had placed upon him. His real desire had always been the pursuit of forbidden knowledge.
And Orochimaru's defection in the original timeline hadn't occurred until after the Third Shinobi War. Even if events shifted, Shirō had several years to develop. By then, he would have Minato as Hokage and a powerful ally to help counter Danzo's schemes.
Teaming with Orochimaru now also slowed Danzo's ability to act in the shadows. It bought Shirō time to grow. Risky, yes, but under current circumstances, it was the most efficient path forward.
Besides, Shirō wasn't defenseless. His current magic crystals didn't have the capacity to activate an A-rank Noble Phantasm, but several B-rank Noble Phantasms were within reach—more than enough for survival.
The reason he had chosen Edo Tensei specifically was because of its similarity to Heroic Spirit Summoning. Both drew on souls of the dead, binding them back into combat. Edo Tensei had severe flaws: it required human sacrifice, it damaged the summoned soul, and it bound them with living sacrifices' bodies. Heroic Spirit Summoning, meanwhile, avoided those drawbacks but demanded impossibly strict conditions and vast mana.
Shirō wanted to explore whether the two could be combined into something new. It was a far-off dream, but one worth sketching out. Whether or not it succeeded was a problem for the future.
Still, the very thought thrilled him.
When the meeting ended, Shirō found his focus scattered. Orochimaru's ability to extrapolate so much from just two spells of magecraft unsettled him. Not only had he grasped the principles, but he had also discovered a way to inscribe pseudo-magic crests. That level of insight was terrifying.
"System," Shirō muttered. "If Orochimaru can replicate magecraft, then this world should have a Root, shouldn't it?"
"Affirmative. Data cross-referenced. A Root exists, but compatibility with the Type-Moon Root cannot be confirmed. Recommendation: the host should not attempt crest inscription until strength is further developed."
"…Figures. Everyone in this world is absurd. As expected of the snake who outlived almost everyone."
Shirō shook his head and turned homeward. He still needed to compile the information for Orochimaru and carefully plan how to manage this cooperation.
He had read too many fanfics in his past life where Orochimaru and Danzo were written as brainless villains, snatching anything that caught their eyes. But reality was different. Orochimaru, at least at this stage, was far more calculated. Still, precautions were wise.
Meanwhile, in his own lab, Orochimaru unsealed the Edo Tensei scroll. He hesitated, then removed one of the two scrolls he had originally prepared for the trade.
Those two had been for his own creations: his personal ninjutsu formulas and the summoning contract for Rashōmon. They were meant as gifts to a budding genius of Konoha—at least while his Hokage ambitions still lingered.
But now, with Shirō-kun asking specifically for Edo Tensei—and somehow knowing Orochimaru possessed it—he realized the boy was far from ordinary. That alone shifted his perception. While not enough to brand him an enemy, it was enough to dampen Orochimaru's expectations.
Instead, he decided to hold back his personal techniques. The scroll removed was one of his Ryūchi Cave–derived jutsu, the foundation of his later serpent style.
The real game between them was only just beginning.
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