The Heaven's Mandate token Natsume gave to Izumi was exchanged with Fate Points.
Its function was equivalent to a communicator: as long as she input chakra, they could communicate.
Similar to the Magic Lantern Body Technique.
The cost wasn't high—just ten Fate Points.
Natsume left Orochimaru's underground laboratory.
Standing on the surface, surrounded by forest, he was far from Konoha, in a very secluded spot.
Natsume leapt onto the nearest giant tree, already having a rough idea of his location.
He was east of Konoha Village.
After walking for a few minutes, he arrived at the Memorial Stone.
Natsume's brows suddenly furrowed.
Kakashi was standing in front of the tombstones of Nohara Rin and Uchiha Obito, lost in thought.
"Who's there?"
He turned around, noticing Natsume who hadn't concealed his presence.
"Mr. Kakashi, hello. I'm Natsume," Natsume greeted proactively.
"So you're Tsunade-sama's disciple," Kakashi mused, glancing at him with his signature dead-fish eyes. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"I'm an orphan. My parents died in the war," Natsume explained.
"Sorry," Kakashi was momentarily taken aback, his tone softening.
"There's nothing to apologize for."
Natsume looked at the tombstones. "I've heard stories about your team. Truly role models for ninja like me."
Role models?
Kakashi fell silent.
What happened back then was the right thing for Konoha.
But he had killed his own teammate with his own hands.
His feelings were complicated.
Natsume narrowed his eyes and said, "Sorry for bringing up something I shouldn't have. I won't disturb you any longer, I'll take my leave."
Before Kakashi could reply, he had already disappeared.
"What a strange guy."
Kakashi sighed, sat down cross-legged, and said, "I left the Anbu not long ago, planning to become a squad leader. Guess who I ran into at the academy? Uzumaki Naruto. As expected from Minato-sensei's son, he's a genius on par with me…"
Kakashi, as always, talked to his two teammates about recent events.
In the distance.
Space distorted.
Uchiha Obito suddenly appeared.
He looked at Kakashi, his gaze unwavering.
"My, my, seeing your old teammate again—how does it feel?"
A mischievous voice sounded.
A clone of White Zetsu emerged.
"Shut up!"
Obito snapped coldly.
"Tsk, still so grumpy," White Zetsu pouted, "If not for me, you would've died in Kirigakure."
Obito had been severely injured then, almost as bad as during the Kannabi Bridge battle.
Luckily, White Zetsu and the miraculous Hashirama cells saved him, or he'd have died twice by now.
"That was just carelessness!" Obito grumbled. "Next time I see him, he'll die by my hand!"
White Zetsu didn't provoke him further and changed the subject: "Aren't you going to take your eye back? That would greatly increase your power."
"Hmph, I want Kakashi to live in pain forever, with my eye reminding him of the blood on his hands."
Obito sneered. "Besides, so what if I don't have that eye?"
I'm just worried you'll get beaten up again.
White Zetsu returned to business: "We have a lead on Uchiha Itachi's whereabouts. You can seek him out anytime."
"Understood."
Obito looked away. "Plant a spore on Kakashi."
Space distorted again.
He was gone.
White Zetsu shrugged. "Human emotions are so complicated… I don't get it."
It paused, preparing to dive underground.
The next moment, a jet of water sliced past.
Its head was cut off.
Natsume appeared before it, smiling. "Nice catch."
Even as a clone, it had many uses.
He'd just been thinking about how to give Hinata some Otsutsuki chakra.
Now, with White Zetsu, plus the Sharingan and Hashirama cells, who knows what he might create.
Ideally, he'd capture Kimimaro as well.
…
"Kabuto, take a look at this thing."
Natsume ran into the orphanage and tossed White Zetsu in front of Kabuto.
His only scientific talent for now.
Kabuto examined White Zetsu, confused.
What is this thing?
A human?
But it didn't look like one.
"Study it."
Natsume patted his shoulder. "Have you figured out Edo Tensei and the Cursed Seal yet?"
"…"
Kabuto was silent for two seconds, then asked, "What do you take me for?"
Natsume grinned awkwardly.
It was a bit much, admittedly.
Kabuto was talented, but without Orochimaru's personal guidance, his progress was much slower.
And he was working alone, overwhelmed.
Natsume fell deep in thought.
Besides Orochimaru, there were a few other well-known scientific talents in the ninja world.
For example, Amado and Shinnō.
Both were major antagonists in the movies.
Amado developed the Chimera Technique, able to fuse summoning beasts and kekkei genkai—his scientific prowess was formidable.
Shinnō was even more impressive, a master of medical ninjutsu, possessing two forbidden jutsu: Body Activation and Body Regeneration.
The former could activate his body's cells, boosting physical abilities.
The latter allowed him to survive even after being torn apart.
Basing his techniques on these, plus the Eight Gates, he could open all eight gates and not die.
Natsume first thought of Tsunade.
If she learned these two medical forbidden jutsu, her power would rise another level and she'd be even harder to kill.
Besides that, Shinnō also had Dark Chakra and Zero-Tails.
Zero-Tails was a physical monster made of Dark Chakra; though not a tailed beast, its chakra was immense.
All in all, he was quite useful.
Looked at this way, Shinnō was a walking treasure.
"I'll find you two assistants soon."
Natsume would have to master the Flying Thunder God Technique before he could travel freely.
Kabuto nodded, then turned to study White Zetsu with great interest.
…
Night fell.
After a busy day, Itachi left the Anbu, ready to go home and play with his cute little brother.
In a deserted alley, he stopped.
Space distorted.
Obito appeared before him.
"Itach—"
He was about to speak, but was interrupted by the furious Itachi.
"Where's Shisui?"
His eyes, filled with emotion, spun rapidly; the three tomoe seemed about to merge.
Obito was startled.
This was a sign of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.
At the same time, he was baffled.
What does Shisui have to do with me?
Did he mistake me for someone else?
Obito had intended to deny it, but suddenly fell silent.
An awakened Mangekyō Sharingan Itachi was much more useful.
"Where is he?"
Itachi's expression grew colder, his entire body exuding a dangerous aura.
He rarely lost his composure.
Mainly because Shisui had been missing for three years, his fate unknown.
They were very close, so upon seeing the mysterious masked man from before, Itachi couldn't help himself.
Obito instantly dodged his attack.
Itachi raised his head, and finally, his eyes displayed the pattern of three bladed shapes interlocked.
The Mangekyō Sharingan had awakened.
Not far away, Orochimaru watched this scene with a sinister smile.