In the original story, the reason Obito's Kamui was so impossible to counter wasn't just its overpowered ability—it was also because of the Hashirama Cells.
Although those cells couldn't grant him the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, they allowed him to overcome the usual side effects of the Mangekyō, letting him use its powers freely and without exhaustion.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with excitement. That familiar, full sensation was back again.
Ever since losing part of his soul, he had felt incomplete—drained and hollow, like a snake missing a piece of its skin. That spiritual emptiness had left him weary and unstable.
The group exited the forest and soon reached Orochimaru's hidden base.
There, Orochimaru handed a vial of Hashirama Cells to Naruto, who carefully placed it into a small box before storing it inside his spatial ring.
Orochimaru's gaze lingered on the ring. Curiosity flickered in his golden eyes.
"What is that?" he asked.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "It's a spatial ring—crafted using the latest spatial technology, and forged from the most advanced chakra metal."
Then, smiling slyly, he added, "If you, Orochimaru-sama, were to join our organization, you'd have access to all of this."
Orochimaru's lips curled slightly. When Naruto wasn't recruiting him, it was just 'Orochimaru', but the moment he wanted something, it turned into 'Orochimaru-sama'. Typical.
"No thanks," Orochimaru said with a faint smirk. "I prefer to act alone."
Naruto didn't insist. There would be other chances.
He then pulled out a scroll and tossed it toward Orochimaru.
"This is a method to cultivate Sage Mode. It's far simpler than the Sage Techniques you're familiar with."
The scroll was the same one Naruto had taken out earlier—though this version had been carefully edited.
Unlike the Sage Arts of the Three Great Sage Lands, which were designed around the physiology of their respective species and incredibly difficult for humans to master, Naruto's method was different.
It produced slower results, but its success rate was much higher. Even an ordinary person could reach combat-level Sage Mode in one or two years.
Orochimaru took the scroll, a flicker of excitement flashing across his pale face—not just for the technique, but because his hands finally moved freely again.
That prior paralysis had nearly driven him mad.
"Naruto, I'll be taking my leave now. Contact me if you need anything," he said, raising a hand.
Naruto grinned and mimed a phone call gesture. Orochimaru nodded, amused.
Then, to their surprise, Naruto shot up into the air—soaring skyward in a streak of gold.
"Flying Ninjutsu?" Orochimaru muttered, astonished.
"It seems Naruto-kun still has many secrets."
There was something about the boy that unsettled him—a mystery that drew him in yet made him wary of being ensnared. That tension was precisely why he had refused Naruto's invitation for now.
Naruto soon arrived at the Snow Country base.
The once-frozen nation had changed drastically.
The Umbrella Organization had reconstructed the geothermal system originally developed by Sōsetsu Kazahana, father of Koyuki Kazahana, the current Daimyo.
When Naruto landed, Koyuki personally greeted him with warmth and grace. Her bearing had grown regal, befitting her new station.
Naruto could sense her affection for him—and it made him uneasy. He still had Hinata, and he wasn't sure how to face Koyuki's feelings. For now, he could only take things one step at a time.
Meanwhile, Sandayū Asama and the others had risen to become powerful ministers of the Snow Country. Their once-risky gamble had finally paid off.
When Naruto met Shisui and the others, Shisui brought good news.
"Oh? Gaara's already become the Kazekage?" Naruto said, smiling broadly.
"That's worth celebrating."
It was indeed a major event—Gaara's rise meant that members of Umbrella could now occupy key positions within Sunagakure.
Most notably—the Anbu.
Positions that dealt in secrecy, power, and control over the village.
Moreover, the Land of Wind possessed the largest oil fields in the entire ninja world. If someone could refine and harness that resource, it could instantly become one of the wealthiest nations alive.
And naturally, that prosperity would flow toward Naruto.
"This is excellent news," Shisui said, preparing tea. He placed a cup before Naruto, then poured one for himself.
Naruto took a sip and smiled. "You're really getting fond of brewing tea, Shisui."
"You used to like sake, and now it's tea," Naruto said with a grin, swirling the cup in his hand.
"Just like what we're doing now—first bitter, then slowly sweet, and finally, a lingering fragrance."
Shisui chuckled softly.
"You're really starting to sound like a leader."
Naruto laughed.
"Are the members of the Hyūga Branch Family all settled?"
Shisui nodded.
"Yes, almost everyone has been relocated. We've treated them equally—new homes are being built, and we've already designated land for them to establish their new clan territory. Hyūga Neji has taken up the role of their leader."
Naruto leaned back, satisfied with the answer, but his tone grew more serious.
"Shisui, since they've left Konoha, stop calling them the 'Branch Family.' From now on, they're Umbrella members—our fellow shinobi."
"Understood." Shisui bowed his head slightly.
Ever since Naruto had left Konoha, he no longer had to hide who he truly was. Shisui could feel the change in him now—the subtle, almost imperceptible aura that came from someone with overwhelming power and unshakable confidence.
Naruto's chakra was immense, but what was even more terrifying was his mental energy—dozens, perhaps hundreds of times greater than that of an ordinary shinobi. Even when he wasn't trying, his presence naturally radiated authority.
In his previous life, people would've called it a "big shot" aura.
"With Gaara becoming Kazekage," Naruto said, his tone turning thoughtful, "we now have the opportunity to establish the largest mechanical processing plant in the entire Ninja World within the Land of Wind."
"And the oil fields discovered there can finally be developed openly and legally."
He looked into the distance, already picturing what was to come. Naruto's goal was clear: within three years, to spark a technological revolution that would raise their organization's power to an entirely new level.
In this extraordinary world, construction and development were not limited by the same constraints as in his past life. Even the so-called "Flower Kingdom" of his previous world—renowned for its speed—couldn't match the pace of shinobi-driven infrastructure.
With the foundation Umbrella already had, Naruto could fully bring to life the industrial advancements he remembered from his previous world.
That was why he had pushed so hard for Gaara's rise to Kazekage.
A single Kazekage's endorsement was enough to legitimize countless projects—and shield them from outside interference.
Technological progress would fuel productivity, and productivity would, in turn, generate resources to sustain further growth.
The true potential of shinobi technology wouldn't appear until the Boruto era—when scientific ninja tools emerged. But even then, such tools had been controversial.
Many veterans despised them.
After all, they blurred the line between genius and mediocrity—allowing the weak to wield power that once belonged only to the skilled. Some feared this disruption, and others simply couldn't accept it.
Naruto understood both sides. Scientific ninja tools dulled some people's ambition, yes, but they also enhanced survival and innovation.
He wasn't opposed to them.
"If some regress, others will rise," he thought.
"Just like in the universities of my past life—if you don't work hard, someone else will take your place."
...
TN:
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