Anhe, a chūnin-level ninja, possessed blood that granted regenerative powers.
Anyone injected with and fused to this "healing bloodline" could recover from nearly any wound—so long as their head or heart weren't destroyed—within three days.
He was the same man Hyūga Shigeo had once asked about in the taverns of the Land of Waves while searching for bounty hunters.
By coincidence, Orochimaru now had him in his grasp.
Perhaps, at last, they would meet.
And Orochimaru was sure—if they met, he would benefit. Even if it meant dying again, he was determined to see Shigeo face to face.
In Nanmoku Country, Shigeo had Kinjishi arrange lodging for the boy and his grandfather and personally registered the boy at the Ninja Academy. From that day forward, the child could begin his shinobi education.
Shigeo himself, having returned, couldn't leave immediately.
He needed to handle state affairs—and those dragged on for half a month.
During that time, he never saw the boy or his grandfather again—until Hongyan reported one morning:
"The boy is missing."
She placed a note on his desk.
Shigeo's eyes narrowed the moment he saw the silver serpent drawn on the paper.
"Shigeo-kun, I didn't expect this. After a few years apart, you've become a leader of your own nation.
I know you wouldn't agree to see me directly, so I used a little… persuasion.
I'm waiting on Hakkaku Island.
Don't play tricks—the boy is with me.
—Orochimaru."
Shigeo stared at the message, then turned toward the wall map of the shinobi world.
The highlighted region marked the southern seas—Nanmoku and its surrounding islands.
Hakkaku Island lay less than a thousand nautical miles away.
In the canon timeline, Orochimaru had several island hideouts scattered across the seas.
Could this be one of them?
Only one way to know—investigate.
As Shigeo prepared to depart, Kinjishi and Hongyan knelt before him.
"Lord Shigeo, please allow us to rescue the boy! We've managed Nanmoku's affairs for years, but we've never truly fought for you. We owe you too much. Whatever the task, we'll give our lives for it!"
Shigeo hesitated for a long moment before speaking.
"Between me and Nanmoku… who owes whom is no longer clear. If not for me, Akatsuki wouldn't have targeted this country again and again. The boy wouldn't have been taken either."
With that, he flicked his sleeve. The air rippled, and he vanished.
Orochimaru was not someone Kinjishi and Hongyan could face.
He knew that the words White Zetsu had shouted in front of the elders still haunted them.
To calm their fears, Wu Youhua herself had come to Nanmoku Village, assuring Shigeo that she bore no ulterior motives.
If he wished to leave Nanmoku, she would not stop him—but if he chose to stay, she was willing to hand over the entire country to him.
She had even prepared the written deed of transfer.
Shigeo declined her offer.
He declared simply: "Nanmoku is my home."
To Akatsuki, attachment to a single nation was weakness.
But Shigeo disagreed.
He loved the scent of hearth and smoke, the laughter of people around a barbecue, the warmth of shared sake, the peace of spring planting and autumn harvest.
He loved watching his homeland prosper because of his efforts.
In contrast, the Akatsuki—used, manipulated by White and Black Zetsu—were the truly pitiful ones.
A moment later, he stood upon Hakkaku Island.
The sea breeze carried a sharp, briny chill.
In the distance, a tall lighthouse-like structure rose over the cliffs.
Beneath it, Orochimaru and several subordinates waited.
From afar, Shigeo could already see that familiar, mocking smile.
He teleported again—and appeared right before them.
He looked around. No sign of the boy.
"My people," he said coldly, "where are they?"
Orochimaru's grin widened.
"Hahaha… I never thought you'd come in person for a child. Shigeo-kun, it's been too long."
Before the words finished, Shigeo blurred forward—
his hand clamped around Orochimaru's throat.
"I recall," Shigeo said, voice low and sharp, "you're on my 'kill-on-sight' list. Since you're still alive, I'll correct that."
With a crack, he twisted Orochimaru's neck.
The body dissolved into a writhing mass of snakes, slithering into nearby crevices.
Orochimaru's men stared, horrified.
Before they could react, countless wind blades burst forth behind Shigeo—Senpū Ranbu (Raging Gale Dance).
Shhh! Shhh! Shhh!
Blood sprayed.
Men screamed, limbs severed, torsos cleaved.
The clearing turned to chaos.
"Fūton (Wind Release): Daitoppā (Great Breakthrough)!"
Orochimaru countered with a powerful gust, redirecting the flying blades.
Before Shigeo could strike again, his voice echoed from behind a boulder:
"Shigeo-kun, stop! I called you here to talk, not to fight. I don't wish to be your enemy. The boy came with me willingly—I didn't abduct him!"
Shigeo's expression turned colder.
"Then why not bring him out and say that to my face?"
"Fine, fine! I'll bring them out. Anhe! The boy! Come here!"
Orochimaru emerged from behind the rock.
The ground beside him split open, and Anhe surfaced with the boy at his side.
So this was one of his hidden bases.
"You probably didn't know," Orochimaru continued smoothly, "the Anhe you sought has long been in my hands. He's no Copy Ninja—but his blood serum allows rapid recovery from any wound within three days. He's one of my finest experimental subjects.
I invited you here not to fight, but to propose something.
I want to join Nanmoku Country."
Shigeo's brows furrowed. A cold smile curved his lips.
"You think I'd accept a man who experiments on children into my nation?"
"No, no…"
Orochimaru suddenly dropped to one knee.
"That's not what I meant. I don't want to enter Nanmoku—I want to serve you. Make me your subordinate. I'll obey every command, even if it costs me my life!"
He lifted his head slightly, his vertical golden eyes glinting slyly.
Shigeo laughed softly.
"You really think I'd believe that?"
His eyes hardened.
"Hebi Bunshin (Snake Clone)."
(End of Chapter)
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