Wait... what kind of joke is this?
When Emiya Shirou asked Kabuto Yakushi to join him, Kabuto's heart was fiercely gripped. He had never, in his wildest dreams, imagined that Shirou would extend such an invitation.
Although Kabuto had been trying to persuade Shirou, and even privately thought his ideas were naive to the point of foolishness, the sudden offer left him mocking himself.
An ordinary person like me... could I really be so fortunate?
His heart hammered against his ribs, a violent turmoil of emotions he could barely suppress. His mouth went dry. "Lord... Emiya."
"You're not willing?" Shirou asked, a little surprised by Kabuto's reaction.
"Of course not!" Kabuto's nervousness spiked. The moment he heard the invitation, he'd wanted to follow without a second thought.
"Then come and try it with me," Shirou said softly, his gaze falling on the dilapidated orphanage. "Come with me to change this world, to bring about eternal peace. When it's all over, I will let you return to this orphanage."
SSS-Rank Request: When Kabuto Yakushi is lost about his life, find a true life goal for him.
Request completed.
Reward: Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu (Complete Version), Human Body Modification Technology (Complete Version), Cell Transplantation Technology (Complete Version).
Shirou's own heart skipped a beat.
The complete versions?
He knew all too well the difference between the various iterations of the Impure World Reincarnation. He'd spent ages trying to improve it himself. Now, there was no need to waste any more time.
The perfected jutsu was terrifyingly efficient.
It required far less of the original corpse, yet could resurrect a person at their absolute peak, sanity intact. Most importantly, it granted the user absolute control. A simple command, and the reanimated body would obey, regardless of the soul's willingness.
The Human Body Modification and Cell Transplantation technologies were just as terrifying. Shirou had dabbled in them before, using them to disguise his power and deceive Black Zetsu. But the true, complete versions were something else entirely.
They could transform a body into a horrifying human weapon, capable of acquiring any ability through biological experimentation. For example, his own cursed seal.
Since chakra is extracted from cells, anyone's chakra, once tainted by his seal, would have their cells record it. This meant Shirou could obtain their abilities by transplanting those cells.
It also meant that if someone else got their hands on his cursed seal and cells, they could use these technologies to acquire the abilities of others he'd marked, and perhaps even a fraction of his own power.
Shirou wasn't stingy with his new follower. He left a cursed seal on Kabuto's arm, heavily enhanced with natural energy.
"Is this Lord Emiya's cursed seal?" Kabuto was knowledgeable enough to recognize it. He'd seen Orochimaru's, but this one felt different, less domineering.
"It is a kind of power," Shirou said, his gaze on the seal. "Perhaps... it can also be called a key."
"A key?"
"When it is opened, you will know its use," Shirou replied, patting Kabuto's shoulder. "Stay here and try to master its power. I will go and meet Danzo in your place."
He rubbed his fingers together, a sharp light flashing in his eyes as a new request appeared. "Last time, he got too much from me. I'm going to slowly take back what I once gave him."
SSS-Rank Request: Destroy Shimura Danzo's Kotoamatsukami Mangekyo Sharingan.
So... it's finally appeared in this era? And Danzo, of all people, has it?
-----
Deep underground, in the vast, now-empty base that was once the headquarters of Root, Danzo Shimura was stewing.
Two months ago, Hiruzen had dismissed him for his role in the Uchiha massacre, scattering his precious Root ninjas into the regular ANBU. The base was quiet, guarded by a few loyal, secretly trained children.
But Danzo, at sixty-four, was far from retired. He was still active, using his network of loyalists in the ANBU to gather intelligence, looking for an opportunity for a comeback. And, of course, to criticize his old friend, Hiruzen.
"The S-rank rogue ninja who caused the Nine-Tails' Rampage, Uchiha Obito..." Danzo reviewed the latest intel, his face grim. "As expected, ruthlessly cleaning out the Uchiha clan was the most correct decision!"
That inherently evil clan!
Instigating Itachi to annihilate the clan was not a mistake at all!
It should even be a great merit for Konoha's stability!
The village had already suffered two Nine-Tails rampages because of them. Another one, and Konoha might have completely collapsed.
That old fool Hiruzen, he fumed.
He'd seen the danger of the Uchiha time and time again, yet he'd insisted on a gentle approach. He'd needed Danzo's help to handle it, to carry out the will of their teacher, Tobirama, who had warned them to prevent another Madara from rising within the Uchiha.
Had Hiruzen forgotten the sheer terror of facing Madara in their youth? Danzo never had.
Those memories were a humiliating brand on his soul. He had carried out his teacher's will, and Hiruzen still thought he'd gone too far!
Now, Hiruzen and the other two advisors had left him to rot in this gloomy underground base. But Danzo was not idle. The night of the massacre had been fruitful. He'd secretly obtained a collection of Sharingan, perfect for casting Izanagi.
The only problem was how to use them. He already had one Mangekyo Sharingan in his bandaged eye socket, one he'd seized more than two years ago, one that could modify an enemy's will.
He already had a candidate in mind for that particular jutsu. An old acquaintance. The medical ninja from the ancient era. If he could control him, the benefits would be immeasurable.
The power, the knowledge... though the man was a soft-hearted healer, his power was what Konoha truly needed to utilize. And Danzo planned to control him. He had tacitly allowed Orochimaru to steal that crystal coffin, just waiting for him to resurrect Shirou.
Danzo intended to find an opportunity to contact Orochimaru, who had long since defected from Konoha. First, to ask when he could resurrect that great medical ninja with the Impure World Reincarnation, and second, to ask if he had a way to allow him to use more Sharingan.
That smart fellow... surely had a way to solve this problem.
As long as he had more Sharingan at his disposal, he could use Izanagi again and again!Danzo couldn't help but think of how even Madara had relied on Izanagi to cheat death. His obsession with this forbidden Uchiha jutsu had become almost fanatical—especially after Madara had used it to unexpectedly take out an enemy.
But Orochimaru... that clever fiend had disappeared. He'd gotten the secret of the cursed seal from Danzo, taken the coffin right from under his nose, and then cut off all contact for "safety."
Bastard...
Danzo regretted it now, but his greed was a hard thing to fill. The power he'd gotten from Shirou in his youth had only made him want more. As he was pondering how to get back in touch with the long-gone Orochimaru, a knock came at the door.
"Lord Danzo," a young, orange-haired ninja knelt, reporting nervously. "Someone has come to see you."
"To... see me?" Danzo frowned. That was a phrase not often heard in the Root base.
"Yes. He claims to be a contact for Orochimaru. He found the entrance directly and said he has something important to discuss."
"Orochimaru's man!" Danzo's eyes widened.
Speak of the devil.
He quickly hid his loss of composure, his eyes half-closing again. "Such a polite fellow is rare. Bring him in," he commanded, then added, like any ordinary, stern old man, "Fu, you and a few others guard the entrance. Don't let anyone get near."
Despite the damp gloom of the base, Danzo's mood brightened. All the troubles of the past few months... seemed to be about to dissipate.