Chapter 98: True and False World
What Orochimaru said was simple and direct. Perhaps, as he implied, this entire ordeal was nothing more than a test for Konoha.
Up to this point, aside from those who were meant to die from the beginning, no one had truly perished. Even those injured in the Uchiha conflict had returned to life shortly afterward thanks to the Blut Vene.
On the surface, it appeared as though only Orochimaru and Minato were speaking in the dim chamber. In reality, Minato had already arranged for their conversation to be relayed to the ears of several key figures — clan leaders, the Mutual Aid Association, and Konoha's elders. Orochimaru knew this, of course, but he didn't care.
Even Aizen wouldn't have cared.
After all, this was his testing ground — an elaborate experiment built to explore theories on chakra aggregation, Yin-Yang Release, and the foundations of chakra itself. The self-dissolution phenomenon caused by emotional fluctuation had been proven, along with large-scale social trials. Everything Aizen desired to verify had already been achieved.
Now, only the finale remained.
It looked chaotic, but in truth, this farce had claimed no real casualties. The play had reached its final act.
What Orochimaru hadn't expected was that he would be the one revealing it all. Normally, Aizen — the mastermind — would have presented his conclusions personally. Having Orochimaru act as his mouthpiece only made the snake sage look like the villain.
"But I didn't actually do anything," Orochimaru said with a wry smile. "I did consider rebellion, though. After all, there are things that can only be accomplished beyond the village's walls."
He studied Minato's weary expression.
"The Seireitei," he said calmly, "was built right behind Konoha."
"…What do you mean?"
"Exactly that. You know Konoha possesses a secret art capable of manipulating shadows, correct? If shadows can stabilize the human body, distort it, and even manifest matter… then why couldn't there exist a world within those shadows?"
Standing behind Minato, Orochimaru turned to watch the black rain cascading beyond the window, a faint grin curling his lips. He began to recount everything he knew about the Seireitei.
"As you know, before Aizen rose to power, the Third Hokage was renowned as an efficient Kage because Konoha's casualty rate was far lower than that of other villages. On the surface, that appeared to be the result of our strength and discipline. But in truth, the numbers were a lie. Those who died were simply retrieved from the brink of death — brought back by Aizen himself."
"During the Second Great Ninja War, Aizen gathered numerous fallen shinobi and discovered forbidden knowledge concerning souls. Using it, and combining it with the properties of the shadow realm, he created the first generation of the Seireitei. Through it, he expanded and multiplied within Konoha's depths. Many people must have known of its existence, but when faced with the resurrection of loved ones and the improvement of the war's outcome, they chose silence."
"The result of this hidden network," Orochimaru continued, "was that Konoha never suffered a shortage of talent during the war. Many who 'died' were still alive. That was why the four surrounding nations learned to respect — and fear — Konoha. If those wars had continued, no one could predict the victor. Even if the four allied clans had joined forces, they still wouldn't have been able to defeat us. That is the direct benefit the Seireitei brought to Konoha. When you think about it… it's terrifying. How old was Aizen back then?"
"…"
Minato sat among the piles of documents, silent.
He had speculated about many possibilities, yet even he found this truth hard to believe — that the history of the Seireitei stretched back to Aizen's youth, and that its influence on Konoha had been so profound.
No wonder Aizen's rise had been so effortless. From the beginning, he'd had an army of war heroes paving his way — heroes who had already become part of Konoha's very fabric.
Outside, the shinobi listening through the relay channels said nothing. Many of the clan ninjas averted their eyes.
Who among them wasn't selfish? When comfort and stability were within reach, who would willingly walk into pain and ruin?
It was under that same willful blindness that the Seireitei continued to operate unseen — buried deep beneath Konoha's prosperity, moving ceaselessly in the shadows.
"In truth," Orochimaru concluded softly, "the work of the Seireitei has lasted far longer than you imagine. They've developed technologies, researched bloodline limits, aided in the village's administration… and quietly eliminated those within Konoha who dared to speak too much."
Orochimaru looked at the puzzled Minato and licked his lips, a faint smile curling across his face. Then, with casual precision, he began counting on his fingers the many contributions Minato had unknowingly made to the Seireitei.
"In general, from my perspective at least, the Seireitei's contribution to Konoha is far greater than you can imagine," Orochimaru began smoothly. "They've been far more proactive than you in taking in orphans and establishing hospitals. And yes, while they've conducted human experiments, they always obtained consent—both from the individuals themselves and from their families."
He chuckled darkly. "There were occasional dissenters, of course. But afterward, they all expressed gratitude toward the Seireitei. After all, this is an organization that deals directly with life and death. There are those who wish to see the faces of the dead once more—and others who simply wish to bring their loved ones back."
Orochimaru's expression shifted. His golden eyes narrowed as he added quietly, "But even with all those good deeds, I believe you already know the Seireitei's true flaw, don't you, Minato?"
"…What do you mean?"
"It's simple," Orochimaru said, a smile playing on his lips. "It doesn't belong to Konoha. It belongs to Aizen."
A low rumble of thunder rolled outside the window. Both Minato and the shinobi secretly listening to the conversation felt a wave of confusion and disbelief.
For them, the concept was unimaginable. In their minds, Konoha was Aizen, and Aizen was Konoha. The Sandaime was the village's moral pillar, but Aizen Sosuke was its true guiding hand. Together, they had become an inseparable image—two halves of the same ideal.
Everyone had witnessed Konoha's extraordinary progress over the past year. They had grown used to following Aizen's commands, obeying his every order. Even the great clans, despite suffering losses, had never dared to openly defy him. At most, they voiced polite suggestions and minor objections.
But now, to hear that Aizen never truly cared for Konoha at all—it shook them to the core.
If Aizen had no attachment to the village from the very beginning… then what were they?
What did that make the countless shinobi who had devoted themselves to his vision?
"The Seireitei is Aizen's private army," Orochimaru continued, his tone casual but his words sharp. "It's his personal organization. I'm not a member of it, so I can't tell you its full structure. But one thing is certain—Aizen never acts without purpose."
He let that statement hang in the air for a moment before smiling faintly. Then, with deliberate calm, he dropped his final revelation.
"He did all of this because he had expectations for you. Aizen never cared about superficial emotions or moral constraints. What mattered to him was always the result."
"In other words," Orochimaru continued, "the current chaos in Konoha—the fighting, the unrest—it's exactly the world Aizen wanted. A living laboratory. The perfect testing ground for his theories. I can't claim to know what he's thinking. If it were me conducting this experiment, I'd leave something behind. But Aizen is… different."
He smiled, his eyes glinting in the dim light. "He's a genius even beyond what I imagined. Perhaps he's been treating all of you as experimental subjects from the very beginning. After all, Konoha is the perfect petri dish. A place filled with unique bloodlines, an advanced power system, and a deeply flawed political structure. Isn't that ideal for him?"
"That's truly sad to hear, Orochimaru-kun. I never regarded them as disposable experiments."
The voice came suddenly—gentle, magnetic, and resonant.
"I've never treated you as mere test subjects," it continued, calm yet commanding. "Sometimes, trials are necessary to help the worthy move forward. I've never abandoned those who couldn't keep up; they simply lacked the courage to advance. I merely gave them a little push."
"...Aizen… Brother."
"You've really grown, Minato-kun," the voice said warmly. "I'm very pleased."
Minato froze. The familiar tone—the composed authority—he knew it too well.
In the shifting light, a tall, composed figure stepped forward, glasses gleaming as he adjusted them with practiced grace. His gentle smile carried both reassurance and dread.
"You've become quite courageous," Aizen said softly. "You've formed your own convictions—your own understanding of duty and power. I'm proud of you, Minato-kun."
"Brother Aizen… Is it really you…?"
"Ah. Of course."
Hands tucked into his white haori, Aizen Sosuke stood before them. Behind him trailed two pale, dejected figures with white hair—one tall, one small—like shadows of their former selves.
Aizen looked at Minato, whose eyes were bloodshot with shock and disbelief, and smiled kindly.
"The man standing before you is Aizen Sosuke himself," he said. "And we have plenty of time to discuss your doubts. I can answer every question, every confusion you carry. So go ahead, Minato-kun… ask me anything."
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I have a new Naruto fanfic out, guys!
The main character is Orochimaru's disciple, and I'll say this upfront: he is also a scientist and just as evil as his teacher.
So for those who don't like evil or morally dark main characters, you might want to skip this one.
The fanfic is titled Naruto: Orochimaru's Disciple.
You can search the title directly, or just click on my profile and you'll find it there.
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