Konoha Village – Hokage's Office
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
The door opened. Orochimaru stepped inside.
"Sensei, you called for me?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slowly.
"Yes, Orochimaru. I want to ask you something."
"You've studied Wood Release for years. Under what circumstances would the Wood Dragon Technique completely absorb a White Zetsu?"
Orochimaru paused.
"White Zetsu? You mean that pale humanoid specimen we captured five years ago?"
Hiruzen nodded.
"Yes. It attacked Kazuki today."
Orochimaru's eyes instantly gleamed with interest.
"You're saying… Kazuki's Wood Dragon absorbed it entirely?"
"Yes. Intelligence confirmed it."
"And they brought back photos."
Hiruzen slid several photographs across the desk.
In each image, White Zetsu's body visibly shrank under the Wood Dragon's constriction.
Orochimaru's breathing grew slightly faster.
"Complete absorption…"
"Could it be that White Zetsu's body is composed of First Hokage cells?"
He licked his lips lightly.
"That would explain how it merges with soil and trees so seamlessly."
"Fascinating…"
He looked disappointed.
"It's gone now?"
"There may be more," Hiruzen replied calmly.
Orochimaru studied the earliest photograph.
Three White Zetsu had appeared together.
"A group specimen…"
Then his gaze shifted to a covered beaker on the desk.
Hiruzen removed the cloth.
Inside—
A small amount of clear liquid.
"The last residue left behind."
Orochimaru's eyes lit up.
He reached for it.
Smack.
Hiruzen slapped his hand away.
"Not yet."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Then why show it to me?"
"Because I need you to handle something first."
Hiruzen's tone shifted.
"Go to Kumogakure."
"Bring Danzo back."
Orochimaru's pupils contracted.
"Sensei… are we in trouble?"
Hiruzen smiled faintly.
"According to our information, Danzo may have secured something valuable."
"For example…"
"The Two-Tails."
Orochimaru's expression changed dramatically.
"The Two-Tails?!"
"Raikage will declare war."
Hiruzen leaned back.
"You won't act alone."
"Your role is support."
"I'll handle the Raikage."
He smiled calmly.
"It's been a while since this old man moved his bones."
Orochimaru studied him.
"So we deceived Kumogakure?"
"Deceived?" Hiruzen chuckled.
"They infiltrated Konoha to abduct our future Nine-Tails jinchūriki."
"We're merely returning the favor."
"In Konoha, people don't come and go as they please."
Orochimaru nodded slowly.
"When do I depart?"
"Not yet."
"Three days at the earliest. A week at most."
"You'll remain near me until then."
Orochimaru understood immediately.
He now possessed sensitive information.
Until departure—
He wouldn't leave the Hokage's sight.
Rules were rules.
"…May I at least study that residue?"
Hiruzen smiled knowingly.
"If I let you start, you won't sleep."
"And we can't afford distractions."
Orochimaru exhaled softly.
Unfortunate.
Very unfortunate.
Land of Water – Coastline
A humid sea breeze swept across their faces.
Obito looked excited.
"Sensei! What now? Do we charge straight into Kirigakure?!"
Kazuki glanced at him lazily.
"Can you even kill a chicken?"
"And you want to storm Kirigakure?"
"Wait until you can handle yourself first."
Obito puffed up.
"I'm a genius Uchiha who awakened the Sharingan!"
Kazuki looked ahead calmly.
"Great. Then go."
"Someone's coming."
"…Huh?"
A massive blade sliced through the grass.
A tall, shark-faced young man stepped forward.
Blue-gray skin.
Sharp teeth.
Predatory eyes.
A Mist shinobi behind him pointed.
"Oni-sama! It's them!"
"One of the brats has the Sharingan!"
Kazuki blinked slightly.
"…Kisame Hoshigaki."
The sword he carried wasn't Samehada yet.
And he was younger.
Not one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Not yet.
Kisame narrowed his eyes.
"You know me?"
Of course I do.
Future shark man.
Obito's legs began trembling.
Kakashi silently drew his kunai.
The air grew tense instantly.
Kazuki casually patted Obito's head.
"Go on."
"Genius Uchiha."
Obito nearly burst into tears.
"M-Me go?!"
Through his Sharingan, he could see Kisame's chakra.
It was monstrous.
At least ten times stronger than the Mist ninja earlier.
If he went up—
Wouldn't he get cut in half?
Kakashi tightened his grip.
This opponent felt completely different.
Meanwhile, Kazuki spoke casually.
"When you're on missions, don't flash your clan status so openly."
"Look at you, Obito."
"Sharingan exposed."
"Now they know you're Uchiha."
"If they capture you, they'll gouge your eyes out first."
Rin didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Sensei was amazing.
But he really loved messing with Obito.
Kisame smirked.
"So you're the Uchiha brat."
"This just got interesting."