Inside the research bureau, Orochimaru gazed at the creation born of his painstaking effort, his eyes flashing with unprecedented brilliance.
Just as he had predicted, there was an indescribable connection between the Uchiha and Hashirama's cells.
The violent life force contained in Hashirama's cells, when in contact with Uchiha blood, actually began to stabilize little by little.
"How I wish I had a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan to complete my research."
Orochimaru flicked his tongue like a venomous snake, reaching out to retrieve the test tube resting in the petri dish.
"Orochimaru-sama, I believe it's not just the Uchiha. The Hyūga, the Uzumaki, and other bloodlines all seem to share faint, subtle connections."
Hiruko reminded him from the side.
His own research was also progressing very smoothly, and through the current conclusions, Hiruko had noticed issues no one had ever discovered before.
Regardless of bloodline, chakra itself seemed to share a kind of interrelation.
But he could not yet make a final judgment—only after meticulous research could he arrive at a conclusion.
"Chakra... ever since the Sage of Six Paths founded Ninshū, it has existed in this world. But now, it seems things aren't as simple as they appear."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes after hearing Hiruko's words.
As the foremost scientist in the shinobi world, he naturally saw much further than Hiruko.
In order to uncover the connection, he had even temporarily suspended his plan to acquire a new body.
He had thrown all work related to scientific prosthetics onto Anko, and the recent updates and iterations were largely for Nagato and others who occasionally came to visit him.
Nagato seemed to like his current eyes—versatile in function and equipped with many additional abilities.
Currently, Akatsuki was active along the border of the Land of Fire, sustaining themselves through missions subcontracted to them by Konoha.
"Let Yamato experience the new Hashirama cells first."
Orochimaru shook his head, setting aside those thoughts for the moment.
What exactly chakra was, and the mysteries within it—he still needed supporting documents and references to unravel it all.
The news that Yamato was going to undergo experimentation quickly reached Takeshi's ears.
When it came to the creations of the shinobi world's greatest scientist, Orochimaru, Takeshi trusted them from the bottom of his heart.
Hiruko might be excellent, but in front of Orochimaru, he was still lacking—so Takeshi wasn't too worried about Yamato's safety.
"In the entire shinobi world, there's probably no one who can surpass Orochimaru in research."
Takeshi muttered to himself, turning his gaze toward the direction of the Hokage Rock.
His Hokage Rock was nearly finished, with only some details left to polish.
The slow progress was due in part to him reallocating manpower for expansion projects.
However, if Takeshi had sent scouts to the Land of Rain for intelligence gathering, he would have been shocked to find that, in the field he prided himself on—technology—Amegakure was beginning to surpass Konoha.
...
At the top of the tallest building in the Land of Rain, Yōwan had cast aside his mask, staring blankly into the distance, letting the rain run down his face.
Fuen stood on the lower floors, looking up at him, eyes filled with worry and pity.
He didn't understand why this young man had suddenly abandoned the mission of capturing the Tailed Beasts, nor why he had produced a series of scientific blueprints and ordered them to be built.
All he knew was that this young man with grand ambitions now had eyes as lifeless as the dead.
"How pitiful... thinking you've seen through everything, when in truth you're nothing but a shortsighted fool."
Amid the sound of rain, Yōwan spoke softly.
"You mean..."
Hearing the voice, Fuen cautiously approached and asked.
"I mean myself... and that young Hokage. Ah, I hear he's still pushing forward with his so-called reforms. Laughable. In front of that race, whether it's Uchiha Madara or the Hokage of any generation, they're no better than ants."
Yōwan stood up, the accumulated rainwater streaming off him with a crash, splashing across the ground.
Even someone as powerful as Uchiha Madara was merely a plaything for that race.
From Jigen's mouth, Yōwan had learned everything.
To think—he had believed he'd seen through Madara's schemes, and that he could lead the Uchiha clan down a new path. Yet even chakra, the very thing they relied on for survival, was something brought into this world by outsiders from beyond the heavens.
Even Black Zetsu, whom he had once found laughable, turned out to be nothing more than a creation of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
And the Rinnegan, which he thought could sweep across the entire shinobi world, was merely a fragment of the Ōtsutsuki clan's true power.
The Hyūga had once sworn that the Sharingan was but a branch of the Byakugan, only to be mocked by the Uchiha. But now, it seemed the Byakugan was actually the purest power of the Ōtsutsuki.
The only issue was that the Hyūga clan had never managed to fully draw out the eye's true strength.
"You mean..."
Fuen still couldn't understand Yōwan's words.
"Once you become an Inner Circle member, someone will tell you. For now, all you need to do is follow my orders and search for suitable 'vessels.'"
Yōwan cast him a glance. Though he wanted to confide in this loyal subordinate, he couldn't break Jigen's rules.
Only those of the Inner Circle had the right to bask in the glory of the Ōtsutsuki.
"Kehehe... I wonder what expression that Hokage will wear once he learns the truth of this world?"
Yōwan no longer looked at Fuen. Turning back toward shelter from the rain, he let out two eerie laughs before leaving, curious whether Takeshi would continue his ridiculous reforms once he knew the truth.
Inner Circle?
Vessels?
Fuen couldn't make sense of it.
All he knew was that Yōwan, once obsessed with pursuing Black Zetsu after its departure, had completely dropped the matter.
...
Within the Uchiha compound.
Fugaku walked with his hands behind his back.
His eldest son served as a workhorse by the Hokage's side. His younger son studied at the Academy to prepare for becoming a workhorse in the future.
With no children to care for, Mikoto spent her days visiting Kushina to share parenting tips, leaving Fugaku the only lonely old man in his household.
"Sigh..."
He let out an involuntary sigh. Fugaku had wanted to spend more intimate time with his wife while still young, but she seemed oblivious to his hints, running off every day to that blond-haired Namikaze's house.
If not for knowing that Minato was so busy he barely knew which way was up, Fugaku would have truly thought he was being cuckolded.
As he walked, Fugaku arrived outside the Naka Shrine.
A black shadow flickered past the entrance, instantly caught by Fugaku's sharp eyes.
Ever since the Uchiha's situation had greatly improved, clan members rarely came near this place except for required ceremonies.
So whoever was inside now was very unlikely to be one of his own.
Who could it be? An enemy?
Fugaku's eyes widened, his combat instincts kicking in. He tensed, rushing swiftly toward the shrine.
At last, the shadow stopped before the stone tablet said to have been passed down from the time of the Sage of Six Paths. Just as Fugaku leapt from the shadows, ready to strike a fatal blow, that black figure suddenly vanished.