Orochimaru sat silently, golden snake-like eyes reflecting a faint shimmer in the dim light. The Zero-Tail Cells hidden within his research notes weighed heavily on his mind. They were far too important—dangerously important—to reveal to anyone, even to someone as earnest as Uzumaki Chigusa.
At last, Chigusa broke the silence, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
"I… I believe you."
She stared into Orochimaru's bright golden eyes, searching for the truth behind his unblinking calm. His aura carried an air of sincerity he rarely displayed, and she softened.
"I'm sorry, Orochimaru. I didn't mean to doubt you… it's just that… I was scared."
"It's fine," Orochimaru responded coolly, though not unkindly. "You were only afraid I might take a wrong path."
His tone was casual, but the meaning behind his words struck deeply. Chigusa swallowed her guilt.
"Orochimaru," she asked anxiously, "Forbidden Techniques… do you really intend to continue developing them?"
Orochimaru tilted his head slightly, studying her with a thoughtful expression.
"Chigusa," he said softly, "a Forbidden Technique is not evil by nature. Its morality depends entirely on the one who wields it. I only hope you will evaluate the Reverse Curse Seal Bloodmark I created with an open mind."
He paused, then added with a faint smirk, "Though admittedly, its name sounds rather sinister. But then again… the Uzumaki Clan is well known for producing theories and techniques with ominous names."
"Hmph! Orochimaru, are you implying my clan's naming sense is evil? Should I tell Lady Mito you said that?"
Chigusa puffed her cheeks. Her smile was bright, dangerously bright.
Orochimaru's expression twitched.
"You wouldn't dare tell Lady Mito."
Her smile widened.
"Oh? But weren't you the one who read MY Forbidden Technique scrolls without permission?"
His face flushed faintly, clearly embarrassed.
"No—I read them critically."
"In my defense, everything I do is correct," she declared proudly.
"Tch."
Orochimaru looked away, refusing to dignify her logic with an answer.
---
Finance Office — Jiongu's Future
Elsewhere, Kakuzu stared blankly at the wall of the finance office, deep in thought. His mind was difficult to shake, but something Orochimaru said earlier gnawed at him:
Reverse Curse Seal Bloodmark… biotechnology experiments… advanced modifications…
Was Orochimaru truly capable of improving even his Jiongu?
He recalled that Orochimaru had once created Chimera Insects by modifying Aburame Clan parasites.
If Orochimaru could enhance even those—
Then what about his own body?
What if Jiongu could hold more hearts?
What if his vascular tentacles could be strengthened, made harder to damage, more flexible, more resilient?
The thought filled Kakuzu with a strange sense of hope. A murderous immortal with ambition was always a dangerous combination.
Without hesitation, he sought out Orochimaru.
---
Orochimaru and Kakuzu — The Body of Tendrils
"Huh? Jiongu?" Orochimaru blinked at Kakuzu, confused yet intrigued. "You want me to examine your body?"
Kakuzu nodded.
Orochimaru clicked his tongue.
"To be honest, there's not much left to study. You already possess five functioning hearts without rejection. Isn't that enough? You'll live longer than most shinobi."
Kakuzu frowned.
Was that really all? Just five hearts?
But Orochimaru's thoughts were already racing. The more he pondered, the more questions arose.
Was Kakuzu still made of flesh and blood? Or was he entirely composed of vascular tentacles?
Before long, Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with dangerous curiosity, causing Kakuzu's own spine to tingle.
"...You're not planning to tear me apart, are you?" Kakuzu asked warily.
"How could I?" Orochimaru smiled lightly. "You offered yourself voluntarily. If you're regretting it already, then forget it."
Kakuzu shook his head vigorously.
"I don't regret it. Tell me what you need."
After a moment of thought, Orochimaru listed his requirements.
"Go to the infirmary for a complete examination. I need your entire physical profile—your internal structure, organ arrangement, and some samples of your vascular tendrils."
"That's all? Fine." Kakuzu agreed instantly.
"Imu," Orochimaru called, "assist Kakuzu with the examination."
"Yes, Lady Orochimaru," Imu bowed.
---
The Truth of Jiongu
Soon after, Imu returned with a stack of examination documents and a small container.
"Lady Orochimaru, these are Kakuzu's body data."
Orochimaru opened the files and scanned the reports. His golden eyes flickered with fascination.
Kakuzu had no bones left.
None.
His body was entirely composed of Jiongu's vascular tentacles. Even his brain had transformed into a mass of chakra-reactive tendrils.
He was no longer human—merely a humanoid shell of tendrils, powered by the five hearts inside him.
Without the hearts, he would die instantly.
Moreover:
The strength of each heart depended on its original owner.
A strong ninja's heart granted strong chakra and techniques.
A weak heart weakened Kakuzu significantly.
As Orochimaru read, Kakuzu entered the office carrying a small culture tank filled with wriggling tendrils.
"These are Jiongu samples. Without a heart to power them, they cannot survive outside the solution."
Hyuga Mio quietly placed the tank into a secure storage box.
Orochimaru stroked his chin.
"I see… interesting."
He turned to Kakuzu.
"I have a hypothesis. I'll test it soon and inform you when I know more."
Kakuzu nodded, satisfied.
---
Zero-Tail Cells — The Key to Immortality?
After Kakuzu left, Orochimaru stared at the living tendrils floating in the culture tank.
If Jiongu were combined with Zero-Tail Cells… what would become of it?
Jiongu was not alive by itself. Its vitality came only from the hearts.
But Zero-Tail Cells possessed autonomous regenerative properties.
If tendrils gained true vitality—
Kakuzu would no longer depend on hearts.
He would become a fully living creature made entirely of tendrils—functionally immortal unless every piece of him was destroyed.
Orochimaru's lips curled into a serpentine grin.
Just imagining it thrilled him.
---
A Sudden Summoning — Ryuchi Cave
But before he could dive deeper into planning—
Poof!
A cloud of smoke engulfed him.
Hyuga Mio blinked in shock.
"Was that a Shadow Clone…?"
But the disappearing Orochimaru had been the real one.
Not a clone.
A reverse summoning.
---
Ryuchi Cave — Three Snake Princesses
When the smoke cleared, Orochimaru found himself in the sacred domain of the Ryuchi Cave. The humid air and pale luminescent mist made the cavern feel both eerie and divine.
"Orochimaru~! It's been so long!"
Ichikishimahime immediately wrapped herself around Orochimaru's shoulders—floating slightly off the ground, clinging to him with serpent-like elegance.
"Did you summon us because you need our help?" Tagorihime asked with a gentle smile.
"Orochimaru," Tagitsuhime said, glancing at the documents he held, "why do you need all three of us? This must be something significant, yes?"
Orochimaru bowed respectfully.
"I want to reshape an entire mountain… using Inorganic Reincarnation."
The Three Princesses froze.
"Reshape… a mountain?"
"Not a landscape… not a forest… but an entire mountain?"
"Do you have any idea how much Sage Chakra that requires?!"
Tagitsuhime placed a hand on the ground and sensed the magnitude of the task.
"With one of us, impossible. With three, maybe."
Ichikishimahime narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Orochimaru~ you definitely have another plan, don't you?"
He looked away.
He indeed had another method—explosively carving it over a month using chakra bombs and manpower. But that would attract attention from neighboring countries.
This plan needed secrecy and speed.
"I need your help," he admitted. "And in exchange—I will provide you with food for twenty years."
The Three Princesses' eyes sparkled instantly.
"You look down on us, don't you?! Fine! We accept!"
Ryuchi Cave was barren of entertainment or luxury. Having Orochimaru back—and with such a grand request—was a welcome change.
---
The Mountain of Endless Rain
That night, Orochimaru and the Three Snake Princesses arrived at the base of a colossal mountain in the Land of Rain. Its peak disappeared into clouds, casting a shadow over the entire region.
Orochimaru activated his special chakra-linked contact lenses, zooming his vision.
Even with magnification, the mountain's full size was impossible to capture.
No wonder this mountain dictated the Land of Rain's constant storms.
He bit his thumb, leaving a smear of blood on his palm.
"Summoning Technique."
Poof!
The Three Snake Princesses appeared beside him.
"So this is the mountain," Ichikishimahime murmured.
Tagitsuhime placed a hand on a nearby tree, feeling the flow of sage energy within the mountain's foundation.
"No wonder you need us. Even one of us couldn't reshape this alone."
They exchanged glances.
And then—together—they nodded.
---
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