Samui's eyelids lowered slightly.
"That question touches on matters I cannot speak about, Roshi-san. However, since you've already raised it, whether I answer yes or no, certain conclusions would still be drawn."
She paused, then met his gaze calmly.
"So I can state this clearly—yes, such legends do exist."
Her voice cooled a fraction.
"And for the record, Roshi-san, asking presumptuous questions isn't very cool."
"Then let me change the subject to something with fewer implications," Roshi said smoothly, accepting the rebuke without resistance.
"Regarding legends about trees—are there any from the Land of Lightning that can be shared with outsiders?"
Trees.
This had nothing to do with the Sage of Six Paths' relics, nor did it touch upon Kumogakure's classified matters.
Given the current relationship between the two villages, it wasn't an unacceptable topic.
"According to legend," Samui began, her tone returning to its usual cool composure, "in the distant past of the Land of Lightning, there existed a peculiar tree."
"It was said that this tree produced a special sap. When used to irrigate farmland, it could yield harvests far beyond anything ordinary soil could produce."
She continued without embellishment.
"But it was also considered a cursed tree. Crops nourished by that sap would slowly erode those who consumed them. People would fall ill in strange ways, weaken over time, and eventually die prematurely."
"The legend ends with a Sage destroying the tree, eradicating the source of the calamity."
'A branch of the Divine Tree… in the Land of Lightning?'
His earlier movements had been limited to areas around Kumogakure. Next time he entered the Land of Lightning, he would have to look more carefully.
Samui glanced sideways at him.
"Speaking of trees, Konoha is the village most closely associated with them, isn't it, Roshi?"
"Listening to stories from other lands often brings new perspectives," Roshi replied mildly.
"In that case," Samui said, "Roshi, do you have any legends from the Land of Fire you'd be willing to share?"
Roshi frowned slightly. Famous stories from the Land of Fire…
"Icha Icha Paradise?"
Samui's temperature dropped several degrees in an instant.
"That sounds like a vulgar and harassing piece of literature," she said flatly.
"That's not cool at all, Roshi."
—
The author of that harassing literature had already returned to Konoha.
"The clothing worn by Zetsu has been confirmed as the standard uniform of the Akatsuki," Jiraiya reported, arms crossed, his expression uncharacteristically serious.
"The Akatsuki is active across the entire Ninja World, recruiting powerful rogue ninja. Kakuzu, who appeared on our eastern border before, has also been confirmed as one of their members."
He continued, voice steady.
"If Zetsu is part of Akatsuki, then the 'Madara' operating behind him belongs to the same organization."
Inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade sat at the head of the room. To either side were Koharu and Homura, with Hiruzen seated nearby.
Homura adjusted his glasses and asked, "Jiraiya, besides Kakuzu, Zetsu, and that 'Madara,' do we have intelligence on other Akatsuki members?"
Jiraiya shook his head.
Hiruzen spoke slowly, smoke curling from his pipe.
"September will be the most critical period for Konoha's defenses. If 'Madara' intends to act, that will be the time."
Koharu added, "Then Uzumaki Naruto must be placed under strict protection during that period."
It was the fastest way to inflict catastrophic damage on Konoha—even now, with Wood Release users present.
Jiraiya glanced toward the Third Hokage.
"And Uchiha Enjin? Has he been completely discarded?"
"Hyuga Kamon and Hyuga Tsukimi are monitoring him in shifts," Hiruzen replied.
"So far, there has been no unusual movement."
He exhaled slowly.
"That 'Madara' has likely abandoned him."
—
Obito wanted to act.
Even if he couldn't absorb the Uchiha hardliners into Akatsuki to tighten his control over the organization, he could at least take their eyes.
But he had no opening.
Once Konoha became aware of his existence—and stabilized its internal situation—any attempt to move grew exceedingly difficult.
The updated barrier system couldn't stop Kamui.
But Uchiha Shisui within the village, combined with constant Byakugan surveillance, was another matter entirely.
Individually, neither was insurmountable.
Together, they formed a net that could only be torn apart with brute force.
If he wanted to move, he would need allies more hostile to Konoha—forces willing to cross lines without hesitation.
—
Danzo was effectively buried—pressed into the earth with no chance of crawling back out.
Even if the darkness of Konoha still struggled and writhed, Orochimaru had seen this outcome long ago.
Once Konoha's power structure underwent a fundamental shift—once Tsunade seized control and began methodically severing Danzo's influence—his defeat was inevitable.
That said, Orochimaru had never been particularly interested in Konoha's internal power struggles. The same was true of the surface-level turbulence currently rippling through the Ninja World.
Over the past year, his forbidden techniques had reached maturity. His foundational research into Uchiha flesh, blood, and ocular power had also come to a temporary conclusion.
As for the Sharingan itself—without a compatible bloodline, it held little meaning for him. Worse, such eyes would only become a burden.
What he sought now was a young, promising vessel—one naturally endowed with a powerful Bloodline Limit.
The deeper his research progressed, the more acutely he grasped the terrifying weight of bloodlines in this world.
They were chasms carved at birth—gaps that effort and perseverance alone could rarely cross.
The pinnacle that countless shinobi might reach after a lifetime of brutal training was merely the starting line for some bloodline heirs.
Even he—Orochimaru—had once been defeated in an instant in the original timeline, felled by a single glance.
That was the Uchiha's power.
A terror inherited at birth.
His golden eyes slid toward the corner of the room as the ground rippled. Zetsu rose soundlessly from the earth.
"So it's you," Orochimaru drawled. "Another order from the Mizukage this time?"
White Zetsu grinned cheerfully.
"Not this time. Lord Mizukage has been rather busy lately."
Black Zetsu's voice followed, low and heavy.
"We are here on behalf of the Akatsuki—to formally invite you."
Orochimaru's smile was thin.
"And what, pray tell, can you offer me?"
"Protection," Black Zetsu replied. "The kind a rogue ninja requires. During missions, you follow the organization's directives. Outside of that, you are free to act as you please."
Orochimaru let out a soft chuckle.
"Very well. I accept."
Danzo was nearly finished, and the channels Orochimaru had cultivated within Konoha were becoming increasingly unstable. New avenues for resources were necessary.
His research—and his ambitions—demanded them.
And besides…
Orochimaru's gaze lingered on Zetsu as his long tongue slowly traced his lips.
This organization—and its members—were themselves exquisite research material.
—
One by one, the envoys from the various villages departed, returning home to make their final preparations and select personnel.
With the burden finally lifted, Roshi was free to redirect his attention to his own work.
Unfortunately, his tree-planting experiment had once again reached a dead end.
For the time being, he could not obtain more suitable samples of Tailed Beast Chakra. His options remained limited to the Four-Tails and Five-Tails—hardly ideal materials.
As for new seed sources, traveling to the Land of Lightning personally was out of the question. During this sensitive period, even if he could decline missions, leaving the village would only invite unnecessary complications.
With no way to refresh his experimental materials, the only remaining option was to seek a breakthrough in methodology.
Conveniently—or perhaps inevitably, from a cold, research-oriented perspective—there was a suitable reference sample within the Village itself.
"Sora's corpse?" Tsunade frowned slightly when she heard Roshi's request. "You want to study the Nine-Tails' chakra?"
She paused, then corrected herself.
"No… your real target is the vessel, isn't it?"
"To be precise," Roshi replied calmly, "I'm interested in the mechanism by which Tailed Beast Chakra resides within a living body—how it continuously regenerates, and how it mutates when subjected to external catalysts."
There was no need to hide his intent. If the request crossed a line, Tsunade would reject it outright.
"Sora's case is extremely tricky," Tsunade said, folding her hands atop the desk. "After his remains were recovered, I personally conducted a full examination."
"That man Kazuma—his ideology was unhinged, but his grasp of sealing techniques was… unconventional, yet impressive."
"Even after Sora was fed to the Box of Paradise and forcibly altered through that violent process, traces of the Nine-Tails' chakra and several complex sealing structures still remained."
She studied Roshi for a few seconds, her gaze sharp.
"What is it?" she asked. "After playing with my grandfather's cells, you've developed an interest in this field?"
"No," Roshi answered without hesitation. "I'm interested in Tailed Beast Chakra itself. This may provide a new angle for my Wood Release research."
"…Suit yourself," Tsunade said, raising an eyebrow. "But let me ask you something."
"You only began systematically studying theory last year. Do you really think you can grasp something as extreme as Sora's case?"
There was no attempt to hide the doubt in her eyes.
Roshi was diligent, capable—but he was no prodigy, no once-in-a-generation genius.
Anomalies involving advanced sealing techniques, residual Tailed Beast Chakra, and contamination from the Box of Paradise were far beyond the reach of a lone researcher at his current level.
He fell silent for a moment, carefully reviewing his progress over the past year.
Then he gave his honest answer.
"I don't think I can."
Tsunade let out a soft laugh, crossed her arms, and leaned back comfortably in her chair.
"Well then," she drawled, "do you know what you're supposed to do next?"
Roshi lowered his head slightly, adopting a posture of impeccable humility.
"I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you with the analysis, Lady Tsunade."
The Senju Princess's lips curved upward.
"Go on," she said lazily. "Say a few more nice things. Lower your head a bit further."
Two years to prepare a return gift—and now he finally came begging.
She cleared her throat and deliberately put on a stern expression.
"Come on. Repeat after me:
'Lady Tsunade, this humble one has committed countless disrespectful and unforgivable sins in recent years and deserves to die.'"
"Hurry up," she added. "Once you say it, I'll consider helping."
—
"The organization still has vacancies," Black Zetsu said after Orochimaru formally accepted the invitation. "As a former Sannin, you should know individuals strong enough—and dissatisfied enough—to join us."
"Hehehe…" Orochimaru let out a low chuckle.
"Are you still hunting for prey?"
His golden snake eyes flickered as several names and silhouettes passed through his mind.
"There are candidates," he said softly. "More than one."
"But how to find them—and how to persuade them…"
His smile widened.
"That is a problem the Akatsuki will have to solve on its own."
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