"How is it? Satisfied with my gift?"
Haruya asked casually as he lifted his teacup and downed the whole thing.He didn't bother acting cautious—this was just a wooden clone. Nothing to fear.
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes narrowed.
He was certain no one had noticed him taking someone away the previous night. At worst, Danzo would discover Yamato missing this morning.So how did Haruya already know he'd succeeded?If Orochimaru hadn't found Yamato last night, Haruya's confident words would've been meaningless.
But he answered with absolute certainty.
Orochimaru reached a conclusion: Haruya had a powerful, hidden organization behind him—one with terrifying intelligence capabilities.
"I'm very satisfied," Orochimaru said coldly. "If not for you, I'd still be dancing to Danzo's tune."
As a researcher, Yamato was invaluable—a zero-point breakthrough, a key that reopened the entire Wood Release project. He'd nearly abandoned the field… but that was no longer an option. He was even considering putting his corpse-puppet reincarnation research on hold.
"No need to thank me."Haruya smiled warmly, like sunlight cutting through fog. "Looks like our deal can proceed."
"How many Hashirama cells do you want?" Orochimaru asked after a short silence. "They're limited. Too many will be… troublesome to acquire."
Haruya raised an eyebrow.
Please. As if I don't know you've looted the remains of Hashirama, Tobirama, and half their cousins.
"The amount needed to perform full transplants for nine people," Haruya said, tapping the table. "And I want access to some of your research data."
Orochimaru didn't react. Requiring Hashirama cells obviously meant transplantation. And in the current shinobi world, he was the authority on that.
"What I want is your data on the perfect transplantation of Hashirama cells," Haruya added. "Not the half-finished methods you're using now."
After all, Orochimaru had run countless experiments—only Yamato had survived. The mortality rate was nightmarish. Danzo's grafted arm didn't count either; that was just patchwork.
Orochimaru's senses sharpened again.
This mysterious kid knew way too much about the Wood Release experiments.How did he know?
"No problem," Orochimaru replied smoothly.He held all the data anyway. Editing it would be easy.
Tricking someone was child's play—unless Haruya had a medical expert on Tsunade's level to cross-check it.
But that was impossible.There was only one Tsunade in the entire shinobi world.And she certainly wasn't connected to a shadowy figure like Haruya.
"Now," Orochimaru said, licking his lips, "can you tell me the other secret?"
Yamato had been a "small" secret? Then what was the big one?
"Technically I should wait until I have the Hashirama cells," Haruya said calmly. "But I'm not worried about you breaking your word."
Orochimaru stiffened.That level of self-assurance was surprising—but also perfectly in character for this mysterious boy.
"What's your opinion of Senju Hashirama's strength?" Haruya asked.
"Extremely strong," Orochimaru replied, though confused by the question.He'd read Konoha's old records; every line made Hashirama's power clear.He clearly surpassed any of the Five Kage. Otherwise he couldn't have ended the Warring States Era—let alone captured the tailed beasts.
Orochimaru had seen the Nine-Tails himself.Defeating it was hard enough. Capturing it was nearly impossible.
"And what about Uchiha Madara—Hashirama's equal?" Haruya asked.
"Not weak," Orochimaru said after a moment.Madara was rarely mentioned in the records, but everyone knew about the clash at the Valley of the End. They carved a canyon into existence.Even if Madara were weaker, it wouldn't be by much.
"What's the source of Madara's strength?"
"The Sharingan," Orochimaru answered immediately. Now things were getting strange.
"And what do you think of Uchiha Fugaku's strength?" Haruya pressed.
"Decent," Orochimaru said. "A three-tomoe Sharingan is impressive—but only slightly above an average jonin."
"Don't you think that's strange?" Haruya asked. "Same Sharingan… yet Madara was overwhelmingly stronger."
Orochimaru froze.
Yes. Madara could defeat ten Fugakus. Why?
He remembered the Nine-Tails again—likely controlled by Sharingan.Could a mere three-tomoe eye do that?
"You're saying… there's a stronger form above the three-tomoe Sharingan?"
Orochimaru was quick. He'd already jumped to the correct conclusion.
"Exactly." Haruya nodded. "Above the three tomoe… lies the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Mangekyō… Sharingan?"Orochimaru repeated the words like a man tasting something new.
Hiruzen and Danzo knew of it through Tobirama's records, but until Shisui self-detonated years later, no one understood just how terrifying it was.Danzo would eventually steal Shisui's Mangekyō with a backstab—but that was still in the future.
"How strong is it?" Orochimaru asked.
A simple question—but impossible to grasp without witnessing it.
"Want to see for yourself?" Haruya asked lightly.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. "Someone in the Uchiha clan has awakened it?"
"Uchiha Shisui."
"It's him?"Orochimaru looked genuinely surprised.Shisui had shone brilliantly during the Third Ninja War.He hadn't expected him to awaken the Mangekyō.
"Here's a little advice," Haruya added with a smile. "Bring life-saving measures. Otherwise you're liable to get… overturned."
Orochimaru frowned.Since earning the title of Sannin, very few shinobi had made him wary.And Haruya was implying not only that he couldn't defeat Shisui—but that he might end up in danger.
He didn't believe it.
Haruya didn't bother explaining further.With Orochimaru's survival tricks, he wouldn't actually die.And Shisui wouldn't kill Orochimaru outright if he knew it was him.
As for Haruya… he wasn't worried in the slightest.
The Mangekyō Sharingan was ridiculous.If Shisui used Kotoamatsukami, Orochimaru basically had no counterplay.
"Well then, until next time."Haruya smiled, released the wooden clone, and added, "Have those Hashirama cells ready."
Orochimaru watched the clone disperse, then immediately ordered his people to track Uchiha Shisui's location.
The next day, he confronted Shisui—and the two clashed in a fierce battle.
Meanwhile…
Haruya, sitting in class at the Academy, suddenly felt his Holy Ring of Fate vibrate.
[Because of your actions, Orochimaru's fate has changed. +58 Fate Points.][Because of your actions, Uchiha Shisui's fate has changed. +19 Fate Points.]