"Remarkable power," Danzo muttered, flexing his newly grafted arm. The surge of chakra coursing through him was undeniable, stronger and more potent than before. Even though the arm itself looked grotesque, the tangible boost in both physical and mental strength was enough to make that detail insignificant. It was far more effective than the enhancement potion Orochimaru had developed in the past.
"If all this effort yielded nothing, that would be the real failure," Orochimaru said nonchalantly, as he tidied up the equipment used for the procedure.
Danzo had spent years nurturing this alliance with Orochimaru, pouring in resources and strategies. To come out of it empty-handed would be a waste, something that would no doubt leave him fuming.
"Indeed," Danzo agreed, rotating his arm and noting the absence of any discomfort. He reached for a bandage on the nearby tray and started wrapping the appendage, adding a special sealing device to mask its chakra signature. Without it, the arm would be too easily detected by the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan.
"Well, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Orochimaru said.
"Not so fast," Danzo replied, securing the last of the bandages. "There's one more thing."
Orochimaru paused. "Oh? What might that be?"
"Follow me, and you'll find out," Danzo said, a cryptic edge to his voice.
Orochimaru's curiosity piqued, though he suspected where this was leading. Still, he knew better than to show too much anticipation. Sometimes, being overly perceptive could work against you.
Danzo's relationship with Orochimaru was unique, more of a cooperative partnership than a strict superior-subordinate dynamic. As long as Orochimaru's actions didn't go too far, Danzo often turned a blind eye, even when it came to questionable acts like aiding Tsunade with awakening her Wood Release. He understood that Orochimaru and Tsunade's relationship was an open secret and saw little reason to interfere.
Yet, despite Orochimaru's considerable contributions, tangible rewards had been scarce. Danzo was aware that to keep Orochimaru on his side, he needed to fulfill his part of the bargain.
The operation had taken all night, and by the time the two of them left the hidden laboratory, it was already the dead of night. Danzo led the way back to Konoha, with Orochimaru and a few other Root operatives following closely behind to clean up any trace of their activities.
A short while later, they arrived at the Root headquarters. In Danzo's private office, a large scroll lay stretched across the desk. Orochimaru's eyes narrowed as recognition set in.
"Is this...?" Orochimaru began, his gaze fixed on the scroll.
"You're familiar with the Book of Seals, I take it?" Danzo said, getting straight to the point.
Orochimaru nodded. "Of course. But this… Is this really it?"
The Scroll of Seals was a legendary artifact, said to contain forbidden jutsu compiled by the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. Its contents were considered too dangerous for ordinary shinobi and were restricted for study. The forbidden techniques it held were not to be trifled with: among them, the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, the Flying Thunder God Technique, and the Reanimation Jutsu.
"It is," Danzo confirmed. "Every forbidden technique within Konoha is cataloged here. Even I need to jump through a myriad of hoops to access it."
"I see," Orochimaru replied, the gears in his mind turning. That even Danzo had to navigate through such obstacles wasn't surprising. The Scroll of Seals was no ordinary scroll.
Orochimaru had long suspected that Naruto's theft of the scroll in the original timeline had been allowed, facilitated even, by the Third Hokage. Otherwise, it was inconceivable that the child could have gotten his hands on it with just basic skills.
"So, why show this to me now? Is there something specific in here that you think I'll find useful?" Orochimaru asked, maintaining an even tone, though anticipation buzzed in his veins.
Danzo's gaze was steady. "The Reanimation Jutsu, developed by the Second Hokage. It allows you to summon the souls of deceased shinobi back to the world of the living, binding them to physical vessels. It was sealed because of the moral implications, but its potential is undeniable. And this," he said, gesturing at the scroll, "is part of what I promised you."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. The Reanimation Jutsu—a technique with such profound implications that it bordered on blasphemy. If harnessed correctly, it could be more game-changing than even Hashirama's cells.
"The only issue," Danzo continued, "is that this jutsu has significant flaws. It's not something an ordinary person can master. But you, Orochimaru—I believe you're the exception."
"Fascinating," Orochimaru said, stepping forward to lift the scroll from the desk. The glow in his eyes was unmistakable; it was rare for him to display such unbridled excitement.
Danzo smirked slightly, satisfied with Orochimaru's reaction. "I told you, as long as you prove valuable, I won't hold back on my end. Take your time. But remember, you only have two hours. This scroll must be returned before dawn, or there will be consequences."
"Understood. Thank you, Danzo-sama," Orochimaru said, his voice steady.
Danzo nodded, turning to leave. He trusted that Orochimaru wouldn't need more than two hours to absorb the scroll's contents.
But two hours? Orochimaru thought, amused. With the Sharingan, he could memorize the entire scroll in far less time.
As the door clicked shut behind Danzo, Orochimaru's anticipation surged. He unrolled the scroll, eyes scanning its forbidden knowledge.
***
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