No matter the world, a man's pursuits rarely deviate from three things: money, power, and women.
In a world like the ninja world, where life can be snuffed out in an instant, there might be another pursuit: strength.
But after obtaining all these things, a person may still find themselves lost.
This was the case for Orochimaru now.
All his dreams had been realized, leaving him with an odd sense of aimlessness.
Bored and unsure of his next steps, he felt it was necessary to find something new and interesting to occupy himself.
Aside from preparing for the Otsutsuki clan that might appear in the future, his women seemed to be his only remaining source of enjoyment.
---
Half a month later, in the Land of Sound.
This was where Orochimaru's Otogakure was located.
The village now housed nearly four thousand clones.
With so many clones, even constructing rest chambers underground to maintain and replenish their energy had become a significant endeavor.
Fortunately, Orochimaru was not lacking in resources. Aside from the shortage of medicinal ingredients needed to make nutrient solutions, there were no major issues.
Well, if there was one lingering issue, it might have been the ninjas they killed from Kumogakure before the Third Shinobi War.
However, following that conflict, the heavy losses suffered by Kumo during the war, including the death of the Third Raikage, meant they were in no position to bother with Otogakure afterward.
"Even though this isn't my first time here, it's still hard to believe that a brutal ninja war somehow spared Orochimaru's village."
Obito, dressed in a black robe, stood atop a distant mountain, quietly observing the situation in the Land of Sound.
The cruelty of the Third Shinobi War far surpassed the first two wars.
Among the smaller nations sandwiched between the Five Great Nations, nearly all had suffered varying degrees of devastation, except for the Land of Sound and the neutral Land of Iron.
The Land of Iron had been spared due to its terrain and its neutrality in the conflict, but the Land of Sound, located in the midst of the war's pathways, remaining unscathed? That was nothing short of astonishing.
"Obito, are you sure you want to cooperate with Orochimaru?" White Zetsu's soft voice cut through the air.
Unlike Obito, White Zetsu wasn't concerned about the Land of Sound's strange survival; he was far more interested in the nature of their collaboration with Orochimaru.
Despite being their ally on the surface, White Zetsu had his own hidden agenda.
Orochimaru was undeniably strong, but he was also shrewd and ambitious.
Cooperating with someone like him was inherently dangerous.
Obito responded flatly, "Cooperating with him is the fastest way, isn't it?"
"He has his plans, and we have ours. Since he's willing to leave us alone, there's no harm in using each other."
"That's true… Hey, Obito, look at that girl by the river!" White Zetsu's voice carried a hint of surprise.
Obito followed his gaze. At the foot of the mountain, a girl with light blue hair was standing by the river, practicing her ninjutsu.
The technique she was using wasn't one of the standard five elemental jutsu but rather a vibrant red crystal.
"A Kekkei Genkai?" Obito's eyes narrowed. "The people in Orochimaru's village are more interesting than I thought."
"I've kept you waiting."
A raspy voice suddenly came from behind them, cutting off their conversation.
Obito and White Zetsu turned around to find Orochimaru standing there.
"Not too long," Obito replied evenly.
"Follow me," Orochimaru said, his tone casual as he descended the mountain.
Without wasting any time, he led them directly toward Otogakure's laboratory.
As they walked, Orochimaru began to explain.
"To demonstrate my sincerity, I'll let you tour my lab.
"Due to special circumstances, my village has been mostly spared from the ravages of war. Even after Nagato and his group arrived, they haven't experienced the cruelty of battle here.
"So, while Nagato may have gained some of the power of the Rinnegan, his character is no longer suited to cooperate with you."
"In other words," Obito said slowly, "we need to make him experience the pain of war again?"
"That's about right," Orochimaru replied with a smirk.
"Then why take us to the lab first?" Obito asked, his tone tinged with doubt.
At a time like this, shouldn't their focus be on training Nagato?
Orochimaru's lips curled. "Because I just remembered a technique that's been completed recently, and I thought you might be interested in seeing it."
"A technique? What kind of technique?"
"You'll find out soon enough." Orochimaru's mysterious smile only deepened.
His deliberately vague answer successfully piqued Obito and Zetsu's curiosity.
Orochimaru already knew Obito's true identity and goals, so he understood that ordinary techniques wouldn't attract their interest.
The fact that he mentioned this technique now suggested it must be something extraordinary.
With that thought in mind, the trio quickly made their way to the laboratory, each using their own methods to hasten the journey.
"You've investigated this place before, haven't you?" Orochimaru asked without looking back.
Obito didn't deny it. "I've been here once."
Orochimaru nodded slightly and continued leading the way without further comment.
Thanks to Orochimaru's presence, none of the clones attacked them this time.
Seeing this, Obito and Zetsu couldn't help but feel curious about the true nature of these clones.
However, there was no time to dwell on it. The advanced equipment in the lab quickly drew their attention.
Even though Obito had been here before, he was still struck by the sheer scale of the high-tech setup.
Orochimaru ignored their reactions and communicated briefly with two clones, who then moved toward a secret room within the lab.
Moments later, the clones returned, escorting a man out of the room.
When Obito saw who it was, his composure finally broke.
"This is…"
"What's wrong, Obito?" White Zetsu asked, puzzled by his reaction.
After a brief moment of shock, Uchiha Obito took a deep breath, forcing himself to regain his composure.
"Tsunade's younger brother… Nawaki?"
"He… isn't he supposed to be dead?"
***
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