Because Nawaki didn't want to live in the shadow of his sister, he kept a low profile in Konoha and sought recognition from the village through his own efforts.
As a result, while many in Konoha knew of Nawaki, only a few were aware that he was Tsunade's younger brother.
Obito, however, knew about Nawaki due to his teacher's teacher, Jiraiya.
When Nawaki died on the Sand Ninja Defense Line, Obito had been with Minato on a mission at the Iwa Ninja Defense Line.
At that time, Jiraiya was stationed on the same line of defense.
Thus, Obito not only knew Nawaki's identity as Tsunade's younger brother but was also aware that he had died in battle.
But now…
How could someone who died in battle…
Wait.
Obito noticed something odd. This person's eyes didn't carry the sharpness of a living person's.
What exactly was going on?
"Nawaki is indeed dead. This isn't Nawaki, he's just a clone. A clone without memory or consciousness."
Obito, still confused, listened as Orochimaru casually explained the concept of cloning.
"C-clone?" Obito finally understood what kind of existence these figures around him were.
"So they were created… using technology?"
"Exactly," Orochimaru confirmed calmly.
Nawaki's cloned body had originally been in a lab in the Land of Fire. However, Orochimaru had instructed Mi and Chana to transfer it to this lab once it was fully cultivated.
By the time Orochimaru changed its name, the clone had already been completed, and he had specific plans for it.
Hearing this, Obito narrowed his eyes. "Did you bring us here just to show us this cloning technology?"
"It's an impressive technology, to say the least."
Although Obito was still young, his intellect had grown considerably since he embraced the darker side of himself. He quickly recognized the potential of this technology.
With cloning, given enough time, he could easily amass a military force that could surpass even White Zetsu's army.
"No," Orochimaru said, a sly smile forming on his lips. "This technology has existed for a long time. What I want to show you is something else."
Without waiting for their reaction, Orochimaru led the cloned Nawaki to the center of the lab and began forming seals with his hands.
"Summoning Jutsu: Impure World Reincarnation!"
Boom!
A coffin suddenly emerged from the ground.
As it rose, Obito and Zetsu were momentarily stunned.
"It's… you?"
"Hm? What are you talking about?"
White Zetsu's soft voice broke the silence. "The Impure World Reincarnation… The technique that helped Konoha win the war!"
"I should've realized it earlier," Obito said as understanding dawned on him.
Before the Third Shinobi War had fully concluded, Tsunade had inherited the position of Hokage.
Given the importance of this technique during the war and Orochimaru's relationship with Tsunade, there was no one else who could have developed or mastered it to such an extent.
"It's not too late to understand now," Orochimaru said indifferently, shrugging at their reactions.
He had never intended to hide the power of the Impure World Reincarnation from Obito and Zetsu.
After all, this was a technique that resurrected people from the dead in such a way that there was no known method to fully undo it. Even killing the caster wouldn't stop the technique.
And when it came to Orochimaru himself, the difficulty of eliminating him was another matter entirely.
As these thoughts ran through his mind, the coffin slowly opened.
Inside, a figure emerged. His face bore faint cracks, and his eyes were closed.
It was Nawaki.
The clone's eyes fluttered open, revealing their dark depths. He looked at Orochimaru and spoke in a hoarse voice.
"What… happened? S-sensei?"
Seeing Orochimaru, Nawaki was clearly taken aback.
"Hm." Orochimaru nodded, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Nawaki, how does it feel to be resurrected?"
"R-resurrected?" Nawaki murmured, clutching his forehead as though in pain. "Teacher, I remember… Didn't I die in an ambush by Sand Ninja? How am I…"
"After you died, your sister was heartbroken," Orochimaru said smoothly, his voice calm and steady. "So I used certain means to bring you back."
Nawaki looked at his hands in confusion. "But… I feel like I don't belong to this world… like I could disappear at any moment."
"Don't worry. The resurrection process isn't complete yet," Orochimaru replied as he reached into his robe.
With a flick of his wrist, two scrolls appeared in his hands.
The scrolls weren't particularly large, about the same size as the ones Kankuro used to summon Sanshōuo in the original timeline.
Orochimaru untied the ropes binding the scrolls, crouched down, and spread them out on the ground.
The scrolls unfurled, revealing intricate black runes that covered their surfaces. Each scroll had a single word written at its center: one read "Life" and the other "Death."
Nawaki's curiosity deepened as he watched Orochimaru's actions. But then his eyes fell on the clone that looked exactly like him.
"Someone… who looks just like me… What is this?"
Before he could process the situation further, the clone walked over to the scroll with the word "Life" written on it and lay down in its center.
Orochimaru began forming hand seals again. The runes on the scroll began to glow, spreading out in all directions before crawling onto the clone's body.
"Only by severing your soul's connection to the Pure Land can you truly remain in this world," Orochimaru explained in his raspy voice. "Nawaki, go lie down on the scroll marked 'Death.'"
"This…" Nawaki hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. "Understood, sensei."
Even though part of him felt it was unnatural for someone who had died to remain in this world, Orochimaru was both his brother-in-law and his teacher.
He couldn't refuse.
Under the shocked gazes of Obito and Zetsu, the resurrected Nawaki lay down on the scroll marked "Death."
Soon, Orochimaru clasped his hands together. Black runes climbed up the bodies of both Nawaki and his clone.
The runes on their bodies spread further, forming a connection between the two.
"Is this… some kind of soul transfer technique? Orochimaru, this man…"
At that moment, White Zetsu was at a loss for words, utterly astonished by what he was witnessing.
Orochimaru was actually using a soul transfer technique to truly resurrect Nawaki?
How… is this even possible?
***
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