Uchiha Kei: "Orochimaru-senpai, this is the seed of the genjutsu world. As long as you remain within ten kilometers of me, you can access the Grand Library through it and study freely."
"Also, I know you're fond of scientific research. So, in the name of myself, Minato, and Kushina, I will sponsor you to build the finest personal laboratory in the shinobi world."
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru gave a rare, genuine smile and expressed his deep gratitude to Kei.
He didn't ask why the Uchiha name wasn't used for the sponsorship—such a question would've been foolish. Though the Uchiha Clan currently had good relations with the village, Orochimaru, as Lord Third's most esteemed student and one of the legendary Sannin, accepting funds under the Uchiha name to build a lab would trigger significant political unrest.
It would invite suspicions of Uchiha conspiracy and stir public paranoia.
But Kei's approach was different. Though everyone could see he was the driving force, associating the sponsorship with Minato and Kushina provided a reasonable cover. Outwardly, it could be framed as Minato supporting Orochimaru—a sign of cooperation between generations.
Of course, political optics weren't Orochimaru's true concern. What mattered was the funding itself.
As a research fanatic, Orochimaru had long struggled with limited resources. Scientific pursuits were bottomless pits, and without business acumen, he couldn't commercialize his research. Thus, despite his status as a Sannin and earnings from missions, his research remained constantly constrained.
Lord Third's support in this area had been severely lacking, leaving Orochimaru bitter.
Recently, he had even considered joining Root. Danzo had promised significant funding and even authorized research into Hashirama cells—a temptation hard to resist.
But as someone directly under the Hokage, Orochimaru hesitated. Joining Root would mean severing ties with the Hokage faction—a betrayal of Lord Third.
Even in the simple-minded political climate of the Leaf, this was a major offense.
So, Orochimaru was still torn. He harbored hope that Lord Third might someday provide the support he needed.
In truth, this version of Orochimaru was rather naive—and history would prove his hopes misplaced.
When the Third Great Ninja War broke out, the Third Hokage not only failed to support research but diverted all resources to military expenditures, completely overlooking the value of science. His thinking remained stuck in the Warring States era.
This stubborn traditionalism finally pushed Orochimaru to his limit. Disillusioned, he joined Danzo's Root.
His rift with Lord Third became a textbook example of irreconcilable ideologies. Sarutobi Hiruzen likely felt deeply betrayed by the pupil he had once trusted most.
This likely influenced his later decision to support Minato for Fourth Hokage, rather than the once-prized Orochimaru.
But that was in the original timeline. With Kei's backing and resources, Orochimaru now had only one thing to say:
"Danzo who? I don't know him. Please don't contact me again—I don't want Kei-kun to misunderstand." Read complete versıon only at 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝓷𝓮𝓽
Hashirama cell research would've been nice, but compared to the Grand Library, it wasn't all that appealing.
Later that night, after Kei left, someone visited Orochimaru's home again.
A Root ninja wearing a mask appeared outside his window and spoke in a dull, commanding tone: "Orochimaru, Lord Danzo requests your presence."
Orochimaru responded with a cold smirk—and told him to get lost.
Yes, he had joked about it before. Now he made it reality.
He didn't fear offending Danzo. Until he officially joined Root, Orochimaru was still a loyal Hokage affiliate—Lord Third's most treasured disciple and widely seen as the prime candidate for the Fourth Hokage.
If he showed respect, he'd call Danzo "Lord." If not, calling him "old geezer" was fair game.
What could that old man even do about it?
Did he think Lord Third's indulgence was limitless?
The Root ninja, stunned by Orochimaru's blatant disrespect, couldn't help but grow agitated and issued a warning.
Moments later, bruised and battered with shattered masks, those same Root ninja limped back to Danzo.
Upon learning what had happened, Danzo erupted into another fit of rage. And perhaps due to the frequency of his recent outbursts, his frail body couldn't take it anymore. He suffered a hypertensive episode and nearly dropped dead on the spot.
Thankfully, his loyal subordinates quickly administered medication and pulled him back from the brink.
But the ordeal aged Danzo dramatically. He looked ten years older and was overcome with weakness. It made him realize just how much his body had deteriorated.
"No... I must begin research on Hashirama cells immediately. Otherwise, my body won't last much longer."
"I still have to protect the Leaf. I still have to serve it. I can't fall now."
"That's right—I can't fall here. The Uchiha, born of evil, are growing too bold. Sarutobi is growing ever weaker—his endless compromises only enable them."
"At this rate, the Uchiha will take over the village. Sarutobi will regret it—and by then, only I will be left to protect Konoha!"
Mumbling these words like a self-hypnosis chant, Danzo's spirits slowly returned.
"Orochimaru, that traitor, is no longer dependable. Just one meeting with Kei and he switched sides. I thought we were kindred spirits—he was supposed to be my right-hand man."
"But no—Sarutobi's pupil is still Sarutobi's pupil. Full of compromise and weakness at the core. I need to find someone else to lead the Hashirama cell research."
Danzo ordered his men to bring files on every Leaf shinobi with research potential and began combing through them.
Before long, he locked onto one: a ninja named Ibuseki.
"His combat prowess is weak, and his talents fall short of Orochimaru's—but better than the rest of the village. And more importantly, someone weak like him is easier to control. He won't escape my grasp like Orochimaru did. Perfect."
Thus, Ibuseki—who in the original timeline was about to flee the village out of jealousy and neglect—had his fate altered just before his escape.
Unfortunately, this alteration seemed destined for tragedy. Ibuseki had already been secretly studying forbidden jutsu. When the Root ninja came, he thought his secret was exposed and prepared to fight to the death.
He overestimated himself. Even in the future, with his research perfected, he'd still be one-shot by a genin. Now, far from completion, he was easily subdued—and his secrets laid bare.
Danzo, upon hearing the report, was ecstatic. Ibuseki was tailor-made for Root—an exceptional asset. Keeping him out of Root would've been a waste.
And with knowledge of his forbidden experiments in hand, Danzo had total leverage.
In the end, Ibuseki was bound by numerous seals and turned into a powerless, unpaid research slave.
All this happened in a single night—swiftly and secretly, showcasing Root's expertise in dealing with powerless, unconnected shinobi.
By the time the sun rose, the Hidden Leaf appeared unchanged—as if nothing had happened.
But not everything was as it seemed.
If Danzo knew Kei had visited Orochimaru, then Lord Third surely did too.
Still, out of trust for his student and growing admiration for Kei, Lord Third chose not to investigate. He believed that if something truly important were happening, the two would tell him.
That's how he was—before Danzo and Orochimaru both betrayed him. Back then, Hiruzen Sarutobi firmly believed in the bonds of the Leaf and the Will of Fire. He repeated those ideals so often he practically brainwashed himself.
This time, though, Orochimaru and Kei didn't disappoint. Though they couldn't share the existence of the spiritual network or the Grand Library, the plan to build a high-end lab was something that couldn't be hidden.
So, the next day, Kei handed the investment proposal directly to Lord Third, officially submitting a joint sponsorship plan from himself, Minato, and Kushina.
Upon seeing it, Sarutobi frowned. Scientific research? This stubborn and conservative Hokage was immediately resistant.
He hadn't always been . His own teacher was a research fanatic—how could Sarutobi have started out opposed to science?
The key was that he and Danzo had once followed Tobirama's notes and experimented with Hashirama cells—an endeavor that resulted in countless disasters.
That scientific catastrophe left a deep psychological scar, turning Sarutobi into a deeply cautious man when it came to research.
So now, seeing a proposal to build the most advanced laboratory in the village, Sarutobi instinctively rejected it—both mentally and physically.
But when his eyes fell on the lab's first proposed research project, he paused.
Suddenly, research didn't seem so bad.
Because the first goal listed was: a side-effect-free enhancement pill.