Tōshirō stared at one of them—blonde hair, brown eyes. Seeing that face, that once-familiar smile seemed to appear as if it were yesterday.
A smile so unique, so precious—the face of the one he loved most.
Tōshirō stepped forward and gently touched her face, as if handling delicate, fragile porcelain, a soft smile on his lips.
Orochimaru observed: "Do you want to awaken her?"
Tōshirō sighed: "Not yet. The time isn't right."
Orochimaru turned his gaze to another person—a girl with short brown hair and large dark brown eyes, a Konoha headband tied on her forehead.
This girl…
Orochimaru narrowed his golden vertical-slit eyes.
She seemed vaguely familiar.
After a while, he remembered.
The girl Tōshirō had revived was one of Kakashi's former teammates.
Tōshirō noticed their confusion: "Wondering why I specifically revived her?"
Orochimaru asked curiously: "If I remember correctly, this child was one of Kakashi's former teammates, right?"
Tōshirō nodded: "You recall that well."
"Geniuses always attract attention, and so do those around them."
Tōshirō agreed: "In that case, you should also know he had another companion, right?"
Orochimaru thought for a moment: "Seems like one of your clan members."
Recalling this person, he teased: "Though an Uchiha, seems he had no special talent. In ninja school, he was at the bottom of the class."
Tōshirō corrected him: "If he were from another clan, yes, he'd be bottom-tier. But among the Uchiha, he's no underperformer. In fact, in terms of talent, he could rival me."
Orochimaru was briefly surprised, then licked his lips: "To be rated so highly by you… intriguing indeed."
"For a long time, people believed the Senju valued love over ninjutsu, while the Uchiha prioritized ninjutsu above all. But that's a misconception."
Orochimaru frowned: "A misconception?"
"Yes. No clan's love runs deeper than the Uchiha's. That love is sealed. Once an Uchiha understands love, the emotions long suppressed are released. The power of love could even surpass the Senju's. At that moment, a special chakra emerges in the mind, influencing the visual nerves and awakening the Sharingan."
Orochimaru gasped: "So that's how the Sharingan is born."
Tōshirō sighed: "But if the love is too intense, there's a risk of it turning into hatred. When hatred peaks, the ordinary Sharingan evolves into the higher-level Mangekyō Sharingan. At that time, a person's temperament often changes drastically, sometimes descending into darkness."
Orochimaru was shocked: "In other words, the stronger the hatred, the stronger the power."
He began to understand why the upper ranks targeted the Uchiha.
A simple madman might be tolerable—but a madman with power is terrifying.
"You could put it that way."
Orochimaru teased: "So, Tōshirō-kun, is this also your case?"
Tōshirō didn't answer directly: "You could say that."
"Since you know the current situation, why act this way?"
Tōshirō smiled: "Smoking is harmful, but do smokers listen when told not to?"
"I see… quite an apt analogy."
Tōshirō continued: "I've investigated Uchiha Obito. He's pure, kind, often helps the elderly. Such people are rare among the Uchiha. You can see he loves the world deeply. But when that love is lost, well…"
"It turns into strong hatred, right?"
"Exactly. Someone with such pure feelings, even minor manipulations, can turn into a pawn. If I were Uchiha Madara, Obito would be a perfect piece."
"But he's dead, isn't he?"
"Have you seen him?"
"…"
Tōshirō chuckled: "You tech types love to make hypotheses first, then verify them, don't you?"
Orochimaru's gaze fell on Nohara Rin: "So, you're experimenting?"
"Just one reason," Tōshirō said. "Uchiha Madara was a contemporary of the Second Hokage. You think a jutsu as convenient as Edo Tensei wouldn't appeal to him?"
Orochimaru considered: "If I were Madara, I'd want it too."
Tōshirō explained: "Battles between masters hinge on tiny differences. If Madara used Edo Tensei to summon Tsunade against me, I'd be flustered, make mistakes, and lose. But if I use Nohara Rin before Madara's pawn, Obito, he'd reveal critical flaws and be defeated."
Orochimaru followed the logic, impressed: "I see… Tōshirō, you think so far ahead. Lucky I'm not your enemy."
"But this all depends on the hypothesis being true." Tōshirō formed a hand seal. The jutsu activated.
Nohara Rin slowly opened her eyes, confused, her vision dim: "Where… am I?"
She noticed two people nearby—one white-haired with blue eyes, the other black-haired with golden eyes. The first was unfamiliar, the second recognizable.
When Orochimaru was active in the village, Rin had seen him from afar. His features hadn't changed much, so she immediately recognized him: "Orochimaru?"
Orochimaru smiled: "Ah, you remember me."
"Where… am I?"
Rin looked at her hands in bewilderment.
Orochimaru teased: "You're already dead…"
A memory flashed in her mind. She lowered her eyes: "I see…"
But soon, confusion arose. If she was dead, how was she here?
"Simply put, I revived you… not truly, but in a controlled sense."
At that moment, another voice clarified.
Rin's eyes focused on the man beside Orochimaru: "You are…"
Tōshirō said calmly: "You may call me the Fifth Hokage…"
"The Fifth Hokage?"
Rin was shocked. When she was alive, the Hokage was only the Third. Now it was the Fifth: "Where's Kakashi?"
"He's alive and an influential figure in the village."
"That's good…"
Rin smiled with relief.
Tōshirō wasted no time on small talk and got to the point: "I have a question for you."
He knew the answer, but Orochimaru didn't. It was also a chance to establish an aura of mystery, reinforcing trust.
Rin was puzzled. Why would the Fifth Hokage ask her something personally?
Tōshirō's eyes glowed red, revealing three tomoe: "Ready?"
"Sharingan?"
Seeing his eyes, Rin was shocked. The Fifth Hokage was Uchiha.
"Alright, ask your question, Hokage-sama. I'll answer if I can."
With Orochimaru and the Sharingan present, Rin trusted Tōshirō even more.
Soon, Rin relayed what she knew.
A Kiri ninja had kidnapped the Fourth Hokage while he was away, implanted the Three-Tails inside him, and attacked Konoha as a jinchūriki.
This matched Tōshirō's knowledge.
He nodded: "Alright, I understand."
"Um…" Rin hesitated.
"What is it?"
"Can I see Kakashi? Just once."
End of Chapter)
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