Clang—clang—clang.
The sharp ring of metal echoed across the clearing as weapons collided again and again.
Yanhiko clashed once more with Hashirama. This time, neither fought barehanded. Each held the most common weapon of a shinobi—kunai.
Boom!
After a heavy impact, the two instinctively disengaged, stepping back in unison.
"It's not working," Yanhiko said with a slow shake of his head. "I never designed this taijutsu to be used with weapons."
Tobirama stepped forward from the sidelines.
"Even so, this style is already impressive. Against someone stronger, it allows the user to buy time—enough for reinforcements to arrive. Against weaker opponents, it minimizes risk and steadily grinds them down. It may take longer, but it wins cleanly. And if time is critical, the user can always abandon the form and rely on raw speed and power."
Yanhiko sighed. He already knew all that.
Still… he couldn't quite let go.
He had finally shaken off the reputation of being nothing more than a defensive fighter.
"Fine," he said at last. "I'll leave it as is for now. Maybe later I'll add a few decisive finishing techniques."
Hashirama stepped closer, his expression weary, his Edo Tensei body already showing cracks.
"Great-uncle… since you've finished, let's not summon me again for a while, alright?"
This body had been pushed far past its limits.
Even with Orochimaru's modifications, the sacrifice used to summon him wasn't enough to withstand prolonged combat. In just one month, his body had already collapsed three times.
Yanhiko smiled.
"Fair enough. You've helped more than enough. Thank you."
Hashirama chuckled softly as his body dissolved into loose soil.
"Until next time."
Yanhiko turned.
"And you, Tobirama?"
Tobirama hesitated.
"This body should last another couple of days. I'd like to return to Konoha."
Yanhiko blinked.
"Didn't we agree that the dead shouldn't interfere with the living?"
"I just want to see it again," Tobirama replied calmly. "Hiruzen. Kagami. I won't intervene. And even if I tried, I doubt I could change much now."
Yanhiko considered this, then waved him off with a grin.
"Alright. Go teach Hiruzen how to actually be Hokage. He only learned half of what you knew—the other half died with Danzo. Now that Danzo's gone, Hiruzen could use a real teacher."
Tobirama nodded and vanished in a flash.
Yanhiko stood alone for a moment, then laughed quietly.
"At most… another ten or twelve years."
With that, he disappeared.
Sound Village — Outside Yanhiko's Wooden Residence
Kimimaro, Karin, and Haku were training when Yanhiko returned.
"Elder," Karin asked, "where did the two Hokage go?"
"To where they belong," Yanhiko replied with a smile.
"Kimimaro's condition is stable now, so our reason for coming here is fulfilled. If nothing goes wrong, we'll leave in a day or two. Anywhere you want to go?"
Kimimaro answered instantly.
"Wherever you go, I'll follow."
Haku shook her head.
"I don't mind."
Karin frowned.
"We're not going back to Konoha? Or the Uzumaki lands?"
"The Uzumaki lands, maybe. Konoha—not yet. Let them tear themselves apart for a while longer."
He paused.
"We'll travel. And while we're at it… I'll teach you a new taijutsu style."
A test run required test subjects, after all.
Karin's eyes lit up.
"Then let's go to the Land of Wind! It's close—and I've never seen a desert!"
Yanhiko sighed.
"What's so exciting about sand? Think it over. I'm heading to see Orochimaru."
Orochimaru's Laboratory
Yanhiko opened the hidden entrance with practiced ease and descended underground.
As he went deeper, faint screams reached his ears.
"…That sounds like Jirobo," he muttered. "What exactly are you experimenting on now?"
He pushed open a heavy door.
Orochimaru stood inside, pale as ever, illuminated by cold light. With the echoes of screaming, the room felt straight out of a horror film.
Yanhiko rolled his eyes.
"Do you really need to look more and more like a snake? You used to be handsome, you know."
"Did your taijutsu succeed?" Orochimaru asked, ignoring the comment.
"More or less," Yanhiko said flatly. "Tobirama's heading back to Konoha. Don't release his Edo Tensei yet."
Orochimaru nodded.
"And the screams?"
"Show me."
They entered another chamber.
Rows of cylindrical glass tanks filled the room. Inside each, a child writhed in agony. In several others stood stone-like figures—humanoid bodies with serpentine heads.
"…Sage power?" Yanhiko asked quietly.
"Yes. I'm attempting to grant them senjutsu through cursed seals."
A system notification flashed briefly through Yanhiko's vision.
Major divergence observed: Orochimaru's Curse Mark developed through direct senjutsu application.
Witness Points gained: 40.
"…Unexpected bonus," Yanhiko murmured.
He recalled that Orochimaru originally developed the curse mark through Jūgo. But now, having mastered senjutsu himself, Orochimaru no longer needed that path.
"Wait—Jūgo should still be in the Uzumaki lands," Yanhiko said, rubbing his temples. "I completely forgot about him."
He turned back.
"Why bring me here?"
"I need your help," Orochimaru said. "You can make medicines. I need a compound called Mind-Stabilizing Pills—something to increase their tolerance to senjutsu and reduce fatal rejection."
Yanhiko's expression darkened.
"If you'd asked earlier, I could've used sealing techniques. No one would've had to die. They're too young."
Orochimaru's tongue flicked out.
"They volunteered. Power always has a price."
Yanhiko sighed heavily.
"…Power, huh."
After a pause, he nodded.
"Prepare the ingredients. I'll make the medicine."
"Much appreciated," Orochimaru said softly.
---
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