Follow Orochimaru to the secret laboratory hidden behind the base.
As soon as Shigure stepped through the door, his gaze fell on Sasuke, lying on the hospital bed—pale, bloodless, and utterly exhausted.
He looked terrible.
Even if Sasuke's body appeared intact on the surface, Shigure could easily imagine the kind of torment he had endured.
He silently glanced at Orochimaru.
"If Sasuke wakes up and wants to kill you, I won't stop him."
Orochimaru froze for a moment.
Shigure had already agreed to let him join Kirigakure, yet he was making it clear—Sasuke's revenge was a separate matter.
"I believe Sasuke-kun won't go that far," Orochimaru said with a faint smile. "I can apologize… and offer him a perfect gift."
Shigure simply smiled.
Raising his hand, a stream of water flowed out, surging toward Sasuke's body.
The water spread instantly, coursing over him.
Almost immediately, Sasuke's condition began to improve at a visible rate.
Orochimaru's eyes widened as he observed the changes.
As expected of someone feared as one of the most dangerous figures in the shinobi world—what kind of medical ninjutsu was this?
Incredible.
Sasuke had lost a massive amount of blood. For anyone else, this would be a life-threatening condition.
Yet in Shigure's hands, it was resolved in moments.
Sasuke slowly opened his eyes, looking toward Shigure.
"You're here…"
Shigure nodded. "How do you feel?"
Sasuke coughed lightly, then turned his cold gaze toward Orochimaru.
"Thanks to him… I feel terrible."
Then he looked back at Shigure.
"What did he offer you?"
Shigure nodded slightly.
"He wants to join Kirigakure. I agreed. But if you want revenge, I won't interfere."
Nor would he help.
Orochimaru had not yet betrayed the village. From Shigure's perspective, there was no justification to act against him.
But if Sasuke chose to attack—then that was his decision.
Sasuke stood up slowly, his eyes locked onto Orochimaru.
"You ambushed me. Captured me. Took my blood. And now you're using me to negotiate with Shigure."
Lightning gathered in his hand.
"With me awake… I'll return all of it."
The sharp chirping of Chidori filled the room as lightning erupted in Sasuke's palm.
At that moment, Orochimaru spoke calmly:
"Sasuke-kun… don't you want to see your mother?"
Sasuke froze.
"…What did you say?"
A faint smile curled on Orochimaru's lips.
"I've found your mother's remains and obtained her cells. With the Reanimation Jutsu (Edo Tensei)… I can bring her back."
He gestured toward Shigure.
"And with him here… restoring her won't be difficult."
Sasuke stood there, stunned.
His mother… resurrected?
It sounded impossible.
But for Orochimaru, it wasn't.
After the Uchiha Clan's massacre, their bodies had been buried rather than cremated. With information from Uchiha Obito, locating the burial site had not been difficult.
Thanks to that, Orochimaru had successfully obtained the necessary cells.
Sasuke's hand slowly lowered. The lightning dissipated.
"…Bring my mother back," he said quietly.
"And I'll let this go."
He paused, his gaze sharpening.
"But if there's a next time… I'll kill you myself."
Orochimaru chuckled softly.
"There won't be a next time. After all, we're both shinobi of Kirigakure now."
As he spoke, Orochimaru began forming hand seals—
Preparing to perform the Reanimation Jutsu (Edo Tensei).
A living sacrifice was brought forward.
Shigure merely glanced at the person, his expression indifferent.
Moments later, Orochimaru began forming hand seals, activating the Reanimation Jutsu (Edo Tensei).
As the technique took effect, Sasuke's mother slowly appeared before them—
And at that exact moment, Shigure made his move.
He activated his technique without hesitation.
In an instant, the unstable reanimated body was forcefully restored—no longer a mere puppet of Edo Tensei, but truly brought back to life.
Sasuke's mother… was resurrected.
Shigure didn't stay to watch their reunion.
Instead, he turned and walked out, Orochimaru following behind him.
Outside, Shigure glanced at Orochimaru.
"You came well prepared. It seems joining Kirigakure is very important to you."
Orochimaru gave a faint, awkward smile.
"I simply wish to survive. If I hadn't chosen to join Kirigakure, Mizukage-sama… you would have had countless reasons to kill me."
Shigure raised an eyebrow.
"And now that you've joined… I can't kill you?"
Orochimaru shook his head.
"Of course you can. But with your nature, Mizukage-sama, you wouldn't act against a subordinate without reason. If it comes to that… it would only be because I made a mistake."
He lowered his head slightly.
"So please rest assured. I will act with restraint. Whatever orders you give, I will carry them out without question."
"I will become your most loyal subordinate."
Shigure simply shrugged, unconcerned.
At the base's exit, he looked toward the distant direction of Konoha.
Things here were settled.
Now… only Konoha remained.
Konoha Village
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had already invaded.
Zabuza Momochi moved silently across the rooftops near the Hokage Monument.
His mastery of the Silent Killing Technique had grown even sharper. With his stealth, he was the best choice to scout ahead.
After surveying the area, his expression darkened.
"The situation in Konoha is terrible… there's almost no one left."
Fires burned throughout the village.
From time to time, faint movements could be seen—survivors being hunted down and killed.
"These Ōtsutsuki… they're slaughtering everything."
A cold glint flashed in Zabuza's eyes.
Through a chakra-linked communication method, he relayed the situation beyond Konoha.
Kisame Hoshigaki received the report—and his heart sank.
If this continued… fewer than one in ten would survive.
And the people Shigure had ordered them to rescue…
They might already be dead.
Elsewhere, Chōjūrō, who was searching another part of the village, also received new information.
He spotted a group of Ōtsutsuki pursuing someone.
"There are still survivors!"
"If we're lucky… it could be Tsunade-sama!"
The group quickly regrouped.
Kisame glanced at everyone.
"We'll split into two teams."
"Inside Konoha—myself, Haku, Ringo, and Zabuza."
"Outside the village—Kisame, Akira, and Chōjūrō will intercept."
He deliberately took the more dangerous task for himself.
Even Kisame couldn't help but admire that resolve.
"Stay sharp," Kisame said.
Without another word, he turned and moved out—leading his team deeper into the burning ruins of Konoha.
(End of Chapter)
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