For a full six months, Orochimaru remained at Diarmuid's side, obsessively researching the secret of "eternal life."
During this half-year, the Third Shinobi World War raged on. The Battle of Kannabi Bridge had not yet broken out, but according to intelligence gathered by Kakuzu and Sasori, Konoha was growing weary of the protracted conflict. Anti-war sentiment within the village was reaching a boiling point.
Whether due to internal sabotage or simple fatigue, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, was under immense pressure. Many villagers felt his leadership only mired the village in endless war without providing any distinguished contributions.
This was a sore spot for Hiruzen. It couldn't be helped. His predecessors were simply too legendary.
Hashirama, the First Hokage, had conquered the entire shinobi world, forcing other great nations to bow and sign peace treaties. As the founder of Konoha, he had ended the chaotic Warring States Period. His status and achievements were insurmountable.
Tobirama, the Second Hokage, had inherited a stable legacy and proved himself a genius of domestic policy. He established numerous systems—the Academy, the Anbu, the Exams—transforming the village from a raw settlement into a sophisticated society where the elderly were cared for and the young were nurtured. He too was a founder, and had it not been for the ambush by Kumogakure's Kinkaku Force, he might have led for decades more.
In contrast, Hiruzen, who took the mantle during a crisis, lacked a "signature" monumental achievement. This didn't mean he was incompetent; rather, the eras were different. The mission of the Third Hokage wasn't to conquer, but to maintain and refine.
Hiruzen's original plan was to address internal systemic issues and bridge growing divides, such as the friction with the Uchiha clan. However, the sudden war disrupted his plans, dragging Konoha into a bloody stalemate that frustrated him deeply. After over a year of fighting, the village had seen little profit, only the steady draining of its economy and manpower.
Discontent grew. To make matters worse, Danzo was lurking in the shadows, spreading rumors and manipulating public opinion. Hiruzen was plagued by headaches.
Historically, this was the backdrop that would lead to Hiruzen's eventual resignation despite Konoha emerging as the victor. He would step down to appease the public's anger, choosing Minato as the Fourth Hokage. Minato was a civilian ninja without complex political baggage, a man who inherited the Will of Fire and possessed a gentle disposition. Hiruzen hoped Minato could lead Konoha into a brighter future.
Of course, destiny was cruel. Minato would barely settle into the office before the Nine-Tails' attack claimed his life, forcing Hiruzen back into power. It was then that Hiruzen would implement his political vision, eventually presiding over the era that saw the Uchiha's downfall, a move that, while dark, stabilized the village and led to an unprecedented rise in living standards.
But for now, Hiruzen needed a swift end to the war. The secret plan for Kannabi Bridge, if successful, would accelerate that peace. History would later show that the victory at Kannabi Bridge crippled Iwagakure's supply lines, effectively ending their threat.
During these six months, Minato hadn't been idle. Utilizing the Flying Raijin Technique, he teleported between battlefields, providing instantaneous support. The name "Yellow Flash" became a terror that shook the shinobi world. Nations even issued standing orders: If you encounter the Yellow Flash, you may abandon your mission without penalty.
Recognizing the shift, Hiruzen began aggressively promoting Minato to build his popularity, countering village criticism. Within half a year, Minato's support reached an all-time high.
This infuriated Danzo. He desperately sought Orochimaru, hoping to use him as a political counterweight to Minato, or better yet, to install Orochimaru as the Fourth Hokage. But Orochimaru had vanished as if he were dead.
Sometimes Danzo would wake up in the middle of the night, cursing Orochimaru's name before he could go back to sleep. One could only imagine the depth of his irritation.
Meanwhile, Diarmuid had spent the last six months studying various ninjutsu, particularly the Lightning Release Nintaijutsu extracted from the Third Raikage.
In the forests near Sasori's secret base in the Land of Birds, Kakuzu stood clad in lightning armor, looking formidable. After months of practice, Kakuzu had mastered the basics of the "Lightning Release Chakra Mode."
However, after deep study, the four of them, including Orochimaru, had reached a common conclusion. Orochimaru, despite having no Lightning affinity, provided excellent theoretical insight.
The Lightning Release Chakra Mode was essentially a "health-preserving" technique. It involved using Lightning Release chakra to constantly stimulate the body's cells over years, gradually increasing physical stats. Unlike a technique like Fire Release: Great Fireball, where power is determined primarily by chakra volume, this mode was determined by time.
The longer one practiced, the deeper the cellular activation, and the stronger the physical body. Someone who had practiced for decades would always outclass a beginner. Even though Kakuzu had learned the armor, he would still likely lose a direct physical confrontation with the late Third Raikage.
Kakuzu looked at Diarmuid in the distance and frowned. We learned the same jutsu. Why is yours so... different?
While Kakuzu's mode was standard, a dense layer of lightning flickering over his skin to provide defense and speed, Diarmuid's was something else entirely.
Diarmuid's Lightning Release Chakra Mode stood nearly five meters tall. He wasn't just "wearing" the lightning; he was floating in the center of a massive, solidified construct of chakra. The dense lightning had taken the form of a giant armored samurai holding a massive chakra blade.
Had he possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, anyone would have mistaken it for Susanoo.
This was the result of Diarmuid's six months of tinkering. He had realized that the principles of this mode were strikingly similar to Susanoo, the Tailed Beast Shroud, and even the Lava Release Chakra Mode.
Susanoo used the Sharingan to materialize chakra into a massive entity through spiritual guidance. Because of this spiritual shortcut, the Uchiha could manifest huge constructs even with less chakra than the Senju. The Tailed Beast Shroud was similar, though the corrosive nature of the Tailed Beast's chakra often made the user look flayed and monstrous.
The Lightning Release Chakra Mode was fundamentally the same: solidifying and projecting chakra outward as armor. The Raikages used it with surgical precision because they weren't "cheating" with special eyes or Tailed Beasts. They had to be efficient, or they would drain themselves dry.
But Diarmuid was different. Chakra volume is tied to physical vitality. Between his natural constitution and the Dark-Dark Fruit, which constantly converted infinite darkness into chakra, he was essentially a walking Tailed Beast with even greater reserves.
He could afford to be wasteful. He pushed the limits of the technique, transforming the Lightning Release Chakra Mode into a "Lightning Release Susanoo."
He could make it even larger if he wanted. He just hadn't needed to yet.
The sight of it made Kakuzu feel borderline depressed.