Deep within a shadowy underground base belonging to an unknown nation,
Orochimaru was conducting human experiments.
Kabuto Yakushi entered from outside, knelt on one knee, and reported respectfully:
"Orochimaru, Konoha has finished mobilizing its shinobi forces. Jiraiya is leading the troops and is advancing toward Sunagakure."
Orochimaru's pupils contracted into thin vertical slits. A gloomy, sinister laugh echoed throughout the underground base.
"So… it's finally beginning. Kabuto, make preparations. This base will be abandoned shortly. Gather all research data and documents and store them in sealing scrolls—take everything with you."
Kabuto rose to his feet.
"Yes!"
After Kabuto left, the phantom silhouette of the Deity appeared beside Orochimaru and asked:
"Are you planning to take part in the battle between Konoha and the other shinobi villages?"
Orochimaru smiled darkly.
"Of course. Konoha is my hometown, after all. How could I pass up an opportunity to make things difficult for it?"
"Oh?" the Deity said with mild amusement. "So you're just going to interfere with Konoha for the sake of it? Doing something without利益—without any benefit—doesn't sound like you."
Unperturbed by the mockery, Orochimaru replied calmly:
"Didn't you say that Ubuyashiki Yosuke's body is immortal—capable of regenerating instantly even after sustaining fatal injuries? In that case, sealing techniques are the only way to deal with him.
Unfortunately, among the Uzumaki-style sealing techniques, only Sarutobi Hiruzen currently possesses them. That leaves me no choice but to collect sealing jutsu from other villages to use against Ubuyashiki Yosuke."
The Deity nodded.
"A reasonable idea. But ordinary sealing techniques may not be sufficient to seal Ubuyashiki Yosuke."
Orochimaru revealed his true objective in heading to Sunagakure.
"Sunagakure is a village that possesses a tailed beast. Sealing techniques capable of restraining a tailed beast—even if they can't completely seal Ubuyashiki Yosuke—should at least cause him significant trouble."
After saying that, Orochimaru let out a regretful sigh.
"It's a pity that the third Kusanagi blade—the Totsuka Blade, said to possess the power to drag those it pierces into a drunken, dreamlike illusionary world and even seal them permanently—is nowhere to be found. It may truly be nothing more than a legend."
Suddenly, the Deity spoke again:
"After arriving in this world, I discovered another method that can restrain Ubuyashiki Yosuke."
"What method?" Orochimaru asked immediately.
The Deity explained:
"The Hashirama Senju cells you are currently researching. Although I created beings known as demons, those cells retain astonishing vitality even after the original body's death.
That overwhelming life force and spiritual energy… even I find it unsettling.
If you obtain that power, you may gain the strength needed to contend with Ubuyashiki Yosuke."
Orochimaru had expected something more decisive and felt momentarily disappointed.
"If it were that easy to acquire such power, I would've transplanted them long ago. Hashirama cells have an extremely strong rejection effect. If they cannot be properly controlled, the backlash causes the host's cells to assimilate into the Hashirama cells—turning the body into a tree."
The Deity replied indifferently:
"If I'm proposing this method, it's because I already have a way to solve that problem."
Those words made Orochimaru's entire body tremble. He stared at the Deity in disbelief.
The Deity continued:
"My possession of you is not merely about allowing you to use my abilities.
You, who are possessed by me, already possess the trait of compatibility with any form of energy.
Even something as powerful as Hashirama cells—you can safely transplant them."
Orochimaru's scientific mind instantly formed a complete experimental procedure.
Without hesitation, he began the experiment.
He tied a tourniquet around his arm, then used a scalpel to cut open his right wrist, selecting a small piece of Hashirama cells for transplantation.
Once the transplant was complete, Orochimaru stood on high alert. He held the Kusanagi Sword in his left hand, ready to sever his right arm immediately if the experiment failed.
As time passed, second by second, an intense pain surged through his right arm.
At first, it was tolerable—but as the minutes dragged on, the pain grew increasingly unbearable, leaving Orochimaru in agony.
The arm into which the Hashirama cells had been transplanted began to change.
Once flexible, it gradually stiffened. Starting from the fingers, the arm began to undergo wood-like transformation. Several small, branching twigs burst through the skin, rapidly spreading up the arm.
Just as Orochimaru believed the transplant had failed and was about to sever his arm with the Kusanagi Sword, the Deity shouted:
"Don't rush! Let me take over your body!"
The Deity forcibly assumed control of Orochimaru's body.
Once the Deity took over, the woodification halted. The hardened layers began peeling away like keratinized skin, gradually shedding until a newly regenerated arm—smooth like that of a newborn infant—was revealed.
The Deity returned control of the body to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru stared at his arm, joy overflowing from his eyes.
With the Hashirama cells stabilized, the transplant was more than halfway successful.
Orochimaru formed the hand seals for Wood Release.
A small sapling emerged from his palm.
He gazed at the tiny tree greedily, finally unable to suppress his excitement, and burst into wild laughter.
"Deity… I've underestimated you all this time. Your existence is more important than any single ability!"
"I told you," the Deity replied.
"With my help, you will stand at the very pinnacle of this world. And do not forget what I require in return."
Orochimaru's sinister smile deepened.
"Of course. We are one and the same, after all."
Because he had only transplanted a small portion of Hashirama cells as a test, Orochimaru had not yet obtained the Sage Body or the complete Wood Release secret techniques.
Nor did he intend to fully transplant the cells just yet.
First, he planned to go to Sunagakure and acquire sealing techniques.
Fully proceeding with the transplantation now could delay his schedule.
Orochimaru always prepared multiple contingencies.
Although acquiring the Sage Body and Wood Release was already a certainty, Ubuyashiki Yosuke—according to the Deity—was simply too powerful.
Even if Wood Release allowed him to defeat Yosuke, Yosuke's immortality would render victory meaningless.
In the end, sealing would still be required.
As for the complete plan for the Hashirama cell transplantation, Orochimaru already had a clear vision.
That vision was Pain's Rinnegan.
Hashirama's Sage Body was a given.
If he could also obtain the Sage Eyes—the Rinnegan—Orochimaru would become an existence on par with the Sage of Six Paths himself.
With the Deity's power granting compatibility with all energies, Orochimaru had no concern about rejection after transplanting the Rinnegan.
At that thought, his heart surged with uncontrollable excitement.
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