Orochimaru's lair lay deep within the uninhabited mountains of the Land of Fire.
As the era advanced, Thunder Trains developed by the Raiden Company had long become the primary means of transportation for ninjas on long-distance missions.
Daily life and home furnishings were now filled with modern elements.
Orochimaru, ever adaptable, kept pace with the times.
While investing heavily in cutting-edge research equipment, he also transformed one room inside his base into a modern-style reception lounge.
It was specially prepared for distinguished guests—
Like Naruto and Sasuke, who were sitting there now.
Orochimaru faced them from across a warm, red fabric sofa.
Between them sat a round glass table.
Three cups shaped like coiled snakes emitted gentle steam.
His hoarse voice carried an unusual warmth.
"Sasuke-kun, it's rare for you to come back, isn't it?"
"I prepared a special herbal blend for you. Try it."
"Naruto, you work late often. Yours is good for refreshing the mind."
With that, Orochimaru lifted his cocoa and took an elegant sip.
Neither Naruto nor Sasuke touched their tea.
Sasuke went straight to the point.
"Orochimaru, do you know Uchiha Akira?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Orochimaru's vertical pupils.
Sasuke immediately caught it.
"So… you do."
Orochimaru set his cup down slowly and smiled.
"No wonder you came back so soon."
"Seems you've encountered something trickier than Shin."
Naruto spoke gravely.
"He attacked Konoha's forbidden zone, stole Madara's body, and even broke Sasuke's sealing curse."
Orochimaru nodded lightly.
"So you're worried he might revive Madara with Edo Tensei."
"And since only Kabuto and I still know the technique…"
"You came to check whether I'm involved."
Sasuke's feelings toward Orochimaru were complicated.
Once, this man had coveted his body.
Yet he was also his guide.
Before the hawk could soar, it first cast the shadow of a white snake.
Orochimaru was part of his past.
And besides Itachi and Naruto, no one understood him better.
Deep down, Sasuke believed Orochimaru wouldn't harm the world again.
But as Konoha's "supporting shadow," he couldn't rely on personal judgment.
He had to act officially.
"Orochimaru," Sasuke said coldly.
"You once committed crimes as grave as mine."
"You were spared because of your wartime contributions."
"Allowed to research under surveillance, on the condition you don't harm innocents."
"Konoha's tolerated you because you've behaved."
"But this incident is serious."
"You'd better clear your name."
Orochimaru raised his cocoa and sipped calmly.
"Sasuke-kun, you know me."
"I don't reheat old dishes."
"My pursuit of truth always moves forward."
"Even my proudest creation—the Curse Mark—I abandoned."
"I've long lost interest in Edo Tensei."
"Bodies without warmth or heartbeats…"
"Are not my version of immortality."
He lifted his eyes.
"They're clear, aren't they?"
"Is that enough to prove my innocence?"
Sasuke paused.
"If you're uninvolved, good."
"Then tell me everything you know about Akira."
Orochimaru lowered his gaze.
"I've never dealt with him directly."
"I first heard his name from an old friend—Miyashiro En."
"He's a survivor of the Blood Pond Clan."
Sasuke nodded.
"The clan with the Ketsuryūgan."
"A dojutsu with terrifying genjutsu."
"Once caught, your blood is controlled."
"They were exiled to Hell Valley."
"Uchiha guarded them."
"That's why they hate the Uchiha."
Naruto added,
"Akira's parents were among those guards."
"They were killed in retaliation."
"Is En related?"
Orochimaru replied,
"He was the one who killed Akira's parents."
He continued,
"En once asked me…"
"'Orochimaru, have you ever seen a ten-year-old awaken the Mangekyō?'"
"Ten?!" Naruto and Sasuke exclaimed.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed.
"Yes. Ten."
"He said that if he ever died, it would be by that child's hand."
"His name was—"
He paused.
"Akira."
"Three years later, En died."
"So did his wife."
"And every remaining Blood Pond survivor."
"All wiped out."
Naruto asked,
"Was En strong?"
Orochimaru smiled.
"The strongest Ketsuryūgan user in history."
"Slightly weaker than Itachi."
"About my level back then."
Naruto took a sip of tea.
So Akira had Mangekyō…
And Itachi-level strength…
"I have to admit, this tea is good," he said.
Orochimaru continued.
"I collected En's body."
"After that, I grew curious about Akira."
"But soon, my attention shifted to another genius."
"You, Sasuke."
"Five years ago, I heard his name again."
"He had become a major financier in the underworld."
"At the time, I developed a technique called 'Extraction.'"
"It can retrieve chakra crystals from corpses, no matter how little remains."
"Out of curiosity, I tested it on En's body."
"I succeeded."
He stood and opened a cabinet.
From a small box, he took out a silver-gray crystal.
It was barely the size of a fingertip.
Wearing gloves, he handed it to Sasuke.
"If En died by Akira's hand…"
"This contains Akira's chakra."
"It should help you track him."
"The closer you are, the stronger the resonance."
For Naruto and Sasuke, no story mattered more than a real lead.
Naruto stood.
"No time to waste. Let's move, Sasuke."
"Wait."
Sasuke activated his Sharingan and focused on Orochimaru's head.
Chakra pathways: normal.
No abnormal fluctuations.
No genjutsu.
He relaxed.
He truly didn't want to fight Orochimaru.
Under any circumstances.
"We're leaving, Orochimaru."
Sasuke pocketed the crystal and rose with Naruto.
Orochimaru murmured,
"I can barely sense a matching chakra from here."
"Go."
"Deal with him in one go."
"Sand in your shoes may not stop you…"
"But it's still annoying."
"If he really revives Madara, it'll be troublesome."
Clearly, after hearing everything…
They still didn't think much of Akira.
Awakening Mangekyō at ten was rare, yes.
But Shin's clones had done similar things.
After seeing oceans, puddles meant little.
They had no idea what awaited them.
The two-versus-one battle before dawn would shatter everything they knew.
And they didn't know—
As he watched them leave, Orochimaru's eyes glowed strangely.
He whispered hoarsely,
"…Is this the outcome you wanted, Akira-kun?"