[Thoughts]

The underground lab, devoid of natural light, was illuminated only by the soft glow of Sasuke's Sharingan. The air hung heavy with the scent of aged papers and rows of abandoned lab equipment stood as silent witnesses to the experiments that once took place here.

Sasuke slowly placed the sheet of paper back onto the desk and tried to take a few deep breaths to calm down.

As his heart rate slowly returned to normal and the thoughts in his head began to gain clarity, he began to ponder the details of the diary and experimental records.

'So this base was probably formed an undetermined time before Konoha was established, by an unknown group or individual.

However, there is one lead.

White Zetsu.

The individual who created this seems to have a strange relationship with Black Zetsu as they either got him to send them White Zetsu or have mastered the method of their own accord.

Therefore if I could simply say this is from an Indra reincarnation before Madara.

But let's be honest...

An Indra reincarnation having a bunch of scientists research something?

Unlikely.

They would most likely either do it themselves or not do it at all.'

Sasuke understood that the person behind this couldn't be Madara and also was most likely not a past Indra reincarnation.

'But then who else could be responsible?'

Names flashed through Sasuke's mind.

Orochimaru? No, he wouldn't have existed back then.

Isshiki? Not impossible. But it wouldn't make sense for him to partner with Black Zetsu considering his relationship with Kaguya.

Could he have controlled Black Zetsu? Possibly. But at the same time that would make no sense as he shouldn't even be active in the ninja world until Boruto and should instead be focusing on creating Kara.

Maybe it was Black Zetsu himself? Also unlikely. At that point, he should be busy trying to manipulate an Indra reincarnation.

He would consider this project as a hindrance that is distracting him from reuniting with his mother.

This should instead be from someone who didn't exist in the anime or perhaps was not mentioned.

However, this unknown influence should be partnered with Black Zetsu or in the worst-case scenario they have controlled Black Zetsu.

Though Sasuke doesn't think Black Zetsu would be controlled for now at least, as 

'Then what about #293?

Is he still out there?'

The subject who was supposed to be relocated seemed to have been involved in an attack on the facility or he had escaped...

Sasuke then began to connect the lab's contents with the other variables he had observed previously, he wanted to find any possible links between them.

'Prophecy, book, lab

Prophecy, book, lab

Prophecy, book, lab

Prophecy, book...'

As Sasuke repeated these words in his head, theories slowly started to emerge from within his head.

'The prophecy refers to a future Otsutsuki threat which will most likely be different from the one from Boruto considering how this prophecy wasn't present in the anime.

The book also hints at an unknown Otsutsuki presence in the ninja world well before the Otsutsuki were even introduced in the anime.

Considering the connection to the Otsutsuki in the prior two discoveries, this lab should also be associated with the Otsutsuki...'

Soon, Sasuke's eyes burst out with an unprecedented brightness as something began to click in his mind.

'There is only one explanation for this that I can think of.

An unknown Otsutsuki has arrived in the ninja world and has been trying to achieve something.

This something must have to do with the previous experiment in the lab.

However, there is an issue with that theory.

If there is an unknow Otsutsuki about, why is everything else so similar to my memories of the anime?

Shouldn't there be greater amounts of change?

Unless...'

Someone is guiding the events of the world along a predetermined path

Sasuke's eyes widened with realization as his breath caught.

He felt a chill running down his spine as the pieces of the puzzle started to fit together- the source of the variables he found may be much more important than he had previously thought.

"I guess I should look into this soon...

An unknown force manipulating the course of events within the ninja world?

If true, I do wonder why?"

Sasuke thought aloud to himself, his voice echoing within the walls of the lonely underground lab.

However, a certain line in the prophecy suddenly reverberated in his mind.

'The Otsutsuki's wrath, like a storm, shall break, In the flames of Indra, a God shall wake'

Those final words could be interpreted in numerous ways however, Sasuke thought about his previous discoveries and the words of the prophecy- a new idea began to form in his mind.

"Godhood?!"

Was that the aim of the experiments?

However, Sasuke soon shot the idea down for the time being as that was merely a conjecture for now with little evidence.

Furthermore, he simply didn't understand what a 'God' in this world would even mean.

Sasuke believes that Kaguya could be considered a God by most people in this world as she wielded cataclysmic levels of power.

On the other hand, some may also argue that Hagoromo was a God due to his chakra manifestation remaining for over a thousand years. 

Then some may consider the Shinigami a God due to its dominance over souls and its influence over death.

The term 'God' is simply too vague for Sasuke to definitively ascertain the objectives of this unknown influence.

"I shouldn't try and make such an extreme guess without sufficient evidence...

For now at least..."

He then had to stop his thoughts from wandering down the path of several convoluted conspiracy theories, as he thought about what he should be doing next.

'I guess I should start step two of my plan. I didn't come over here simply for the illusory chance at getting a White Zetsu clone.'

The second objective he had by coming to Kusagakure soon began to occupy his mind.

Within Kusagakure itself, there is something he wants.

Or more specifically someone...

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Time swiftly passed and the quietude of the night soon enveloped Kusagakure, as the moonlight softly illuminated a humble little residence in the outskirts of the village.

Within the house, a little girl sat on a small bed curled up her body and vacantly stared out of the window beside her.

Crimson hair framed the little girl's face, and behind a pair of black glasses, her eyes mirroring the hue of her hair, glistened like rubies under the illumination of the moonlight.

She donned a dark, purple shirt that had a brown collar and wore a pair of light brown trousers.

As she gazed out of the window, the serene silhouette of the moon reflected in her eyes that hid behind her glasses.

"Mother..."

As she uttered those words under her breath, a teardrop slowly streaked down her face. 

The little girl began to shiver as she understood that she was alone in this world, her mother had gone for good. 

From now on she was simply a portable med kit for those hateful ninjas from the village.

Remembering her role in the village her shivering worsened as she looked at her fair arms, visible due to the soft glow of the moonlight.

Her fair arms, meant to be untouched at her tender age, were marred by several bite marks that stretched across her arms.

Her gaze silently flickered across her arm as thoughts began to circulate in her mind.

'Come on, kill yourself. It's not like anyone else is here to care about you.'

'What about those ninjas who caused your mother's death...

Don't you want revenge?'

Before she could continue her thoughts the memory of her mother soon echoed in her ears, 

"I'm so sorry, Karin.

Mother has to go.

I wanted to be with you for so much longer, I wanted to watch you grow up, I wanted to see you accomplish your dreams, and I wanted to you start your own family...

But before I go.

Please promise me one thing.

Live...

Please live on..."

Those softly spoken words by her mother moments before she left, were the only thing the child had to live for.

As Karin was preoccupied with the chaotic thoughts in her mind she was unprepared when she sensed a new chakra signature, rapidly closing in on where she was.

'When was there such a huge chakra signature in this village?'

Karin was utterly confused as she noticed the size of this chakra signature, she was also certain this didn't belong to someone from the village.

So who was it?

It didn't take long before she sensed that the chakra signature stood outside of her door.

'Am I going to get kidnapped?'

Frustration and anger clawed at her mind as she thought about her life most likely moving from one hell to another.

'They'll probably use me just like the people here...

I mean what other reason could there be?'

Yet, before she could steady her racing thoughts, confusion soon gripped her.

The door creaked open, revealing a figure of short stature—its face concealed behind an eerie wolf-shaped mask.

This wasn't what she had expected.

Instead of some scary middle-aged ninja what appeared before was a child who was most likely no older than her.

How could he be the chakra signature she sensed?

"Who... Who are you?"

Karin's words weakly reverberated within her room but were met with silence.

Before she could say anything else, she met a pair of scarlet eyes that glowed behind the eerie mask.