Chapter 184

Kato Dan—Tsunade's original romantic partner and a highly skilled elite Jonin of Konoha.

He possessed an exceptional jutsu: the Spirit Transformation Technique. This technique allowed the user to separate their spiritual energy from their body and manifest it as a spirit form capable of engaging in combat. Its power transcended the bounds of conventional ninjutsu.

To Orochimaru, this technique resembled the out-of-body spiritual combat found in mythology, where the soul itself could be used as a weapon. Impressive? Certainly. Unbeatable? Not at all.

In his analytical eyes, it was just another technique, one that manipulated spiritual energy into a tangible form. With enough mental strength, countering such a move was entirely feasible. After all, even souls could be subdued. Consider the Human Path of the Rinnegan: capable of ripping out the soul itself. Facing such power, a user of the Spirit Transformation Technique would only be presenting their essence as a target.

Despite knowing all of this, Orochimaru never considered Dan a true rival. Why should he? Tsunade had already chosen him. There was no reason to concern himself with Dan's ambitions or motivations.

But after observing Dan's behavior at the last Jonin meeting, Orochimaru combined these observations with his memories and came to a peculiar conclusion.

Dan aspired to be Hokage.

What? Dan, aiming for the position of Hokage? It seemed like an odd leap in logic, but in Konoha, wasn't having such a dream common? Didn't he openly express this ambition in the original storyline?

Yes, having dreams of becoming Hokage was normal. The title was the pinnacle of honor for any ninja. But was it truly that simple?

For a child to say they wanted to be Hokage? That was expected. Every young academy student dreamed big at some point. But once a ninja reached the rank of Jonin, they understood the intricate political machinations and power struggles at play in Konoha's upper echelons. To say that one could easily become Hokage was naïve.

Even a young prodigy like Kakashi knew better by his late teens. So why would a seasoned Jonin like Dan, well into his twenties, believe he could openly chase that dream without understanding the ramifications? It didn't make sense.

If someone like Nawaki voiced such ambitions, it was understandable—he was a Senju, a descendant of the First Hokage. If Naruto declared it, he was the son of the Fourth Hokage, still too young to grasp the complexities of politics. But Kato Dan?

He had no influential background, no powerful connections, no ties to previous Hokages. What made him think he had a shot?

The only logical conclusion Orochimaru could reach was that Dan was using Tsunade to bolster his standing. Gaining Tsunade's favor and, by extension, the goodwill of one of Konoha's most prestigious clans could potentially elevate his political influence. This theory might seem far-fetched to an outsider, but to Orochimaru, the pieces fit together. Otherwise, Dan's actions, both in his memories and current reality, would remain unexplainable.

Why else would Dan risk opposing the majority of Jonin at that meeting just to back Tsunade's proposal? What other reason could there be for expressing such bold aspirations? It all seemed geared toward earning Tsunade's support.

Even Danzo, with all his cunning, didn't dare openly declare his desire for the Hokage position.

Was Dan Orochimaru's enemy? Not at all. Orochimaru didn't see him as a threat worth considering.

---

Despite his calculated demeanor, Orochimaru found himself somewhat indulgent when it came to Tsunade.

The phrase "falling into the gentle embrace" had some truth to it. For most men, no matter how powerful they were on the battlefield, it was easy to become complacent when immersed in a comforting environment.

However, Orochimaru's years as a shinobi had instilled a level of self-discipline that kept him from becoming lax. He knew that too much comfort could dull even the sharpest blade.

---

Three days passed quickly, and the time for Danzo's surgery arrived.

The operation was set to take place in one of Orochimaru's hidden labs on the outskirts of Konoha. The area was heavily guarded by Root operatives, ensuring no interruptions would occur. Inside, Orochimaru prepared to transplant the Sharingan into Danzo while also incorporating cells from the First Hokage.

Unlike simple eye transplants, adding Hashirama's cells introduced a significant layer of complexity. Without the stabilizing abilities of someone like Jugo or the regenerative powers of White Zetsu, the procedure posed considerable challenges.

"Replace my right eye as well. It's no longer effective," Danzo said, lying shirtless on the cold operating table with an unnervingly calm demeanor.

Orochimaru removed the bandage covering Danzo's right eye, noting the damage. "You've used this Sharingan to exhaustion. It's practically depleted."

"When you're training subordinates to be unconditionally loyal, there are sacrifices to be made," Danzo said flatly. "Even Uchiha themselves experience a drain on their eyes every time they use them."

"True. The Sharingan is a finite resource, and it depletes even faster when used by someone who isn't of Uchiha blood," Orochimaru acknowledged.

The Sharingan, whether in its basic one-tomoe form or as a fully evolved Mangekyo, placed immense strain on the body with each use. The more powerful the eye, the more significant the toll. For non-Uchiha users, this drain was even more pronounced.

Danzo's reliance on the eye was clear. To ensure the unwavering loyalty of his operatives, he had frequently employed its hypnotic capabilities, embedding subconscious commands into their minds. This heavy use had taken its toll, rendering the eye nearly useless.

But that was of little concern to Orochimaru. He wasn't one of Danzo's subordinates, so Danzo's actions didn't impact him directly. If Danzo wanted new eyes or new abilities, Orochimaru was there to assist but always on his own terms.

The operating room was well-equipped: scalpels, disinfectant, bright overhead lighting, and trays containing the prepared Sharingan and vials of Hashirama's cells.

"Let's begin," Orochimaru said, his voice steady as he initiated the procedure.

Years of experience made the operation straightforward, even if it had been a while since he'd last performed such complex surgeries. He worked methodically, splicing Hashirama's cells into Danzo's arm and transplanting the Sharingan with precision.

Within hours, the surgery was complete. The first step toward Danzo's creation of a multi-Sharingan arm, an ability he would wield with formidable power was realized a full decade ahead of its time.