Chapter : 84

Outside a small town near the Hidden Mist Village, Tsunade and Shizune were walking along a forested path. They had been moving through the surrounding towns, following whispers and rumors in search of Orochimaru.

According to their sources, Orochimaru might have his sights set on something within Kirigakure, meaning he could be operating nearby.

Suddenly, Tsunade stopped in her tracks, her sharp senses picking up something unusual. Her amber eyes narrowed as she turned her gaze to the left.

"Who's there?" she demanded, her voice firm and filled with caution.

In response, a figure slowly emerged from the ground, stepping out into the open. The person was a strikingly beautiful woman with long, silky black hair and an air of confidence. Her slightly masculine clothing only emphasized her sharp features.

"Tsunade," the woman said, her voice tinged with amusement. "It's been a long time."

Tsunade's eyes narrowed further. "You know me? Who are you?"

The woman smiled slyly. "You don't recognize me? Then maybe this will jog your memory." Reaching up, she touched her face. A subtle ripple coursed through her features, revealing the pale, familiar face of Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru..." Tsunade's voice hardened, her tone shifting from confusion to anger. Her eyes widened momentarily before narrowing again in suspicion. "So, you've completed it—the Reincarnation Jutsu?"

The face of the woman from earlier wasn't a transformation jutsu; it was the true face of the body Orochimaru now inhabited. This realization sent a chill down Tsunade's spine.

"Indeed, I have." Orochimaru's voice carried a mixture of pride and madness. "The jutsu is complete. I have achieved what others could only dream of—eternal life."

"You're insane," Tsunade spat, her fists clenching tightly at her sides. Her mind reeled at the implications of Orochimaru's completed jutsu. The cruelty required to perfect such a technique was beyond comprehension.

"Insanity, Tsunade? No, this is freedom." Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with fervor. "Ordinary people are so fragile, destined to perish like your precious Nawaki and Dan. But I am no longer bound by mortality."

Tsunade's entire body tensed. "Don't you dare bring them into this."

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to regain her composure. "Orochimaru, I have a question for you. What's your connection to the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja?"

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "Ah, so that's why you're here. I see... However, I must disappoint you, Tsunade. That individual has no connection to me."

Tsunade studied him carefully. She knew Orochimaru well—his pride wouldn't allow him to lie about such matters. But if the Wood Release ninja wasn't connected to him, then how did they come to possess Hashirama's power?

"It's true," Orochimaru continued, a curious glint in his eye. "That individual's understanding of Hashirama's cells far surpasses mine. I would be most interested in meeting them one day. Imagine the knowledge we could exchange."

"Enough!" Tsunade snapped, her voice cutting through Orochimaru's musings. "How dare you speak of my grandfather's cells so casually? You've gone too far, Orochimaru."

She stomped the ground with enough force to send cracks radiating outward like spiderwebs. The earth beneath Orochimaru shifted violently, but he nimbly jumped aside.

"Tsunade, you're as fiery as ever." Orochimaru smirked. "But I'll have you know—I didn't steal your grandfather's body."

Tsunade froze, her glare intensifying. "What do you mean?"

Orochimaru chuckled. "The one you should be angry with is Danzo. He stole Hashirama's remains long ago, seeking to unlock the secrets of Wood Release. But alas, his results were... unimpressive. That's when he came to me."

"Danzo..." Tsunade's voice trembled with barely restrained rage. Her fists clenched tightly, and she took a deep, shuddering breath. "I'll deal with him later. But you... I won't let you walk away unscathed."

"Are you sure you want to fight me?" Orochimaru's voice turned low and mocking. "Your hemophobia isn't gone yet, is it? Besides, this is the Hidden Mist's territory. A fight here will attract unwanted attention."

Tsunade hesitated, her logic battling her fury. Orochimaru smiled and sank into the earth using an Earth Release technique, disappearing from sight.

***

Meanwhile, deep within the residence of the Kaguya clan, Uchiha Fugaku had infiltrated undetected using the Mayfly Technique. Swimming through the ground, he emerged in a secluded courtyard.

The yard was well-guarded, but his target sat inside—a tall, dark-skinned old man with broad shoulders and a commanding presence despite his advanced age. His white hair hinted at a long and storied history within the Kaguya clan.

"This will do," Fugaku murmured to himself, activating his Mangekyō Sharingan.

The old man, startled by the sudden presence, locked eyes with Fugaku. Before he could react, the hypnotic power of the Sharingan took hold. His gaze turned dull, and his body slumped slightly as he succumbed to Fugaku's genjutsu.

Fugaku created a soundproof barrier to ensure no one overheard their interaction.

"Is the Kaguya clan preparing for a coup?" Fugaku asked.

"Yes," the old man replied in a monotone voice, his expression blank.

Fugaku smirked. So the information was correct. The Kaguya clan is walking straight into their demise.

"When will the coup take place?" he continued.

"Five days from now, at night."

Fugaku's smirk deepened. Good. I don't have to wait long.

"Now," he said, his tone sharp, "give me the scroll containing the Corpse Vein Ninjutsu."

The old man's face twitched as if struggling to resist the command. Sensing this, Fugaku reinforced the genjutsu with a stronger surge of his Mangekyō Sharingan. The man's resistance crumbled.

Slowly, the old man stood and moved to a hidden compartment in the wall. He retrieved a scroll marked with the words Corpse Vein Ninjutsu and handed it to Fugaku.

Satisfied, Fugaku stored the scroll and sank back into the ground using the Mayfly Technique, vanishing without a trace.

Shortly after Fugaku's departure, the old man blinked and shook his head. "Strange... I must've dozed off." He rubbed his temples, oblivious to what had just transpired.

Back at his hideout, Fugaku unfurled the scroll, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. The secrets of the Kaguya clan... He smiled coldly, his mind racing with the possibilities.

(End of this chapter)

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