Yamato was highly alert. "What do you need these two things for?"
Obito Uchiha glanced at Kimimaro beside Orochimaru. "To cure his Kekkei Genkai disease?"
"You could interpret it that way," the future Orochimaru shrugged. "To be precise, I have a deeper interest in researching this boy's Kekkei Genkai."
White Zetsu might be negotiable, but Hashirama's cells weren't something just anyone could possess.
"Explain in detail," the adult Obito demanded.
The future Orochimaru smiled mysteriously. "In my world, it's said Obito Uchiha died saving Naruto Uzumaki and Kakashi Hatake, killed by an enemy's ability similar to the Shikotsumyaku."
"......."
Obito Uchiha's eyes were lifeless.
"Did I ask you how I died?!"
Though this death seemed rather decent. At least it could be considered atonement.
But the piercing stares coming from all sides made the mastermind behind Akatsuki feel a bit embarrassed.
Orochimaru chuckled a few times, clearly enjoying teasing a big cat.
"Truthfully, I find you quite intriguing—the mastermind behind Akatsuki, the instigator of the Fourth Shinobi World War, former student of Minato Namikaze, and the least valued, most insignificant member of the Uchiha Clan."
Each title landed like a heavy blow.
"What's there to be curious about......"
Kisame and the others could see Obito Uchiha's face stiffen and darken.
But Orochimaru found it amusing. "Though the Sage of Six Paths believed chakra to be an invisible chain linking people and worlds, aside from Edo Tensei, your Mangekyō Sharingan is the only thing I've seen capable of connecting the dead and the living."
"Huh?" Even the Adult Obito Uchiha was momentarily baffled by Orochimaru's meaning.
Orochimaru continued, "After your death, it seems you still couldn't let go of the Sixth Hokage. You even deliberately lent him both of your Mangekyo Sharingan."
Looking at Obito Uchiha's single Sharingan, Orochimaru chuckled softly. "According to the Sixth Hokage's account, an ordinary man like him gained the potential to face the Goddess of the Moon—all because you lent him not only your eye, but also your Susanoo."
Orochimaru's laughter carried a hint of schadenfreude, while Obito Uchiha froze in surprise.
Through Madara Uchiha's memories, he knew what Susanoo was. But possessing only one Sharingan, he had never tested what form or capabilities his own Susanoo might take.
Hearing Orochimaru say that after the other Uchiha died, Susanoo had manifested within Kakashi, Obito felt a complex mix of emotions, unsure how to respond.
"What's the purpose of all this?"
It was Itachi Uchiha who spoke up suddenly.
Based on his understanding of Orochimaru, this man never did anything without purpose, never spoke without meaning. Every action served his ideology. This meant that bringing up these matters concerning the future must also be part of his plan.
Orochimaru didn't deny it. "You're discussing how to deal with Black Zetsu. It's actually quite simple." He fixed his gaze on Itachi. "Wasn't your Susanoo created precisely for this purpose?"
"?!?"
Obito Uchiha turned to Itachi Uchiha. "You can already wield Susanoo?" He and Black-and-White Zetsu had been monitoring him constantly, yet they hadn't noticed.
Honestly, this older brother of Sasuke's was incredibly deep!
This was a secret Itachi had intended to keep hidden as his trump card, yet the future Orochimaru somehow knew.
Under Itachi's intense gaze, Orochimaru made no attempt to conceal his knowledge. "I once died under the power of your Susanoo. But judging by your physical condition, using that power once would likely send half your body into the coffin, wouldn't it?"
Itachi remained silent. It seemed Orochimaru's assessment was accurate.
Orochimaru: "I advise you not to do this. Obito Uchiha finally abandoned the Eye of the Moon Plan, which nearly turned the entire Ninja World into nothingness. Don't make your brother its successor."
"....."
Obito: Can't you be more tactful?
Itachi: "....." Just stay away from Sasuke, thank you.
"I can give you a White Zetsu," Obito said. His Kamui's Dimension still held numerous White Zetsu, and he knew Black Zetsu had been secretly increasing their numbers. Whenever needed, he could simply retrieve them from there—a virtually endless supply.
Orochimaru shrugged. "What about Hashirama's cells? You don't need permission from the First and Second Hokage to extract them from your body."
Obito looked past Orochimaru to Jiraiya behind him. "Bringing him here means you approve of his actions?"
Jiraiya's gaze darkened. "I wouldn't say I approve or disapprove. I just heard about the future of another world. There are things I intend to discuss with Minato upon returning." But the First, Second, and even the Fourth Hokage—his own disciple, Minato Namikaze—had been revived? This was truly beyond his expectations.
…
"You need my cells?"
"I refuse!"
Upon arriving at the Missing-nin lodging and hearing Orochimaru's demands, the First and Second Hokage—the two with the most authority—spoke simultaneously.
Orochimaru argued with a faint, mocking smile. "Now that even Danzō Shimura and Obito Uchiha possess Hashirama's cells, surely the child behind me deserves a share too?"
Tobirama Senju retorted, "Danzō Shimura will be dealt with by me and my elder brother shortly. As for Obito Uchiha, whether it's the elder or the younger, he is now considered Obito Uchiha of Konoha. What right does that Sound ninja behind you have to possess my elder brother's cells?!"
The wise among them understood the Second Hokage's meaning. Born in the Warring States Period, one of the founders of the ninja villages, integrating powerful Kekkei Genkai into the village was almost ingrained in the consciousness of this white haired Hokage.
"Oh my, you're still the same old opportunist." Orochimaru shrugged. "Though in your era I belong to Otogakure, in the future I'll be a Konoha researcher. My research—including this child I've raised—should rightfully belong to Konoha if he survives. So really, it's just using Konoha's medical resources on a Konoha child. What's wrong with that?"
While shifting the focus, Orochimaru positioned himself as part of Konoha, and the Kimimaro he had created as Konoha's Kimimaro. Given this, the Second Hokage seemed to have loosened his stance slightly.
Yamato grew a bit cautious. "Wasn't it said that the final enemy of the Fourth Shinobi World War possessed this kind of Kekkei Genkai? Could this youth named Kimimaro become like that Goddess of the Moon?"
"It won't come to that." The speaker was Tobirama Senju. He explained, "I've heard that the Goddess herself only became cold and ruthless after consuming the Chakra Fruit while wielding the powers of the Sharingan and Rinnegan." Thus, the greatest concern likely wasn't the Shikotsumyaku, but rather the Sharingan and the Uchiha.
Sasuke, Itachi, Obito, and the others were speechless. How could the Second Hokage-sama manage to tie everything back to them in just a few sentences? Hashirama gave them an awkward, apologetic smile. His little brother, huh...
The Second Hokage's intelligence came entirely from Hamura Otsutsuki. It was said that the ancient Kaguya Otsutsuki had once yearned for peace and tranquility, but after tasting the bitterness of despair, she had become utterly extreme.
Satisfied that he could obtain White Zetsu and Hashirama's cells, Orochimaru turned his attention to discussing the mission concerning Kabuto Yakushi.
"I'm now quite interested in the person issuing these mission scrolls," Orochimaru remarked. "He possesses a deep understanding of each of your personalities, your current circumstances, and how you make decisions when faced with challenges. Not only that, but he also has complete knowledge of everything happening in our world."
"What do you mean?" Tobirama Senju frowned slightly.
Minato from the Kannabi Bridge Timeline echoed his words: "He knows everything happening in other parallel worlds too..."
"That's exactly right," Orochimaru said after a moment's thought, making no attempt to hide his analysis. "The other party knew from the start that Obito was the masked man. He also knew that in another world, the one who persuaded Obito to return was Naruto. That's why he assigned Naruto and young Obito those specific SSS-rank missions."
"They also knew about the Nine-Tails incident, the Chūnin Exams, the destruction of Konoha, and the Fourth Shinobi World War."
Minato from the Kannabi Bridge Timeline added, "After multiple time travels, I realized that the worlds we repeatedly reached functioned like a main timeline. Our presence caused that main timeline to branch into different parallel worlds."
"Who could know all this and have the motive to do such things?" Orochimaru pondered, tapping his chin. "At least to me, his purpose seems more benevolent than malevolent."
"Huh?" Obito Uchiha protested.
"You call making me eat six hundred billion red bean cakes benevolent?!"
He was seething with resentment over this!
Orochimaru shrugged. "It's not like it was six hundred billion explosive tags. What's the big deal?"
"Easy for you to say! You help me eat them?!"
"I dislike sweets and hate cold food. No thanks."
"Hmph!"
"Oh my, the former leader of Akatsuki, now back to his true self, is surprisingly simple-minded."
"Shut up and get to the point!" The Adult Obito snapped, his embarrassment turning to anger.
"Fine," Orochimaru shrugged. "During the Fourth Shinobi World War..."
The others knew he was referring to the Fourth Shinobi World War in their world.
Orochimaru continued: "The mastermind was Obito Uchiha. The accomplice was Kabuto Yakushi."
(Damn it!) Kabuto froze!
Having consistently downplayed his presence, he never imagined his counterpart from another world could be an accomplice in the Fourth Shinobi World War?
"Just two people? Instigating the Fourth Shinobi World War? Against an enemy that's the entire shinobi world united as the Allied Shinobi Forces?"
"That's why I said whoever issued this mission knows everything that happened in our world. Because..."
"Kabuto used the Edo Tensei Reincarnation Jutsu to single-handedly wipe out half the Allied Shinobi Forces."
"!!"
"What?!!"
All eyes turned to the defector lodging, where the seemingly weakest and most inconspicuous Kabuto Yakushi sat.
Yamato swallowed hard.
"This place really is full of hidden talents, huh."
"Eh?" Orochimaru chuckled. "Didn't I tell you? The reason you never went back to the village and were always watching me was because you got caught up in Kabuto's and Obito Uchiha's scheme. Thanks to your Wood Release abilities, you ended up disguised as 'Tobi,' becoming an unwitting part of their plan. You were even a hidden 'mini-boss' during the Fourth Shinobi World War, weren't you?"
"..........."
Everyone turned to look at Yamato...
It was a story too complicated to tell in a single sentence.