"...You crave my aunt, and I crave your brain."
Behind Orochimaru, a sly smile appeared on Uchiha Kai's small face.
Putting everything else aside, Orochimaru's brain was undeniably useful.
Among the few true scientists in the Naruto world—and the most devoted one at that—his mind was filled with knowledge that few others possessed.
So the moment Kai saw Orochimaru, he had already decided.
He would not let him leave.
Or rather, he would not let him leave so easily.
Of course, negotiation still required a certain level of artistry.
Without hesitation, Kai laid out his two conditions.
Sure enough, Orochimaru's eyes immediately lit up.
Cold snake eyes?
No.
They looked more like the clear, pure eyes of an excited university student—just belonging to a snake.
"Hiss… Kai-kun, are you serious?"
Orochimaru flicked his tongue across his lips as he turned to look at Kai in disbelief.
"You would really let me research the Shinigami's arm?"
"Of course."
Kai waved casually.
He wrapped the severed Shinigami arm with the Infinite Lock, then tossed it over.
"Orochimaru-senpai, after all… I'm someone who truly believes in science."
Believes in science?
Hearing that, Orochimaru's mouth twitched slightly.
He didn't quite understand the exact meaning of the phrase, but he could guess its intent.
Still…
You just tore off a Shinigami's arm a moment ago.
And now you're saying you believe in science?
Do you even hear yourself?
Orochimaru complained silently in his mind, but his face still wore that sinister smile.
"So then, Kai-kun… what exactly do you want me to do?"
"I'd like to invite you to become the Director of the Konoha Joint Council Research Institute," Kai said.
"You'll be responsible for researching whatever interests you."
"Konoha will support you with everything it has—including but not limited to bloodline limits from the Five Great Villages."
"And the same goes for the Daimyō of the Five Great Nations."
"You may invite them for your experiments as well."
Hearing this, Orochimaru's eyes grew even brighter.
But doubt still lingered.
"The Daimyō of the Five Nations? They're all extremely cautious with their lives. They wouldn't…"
"Others might fail to invite them," Kai interrupted casually.
"But my methods are different."
Kai waved his hand confidently.
With the White Zetsu army, conquering the Five Nations themselves was already within his capability.
The only reason he hadn't done it was because governing them afterward would be too troublesome.
Orochimaru nodded.
He believed that part.
Of course, the clever snake also heard the hidden message behind Kai's words:
Even the Daimyō of the Five Nations can be handled. Don't be foolish.
Fortunately, Orochimaru was not someone who failed to understand such hints.
Aside from occasionally misjudging things related to the Rinnegan or Sharingan, his instincts were usually excellent.
After a moment of hesitation, he was clearly tempted.
Seeing this, Kai grinned and continued.
"And I'll assist you in continuing research on Hashirama's cells."
"The Nine Tailed Beasts will also be available for study."
The Nine Tailed Beasts.
Hashirama's cells.
Those words struck straight at Orochimaru's heart.
He had always wanted to research them.
But acquiring them had been too difficult.
Now someone was telling him he could study them freely?
What reason did he have to refuse?
"Very well," Orochimaru said slowly.
"But I don't want to stay inside the village."
"And… in the Sound Village I've taken in several war orphans."
"No problem."
Kai waved his hand toward the direction of the Forest of Death.
"A new Konoha is already under construction."
"You can choose any land you want there."
"When it's finished, that place will be called the Konoha Commune."
Meanwhile, the emotions on opposite sides of the crater were entirely different.
On one side, the conversation was lively.
On the other side, Hashirama Senju stood quietly at the edge of the pit.
His gaze lingered on the spot where Tobirama had disappeared.
He could no longer feel his brother's presence.
Not even the faintest trace.
"…Sigh."
The legendary God of Shinobi, who once dominated the world decades ago, now looked unexpectedly weary.
He lowered his head and looked at his own body.
Cracks spread across it like a spiderweb.
More like a delicate porcelain statue riddled with fractures.
In some places the surface had already begun to crumble, revealing gray dust beneath.
Using True Several Thousand Hands again was now impossible.
The immense Sage Chakra consumption had pushed this unstable body to its limits.
Hashirama exhaled deeply.
"Tobirama… little monkey…"
His voice was heavy.
After speaking, his gaze shifted to the place where the Third Hokage had vanished.
Finally it settled on the young boy across the crater.
Uchiha Kai.
His eyes were complicated.
There was sorrow for his fallen brother and student.
Concern for the souls dragged into the unknown.
And also…
A trace of wariness toward Kai's unfathomable strength.
"…Hah."
He shook his head, trying to clear those thoughts.
Since when did Hashirama Senju worry about someone else's power?
Wasn't it always others worrying about his?
Now…
The roles had reversed.
He sighed and stepped across the crater.
No matter what, he needed to speak with that Uchiha boy.
Suddenly—
Two figures crawled out of the rubble ahead.
One tall.
One short.
One injured.
One elderly.
The tall one carried the smaller old man in his arms.
The strange combination made Hashirama stare twice.
Especially when he saw Ōnoki.
Why did this old man feel strangely familiar?
Could he be… one of his relatives?
"F-First Hokage-sama!"
Ōnoki and the other man immediately bowed deeply.
After all, even their fathers had once looked up to Hashirama.
Even if today's battle had damaged his dignity somewhat—
His status remained unchanged.
"Oh! Juniors!" Hashirama laughed loudly while scratching his head.
"You two… one so dark, one so short…"
"I don't remember Konoha having a clan like that."
Raikage A: …
Tsuchikage Ōnoki: …
Both of them silently died inside.
There was no way to explain.
Were they supposed to admit they had tried to invade during the chaos—
Only to be captured by a ten-year-old boy and forced into labor?
If that story spread, even the dead would laugh back to life.
At that moment—
A powerful surge of Lightning Chakra burst from the distance.
Accompanied by thunderous shouting, the Fourth Raikage, A, suddenly panicked.
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