Shisui had never elaborated on his ocular jutsu, only mentioning that it was a form of genjutsu.
The Third Hokage chuckled. "Shisui once planned to use Kotoamatsukami to prevent a potential coup within his clan."
"And then Danzo stole his eye?"
News of Danzo taking Shisui's eye had spread throughout the entire ninja world.
The Third was momentarily speechless before continuing, "What I mean is, Kotoamatsukami is the ultimate genjutsu. It can invade another's mind without their notice and alter their will."
"The jutsu is immensely powerful, allowing the user to control a target without them ever realizing it."
Orochimaru's expression turned grave. He hadn't known Kotoamatsukami was so potent. The Third Hokage's unspoken implication was clear.
"Old man, what are you suggesting?"
"When did you get involved with the Uchiha? Why did you choose to cooperate with them? Does any part of it feel… wrong to you?"
"I understand, old man…"
The line went silent on Orochimaru's end. The communication toad indicated that he had already left.
Jiraiya, who had been listening nearby, was stunned. "Old man, are you saying Orochimaru is being manipulated by the Uchiha?"
The Third Hokage lit his pipe and took a puff. "We can't rule out the possibility. We are talking about Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, after all."
..
Orochimaru rushed back to his base, his mind racing as he retraced the steps that led to his alliance with the Uchiha.
The Uchiha were exceptionally reliable. The Uchiha were trustworthy allies.
How had this near-instinctive trust formed?
As a scientist, Orochimaru's capacity for logical reasoning was formidable. Setting aside all emotional factors, he began to dissect the situation and immediately found inconsistencies. He had no prior dealings with the Uchiha, so why had he suddenly placed so much faith in their clan? He had even treated the Uchiha family with the utmost sincerity.
A man as suspicious as himself would never trust anyone so completely.
Without another word, Orochimaru summoned Shisui.
Upon entering the room, Shisui bowed respectfully to Orochimaru. Although he was controlling Orochimaru with Kotoamatsukami, the control was more akin to deepening his trust in the Uchiha clan. Shisui had always held Orochimaru in high regard.
Orochimaru's face was dark. "Shisui, tell me about your Mangekyo Sharingan's ocular jutsu. What exactly is the extent of Kotoamatsukami's power?"
Shisui paused for a moment. "Lord Orochimaru, you've realized?"
"My ocular jutsu is called Kotoamatsukami. It can directly enter a target's mind without them being aware of it."
"So, you admit it?" Orochimaru's gaze was hazy, his slitted pupils filled with a dangerous glint.
Shisui remained calm. "Lord Kawasaki once said that control through Kotoamatsukami would eventually be exposed. When that day comes, it's best to be direct."
After Kotoamatsukami alters someone's will, the chakra doesn't linger. It can only be detected wrapping around the brain at the moment of activation. Once the deed is done and the target's consciousness has been successfully influenced, the chakra vanishes. If the manipulation is ever revealed, a target with keen analytical skills can deduce that something is amiss.
In Orochimaru's case, Kotoamatsukami hadn't altered his perception or implanted false memories. It had merely fast-tracked his relationship with Kawasaki, rapidly bridging the gap from acquaintance to trusted confidant.
Seeing Shisui's completely unguarded demeanor, Orochimaru waved a hand dismissively and turned his back to him. "Get Kawasaki back here now! I need to ask him about this face-to-face."
If it weren't for the years of genuine respect shown by Itachi and Shisui, and the fact that Kawasaki had consistently treated him as an equal partner, he would have already turned on them.
Shisui didn't understand how Orochimaru had learned about Kotoamatsukami, but he remembered Kawasaki's warning: if this day ever came, he must not show any apprehension toward Orochimaru. To do so would be suicide. This was why Shisui could remain so composed. He didn't know what the future held, but his immediate task was to summon Kawasaki.
Shisui bit his finger hard. "Summoning Jutsu!"
With a puff of smoke, a crow appeared on the ground. Shisui then took out the reverse summoning scroll Kawasaki had prepared for him long ago.
"Reverse Summoning Jutsu!"
"Caw… Caw…"
Amidst the crow's calls, another puff of smoke erupted, and Kawasaki's figure appeared.
"Whoa! What's all the fuss about, Shisui? Why'd you summon me so suddenly?" Kawasaki was still holding a letter of reply from the Sand Village.
Shisui lowered his head. "My apologies, senior. It was Lord Orochimaru who asked me to summon you."
Kawasaki's gaze shifted to the grim-faced Orochimaru, who had turned to face him. Understanding dawned on him, and he waved a hand, dismissing Shisui.
Shisui glanced at Kawasaki, then at Orochimaru, his expression complicated as he withdrew. Orochimaru did not stop him.
…
"Orochimaru, what's going on?"
Orochimaru's face was like stone. "Was it you who had Shisui use Kotoamatsukami on me?"
Kawasaki nodded, replying matter-of-factly, "Yes."
Orochimaru was almost amused by Kawasaki's bluntness. "You admit it so readily."
"Winning your trust would have been far too time-consuming," Kawasaki said with a helpless sigh. "I believe mutual suspicion is a waste of time. While I did use Kotoamatsukami on you, it was only to bypass the process of building trust. After all, I've always considered you a partner."
Orochimaru's expression softened slightly. "And you weren't afraid I'd find out?"
Kawasaki stepped forward and clapped a hand on Orochimaru's shoulder. "There's a saying: 'Judge the deed, not the thought. If we judged by thought, no one would be blameless.' Besides, who else in this world is qualified to handle my research projects besides you? Time is short. Isn't it more efficient to skip the trust-building phase?"
Orochimaru scoffed and shrugged off Kawasaki's hand. "Then is your ability to see the future fake?"
Kawasaki shook his head. "That part is real. Otherwise, why would I have gone to such lengths to partner with you? I couldn't find another pure scientist like you in this world. No one can compare to your research capabilities."
These words weren't mere flattery; Kawasaki truly believed them. While others relied on bloodlines, backgrounds, or power, Orochimaru alone relied on science.
Though Orochimaru wasn't one to be easily swayed by praise, he could feel the sincerity in Kawasaki's admiration. The lingering resentment in his heart began to dissipate. This Kawasaki fellow certainly had good judgment.
Still, Orochimaru couldn't let him off so easily without losing face. He put on a stern expression. "How do you intend to answer for this?"
"Well…" Kawasaki's eyes darted about, sensing that Orochimaru was no longer truly angry about the Kotoamatsukami incident. Their years of collaboration had been fruitful, after all. The research projects and new directions Kawasaki brought had captivated Orochimaru, and much of his advanced knowledge had come from Kawasaki's insights. But appearances had to be maintained.
"How about this? First, we... and then I'll have him become your subordinate as my apology," Kawasaki proposed, outlining his idea.
Orochimaru's eyes lit up. "Really!?"
Kawasaki shrugged. "Have I ever joked about such things?"
"Is this another one of your abilities?"
"I can only do it once," Kawasaki replied. "But if you could replicate it, that would be truly remarkable."
Orochimaru had grown accustomed to Kawasaki's endless stream of surprises, but today's was on another level entirely. "Fine! I agree! If you can do it, I'll consider the matter of Shisui's Kotoamatsukami settled."
Kawasaki grinned. "Don't worry. As long as you solve the problem I left you with last time, it's a done deal."
"The old man has already realized I was under the influence of Kotoamatsukami. How do you plan to handle that?" Orochimaru asked.
Kawasaki stroked his chin. "It's sudden, but now that it's happened, you can just remain on the fence. The Third will still believe the allure of the Hokage's seat is too great for you to ignore."
Orochimaru chuckled at that. While the position of Hokage in Konoha did offer many conveniences, his ultimate ambitions had long since grown beyond what a single village's leadership could provide.
"Obito attacked the Uchiha recently and reclaimed his Sharingan. We need to accelerate our plans."
…
In the Hokage's Office.
"Old man, if you're so worried about Orochimaru being controlled, why did you contact him in the first place?" Jiraiya couldn't understand the Third Hokage's reasoning.
The Third shot him a glare. "Or would you rather be cooped up in Konoha forever?"
Jiraiya chuckled awkwardly. He could handle it for a short while, but staying for too long would drive him stir-crazy. A little embarrassed, he retorted, "If Orochimaru sides with the Uchiha, won't your plan backfire spectacularly?"
"Orochimaru isn't that simple."
Just as the Third finished speaking, Jiraiya's communication toad croaked. "Lord Third, a message from Lord Orochimaru."
The Third nodded, signaling him to connect.
"Old man, for this, I owe you one." Orochimaru's voice came through, sounding as if he had already investigated and resolved the matter.
"Orochimaru, what are your plans now?" the Third asked, probing.
Orochimaru's voice was laced with a deeper meaning. "The Uchiha still have their uses."
The first thing that flashed through the Third's mind was the benefits brought by Kawasaki's restaurant. He quickly shifted his thoughts and asked, "Orochimaru, can you return to the village?"
Jiraiya rolled his eyes, thinking, *Just wait for it. Orochimaru's about to mock you.*
But the expected mockery never came. After a moment of silence, Orochimaru said, "That's impossible. Danzo pinned too much on me back then. The villagers would never accept me. That's all for now…"
The communication was cut. The toad indicated the other party had hung up.
Jiraiya threw up his hands. "Well, old man, looks like your wish won't be coming true."
The Third Hokage's face was unreadable, showing little disappointment, as if Orochimaru's refusal hadn't affected him.
Orochimaru was not to be trifled with. The Uchiha clan would likely have to pay a price. The Third knew Orochimaru well; he was an extreme egoist. As long as it benefited him, he didn't care who his partners were—be it Danzo, the Uchiha, or Konoha itself. It was precisely this lack of principles that made controlling him impossible and was why the position of Fourth Hokage had gone to Minato Namikaze.
But things were different now. The Uchiha were powerful, and besides Jiraiya, Konoha had no one who could stand against a Mangekyo Sharingan. Danzo's ambition was out of control, and there were surely other survivors from that experiment years ago. The prestige of the Hokage title had been waning year by year, and Kawasaki Uchiha's recent move to become clan head revealed his soaring ambition.
Even if they navigated the current crisis, the future looked bleak. If Orochimaru could be brought back, Konoha's strength against the Uchiha would increase. The founding of the Sound Village in the Land of Rice Paddies was a testament to his capabilities. Being manipulated by genjutsu was not a slight Orochimaru would easily forgive.
Even if Orochimaru's relationship with the Uchiha became strained, if he wanted to return, Konoha could offer him everything the Uchiha could and more. His allegiance wouldn't be in question. The power and benefits that came with the Hokage's seat were far beyond what a simple partnership with the Uchiha could provide. The choice seemed obvious.
The Third Hokage was nearly seventy, his energy fading. If he didn't choose a successor soon, would Konoha soon be renamed Uchiha? As long as the Hokage wasn't an Uchiha, he would accept anyone—Orochimaru, Jiraiya, or even Tsunade.
…
Back in the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage changed the subject, inquiring about Obito. "You've been traveling for years. Have you gathered any intelligence from the Land of Water?"
Jiraiya, lounging with one leg propped over the other, thought for a moment. "The Mist Village has seen a surge of rogue ninja these past few years. There are rumors that the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, was being controlled by someone. He was eventually overthrown, and now the Mist is led by the Fifth Mizukage. I hear her name is Mei Terumi, and she's quite beautiful."
The Third pondered this. Could what Kawasaki had said be true? The Land of Water was distant, and he hadn't actively collected intelligence from there. Aside from some scattered information brought back by Ibiki Morino, he had no complete picture. Given Kawasaki's prior claims, the Third had begun to cross-reference and verify all related intelligence. Jiraiya's return was timely. After all, his information network was vast. His books were bestsellers across the ninja world, and many bookstores were more than happy to help him gather information.
"Is the intelligence reliable?" the Third asked, still cautious.
Jiraiya nodded. "It came from Mist rogue ninja on the black market."
The Third paced back and forth. Black market intelligence had a degree of credibility; otherwise, no one would buy it. It seemed Obito was truly a plague upon the ninja world. Years ago, he had caused the Nine-Tails' attack, and later, he had wreaked havoc on the Mist. The Nine-Tails incident caused countless casualties, but the Mist Village's fate was especially tragic, with numerous bloodline clans wiped out. One famed kekkei genkai after another vanished forever from the Land of Water. With so many defections, the nation's strength had been drastically reduced. A new Mizukage may have taken power, but cleaning up such a mess would be an arduous task.
"Naruto was attacked not long ago. His chakra went out of control, forming a chakra cloak. You should probably go see him," the Third Hokage said, troubled. Naruto had been spending more time with Sasuke lately and had stopped confiding in him. He was especially tight-lipped about the details of the attack. The memories of the four Anbu members who died had been read by the Intelligence Division. Naruto had clearly learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu but had never told him. Unfortunately, the memory fragments were incomplete; otherwise, they might have uncovered more of Naruto's secrets.
Now that Jiraiya was back, the seal would not be an issue. Jiraiya could discipline Naruto properly and instill the Will of Fire in him.
"A chakra cloak?"
At these words, Jiraiya's lazy demeanor vanished.
The Third Hokage waved a hand. "Don't worry, the seal has been checked. It's perfectly intact. But you should investigate why the Nine-Tails' chakra is leaking."
Jiraiya's expression grew serious. "Understood. I'll be staying in Konoha for a while."
"Knock, knock, knock!"
A knock on the door surprised the Third. Why were so many important matters arising today? "Come in!"
An Anbu operative entered. Seeing only the Third Hokage and Jiraiya, he reported directly, "Lord Hokage, Lord Jiraiya, Lady Tsunade has returned."
Huh!?
Both the Third Hokage and Jiraiya looked astonished. "Why would she come back? Where is she?"
The Anbu member swallowed nervously as they both stared at him. "Lady Tsunade… she went to the Uchiha compound."
…
Inside the Uchiha territory, Itachi, having received Kawasaki's message, used a reverse summoning jutsu to bring him back from the Sound Village.
Kawasaki had barely returned to the clan when he heard that Tsunade was about to arrive.
"My work is never done," he sighed, then gathered some Uchiha clan members for a quick rehearsal. Although he had been rather blunt with Tsunade in the Land of Iron, she was coming this time as a medical consultant. With so many clansmen present, it was important to show proper respect.
Not long after, Tsunade arrived.
Under Kawasaki's direction, a group of elite Uchiha stood in two lines. As Tsunade appeared, both rows of Uchiha bowed deeply in unison. "Welcome, Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade was taken aback. The formality was unusual, but she recovered quickly. With her esteemed status, she had seen all manner of ceremonies. She just hadn't expected Kawasaki to show her such respect.
Tsunade cleared her throat, composed herself, and walked slowly toward Kawasaki. Behind her, Shizune instinctively straightened her posture.
As Tsunade passed through the lines of Uchiha and reached the main gate, she found Kawasaki already waiting for her.