With the Zero-Tails' evolution fully complete and his power secured, Kei quietly reopened the doors of the Sanatorium. He now possessed the strength he needed to execute his grand design; all he lacked was the perfect opportunity. So, he waited.
During this quiet period, Nonō Yakushi finally woke from her fever. Her body still required extensive rest, so she remained safely hidden within the underground ward. Stepping outside was out of the question; Danzo was undoubtedly tearing the continent apart searching for them. But the old war hawk would never dream that his missing targets were resting comfortably right under his nose, deep within the Leaf Village itself.
With his mother safely recovering, Kabuto finally breathed a heavy sigh of relief and threw himself into his new role. He began devouring the scrolls containing Orochimaru's notes on human experimentation.
It quickly became terrifyingly clear why the Sannin had valued the boy so highly. Kabuto had only possessed a foundational understanding of medical ninjutsu, but his mind absorbed the dark, twisted science of vivisection at an impossible speed. Within weeks, he was already capable of conducting basic procedures in the lab. It wouldn't be long before he became the flawless surgical assistant Kei desperately needed.
While Kei's operation grew stronger in the shadows, Shisui was busy carving a bloody path through the outside world.
Over the past few months, the blind Uchiha had flawlessly resurrected the legend of "Shisui of the Body Flicker," tying the terrifying moniker directly to the mask of the Avengers. Despite lacking his Sharingan, Shisui's raw speed and lethal instincts made him an absolute nightmare in the underground exchange. He had claimed dozens of high-value bounties.
Today was the scheduled rendezvous. Kei and Shisui had agreed to meet once a month to transfer the bounty funds and exchange intelligence. For absolute security, they never met inside the village walls. Their designated drop point was the Valley of the End.
Sitting cross-legged on a massive boulder near the roaring waterfall, Kei waited patiently. Soon, a dark blur flickered through the trees, and Shisui landed lightly in front of him.
Without a word, Shisui tossed a heavy, bloodstained bag of gold onto the rock.
Kei caught it smoothly, weighing the impressive fortune in his hand. "Your physical condition seems to have improved significantly," Kei noted with a warm smile. "Hunting in the wild has clearly sharpened your edge."
Shisui 'looked' at the doctor, his posture suddenly shifting with uncertainty. "If my senses aren't deceiving me... your eyes?"
"Your senses are perfect, as always," Kei chuckled softly. "My sight was fully restored just a few days ago."
"If you are healed, does that mean my debt is paid? Can I finally return to the village?" Shisui asked quickly, eager to return home.
"Not quite yet, my friend. We still require a massive influx of capital," Kei said, casually dismissing the request. "But tell me, hunting rogue ninja shouldn't be giving you much trouble. Has something complicated your mission?"
Shisui's voice turned grim. "Everything was smooth at first. The gold flowed easily. But as the reputation of the Body Flicker grew, unexpected complications arose. Recently, I sensed spies digging into my movements. I suspect you were right; whispers have finally reached Danzo."
"That is wonderful news," Kei smiled. "Making the old hawk sweat in his sleep is exactly what we wanted."
"That isn't the problem," Shisui sighed, crossing his arms. "Danzo isn't the only one looking for me. The underground exchange is a tight market. By claiming so many high-value targets in such a short time, I've disrupted the ecosystem. Other bounty hunters are coming after me."
Kei frowned slightly. He hadn't fully considered the territorial nature of the black market.
"I shook most of them off easily," Shisui continued. "But there is one hunter I simply cannot lose. The man is a monster. He is incredibly strong, and he has been relentlessly hunting me for weeks. It has severely limited how many bounties I can claim."
Hearing the description, Kei immediately knew exactly who was hunting his operative. Only one bounty hunter in the world possessed the power and the sheer, greedy stubbornness to give Shisui a hard time.
"If my instincts are correct," Kei said, his tone turning deadly serious, "the man hunting you is named Kakuzu. He is an S-rank rogue ninja from the Hidden Waterfall, and he currently serves a shadowy organization known as the Akatsuki."
"You must avoid him at all costs. The Akatsuki is a gathering of absolute monsters. We cannot afford to provoke them right now."
Shisui was taken aback. "I have never even heard of them. Are they truly that dangerous?"
"They are walking natural disasters," Kei warned. "I will brief you on their roster later. For now, just remember: engaging the Akatsuki is a fatal error."
Shisui frowned beneath his mask. "That is easy for you to say sitting in a quiet hospital. That man is relentless. If I keep operating as Shisui of the Body Flicker, he will eventually corner me."
Kei tapped his cane against the rock, thinking quickly. "Then you will simply discard the identity. If Kakuzu is hunting Shisui, we will give him someone else."
"And whose name should I use?" Shisui asked. "There are countless angry ghosts in the shinobi world."
Kei's trademark, mocking smile returned. "From this night forward, you will seek your revenge under the name of Orochimaru."
"As an exiled Sannin with countless enemies, it is perfectly reasonable for him to be hunting for blood and gold in the dark," Kei reasoned.
"Is that truly a wise idea?" Shisui asked, taking a slow breath. "Isn't Orochimaru your former master?"
"I highly doubt Sensei would mind," Kei chuckled, a mischievous glint in his newly restored eyes. "As his devoted student, is it not my duty to ensure his terrifying reputation remains alive and well?"
Internally, Kei couldn't help but find the setup deeply amusing. If Kakuzu reported to the Akatsuki that 'Orochimaru' was stealing his bounties... the real Orochimaru, who was likely currently serving in that exact same organization, would be furious and utterly confused.
Shisui fell silent. He could sense the dark amusement rolling off Kei and felt a deep sense of unease. He knew the doctor was playing a very dangerous game.
"I will wear his name if it keeps me alive," Shisui finally agreed. "But I am warning you, Kei. If this Akatsuki organization comes looking for Orochimaru, I am not going to die defending his honor. I will run."
It was darkly ironic. Years ago, Shisui had been the one to personally expose Orochimaru's horrific experiments to the village. Now, he was forced to wear the snake's skin just to survive.
"Of course, Shisui. If you cross paths with an Akatsuki member, you retreat immediately. Your Body Flicker will keep you safe," Kei assured him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "Your only task is to spread Orochimaru's name into the wind. Let the rumors do the rest."
"Then we have an agreement. Let the snake pay back some of the debt he owes the village," Shisui nodded in satisfaction, preparing to leave.
"Good. You should depart now," Kei said, his voice suddenly dropping to a freezing, lethal whisper. He turned his pale gaze toward the dense treeline overlooking the waterfall. "But be more careful next time. You failed to shake all the flies off your back."
"I will deal with the trash."
Shisui's senses flared, finally confirming the hidden presence in the woods. He frowned, angry with himself for missing the tail, but he didn't argue. With a swirl of leaves, the dark avenger vanished into the night.