Feed the genius, and he'll build you a future—or a nightmare.
Rustle—
Sheets of paper drifted from the shadowed center of the tower, gathering beside Pain and reforming into Konan.
As the last strips sealed seamlessly across her face, she asked,
"What's wrong with those two?"
She had just finished handling the village's affairs. On her way back, she saw Orochimaru outside, swallowing pills—
And now Itachi was doing the same on the stairs.
Pain shook his head.
He didn't know.
Even with the Rinnegan—
He couldn't see the cause.
…
Deep into the night—
Three in the morning—
Kamizuki Gen finally returned to Amegakure.
Inside a dim chamber—
Nagato slowly opened his eyes.
He sensed Gen briefly—
Heavy breathing.
Fatigue.
Then—
closed his eyes again.
No further thought.
…
Laboratory.
"Still awake, Snake-san?"
Gen pushed open the steel door.
"Time to get up and take a leak."
Silence.
No response.
Only machines.
He stepped inside.
The Sharingan flickered faintly.
Through subtle chakra traces—
he located the hidden presences instantly.
Orochimaru's subordinates.
Watching.
Waiting.
But the moment they recognized the Akatsuki cloak—
they suppressed everything.
They wouldn't interfere.
Gen moved deeper.
Found Orochimaru—
lying on a sofa.
"Sleeping that soundly?"
He took out the container of salamander liver oil—
about to place it down—
then paused.
Right.
This state…
was his doing.
"Gen…-kun…"
Orochimaru slowly opened his eyes.
Struggled to sit up.
"Snake-san, what happened to you?"
Gen stepped forward—
supporting him.
Concern written clearly on his face.
"…It's nothing."
Orochimaru shook his head.
"Just… tired. Did you obtain it?"
Gen nodded.
Handed over the container.
"Got it. But seriously—rest a bit. Don't skip your meds."
"…."
Orochimaru went silent.
He really was fine.
Just…
exhausted.
"Very well."
He tightened his grip.
"I'll begin immediately."
Gen blinked.
"You don't need rest first?"
A pale smile.
"I'm curious… what these materials will produce."
He stood.
Walked to the experiment table.
Gen followed.
A little impressed.
Even half-dead—
still obsessed with research.
Click—
Lights flooded the lab.
Bright.
Sterile.
White.
Gen adjusted his sunglasses slightly.
Now this looked like a real laboratory.
"I'm starting."
Orochimaru spoke calmly.
"To everyone—leave."
No hesitation.
The hidden operatives vanished instantly.
Silence returned.
Orochimaru turned—
then paused.
Those eyes.
Crimson.
Three tomoe spinning.
"Gen-kun…"
He studied him.
"Any rejection?"
Gen removed his sunglasses.
Sat beside him.
"Not yet. But I can't turn them off. They're always draining chakra."
Orochimaru nodded.
"I've studied Kakashi. That's normal."
In truth—
Gen had just spent ten hours traveling and fighting.
Even without using his own chakra—
the physical strain alone was enough.
Orochimaru began preparing the mixture.
Precise.
Controlled.
Hōzuki cells.
Meteorite powder.
Salamander oil.
Gen watched quietly.
Then asked,
"Is there any way to deactivate them? Or at least hide the red eyes?"
Orochimaru observed the golden liquid sliding down the glass.
After a moment—
he shook his head.
"That would require experimentation."
Gen nodded.
Then—
he reached into his pouch.
Pulled out another container.
Inside—
a three-tomoe Sharingan floated in green fluid.
Orochimaru froze.
Then—
his eyes lit up.
Energy returned instantly.
"Take it," Gen said casually.
"For research."
He patted Orochimaru's shoulder.
"Work hard. I'll bring more materials later."
Orochimaru was fully awake now.
He lifted the container carefully—
like holding a sacred relic.
A real Sharingan.
And Gen—
just handed it over.
With the Uchiha gone—
each one was priceless.
His voice lowered.
"I haven't even replaced your arm yet…"
Gen waved it off.
"Don't be like that. We're both from Konoha."
In reality—
Gen still had twenty more.
This one—
meant nothing.
If you want the horse to run—
you have to feed it.
A small reward—
and Orochimaru would run even faster.
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