Ryujin Kenichi scratched his head, suddenly understanding why Tsunade had left Konoha. Losing both her lover and younger brother had devastated her, and now her own teacher was desecrating the remains of their ancestors. It was beyond disheartening.
If the Third Hokage hadn't died later and if Naruto hadn't existed, Tsunade probably would never have returned to take up the mantle of Fifth Hokage.
After taking Kenichi to the training ground for a while, Orochimaru left. But before departing, he left him with a warning.
"The Third Hokage has grown suspicious of me," Orochimaru said. His tone was light, almost amused, but Kenichi could tell he meant it.
Kenichi wasn't surprised. The more the supply of "disposable" subjects dwindled, the more Root would extend its reach beyond Konoha. Once enough people went missing, it was inevitable that Anbu would take notice. Exposure was only a matter of time.
Orochimaru paused at the entrance of the hideout, his pale fingers brushing against the doorframe. "Your latest test subject—the one whose ribs you removed—has died. The medical team reported complete lung failure."
Kenichi's heart pounded in excitement. So, even in this world of chakra-enhanced resilience, cancer remained a formidable adversary. As long as standard medical ninjutsu couldn't cure it, he had an advantage.
It seemed the development of the Cancer Infusion Technique needed to be accelerated. But aside from that, Kenichi had been considering other ways to strengthen himself.
The First Hokage… he should still be in the Pure Land, right? Kenichi mused.
Could he use the Impure World Reincarnation to summon Hashirama Senju? His Sage Mode was one of the strongest in history, and Kenichi knew that harnessing it would be a major step toward surpassing his current limits.
The problem was, he wasn't entirely sure where Hashirama had learned it. Some said he had trained in Shikkotsu Forest, the home of the Slug Sage, while others believed he had developed it on his own.
Still, the idea had merit. Summoning Hashirama through Edo Tensei and convincing him to teach Sage Mode… was that even possible?
Kenichi hesitated. His own teacher, Orochimaru, had failed to master Sage Mode, meaning that the training at Ryūchi Cave carried significant risks. The White Snake Sage's trials were notoriously dangerous.
The safest bet was still Hashirama.
Unlike his ruthless brother, the Second Hokage, Hashirama had been almost idiotically kind—somewhat like a more naïve version of Naruto. He probably wouldn't outright attack a Konoha shinobi asking for guidance. Probably.
Kenichi exhaled slowly, weighing his options.
If I do this, I need a suitable sacrifice. Someone weak enough that Hashirama's full power won't manifest, but strong enough to sustain the jutsu…
Simply put, the stronger the sacrifice, the more power the reincarnated individual could exert, bringing them closer to their full strength when they were alive. If the sacrifice was too weak, the resurrected person would be significantly weaker as well.
For example, if an ordinary Genin was used to reincarnate the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, it would be impossible for him to regain his full power. The strength of the host played a crucial role, and a considerable downgrade was inevitable.
However, Ryujin Kenichi had no intention of using Hashirama for combat. His goal was much simpler—he wanted to learn Sage Mode from the legendary Hokage. After all, having inherited the First Hokage's Sage Body, it would be a waste not to master it.
For the next month, Kenichi busied himself with gathering the necessary materials for the Impure World Reincarnation (Edo Tensei), improving his strength, and continuing to refine his ninjutsu.
One day, while conducting an experiment, Orochimaru suddenly spoke.
"Kenichi, I heard Uzumaki Kushina is pregnant."
Kenichi, who had been studying a sealing formula, paused and turned to look at his mentor. The news caught him off guard. While he knew from his knowledge of future events that Naruto should have already been conceived, there had been no official word of it in the village.
"Is that so? There hasn't been any announcement," Kenichi murmured, frowning slightly.
Orochimaru chuckled darkly, his hands deftly dissecting a preserved specimen. "Naturally not. After all, Kushina isn't just the wife of the Fourth Hokage—she's also Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. The exact timing of her delivery is a closely guarded secret. It would be a disaster if word got out."
Kenichi nodded in understanding. It made sense. A Jinchūriki was at their most vulnerable during childbirth. If the seal weakened, the Kyūbi could break free, causing devastation to the village. Only those at the highest levels of Konoha's leadership would be privy to such information. A Chūnin like him had no reason to know.
Yes, he was now officially a Chūnin. He hadn't participated in the formal Chūnin Exams, but after receiving Orochimaru's recommendation, he had been tested in combat against a veteran Chūnin. His victory secured his promotion.
If this had been during the war, the promotion process would have been even faster. Back then, shinobi were rapidly promoted based on battlefield merit rather than formal testing. Now that the war had ended, things had settled into a more structured process. However, the villages were still at odds, making the possibility of hosting another joint Chūnin Exam unlikely for the time being.
"The village alliances are fragile," Kenichi mused. "If they tried to hold a Chūnin Exam now, it'd probably turn into a bloodbath."
Orochimaru smirked. "Indeed. The exams have always been more than just a test. They're a political show of strength between villages. Right now, Konoha is still recovering, and no one wants to give their rivals an opening."
Kenichi fell silent, thinking about what this could mean for the village's stability. Meanwhile, Orochimaru casually continued his experiment, seemingly unfazed by the broader implications.
Then, Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with a sinister amusement. "Jinchūriki are weak during childbirth. If the Nine-Tails were to break free, well…" He trailed off, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.
Kenichi tensed. "You think something will happen?"
Orochimaru didn't answer immediately. Instead, he let the scalpel in his hand glide effortlessly across the subject's skin, peeling away layers with unnerving precision.
"Sensei has been surprisingly at ease lately, don't you think?" Orochimaru finally said, his voice filled with something unreadable.
Kenichi immediately understood who Orochimaru was referring to—Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage. Despite officially stepping down, the man still held considerable influence. Was he truly content in retirement, or was he merely waiting for an opportunity to reclaim power?
Power was an intoxicating thing. Few willingly gave it up without regret.
Kenichi exhaled slowly. "If something does happen, I wonder how he will respond."
The thought lingered between them, unspoken yet heavy with meaning.
Then, Kenichi's mind shifted to something else entirely. He leaned forward slightly, his voice tinged with excitement. "Orochimaru-sama, if the Kyūbi does get loose… could we take a piece of it for research?"
A sharp laugh escaped Orochimaru's lips, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "Oh? You certainly have interesting ideas, Kenichi-kun. The strongest of the Tailed Beasts… dissected for research? Hehehe…"
Kenichi grinned. That was the strongest Biju in the world—at least for now. If there was even the slightest chance to get his hands on a fragment of its chakra, he would take it.
After all, who wouldn't want to unravel the secrets of the Kyūbi no Yōko?