I Subdued Kabuto Yakushi!

Inside Orochimaru's research base in the Land of Rice.

Hyuga Kei sat in the chair Orochimaru often used, while Kabuto stood before him.

Orochimaru, meanwhile, remained standing off to the side, still immersed in the genjutsu.

"Think it over. How about becoming my subordinate? Your talent can surpass Orochimaru's. You don't have to keep living under his shadow."

As he spoke, Hyuga Kei walked over to Orochimaru and condensed a cyan Spirit Orb in his hand.

He did not intend to use his Mangekyo's Soul Wash technique to alter Orochimaru's memories. That would be an enormous undertaking.

Besides, Orochimaru's ambitions were far too great. Even after a Soul Wash, he could rebel at any time.

"Don't be in a rush to refuse. Think it over carefully."

Hyuga Kei's palm passed through Orochimaru's chest, placing the Spirit Orb inside his body before withdrawing.

When he released the genjutsu, Orochimaru dropped to one knee under Kabuto's astonished gaze. "Lord Kei, please give your orders."

From beginning to end, Orochimaru had not shown the slightest resistance.

"This is one of my eyes' abilities. What do you think?"

Sweat trickled from the corner of Kabuto Yakushi's eye. "It's powerful. It can even control someone as strong as Lord Orochimaru."

Picking up one of Orochimaru's research documents, Hyuga Kei returned to his seat and took a thin booklet. "By the time I finish reading this, you can give me your answer."

"Remember this: whatever Orochimaru can give you, I can give you. And whatever Orochimaru cannot give you, I can give you as well."

Simply sitting there, Hyuga Kei exerted immense pressure on Kabuto Yakushi. Sweat kept seeping down his back.

A storm of thoughts began raging through Kabuto Yakushi's mind as he constantly considered every possible way to deal with the situation.

How could he rescue Lord Orochimaru? The moment that thought arose, he immediately rejected it. Even the Four Kage had been unable to defeat this man, so how could he possibly save someone right in front of him?

Or he could become this man's subordinate. But would he also be branded with some control curse seal? Probably not. Lord Orochimaru looked as though he had lost most of his intelligence. In that case, what Hyuga Kei wanted was a subordinate capable of thinking.

Before he could continue pondering, Hyuga Kei slapped the document onto the table. "Well? Have you made up your mind?"

Kabuto Yakushi threw the question back at him. "I can become your subordinate..."

"Lord Orochimaru once made me see myself clearly, and gave me the chance to understand the truth of this world. What can you give me?"

"See yourself clearly?" Hyuga Kei sneered. He stretched out a hand, slightly spread his fingers, and condensed a water mirror, holding it up before Kabuto Yakushi.

"Take a good look at yourself now. You're nothing but a tool, constantly being passed from one person to another. Is this really you?"

"Is this what Yakushi Nonō hoped for? Or what all those companions from the orphanage hoped for?"

Hyuga Kei crushed the water mirror in his hand, and droplets splashed across the floor at their feet.

"You are not a wanderer with nowhere to belong. You cannot face the fact that you accidentally killed Nonō. You merely erased all your happiness and pain from your memories."

Hyuga Kei opened his Sharingan. "This genjutsu will help you find yourself. Let me help you remember."

Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique. It was merely a D-rank genjutsu, one that made a person witness their greatest inner fear.

But empowered by Hyuga Kei's Sharingan, it could also make him recall the happiest times of his life.

One minute later, Kabuto Yakushi jolted awake and fell to his knees. Tears streamed from his eyes as he cried out in agony, "How could this be? Director... I'm Kabuto... Don't you recognize me?"

Hyuga Kei rose and walked over to Kabuto Yakushi. Looking down at his utterly disheveled state, he said from above, "Do you remember everything now?"

As though clutching at a lifeline, Kabuto Yakushi looked up at Hyuga Kei, seized the corner of his clothes, and pleaded, "I remember! I remember everything! Lord Kei, you must have a way to revive the Director, right?"

"If it's you, then you must have a way! I'm willing to serve you, no matter the cost. Please, you must revive the Director."

Seeing that the fish had finally taken the bait, Hyuga Kei smiled and personally helped Kabuto Yakushi to his feet. "I can let you kill Danzo. I can also help you revive the Director, then let you return to Konoha and reclaim those bonds."

"Can you really do that?"

"You may not be able to, but I certainly can." Hyuga Kei smiled confidently and took out a Sealing Scroll. "Take a look at my research results. It's only a prototype for now."

Kabuto Yakushi respectfully accepted the Sealing Scroll and carefully read its contents. His eyes widened at the ingenious concept behind the technique.

After finishing, Kabuto Yakushi respectfully handed the Sealing Scroll back. "I have a question."

Hyuga Kei seemed to have guessed what he wanted to ask. "I know what you want to ask. In my plan, I will eventually become an existence beyond the Sage of Six Paths. Using this ninjutsu then will not be a problem."

"This is a copy containing all the research records. Keep it. Consider it the task I'm assigning you: continue researching this ninjutsu."

"There are also some ideas for further research afterward."

Hyuga Kei's research was already more than halfway complete. In his conception, reviving someone required two steps. The first was summoning back the soul. That was the simplest part, and he had already completed it after researching the Earth Style Reincarnation Technique.

The second step was creating a new body and returning the soul to it. That was still under research.

Kabuto Yakushi carefully tucked the Sealing Scroll into his clothes. "Understood."

Hyuga Kei gave his order. "First, take me to see Orochimaru's research results."

"At once, Lord Kei."

Kabuto Yakushi led Hyuga Kei through all of Orochimaru's research results.

The various treasures left Hyuga Kei overwhelmed: the severed horn of the Eight-Tails, Hashirama Cells in a nutrient tank as large as a two-meter-tall person, and Kimimaro Kaguya, the descendant of the Shikotsumyaku bloodline whom Hyuga Kei had long coveted.

Hyuga Kei did not stand on ceremony. Using Demon: Blood Seizing Technique, he devoured that huge tank of Hashirama Cells until it was reduced to the size of a basketball.

This saved him quite a bit of trouble. With the help of the Sage Body, he not only directly mastered Wood Release, but his Sage Body was strengthened once more.

Led by Kabuto Yakushi, Hyuga Kei entered Kimimaro's room. Almost instantly, Kimimaro, who had been hidden in the shadows, launched a fierce attack. Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets shot straight for Hyuga Kei's brow.

Hyuga Kei casually swatted the bone bullets aside, decisively activated his Sharingan, and used Soul Wash to alter Kimimaro's memories, replacing Orochimaru with Hyuga Kei within them.

"Lord Kei!" Kimimaro said respectfully, his attitude completely changed from moments ago.

Kabuto Yakushi watched in silent alarm. Just how many methods did Lord Kei have for controlling people?

"Kimimaro, use your Bloodline Limit less often from now on, understand?"

Hyuga Kei said this because Kimimaro could not die before he had completely mastered abilities such as the Shikotsumyaku.

"Yes, sir."

After the two left Kimimaro's room, Hyuga Kei asked, "If Kimimaro is no longer allowed to use his Bloodline Limit from now on, how long can he live if treatment is guaranteed?"

Kabuto Yakushi thought for a moment before answering, "Ten years, on the condition that he absolutely does not use his Bloodline Limit again."

"That's enough. From now on, draw and preserve his blood while ensuring his health and survival. Wait for me to absorb it."

"As you command."

Hyuga Kei was not worried about the Bloodline Disease hidden within the blood. The Blood Seizing Technique only devoured the genes he needed; it did not fuse Bloodline Limits.

After Kabuto Yakushi showed him all of Orochimaru's research results, the two returned to Orochimaru's seat.

Hyuga Kei asked Orochimaru, who had remained standing in place like a puppet, "Where is Ryūchi Cave's Summoning Scroll?"

Orochimaru immediately obeyed Hyuga Kei's order. He bent over, dry-heaved twice, and spat out a scroll over a meter long.

"How disgusting," Hyuga Kei muttered. He then used Water Release to wash away the mucus on it.

Opening the scroll, Hyuga Kei bit his finger without hesitation and wrote his name on it.

The moment he finished writing, Hyuga Kei sensed a cold gaze examining him.

Was that the White Snake Sage? Hyuga Kei guessed.

He tossed the Summoning Scroll back to Kabuto Yakushi. "Keep this. You can study Jugo's Sage Body. Perhaps you can become a sage as well."

Hyuga Kei had not said that carelessly. In the original story, Kabuto Yakushi had truly become Ryūchi Cave's first human sage.

He had truly reached a level beneath the Six Paths level, weaker only than Madara and Hashirama, those two overpowered monsters.

"Your current task is to establish Otogakure. Orochimaru will remain here to assist you. He may not be able to conduct research anymore, but he's still a decent fighter."

Hyuga Kei instructed Kabuto Yakushi, "Do not become obsessed with researching resurrection techniques. Your primary goal now is to research the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, secretly gather the flesh and blood of powerful people, accelerate the construction of Otogakure, improve your own strength, and continue Orochimaru's goals: build a ninja village, seek out Bloodline Limit ninja, and recruit rogue ninja."

Before leaving, Hyuga Kei handed Kabuto Yakushi a puppet messenger bird. "If there's a problem, use this to send me a message. I've already had my puppet memorize your chakra. Remember to receive orders."

"Yes."

Hyuga Kei issued a long string of orders. He had finally caught a truly versatile talent, so naturally he intended to squeeze him for all he was worth.

Moreover, Hyuga Kei believed in Kabuto's abilities. This time, he had given Kabuto a larger stage, and Kabuto certainly would not perform any worse than he had in the original story.