Power! I Need Power!

A few days later, late at night, in a desolate mountain range somewhere in the Land of Fire.

The night was gloomy, with a bright moon hanging high in the sky. The pale moonlight shone through thin clouds onto Shimura Danzō, who stood leaning on his cane with an expressionless face.

It was already December, nearing the start of winter, and a cold wind howled incessantly across the vast wilderness.

This viper actually took the initiative to contact me?

Ever since Orochimaru's human experiments were exposed years ago and he defected from Konoha to become a missing-nin, their partnership had ended. That man had seemingly vanished into thin air, never once reaching out to him.

He must be plotting something again!

Shimura Danzō sneered inwardly. Even though he knew exactly what Orochimaru was after, he had come nonetheless. After all, his body was deteriorating day by day, and his research into the Sharingan and the First Hokage Cells had made zero progress.

And Orochimaru?

Although Shimura Danzō loathed and deeply feared this viper, he had to admit that the man possessed immense talent and genius.

That was why he had come!

Time ticked by second by second. Orochimaru still hadn't appeared, but Shimura Danzō did not grow impatient, waiting silently as before.

Just as a drifting cloud obscured the moon in the sky, a slender figure finally appeared at the foot of the mountain.

Orochimaru had arrived!

Shimura Danzō narrowed his eyes slightly, fixing his gaze upon him to observe his every move.

Orochimaru didn't seem to care about the scrutiny upon his arrival. With a few leaps, he appeared before Shimura Danzō and spoke in a hoarse voice: "I want the Sharingan you have in your possession!"

Something must have happened to this viper!

The moment Orochimaru appeared before him, Shimura Danzō keenly sensed a change in him.

The Orochimaru of the past was a viper with deep, unfathomable schemes—someone who would bite back the moment you let your guard down.

But the Orochimaru of now?

Shimura Danzō saw a profound sense of frustration and a manic, crazed look in his eyes, as if he were a hysterical wolf.

No, he should be called a stray dog instead!

Realizing this, Shimura Danzō smiled. Instead of answering the question, he countered:

"How do you know I have Sharingan?"

Orochimaru sneered, mocking him: "Don't play dumb, Danzō. The things you and that old man did might fool others, but they can't fool me!"

"Heh..." Shimura Danzō chuckled softly and nodded in agreement: "Very well!"

"You're quite straightforward." Orochimaru licked his lips and asked in a dangerous tone: "But, Danzō, what is the price?"

Orochimaru understood that their relationship had always been one of mutual cooperation, mutual exploitation, and mutual wariness; there was no sentimentality to speak of.

For Danzō to agree so readily, he must have something he needed in return.

"The price?" Shimura Danzō unwrapped the bandages on his body, revealing an arm that was half-woodified.

"I need you to create an arm for me that can perfectly transplant the Sharingan!"

Orochimaru glanced at his arm and, without wasting words, agreed directly: "Fine! But you must give me some Sharingan for my research first."

"How many pairs do you need?"

"Ten pairs!"

Shimura Danzō was silent for a moment, then said flatly: "I will give you twenty pairs, but some must be used for my new arm!"

"Heh... it seems you can't wait any longer."

Orochimaru chuckled, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

"However... happy to do business with you!"

"Hmph!" Shimura Danzō looked around and said coldly: "This method of meeting is always inappropriate. Give me a way to contact you, Orochimaru."

"Of course." Orochimaru licked his lips, and a pure white snake crawled out from his sleeve, which he handed over.

Shimura Danzō took the white snake and examined it carefully for a moment. After confirming there was no danger, he took a mysterious scroll from his pocket and sealed the snake inside.

He then performed a technique similar to the Reverse Summoning Jutsu, and the scroll vanished instantly.

"Once I return, I will have the items sent to you."

With that, Shimura Danzō dissolved into a puff of smoke. It turned out that this Shimura Danzō had been nothing more than a Shadow Clone all along!

"This old man is still as cautious as ever."

Orochimaru uttered a sarcastic remark, but then he thought of something, and his expression turned incredibly dark.

"Uchiha Itachi!"

Orochimaru gritted his teeth as he spoke, and anyone could hear the intense hatred behind the name!

Uchiha Clan Compound, Clan Head's residence.

"Current date: December 9th, 56th year of Konoha..."

Just like any other day, he was writing his daily summary. As soon as he wrote the date at the top, Sasuke paused, his pen stopping. After a moment of silence, he let out a sigh.

Unknowingly, I have already been in this world for over five months.

He missed home. No matter how deep his thoughts ran, he was human after all, and humans would always miss their home.

I wonder what happened to my original body? Did I die? Am I a vegetable? Or am I just missing?

The melancholy lasted only a moment. Sasuke quietly closed his eyes, gradually regained his composure, and pulled himself together.

Shaking his head, Sasuke turned his gaze and focus back to the papers.

The current date is December 9, Konohagakure Year 56.

Naruto and his original self were born in Konohagakure Year 48, and the graduation age is 12-13, which means Konohagakure Year 61.

Furthermore, he is currently in his second year about to advance to the third, so his deduction is correct!

In addition, the academic year in this world is consistent with the school system in real-life Japan, where students enter school in April each year and finish the academic year in March of the following year.

"March, Konohagakure Year 61, graduation from the Ninja Academy!"

According to information from the original timeline, Team 7 performed basic missions for one month after graduation, and then encountered the Land of Waves mission.

Thinking of this, Sasuke continued to write:

"April, Konohagakure Year 61, Land of Waves C-rank mission!"

Based on the inference made from the Third Hokage announcing the Chunin Exams for July 1st, it follows:

"July, Konohagakure Year 61, Chunin Exams held in Konohagakure."

"August, Konohagakure Year 61, Chunin Exams finals, Orochimaru initiates the Konohagakure Crush Plan!"

"September, Konohagakure Year 61, Tsunade becomes the Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure."

"..."