Kimimaro

"Who... are... you?"

He slowly uttered a few syllables; if one didn't listen carefully, it would be hard to tell he was even speaking.

His linguistic ability was equivalent to that of a one-year-old child just learning to talk, or perhaps even worse.

It seemed as if he had never communicated with anyone before.

His mouth could only spit out a few simple syllables.

Two years old...

Raised like a wild beast.

These Kaguya Clan members were truly animals.

Ao looked at Kimimaro's frail body, and even though he was accustomed to life and death through his research in the laboratory, a trace of pity flickered in his eyes.

People could sacrifice themselves for experimental research and technological progress.

But this kind of pure, abusive behavior made him feel nothing but contempt.

"Do you want to leave this place with me?"

Ao asked softly. This child was kept like a dog, with an iron chain around his neck, and there were animal hairs caught in the wooden bars of his cage.

It was obvious that this was something the Kaguya Clan had once used to imprison wild beasts.

Now, they were using it on their own kin.

Such a situation would be absolutely impossible within the Uchiha. The Uchiha were all madmen, but they generally retained their humanity and were relatively friendly toward their own clan members. Even if there was suppression, it would never reach this extent.

When it came down to it, the "naturally evil" Uchiha clan wasn't evil enough!

In terms of treating their own kin cruelly, they couldn't even compare to a single hair on the Kaguya Clan.

A look of bewilderment appeared on Kimimaro's face. He propped up his body and reached one hand out from the cage; the white bones were clearly visible through his thin, frail palm.

His skin was pale, devoid of any color, and had a sickly appearance.

His light green pupils were filled with curiosity.

"Leave?"

He softly repeated the pronunciation of the word.

"What!?"

He raised his head again. His outstretched hand was gently held by Ao; the palm was ice-cold, without a hint of warmth.

In this damp island nation.

The only thing Kimimaro had to keep warm in the cage was a bundle of straw.

It was neatly stacked in the corner by him.

Traces of where he had been lying still remained on it.

Not yet used as a war machine, he still possessed an innocent nature, and his eyes still held curiosity about the world.

If he were raised properly.

Perhaps he could develop a good temperament.

Ao's warm palm made Kimimaro's expression stiffen. Subconsciously, he gripped it tightly, trying to absorb that sliver of warmth into his heart.

This was the first time someone had made such intimate contact with him.

There was no disgust or cursing in those eyes.

Only a comforting sense of peace.

It felt very good.

Kimimaro instinctively wanted to get closer to Ao's body, pressing himself against the edge of the cage until his little face was distorted by the wooden bars.

Yet, he didn't seem to feel the pain, trying his best to hold onto this sliver of warmth.

"Are you willing?"

Ao asked again.

At this moment, Kimimaro seemed to realize something. Sensing the kindness Ao brought, he nodded his head with effort.

Ao smiled, a gentle expression appearing on his face.

He applied a light pressure with his palm.

Wood Release Chakra surged forth.

The wooden bars instantly twisted to create an opening, and a branch extended into Kimimaro's neck, prying open the metal collar and slowly pushing Kimimaro out of the cage.

"From today on, your name will be Kimimaro."

Ao patted his head and scooped him up from the ground, bestowing upon him the name that Orochimaru would have given him.

A child of over two years old weighing less than fifteen pounds—to have survived under these conditions, he truly had a tenacious life!

Having achieved his goal.

Ao had no intention of lingering in the Kaguya Clan, nor did he intend to take action against them.

He would leave them as a source of future experimental materials.

After the Mizukage's death, Obito Uchiha had no real foundation in Kirigakure, so the Kaguya Clan would likely survive and might even have a chance to compete for the next generation of Mizukage.

When that time came, he would let Kimimaro take his own revenge once he reached adulthood.

"Reverse Summoning Technique!"

Ao bit his finger, crouched down, gathered his Chakra, and pressed one hand against the ground.

The Chakra erupted instantly, forming a unique black formation on the ground.

Hum!

A burst of white smoke exploded.

It swallowed the figures of the two.

After the white smoke dissipated, Ao's figure had already vanished.

When the Kaguya clansmen, having sensed the Chakra fluctuations, arrived once more.

They found only an opened cage.

And empty chains.

"Quick! That monster is gone!"

A Kaguya clansman exclaimed, rushing toward the direction of the clan leader's house.

At the same time, the news of the Mizukage's death.

Spread rapidly throughout Kirigakure, and as spies disseminated the information, it gradually reached the entire Ninja World.

The Fourth Mizukage had sacrificed himself while dealing with the rebellion of the Yuki Clan.

The Ninja World, which had been peaceful for a time, was once again surging with undercurrents.

Ryūchi Cave.

In front of the White Snake Temple.

Yinqian curled into a ball nervously, head bowed, listening to the ancestor's questions.

It recounted everything it had seen and heard while staying by Ao's side during this time, leaving nothing out.

It spoke for an entire morning.

Finally, it also relayed the instructions Ao had given before his departure.

After hearing this, the White Snake Sage tapped her tail lightly against the wall, creating a rhythmic sound.

The figure of Zuijinji appeared swiftly within the temple.

"Sage, did you summon me?"

She bowed respectfully.

"Go and bring that surviving human brat from the surface here, and hand him over to Yinqian."

The White Snake Sage commanded.

Zuijinji nodded in acknowledgment, and her figure vanished.

About an hour later.

When she appeared again, a little boy of about two years old was following beside her.

His orange hair was very striking, and his eyes looked around the dim, enclosed environment in a daze; the entire child had been frightened out of his wits.

"Yinqian... this child is now in your care."

The White Snake Sage said to Yinqian, pointing at the little boy.

"Yes, Sage..."

Yinqian had just agreed.

Before it could take the child from Zuijinji's hands, a wave of Chakra suddenly fluctuated before its eyes.

Zuijinji looked over instinctively, her eyes revealing a hint of vigilance.

"Back so soon?"

The White Snake Sage looked at the newcomer and asked in surprise.

"I thought you would stay in Kirigakure for a while longer; has the mission ended?"

As soon as the words fell.

She noticed the child held in the newcomer's arms, whose aura was slightly peculiar.

He possessed a bloodline similar to the Sage of Six Paths...

"Sage, it has been a long time."

A smile bloomed on the face of Uchiha Ao as he held Kimimaro and offered a greeting.

"Come now, Kimimaro, this is the White Snake Sage. Say hello!"

He instructed Kimimaro.

Kimimaro glanced at the White Snake Sage and was startled; he reflexively hugged Uchiha Ao tighter, tucking his head against the crook of his neck, trying his best to distance himself from the terrifying-looking White Snake Sage.

"Is this the child you brought back from Kirigakure? You didn't just grab some random person to fob me off, did you?"

The White Snake Sage said warily, worried that Uchiha Ao might refuse the child she was foisting upon him because of Kimimaro.

Her words carried a hint of probing.

"What kind of excuse is that, Sage! This is the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai that Teacher requested. Don't misunderstand."

"Oh, is this the child you wanted me to take?"

"He looks quite cute."

Uchiha Ao noticed the child beside Zuijinji and offered a compliment.

He walked over to the little boy, gently scooped him up with his free arm, and looked at Zuijinji.

"Does this child have a name?"

Zuijinji shook her head.

"Then how about Jugo? What do you think, Sage!"

Uchiha Ao proposed a name and looked toward the White Snake Sage.

Jugo, the natural Sage Body who would become the vital reference for Orochimaru's future improvements to the Cursed Seal.

"As you wish."

The Sage transformed into an old woman and turned to walk into the depths of the great hall.

Having arranged for Jugo, she paid them no further mind.

"A double blessing!"

A smile appeared on Uchiha Ao's face as he sized up the two little ones in his arms.

Jugo was well-developed, weighing nearly thirty catties—equivalent to two Kimimaros.

But in reality, the two were about the same age, with only a slight difference in their birth months; Kimimaro was actually the older of the two.

Teacher's two important future subordinates had both ended up under his care.

One had to admit, the nickname Snake Uncle was truly fitting.

At the very least, every child he raised had gained a new life because of Orochimaru, escaping their originally tragic fates.

This was something Uchiha Ao admired greatly.

Although Orochimaru was cold-blooded and lacked a sense of right or wrong, possessing only a singular obsession with researching immortality.

When it came to raising children, he was better than some parents.

Just as Uchiha Ao was preparing to settle the two little ones down, the figure of Orochimaru suddenly appeared to the side, a brilliant smile blooming on his face, his eyes filled with mirth as he looked at Uchiha Ao.

"Ao-kun... I intend to begin my first reincarnation tomorrow."