Orochimaru, Sharingan

Byakuya encountered Orochimaru in the underground base of Root.

His snake-like slit pupils stared at Byakuya's mask, and he chuckled hoarsely, "An interesting mask. Are you a new recruit?"

"Yes."

"Oh? Lord Danzō didn't place a Cursed Seal on you? That's even more interesting."

Byakuya walked up to Orochimaru and asked, "You must be Lord Orochimaru."

"Kid, I don't like your mask."

"And I don't like the cold, snake-like aura radiating from you, my lord."

Orochimaru sniffed the air and suddenly let out a soft laugh, "There is a lingering scent of snake on you. Were you attacked by one?"

Byakuya fell silent for a moment, his heart stirring slightly, before he asked in a calm tone, "I was attacked by a large, dark-green snake in the Land of Rivers. I wonder if Lord Orochimaru knows where it might have come from?"

"How would I know? Did you not kill it?"

"That dark-green snake was incredibly powerful; I was no match for it."

Orochimaru's eyes flickered, "Why don't you take me to see it? I will pay you for your trouble."

"Allow me to consider what price you are willing to pay, my lord."

"Heh, a cunning little brat. For the sake of the trust Lord Danzō places in you, I will spare your life."

Byakuya had originally intended to fish for information about Ryūchi Cave from Orochimaru, but upon second thought, he wasn't sure if Orochimaru had even begun searching for the location of Ryūchi Cave at this point in time.

Years later, it was through Orochimaru's intelligence that Yakushi Kabuto learned Sage Mode at Ryūchi Cave.

Opportunities like this were rare; he didn't know when he would see Orochimaru again.

"Lord Orochimaru, I have heard that the most powerful snakes in the world originate from Ryūchi Cave?"

"Ryūchi Cave?" Orochimaru's eyes narrowed abruptly, "Where did you hear that name?"

"That is a matter that need not trouble Lord Orochimaru."

Orochimaru said in a deep voice, "My summoning creature, Manda, comes from Ryūchi Cave. Since you deliberately brought it up to me, you must be interested in the Sage Arts of Ryūchi Cave."

"I will not hide it from you, Lord Orochimaru; I have always been full of interest in power."

"Haha, interesting, very interesting. Why don't we go grab a drink?"

Byakuya refused directly, "Apologies, I have other matters to attend to. Farewell."

Orochimaru's slit pupils remained fixed on him, "Kid, you are truly interesting. I have memorized your scent. By the way, for the sake of Lord Danzō, let me offer you a piece of advice: unless you are a lucky fool like Jiraiya, do not touch Sage Arts. It will be the death of you."

Byakuya waved his hand.

Orochimaru stood in place for a moment, lost in thought. Suppressing his doubts, he walked to the door of Shimura Danzō's room and knocked.

"It is I, Orochimaru."

"Ah, Orochimaru. Come in. Yakushi Nonō happens to be here as well."

He pushed the door open.

Shimura Danzō gestured to the seat beside him, "Sit. There is no need to stand."

"There was a brat wearing a Demon King Mask just now..."

"Him." Danzō nodded and asked, "What did you two discuss?"

Orochimaru recounted their conversation.

"Ryūchi Cave Sage Arts."

Shimura Danzō mused to himself. No wonder the boy had brought up the attack by the dark-green snake in the Land of Rivers; he had set his sights on the Sage Arts of Ryūchi Cave, hoping to use his future merits to leverage Root's intelligence network to locate it. Where did Senkaku Byakuya hear of these things? Senju Tobirama's Water Release ninjutsu, Ryūchi Cave...

"A death wish," Danzō remarked. "Others from Konoha have gone to the Three Great Sage Regions to learn Sage Arts before. Aside from Jiraiya, none survived. Over time, no one has bothered with such ideas anymore."

Orochimaru asked, "That boy seems to have earned quite a bit of trust from Lord Danzō?"

"He is merely a useful tool for the time being."

"I see."

"Just like you, he is a tool that must be cultivated for the sake of Konoha."

"Heh heh, your words remain as blunt as ever."

Orochimaru did not seem to mind.

His relationship with Danzō was purely one of mutual exploitation.

"Tell me, why have you returned from the front lines? As a student of Hiruzen, he holds you in very high regard."

Orochimaru laughed hoarsely, "Teacher Hiruzen's view of me is no different from yours; he treats me as a useful tool. Since I know I am a tool, I must occasionally do something out of the ordinary to demonstrate my worth."

"Are you here to demonstrate your worth to this old man?" Shimura Danzō asked indifferently.

In front of Yakushi Nonō, Orochimaru took a glass container from his robes, inside of which floated a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

He said lightly, "I dug these eyes out of Uchiha clansmen who died on the battlefield. If Lord Danzō wishes to acquire more Sharingan, I am afraid you will have to find a way to do so within the village."

Shimura Danzō picked up the glass container holding the Sharingan, observing it closely for a moment before saying coldly, "The Uchiha are indeed an evil clan; the chakra aura emitted by the Sharingan is truly unsettling."

"After I gouged out that Uchiha clansman's eyes, I caught the attention of their clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, who was on the same battlefield. I fear there won't be such a good opportunity again in the future."

"Hmm, this old man will find a way. It is a pity that these eyes are merely Three-Tomoe Sharingan, rather than the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan."

"The Mangekyō Sharingan exists only in legends, much like the Demon King Shuten-doji Mask that child wears; it, too, exists only in legend."

Orochimaru stood up: "Very well, you have seen the capacity I have demonstrated. Now, what of my reward?"

Yakushi Nonō spoke up at the opportune moment: "The secret laboratory you requested has been prepared for you by Lord Danzō, and all manner of advanced experimental equipment is ready as well."

"Take me to see it."

A look of excitement instantly appeared on Orochimaru's pale face.

Danzō said: "There is no need to rush. You have just returned from the battlefield; get some rest."

"You..."

"This old man said, get some rest!" Shimura Danzō repeated impatiently.

Orochimaru sat back down: "Research into Hashirama Cells has yielded fruitful results based on the foundation laid by the Second Hokage. I thought you would be impatient, but I did not expect you to remain so composed."

"Orochimaru, I am very satisfied with your capacity."

"Thank you for your cultivation."

"But it is not enough." Shimura Danzō glanced at Yakushi Nonō. "You, leave."

"As you command."

She quickly left the room, leaving only the two of them behind.

The corners of Orochimaru's mouth slowly curled upward, his expression growing increasingly excited. "Has this day finally arrived?"

"War is a tangled mess, with countless pieces of intelligence difficult to verify. You can take advantage of this rare opportunity to establish a foothold in the Land of Fields as soon as possible. Everything is difficult at the start, but once you have a firm footing, what follows will be easy. With us acting as each other's support, many problems will no longer be problems."

Orochimaru asked: "The Land of Fields is but a small nation with insufficient resources. Will you provide the resources I am in dire need of?"

"That is why I said the capacity you have shown me is still not enough," Shimura Danzō said.

"That matter you spoke to me about previously, I can accomplish it! An arm made with Hashirama Cells can indeed withstand the power of a large number of Sharingan!"

"Go ahead and do it. Do not worry about the Sharingan; you will have them sooner or later."

"Are you intending to..."

Shimura Danzō sneered: "An evil clan deserves to be wiped out, don't you agree?"

"But we are at war, and Master Hiruzen will not agree to internal strife."

"When did this old man say we would wipe out the evil clan right now?"

Orochimaru laughed softly: "You truly are a brilliant politician full of patience."