After watching Itachi leave, Orochimaru suddenly asked, "Are you working with the Akatsuki?" Of course, he knew that was unlikely. If they really were, the Akatsuki would have collected all the tailed beasts long ago instead of waiting until now.
"No, we're just recruiting for the organization. Right now, we're poaching employees..."
Orochimaru's mouth twitched at that. Somehow, he found that explanation highly plausible. Still, even if anyone other than Genkyo wanted to do something like that, they wouldn't have the ability.
"Oh? In that case, can I join?"
"You don't have a kekkei genkai. No."
"..." Orochimaru fell silent. He could hardly say he would have a kekkei genkai once he took over Kimimaro's body. After all, Genkyo was still in its "playing the good guys" phase.
He had known it before, but now he once again felt just how deeply this world hated shinobi of common birth.
Still—he only wanted to join so he could find opportunities to get his hands on some kekkei genkai to research. The Akatsuki's leader had the Rinnegan, so perhaps Genkyo's leader would have some other "surprises."
Meanwhile, the original Uchiha Gen had just worked out how to use a reanimated body: he created a clone himself, then had it inject its consciousness into the reanimated body to control it. The advantage was that it didn't need "recharging."
As for the downside, the clone could no longer bring out its Gundam. Not that it had ever done so before, given its insufficient chakra. Its Mangekyo abilities remained, though the tenfold multiplier had dropped to fivefold, and both Instantaneous Shift's range and how far back it could rewind had decreased. Overall, it wasn't much of a problem.
Just as Uchiha Gen switched back to his Uzumaki Clan skin and prepared to leave, he