Land of Rain.
Konoha Ninja Camp.
Orochimaru's expression was somewhat grim as he looked at the "thing" on the operating table.
It was a mass of black matter that continuously twisted and writhed, emitting hoarse, low murmurs. Gray puppet fragments were mixed among its tentacles.
The fragments came from the shattered remnants of the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets. Every piece carried the wisdom and painstaking effort of two generations of the greatest puppet masters.
After collecting them, Orochimaru dismantled them and embedded them into Earth Grudge Fear's tentacles in a specific order.
In addition, based on Earth Grudge Fear's ability to extract Chakra from hearts, Orochimaru used the ninja body tissue collected from the battlefield as filler and binding material.
After two months of work, he had formed this... indescribable gray-black monster, one utterly devoid of any human mentality.
"You've ruined Earth Grudge Fear."
Kamizuki spoke with an utterly calm expression.
Orochimaru was silent for a long while before shifting his gaze away from the monster on the operating table.
"It isn't ruined. This is merely part of the construction process... you know, newborn babies aren't pretty either, but they improve as they grow."
"No. The photos my mother left behind show that I was good-looking even as a baby."
"An individual case cannot refute an experimental argument. Besides, thinking you're good-looking is purely subjective and lacks objectivity..."
"Stop rambling. Just tell me when I can use it."
Kamizuki rolled his eyes at Orochimaru.
Ever since his encounter with Chiyo, Kamizuki had returned to camp to familiarize himself with and develop his techniques, while Orochimaru had gone to carry out missions with Jiraiya and the others.
Before long, Orochimaru came to find him with a fully charged Earth Grudge Fear, saying he wanted to test that insane idea.
Namely, transforming Earth Grudge Fear into a humanoid cursed tool capable of absorbing Chakra on its own.
Kamizuki generally indulged Orochimaru's ideas.
Orochimaru pondered, his pale fingers rubbing his chin as he said softly, "The current problem is containment. It lacks a shell to hold it together..."
"Sorry, but you probably won't be able to use Earth Grudge Fear for a while. I need to conduct more experiments."
"Luckily, this is a battlefield. There's no shortage of experimental material..."
"How long have you been conducting human experiments?" Kamizuki suddenly asked.
Orochimaru let out a soft breath. "The first time was probably six years ago... it was an experiment involving the First's cells."
"I can't really say I participated. Lord Danzo merely allowed me to observe a few times."
"This is the village's top secret. You... forget it. That matter has already been halted anyway."
"After the First died, the Second began researching the First's cells in order to recreate the invincible power of Wood Release."
"After the Second was sacrificed, Teacher Hiruzen, who succeeded him, led transplantation experiments with the First's cells to address the village's shortage of combat strength."
"But even Senju clan members could not withstand the First's cells. It caused countless deaths, and the experiments were terminated."
A look of longing appeared in Orochimaru's eyes as he marveled, "It's unimaginable... for them to retain such vitality after so many years of death. How powerful must the First have been while alive?"
As he spoke, he suddenly stopped and looked at Kamizuki.
"Does it disgust you, Kamizuki?"
"I don't like it, but it's understandable."
"However..."
Kamizuki looked meaningfully at Orochimaru and said quietly, "If anyone dared lay a hand on my family, I'd slaughter every person involved. Even the Hokage would not be an exception."
Jiraiya and Tsunade often felt that he acted too ruthlessly.
That was because they had never spent time with Kamizuki.
Orochimaru coughed lightly to ease the awkwardness. "Why would that happen? The Uchiha are important comrades of the village. Teacher Hiruzen also obtained Lady Mito's consent regarding the research into the First's cells..."
He did not dare mention that the Second's experimental records included Madara Uchiha.
If Kamizuki found out, the Second's grave would probably suffer.
Orochimaru sealed the hissing, twisted creation from the operating table into a scroll, and the tent immediately became much quieter.
He felt that, after letting a child like Kamizuki see something so... unattractive, he needed a gentler topic.
He asked softly:
"Kamizuki, do you miss your parents?"
Without waiting for Kamizuki's answer, Orochimaru's lips curved into a faint smile. "My parents died in the First Shinobi World War as Konoha ninja."
"It was a long time ago. I can barely remember what they looked like now..."
A trace of barely noticeable sorrow appeared in the eyes of this man who would one day become a cold-blooded monster.
Kamizuki strode toward the exit and lifted the heavy curtain.
Doesn't want to answer...
Orochimaru smiled faintly and was about to turn away.
"The sorrow brought by missing someone is also a beautiful feeling."
Sunlight fell across the boy's face. The wind lifted his hair, scattering light and shadow over him.
Compared to that earlier shout, these calm words left a deeper mark in Orochimaru's heart.
He could not help shaking his head with a bitter smile.
"Kamizuki... ah..."
--
--
--
More than a year passed.
Early in Konoha's thirty-second year.
The friction between the three great nations in the Land of Rain gradually escalated.
Iwagakure committed a large number of troops to the battlefield, forcing Konoha to reinforce its defenses.
The Land of Earth had a harsh environment, with few places suitable for growing food. People who could survive in such an unforgiving land could basically become combatants just by being handed ninja tools, while the borders of the Land of Fire were full of farming households.
If Iwagakure took the Land of Rain, there would be no buffer between the two great nations. That would be far too disadvantageous for the Land of Fire.
Sunagakure was even worse off, poorer than the Land of Earth.
Even if they could not invade Konoha, merely fighting in the Land of Rain would let them recoup their losses.
Interest sparked wars; hatred sustained them.
And the civilians of the Land of Rain...
In this contest between great nations, they suffered the deepest pain.
Ninja accidentally killing, or deliberately murdering, Amegakure civilians happened constantly.
In response...
Hanzo of the Salamander, the leader of the Land of Rain who could endure no longer, formally declared war on the three great nations!
"Hanzo? That guy with the breathing tube?"
"Hahaha! What a joke. Who does he think he is?!"
"He fought a small nation like the Land of Iron and now thinks he can challenge the great nations? How absurd!"
"He's merely the leader of a small ninja village. He should just hide in a corner and barely cling to life. Why is he trying to show off?"
"Yeah, remember when we were in the Land of Grass? The way the Kusagakure leader grovelled was hilarious!"
"Don't say that. Hanzo is still very strong. Ordinary jonin are probably no match for him."
"So what?"
"How many jonin does Amegakure have? How many ninja do we have?!"
"No matter how strong he is, can he withstand Iwagakure's army of tens of thousands?!"
None of the ninja from the three great nations took Hanzo's declaration of war seriously, treating it as nothing more than the barking of a powerless dog.
Half a month later...
The world witnessed just how terrifying the power of a ninja who had grown up steeped in the deadly poison of salamanders could be.
Overnight.
More than half of the Iwagakure ninja stationed in the Land of Rain were killed or wounded. Over a thousand ninja were routed and fled!!
One against a thousand, an absolute victory!
The name Hanzo of the Salamander shook the Shinobi World!
Thus, the Second Shinobi World War...
began!!
Before you continue