The Deal

Orochimaru was actually a very simple, single-minded person.

He had no real sense of good or evil, and his sense of morality was vague. From beginning to end, he had only one goal: to pursue the essence of life and seek a way to achieve immortality.

So even if someone was his enemy, he could still work with them, as long as they could provide valuable enough test subjects.

Besides, Uchiha Arashi had never been his enemy in the first place, and Orochimaru had been the one to start the fight today.

If Uchiha Arashi had been weak, then too bad for him: his eyes, body, blood—everything would have become material for Orochimaru's laboratory. But now Uchiha Arashi had demonstrated enough strength that continuing the fight would surely cost more than it was worth. So Orochimaru quickly changed his attitude and decided to talk things over with him.

And that was exactly what Uchiha Arashi had been hoping for.

He knew that working with a dangerous man like Orochimaru couldn't be achieved through words alone. That was why he had expected the fight to happen.

"I need Hashirama Senju's cells, preferably ones that have already been modified. I know you have some."

Uchiha Arashi walked up to Orochimaru and fixed him with a stare from his crimson eyes.

"I'm rather curious how you learned about all this, but it doesn't matter. I can give you Hashirama Senju's cells. What can you offer me in return?"

Orochimaru watched Uchiha Arashi with keen interest.

"How about Sharingan?"

Uchiha Arashi turned his hand over. A glass bottle appeared in his palm, filled with nutrient solution and holding three three-tomoe Sharingan.

"Three? Heh. You're underestimating the value of Hashirama's cells..."

Orochimaru licked his lips and let out another raspy laugh.

"No, I've already weighed this carefully. Hashirama's cells aren't especially rare. Konoha has plenty of them. Shimura Danzō has some, and there's also a surviving test subject in Anbu. I can get what I need from either of those places. I just want to reduce the risk, so I came to you.

"The Uchiha are gone. Every Sharingan is one less. If you don't want them, I can call off this deal."

Handing the Sharingan over to Orochimaru didn't really matter to him. Even if he didn't, Danzō would hand them over sooner or later.

Below the Mangekyō level, the Sharingan's greatest value to him was as fuel for Izanagi. He didn't mind using them to strike a deal with Orochimaru at all.

Orochimaru said nothing. He looked at the Sharingan in the bottle, then at Uchiha Arashi. After a moment, he finally smiled.

"Fine. I agree, but I have one more request."

"Go ahead."

"I need information on Uchiha Itachi."

"..."

Well, this was more or less what he'd expected.

Orochimaru had originally gone after Itachi because he was curious about the Mangekyō Sharingan. Back then, though, he had misjudged its power and suffered a crushing defeat.

Now Orochimaru had experienced the Mangekyō's might firsthand. If he got more information, could he end up defeating Itachi?

Uchiha Arashi thought it over and decided that was unlikely.

Unless Orochimaru could obtain another Mangekyō in advance and use it to counter Itachi's ocular power, there was no way he could defend against genjutsu on the Mangekyō level—especially since Itachi was so skilled at genjutsu.

Besides, Itachi was plenty strong himself. He wouldn't fear Orochimaru in a direct fight.

"Fine."

After considering it from every angle and deciding there was no problem, Uchiha Arashi agreed to Orochimaru's request. "But that means two fewer Sharingan. I can only give you one."

He put away the first bottle and quickly took out a second, containing only one eye.

"Changing the terms of a deal at the last minute? That hardly seems fair."

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, his expression turning dangerous.

"Don't think I don't know what you're planning. You want to steal Itachi's Mangekyō, don't you? With the information I give you, your chances of success will go up considerably. That information alone is worth as much as Hashirama's cells. Or do you not want even this one?"

Uchiha Arashi gave the bottle a little shake.

Orochimaru stared at him for a long while before finally nodding.

"Fine. We'll do it your way."

He took a bamboo tube from his sleeve and placed it on the ground, then backed away more than ten meters.

Uchiha Arashi stepped forward, picked up the tube, and opened it. Inside was a piece of something that looked like minced meat.

Even without touching it, he could feel the terrifying vitality radiating from the lump.

It was definitely Hashirama's cells.

Uchiha Arashi tucked the tube away, set down the bottle of Sharingan, and slowly backed off.

"If I'm not mistaken, two Mangekyō should mean two different ocular abilities. I'm curious—what ability does your other eye have?"

Orochimaru picked up the bottle, glanced at it casually, then turned his attention back to Uchiha Arashi.

"Why not guess? Or try again. Maybe you'll find out."

Uchiha Arashi smiled.

The deal had gone smoothly, and he was in a good mood.

"Heh. I think I'll pass. I don't make a habit of attacking people right after closing a deal. Now, tell me what you know about Itachi."

Orochimaru shook his head.

Uchiha Arashi then told Orochimaru about Uchiha Itachi's two ocular abilities.

Tsukuyomi, a genjutsu second only to Kotoamatsukami, and Amaterasu, which could burn anything to ashes.

He kept Susanoo to himself as a small surprise for Orochimaru.

"Deal done. It's been a pleasure working with you."

With that, Uchiha Arashi opened the Kamui Dimension. He gave Orochimaru one last look, turned, and disappeared inside.

Orochimaru didn't move the entire time. He watched Uchiha Arashi leave.

Only after he was gone did Orochimaru walk over to the spot where Uchiha Arashi had disappeared.

"A space-time ocular ability? Interesting..."

Two days later.

Uchiha Arashi returned to Konoha in disguise.

After entering the village, he took the letter of appointment from the Minister of Culture and headed straight for the Hokage Building.

The Hokage Building was now surrounded by scaffolding, and the workers were rushing to repair the damaged sections as quickly as possible.

The fact that an entire floor of the Hokage Building had vanished into thin air had recently sparked heated discussion throughout the village. Of course, that had nothing to do with Uchiha Arashi.

He found the relevant staff member, showed them his paperwork, and registered with the village.

The Third never showed up. Neither did the advisors, or high-ranking figures like Shikaku.

By the time Uchiha Arashi left the Hokage Building, he had become Senya Arashi. Yes, that was the new name he'd come up with after much thought.

"I can finally live openly."

After stretching his arms with a wide yawn, Uchiha Arashi turned and headed home.