Orochimaru

Izakaya.

"Why have you been so busy lately?" Obito asked, pouring a cup of sake for Tsunade.

"Sigh, the frontline garrison troops and the ninjas from Sunagakure have had some friction at the border. The Sunagakure ninjas are highly skilled in using poisons, especially their elder Chiyo. I've received a mission from the Hokage to formulate an antidote. I've been busy running experiments these past few days." Tsunade picked up her cup, drank, and let out a long sigh.

"Orochimaru could do it too, couldn't he?" Obito said.

"Orochimaru's research focus is different from mine, and he's in charge of Root now. He's in a high and powerful position; he has no time to make antidotes. Only I am a free person now. Not having to go to the battlefield and being able to contribute to Konoha from the rear isn't bad either," Tsunade continued.

"I know some people in the village have prejudices against the Uchiha clan, and some things have been unfair to them. You have your stance, and I understand that. But... this village is, after all, the life's work of my grandfather, a village bought with the blood of countless clansmen... I don't want to see you..."

"Rest assured, I won't do anything harmful to the village. When Danzo tried to assassinate me, didn't I only target him personally? I swear to you, I will spend my whole life protecting you and Konoha," Obito said, reaching out to hold Tsunade's hand.

"Thank you... Obito," Tsunade said, moved.

"Eat up, it'll get cold soon. Once you're done, go home and get a good night's sleep. You're too tired."

"Mm... this radish is delicious, try some." Tsunade picked up a piece of radish for Obito.

Konoha will exist forever; only some inconsequential people will cease to exist.

"Should we go to the villa in the Land of Hot Water or go home?" Obito asked after the meal.

"Let's go home. Shizune already has complaints about me leaving her alone at home, and I have to go to the laboratory early tomorrow morning."

"Fine, another dull night, then," Obito lamented.

"Is that all you're with me for, you brat?"

"No, a slip of the tongue, a slip of the tongue..."

The night passed without incident. The next day, Obito summoned Cheping and gave him a letter to deliver to Orochimaru.

Ever since Orochimaru became the leader of Root, he had been like a fish in water. The Root base contained many forbidden archives, things he could not have easily accessed before. Now, he could read them at will.

Data on Wood Release, the Second Hokage's research on the Sharingan, various forbidden techniques, and information on other Kekkei Genkai—all of these opened new doors for Orochimaru!

Through the study of these materials, especially the extraordinary abilities of forbidden techniques and Kekkei Genkai, Orochimaru, who possessed an ordinary bloodline, became even more obsessed with obtaining a Kekkei Genkai.

In the underground headquarters of Root, the original laboratory had been expanded threefold by Orochimaru! The human experiments that were once conducted in secret were now carried out openly! Spies and prisoners from various countries became ready-made test subjects.

"Lord Orochimaru, Uchiha Cheping requests an audience," a masked ninja reported, kneeling on one knee.

"Uchiha?" Orochimaru asked, somewhat surprised.

As a disciple of the Third, he had no dealings with the Uchiha clan.

"Reporting, my lord, Cheping is Uchiha Obito's guard. He says he is here to deliver a letter to you on Obito's orders."

"Bring him in." Orochimaru licked his lips, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. If there was anyone in Konoha who made him fearful now, that Uchiha brat was definitely one... He had observed from the shadows on the night Obito stormed the Root headquarters alone. That power! He wanted it so badly...

"My lord, the person is here."

"Lord Orochimaru, this is a personal letter from my master, Lord Obito. Please take a look."

Cheping said, neither servile nor overbearing.

"You Uchiha are truly becoming more and more pathetic, actually submitting to a little brat, hehe." Orochimaru laughed sinisterly, his raspy laughter making one's skin crawl.

"Please watch your tongue, my lord! The letter has been delivered, farewell!"

With a poof, Cheping vanished.

"Get out," Orochimaru said, holding the letter.

"Yes!" The masked ninja exited and closed the door. Orochimaru tore open the envelope. The content of the letter was very simple, consisting of only one sentence:

If you want eternal life, come find me. Uchiha Obito.

Although the letter was short, the impact on Orochimaru was immense. Eternal life was the highest realm he pursued! He had never mentioned anything about eternal life to anyone else! How did he know? And did he know the method to achieve it?

As one of the Sannin of Konoha, Orochimaru felt as if his heart were on fire; he could no longer remain calm.

Ever since the day his parents died, there had been a question in his heart: Why do people die? Can people not die? If they could, Mom and Dad wouldn't have left me...

But over thirty years of study and growth, he realized that people would eventually die, no matter how powerful they were! Even someone as strong as the God of Shinobi, the First Hokage, could not avoid the fate of death.

However, after taking charge of Root, Orochimaru discovered the S-rank forbidden technique created by the Second Hokage, Tobirama: Impure World Reincarnation!

A technique that allows the souls of the dead to return to the world of the living! Undying and indestructible, existing forever!

Impure World Reincarnation was controlled by others, which was something Orochimaru could not tolerate.

But the discovery of Impure World Reincarnation acted as a booster for Orochimaru's exploration of eternal life. The physical body cannot last forever, but the soul is immortal! As long as one keeps replacing the old body, one can exist in the world forever and achieve the goal of eternal life!

But how to separate the soul from the body, ensure the transfer of the soul, and ensure the transferred soul perfectly fuses with the new body? These were the technical barriers he had been unable to overcome.

Orochimaru hesitated for a moment, made up his mind, left the Root headquarters, and headed toward Obito's home. Although dangerous, it was worth the risk.

Obito's residence.

"Uchiha Obito, what are your conditions? Speak." Orochimaru and Obito sat on opposite sides, with two cups of steaming tea on a square table between them.

Orochimaru wore the black Konoha combat uniform, a green flak jacket, and a Konoha forehead protector. He had long black hair, very fair skin, slit pupils, purple eyeshadow, and wore magatama-shaped earrings. This was the first time Obito had seen Orochimaru since he crossed over. His first impression was that he was cold and sinister, truly like a venomous snake.

"Don't be so impatient. As a contemporary of Tsunade and a comrade who fought alongside her for many years, and now that Tsunade and I are together, we can be considered half-friends, right?" Obito set aside his first impression of Orochimaru and smiled.

"Hehe, it's not that easy to be a friend of mine, Orochimaru," Orochimaru said hoarsely.

"I am not that idiot Jiraiya, nor do I like to talk nonsense. What do you want in exchange for telling me the secret of eternal life?"

"Submit to me and become my subordinate. How about that?" Obito picked up his teacup and took a sip of hot tea.

"Submit? Hahaha... Brat, have you gone mad, or have I?" Orochimaru's face darkened, his slit pupils emitting a dangerous light, like a snake locking onto its prey!