Reforms Announced

Uchiha En said, "This is Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan. It has a supreme genjutsu called Kotoamatsukami that can forcibly change a person's mind. That fool Danzo tried to use it on me, so I dug it out."

He held the bottle in his palm and gave it a shake.

"Unfortunately, Danzo already used it once. Kotoamatsukami takes more than a decade to recharge."

"This eye... is no use to me anymore."

Orochimaru's breathing quickened slightly.

"So you mean..."

"So..." Uchiha En held out the bottle. "It's yours."

"Consider it... a welcome gift."

Orochimaru stared at the bottle, then at the boy before him, as though seeing him for the first time.

"You're... willing to give it away?"

"Something I've exhausted is worthless in my hands," Uchiha En said. "But in yours, with your abilities, you might discover something in this eye that even I couldn't imagine."

"That's what I call putting it to good use."

Orochimaru stood on the Hokage Rock, looking at the bottle held out before him. His thoughts were in turmoil.

He had schemed against countless people in his life, and countless people had schemed against him.

He had never imagined that one day, a boy would offer him a Mangekyō Sharingan so casually.

All because the boy said he admired his research abilities.

Orochimaru fell silent for a long, long time.

Long enough for the wind to dry the night dew on the Hokage Rock.

At last, Orochimaru reached out and took the bottle.

He lowered his head and looked at the eyeball floating inside. Then he smiled. His laugh was soft and cold, but it carried a seriousness he had never shown before.

"All right."

"I accept your terms."

Uchiha En nodded and said nothing more.

"If anything comes up in Otogakure, send word by