Night in the Forest of Death was damp and cold. Inside the cave, the campfire crackled, illuminating three unconscious faces and Ling's somber, thoughtful expression.
After confirming that their surroundings were safe for the moment, Ling sank fully into his mindscape. In front of Tobirama, he had no need to hide his exhaustion or worries.
"Teacher Tobirama, Sasuke's Cursed Seal and Naruto's seal..."
[Hmph. Troublesome, but not beyond solving.] Tobirama's voice remained cold, though it lacked some of its usual edge. Instead, it carried a deep, complicated emotion that bordered on regret. [The Cursed Seal of Heaven is essentially a degraded form of Senjutsu power that Orochimaru developed by combining Jugo's cells with Talisman Jutsu. It can erode the mind as a means of control, while also granting immense power for short periods. The Five Elements Seal, on the other hand, is a jutsu formula specifically designed to disrupt the circulation of tailed beast chakra. It will make it difficult for Naruto to mold and control chakra normally.]
"Orochimaru... what exactly is he after? Does he just want to take over Sasuke's body?"
[No. It isn't that simple,] Tobirama said, rejecting the idea. His tone held a trace of all-knowing mockery and... a hint of understanding that was difficult to put into words. [Look at everything he has done since defecting: founding Otogakure, researching Forbidden Techniques, coveting the Sharingan and Uchiha bodies... All of it seems insane, but his underlying motives may be more complicated than you imagine, and more... tragic.]
Ling paused in surprise. "Tragic?"
[Yes.] Tobirama seemed to weigh his words. [At heart, Orochimaru is a man whose hunger for "life" and "knowledge" knows no bounds, yet witnessing too many deaths-including those of his parents and that boy Nawaki-filled him with fear and ultimately twisted his obsession. He