Time rolled back a few hours.
A knock sounded at the door to Orochimaru's Laboratory, and Danzo entered with several ANBU.
"Danzo..." Orochimaru emerged from a dark corner and surveyed the ANBU behind Danzo. "If I remember correctly, it isn't time for another delivery of 'materials' yet, is it?"
The ANBU behind Orochimaru immediately tensed.
"I've come to bring you someone," Danzo said, perfectly composed. "Doing research alone all the time must be inconvenient. Besides, I have to come here every time we need to speak. Too many visits will attract attention."
"When Xue Ge was here, En could contact you under the pretext of giving him guidance."
"Now that Xue Ge is living with me, I made a point of finding a war orphan to bring you. She can serve as your assistant and act as a messenger between us."
"..." Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.
An assistant? A messenger?
"Heh heh heh..." Orochimaru chuckled coldly for a moment, but did not expose Danzo's intentions. "Whatever pleases you."
"Lin Yi, come out," Danzo said. As his words fell, a slightly bewildered-looking little girl cautiously poked her head out from behind him.
Orochimaru studied Lin Yi for a moment. "War orphans, war orphans... Ever since you took that child named Xue Ge as your stepson, you've had more and more war orphans under your command, Danzo."
"I wonder whether these orphans really are 'war orphans,' or..."
"There are things you would do well not to pry into, Orochimaru," Danzo said quietly. The ANBU following him all belonged to his faction and bore his Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal. They were trusted subordinates, so he had no fear of them overhearing the conversation.
"I could say... exactly the same to you." With that, a white snake slipped from Orochimaru's sleeve, crawled to Lin Yi's feet, and coiled around her leg. Fear filled her eyes, but under Danzo's intimidating gaze, she still walked stiffly over to Orochimaru.
"If anything happens to her, I won't be responsible." Orochimaru turned to look at the little girl and gave a raspy laugh.
Danzo snorted. "If you want to spare us both some trouble, you'd better make sure nothing happens to her. This is for Konoha's sake as well."
"I can't promise that." Orochimaru remained noncommittal. "If you're finished, hurry up and leave, Danzo. I'm busy."
"No, there's something else."
Those words nearly made Orochimaru choke.
"...Spit it out!" His earlier playful manner vanished; now he was irritated.
"How are the cell experiments involving Xue Ge and the other Kekkei Genkai progressing?" Danzo asked.
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. After a brief silence, he said meaningfully, "So this is the real reason you came... Follow me."
With that, he turned and headed deeper into the laboratory. Danzo waved a hand and followed, while the ANBU behind him swiftly withdrew outside the door. What came next was not for their ears.
Only Lin Yi remained, standing blankly in place, until the white snake coiled around her leg nudged her, then slithered down to the floor and headed off in one direction. She hurried after it.
"The experimental results were abysmal."
Orochimaru handed Danzo a thick stack of reports, then sat in his office chair as he spoke.
As he talked, he leisurely poured himself a cup of coffee.
"Would you like some?" "No."
Danzo leafed through the reports without looking up.
Orochimaru was in no hurry. He simply drank his coffee and waited for Danzo's reaction.
Before long, having skimmed most of the reports, Danzo placed them back on the desk, his face expressionless.
"The fusion experiments with hashirama cells failed completely. No different from an ordinary person's. Attempts to fuse them with Transparent Release chakra also failed."
"There was some progress in the experiments combining them with cells from the Kurama Clan, but those failed in the end as well. As for the Sharingan..."
At this point, Orochimaru's gaze grew peculiar. "That case is rather unusual. The Sharingan's ocular power seems compatible with Xue Ge's cells, but the Sharingan itself showed an extremely strong rejection response... In short, that failed in the end too."
Orochimaru spoke without the slightest restraint about taboo subjects that might drive the great clans mad if they heard him.
"What do you make of the Sharingan experiments?" Danzo asked.
"Ocular power is the source of the Sharingan's strength, and that strength largely stems from the Uchiha Clan's emotional fluctuations..." Orochimaru pondered. "I suspect Xue Ge is mentally compatible with the Sharingan, but his body is entirely unsuitable."
"Hmm. In that case, there may still be some possibility of giving that stepson of yours an ocular Kekkei Genkai through transplantation."
After hearing Orochimaru's words, Danzo's gaze turned cold.
He asked gravely, "Do you need more Sharingan for your experiments?"
"If you have them, certainly. But the chances of success are low. Rather than getting more Sharingan, it might be more practical to use a different test subject." Orochimaru spread his hands, then chuckled. "Of course, if you can obtain another ocular technique, perhaps that could work too..."
"After all, I think that stepson of yours may have better prospects when it comes to transplanting an ocular Kekkei Genkai."
Other ocular techniques?
The Byakugan...?
Danzo paused briefly, then began turning over plans in his mind.
But his thoughts did not prevent him from continuing his conversation with Orochimaru. "I'll find a way to provide you with more Sharingan. As for other ocular techniques... we'll discuss that later."
"I'll find you some Kekkei Genkai from outside the village in a while. Also, the next batch of 'materials' will mostly be children. Make sure you keep them under control. Don't let them make a scene."
"You needn't concern yourself... with such trifles." Orochimaru looked thoughtful. "Speaking of which, is that child Xue Ge still pushing himself so hard? The equipment and materials keeping him alive are quite expensive..."
"I'll pay," Danzo cut him off.
"...Very well." Orochimaru shrugged with a smile. "Well, what tenacity. It's been a while since I last saw him. I almost miss the little brat. He spent four years with me, after all. There's some affection there. Danzo, how about arranging a meeting?"
"I suggest you stop getting ideas about Xue Ge. He belongs to me. If you need expendable subjects, I'll give you others." With that, Danzo swept his sleeve aside and left.
Watching Danzo walk away, Orochimaru's brow creased almost imperceptibly.
What a shame. I'd only just
developed a Cursed Seal that could transfer chakra, and I'd wanted to plant it directly on Xue Ge to test it. The little brat already had plenty of impurities in his body anyway.
Such a shame, such a shame.
Heh. Danzo, oh, Danzo. Since you've already sent that little brat to the Ninja Academy, do you really think you can stop me from approaching him?