The Third Hokage and the Mad Orochimaru
In a desolate corner of the village, there stands an abandoned building. The building's exterior is dilapidated, yet it exudes a chilling atmosphere. Inside the building is a well-hidden laboratory, where the atmosphere is even more eerie.
Upon entering the laboratory, the first thing that catches the eye is the dim and desolate lighting, and the air is filled with a putrid smell, as if something is silently rotting here.
A chandelier hung precariously from the ceiling, emitting a weak and unstable light that made the entire room seem even more eerie and terrifying.
In the center of the laboratory stood a table, cluttered with various surgical instruments. Sharp scalpels gleamed coldly, and tweezers, forceps, and other tools lay nearby, all seemingly awaiting a cruel ritual.
On the other side, a lone microscope stood silently, its lenses covered with a thick layer of dust and grime, looking as if it hadn't been used in a long time.
In the corner, a row of petri dishes were neatly arranged, filled with a mysterious liquid. The substance in the liquid looked unusually eerie in the dim light.
A figure was busy moving back and forth in front of the lab table, his figure obscured by shadows, making it impossible to see his face.
His hands skillfully manipulated various tools, his eyes revealing a kind of madness and obsession.
Behind this figure, on a cold stone bed, lay a person, motionless, as if asleep on the verge of death.
His pale face appeared lifeless in the dim light, and his tightly closed eyes made it impossible to tell whether he had fallen into a coma or had already lost all signs of life.
His face was tinged with fear and despair, as if he had just experienced something terrible.
On the ground around the stone bed, there were some dark red marks, which looked like old bloodstains or the residue of some mysterious liquid.
Suddenly, the busy figure stopped. He slowly turned around and looked at the person on the stone bed. There was no pity in his eyes, only a longing for the unknown and an eager pursuit of success.
Orochimaru's gaze was icy as he stared at Danzo on the bed, a chilling smile playing on his lips. The smile seemed to be directed at the man on the bed, yet also a whispered soliloquy, "Death only has meaning when it can be manipulated, and the value of life lies in its eternal existence."
"Humans are far too fragile."
Just then, heavy, slow footsteps approached, breaking the deathly silence.
Orochimaru raised his head, his gaze piercing through the darkness. The familiar figure drew closer and closer—it was his teacher, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.
His tongue lightly licked the surface; its long, thin shape, in the dim light, exuded an ominous aura.
His cold eyes were fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi, and he asked with urgency and expectation, "Have you found all the people I asked for?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi closed his eyes, his face solemn, and slowly nodded.
Orochimaru merely sneered, his laughter echoing in the silence. "Teacher, even now, do you still want to pretend to be kind?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly opened his eyes, looked at Orochimaru and said, "I've found all the experimental subjects you wanted. They're right next door. Remember our agreement."
Without uttering a word, Orochimaru's pale face revealed urgency and fanaticism as he pounced on his prey like a hungry tiger, rushing towards the next room.
Stepping into the room, a strong, suffocating smell of chemicals hit you.
Before me were huge petri dishes arranged in neat rows, a thin layer of water vapor condensing on the glass walls, blurring the view inside.
Orochimaru approached a petri dish, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism.
The petri dish contained some kind of murky liquid, and what was truly chilling was that it contained a person!
The person's body was contorted, enveloped in liquid, as if asleep in an endless nightmare.
He checked them one by one, and found the same thing in every petri dish.
The walls of the room were covered with people, their bodies restrained by various devices, each with their eyes closed, their faces pale, their fate unknown.
Orochimaru glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was following behind, with satisfaction.
Hiruzen Sarutobi gazed at the horrific scenes, guilt and unease intertwined on his face. His hands trembled slightly, and his voice deepened with anger. "Orochimaru, remember our promise, revive Danzo!"
Orochimaru laughed wildly, "Hahaha, don't worry, teacher. You've given me such a great gift, how could I forget our promise?"
Orochimaru is currently riding high on his success.
Several years ago, his eldest apprentice, Nawaki, and his good friend Dan Katō, died one after another, like sharp swords piercing his soul.
Those bloody wars and those sorrowful partings made Orochimaru realize that in the face of fate, humanity is so fragile, and life is like a flickering candle in the wind, which can be extinguished at any moment.
This sense of powerlessness and fear of death planted a seed in his heart.
Therefore, after the war, he abandoned his past glory and disputes and devoted himself to scientific research.
He no longer lingered on the training of Ninjutsu and the outcome of battles, but instead turned his attention to the unknown.
Day and night, he was immersed in data and experiments, forgetting the passage of time.
Orochimaru wanted to understand all the truths of this world; he longed to unveil the mysteries of life and find a way to make life eternal.
He no longer believed in those vague legends and traditional ideas, but instead placed all his hopes on science.
He firmly believes that one day he will be able to break through the limits of life, transcend the cycle of life and death, and realize the seemingly unattainable dream in his heart.
The Third Hokage looked at Orochimaru silently, his eyes filled with complex emotions, which eventually turned into a helpless sigh.
Once upon a time, he admired Orochimaru's exceptional scientific talent and, based on trust, entrusted him with a profound task—the transplantation and research of Hashirama Cells.
This investigation is not only about controlling the power of the Tailed Beast, but also a trump card for the village, a potential "ultimate weapon".
To aid Orochimaru's research, he generously provided numerous living ninjas as test subjects. However, the power of Hashirama Cells was too overwhelming, making the research extremely difficult and ultimately unsuccessful.
The lengthy exploration process consumed a great deal of manpower and resources in Konoha. After careful consideration and deliberation, the Third Hokage had no choice but to halt the project.
But last night, when the Third Hokage saw his dearest friend, Shimura Danzō, on his last breath, his heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, and he was overwhelmed with grief.
He couldn't accept this cruel reality! In that abyss of despair, only one thought occupied his mind: Orochimaru.
Without hesitation, the Third Hokage found Orochimaru and made a pact with him: he would spare no expense to save Danzo.
But at this moment, facing the almost crazed Orochimaru, the Third Hokage was filled with struggle and confusion.
He kept asking himself, was this decision right or wrong? For the sake of his best friend's life, he had chosen a dangerous and reckless partner; would this bring even greater disaster to the village?
He stared at Orochimaru again, his eyes filled only with the madness of someone lost in their own world. With a heavy heart Hiruzen Sarutobi turned and left.
His steps were heavy and unsteady, his back looked so lonely in the dim light, and the turmoil in his heart was like a tangled mess, impossible to unravel.