My Journey as Fourth Kazekage

"Kotoamatsukami!? What's that?"

At this moment, Orochimaru completely sensed that something was wrong.

"Oh? You don't know? That's a unique genjutsu of Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan. It allows him to slip into someone's mind without them noticing and alter their will! After Shisui died, one of his eyes was taken by Danzō, and the other ended up in Itachi's hands."

!!!

Orochimaru felt like his brain had just been struck hard by something. A chill rose from the depths of his soul, making his whole body tremble.

He looked down at his hands, disbelief written all over his face, and said grimly.

"You mean Itachi cast genjutsu on me… altered my will… that's why I…"

Rasa nodded.

"Just now, in that very instant, I sensed a strange chakra on you. I can confirm, it was Shisui's chakra. As for how I'm so sure?"

(AN: It was nothing like this. It's just a plot hole, like many other plot holes, explaining why Orochimaru was obsessed with Sasuke's Sharingan even though he had planted many on Danzo before.)

Rasa took out a scroll. After opening it, he held up a glass test tube. Orochimaru glanced over and clearly saw a three-tomoe Sharingan floating inside the tube. His expression darkened further, since he had already suspected something, but this confirmed it.

"What is this?"

Rasa smiled.

"This is the other eye of Shisui's, the one I snatched from Danzō. So yes, I'm quite familiar with his chakra."

!!!

Orochimaru's entire expression turned ashen. A terrifying aura of killing intent radiated off of him as he growled the name venomously.

"Itachi… why? Why would he use that genjutsu on me? Isn't he afraid that I might target his brother for the Sharingan!?"

Rasa shrugged his shoulders.

"The answer is simple. Itachi definitely loves his little brother… so there's only one possibility, Orochimaru… Itachi Uchiha made you into a whetstone for Sasuke's growth!"

"..."

The surface of the lake began to ripple violently.

This wasn't the movement of the Three-Tails beneath the surface; it was the result of Orochimaru's rage making his chakra surge uncontrollably. Anyone would be furious to discover they'd been used, their will tampered with, turned into a stepping stone for someone else. Especially someone as proud as Orochimaru.

As for doubting Rasa's words, that thought never even crossed Orochimaru's mind anymore.

At that moment, veins throbbed on Orochimaru's forehead, a sign of his fury. He clenched his teeth fiercely. However, Orochimaru was still Orochimaru. He rapidly regained his composure, though that chilling, sinister smile lingered on his lips.

"What a brilliant scheme, Itachi… but now, your little brother is in my hands. I'll take very good care of Sasuke."

Hearing this, Rasa became stern.

"No… I'd advise you not to do that."

"???"

Rasa's sudden warning made Orochimaru squint his eyes again.

"Why not?"

"Because I've already said it, fate. Unless you're looking to bring a world of trouble onto yourself."

"..."

At that moment, Orochimaru seemed to be slowly piecing things together. He cautiously asked:

"The Child of Prophecy?!"

"Some things like that… It's enough that you understand. Don't speak of them."

Rasa's reply made Orochimaru's expression turn extremely grim.

"Then what am I supposed to do? Just sit here and watch everything be taken from me?"

Rasa didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked.

"Orochimaru, what do you think our relationship is now?"

Orochimaru immediately understood what Rasa meant and replied with a sly smile:

"If we were merely collaborators before today, Rasa-kun, then from now on, I think we can call each other friends."

Rasa raised a brow.

"Friends, huh? I like friends. In that case, as a friend… let me give you a gift."

"A gift?"

As Orochimaru looked on in surprise, Rasa took out another scroll.

"This is Danzō's right arm."

Orochimaru was very familiar with that arm; after all, it was his creation. Even so, he felt pleased. On one hand, it was a gift from a friend. On the other hand, Danzō had always been extremely stingy with Sharingan, which were embedded in it.

But what did this mean?

Just as Orochimaru was puzzled, Rasa slowly spoke his thoughts.

"I've always wondered, Orochimaru, with your scientific prowess, why are you so fixated on Sasuke's body? Don't you think that with your own genetic material, you could easily cultivate or clone a body far more suitable for yourself?"

!!!

At that moment, Orochimaru truly began to believe that Itachi had altered his will.

Yes, why hadn't he thought of this? Using his own genes as the base, integrating Hashirama's cells and the power of the Sharingan, he could absolutely clone a body perfectly suited to his soul.

Instead of remaining in this strange, genderless state.

In that instant, the look in Orochimaru's eyes toward Rasa changed completely.

"Hehehe… now that I think about it, accepting Rasa-kun's invitation was the best decision I've ever made in my life. And this is only the beginning… I can already glimpse the vast world you spoke of."

Rasa smiled and nodded.

"I'm glad. That means our cooperation will only become more pleasant moving forward."

"Of course!"

Just then, the surface of the lake started to churn again. But this time, it wasn't caused by Orochimaru's chakra; it was due to the emergence of a massive creature from beneath the water. Countless bubbles surged up, and waves began to ripple across the lake.

"Looks like the Three-Tails is coming up."

This time, Rasa stepped forward.

"Mm. Leave the rest to me."

As the water beneath their feet surged up like a mountain and turned into a torrential downpour, a gigantic turtle covered in sharp spikes, with three massive tails, rose from the lake. It glared at them with its single eye, radiating fury.

"That's seriously impressive~"

Orochimaru muttered in awe, curious about how Rasa would subdue a tailed beast.

Rasa calmly stepped forward a few paces and pressed his hands together.

"I know you have a will of your own. I bear no ill will toward tailed beasts. I merely need a bit of your chakra. So… I apologize."

Under Orochimaru's astonished gaze, Rasa clasped his hands together.

"Wood Style: Birth of the Tree World…!"

Rasa wasn't someone who liked to say unnecessary things. But sometimes, words were essential because, in that moment, he wasn't just speaking to the tailed beast. He was making his stance known to the true master of all tailed beasts, the Sage of Six Paths. After all, he still didn't have the strength to speak boldly yet.

---

One day later, when the shinobi of Kirigakure noticed something was wrong and rushed to the scene, all they found were the corpses of their fallen comrades, the calm surface of the lake…

…and no trace of the Three-Tails.