Orochimaru's expression grew serious. He had heard Jiraiya bragging about his new disciple countless times—an orphan from outside the village with rare talent. Orochimaru had suspected the child was selected by their teacher himself, for there was no way Jiraiya, who spent his time peeping at the women's bathhouse, would bother scouting the ninja academy.
But Orochimaru hadn't expected this hidden intent—that Hiruzen had no intention of passing the Hokage seat to him.
Although not obsessed with becoming Hokage, the betrayal stung. The same teacher who had praised him as the best candidate was secretly grooming someone else? What did that make him—just a smokescreen to protect the real successor?
Truly, you live up to your name, sensei.
"I can see your obsession lies in power, not position. There should be no conflict between us. Whatever Hiruzen can offer, I can match—or even exceed."
Danzo Shimura took the opportunity to extend an invitation. He had long observed Hiruzen's students. Orochimaru, detached from politics but obsessed with experiments, was exactly the kind of talent he needed.
"Then I look forward to your guidance, Danzo-sama," Orochimaru said with a grin.
Whether or not his teacher still believed in him was irrelevant now. Danzo had the resources and goals that aligned with his. As one of the two most formidable powers in the shinobi world, Danzo was worth cooperating with—for now.
What impressed him even more was Danzo's insight. Hiruzen's plans had escaped even his notice, yet Danzo had seen through them.
Still… with such cunning, how had Danzo failed so catastrophically in the Land of Whirlpools?
Could it be that there was some secret behind his defeat? Or… was Dodai, the Third Raikage's advisor, truly that formidable?
Danzo was satisfied with Orochimaru's attitude. "You'll bring samples of the First Hokage's cells and Sharingan to the front lines. There, we'll have an endless stream of prisoners for your experiments. Whatever you need, I'll provide. But I expect results that will help us crush Sunagakure."
Experiments like these were too sensitive for Konoha, but the battlefield gave them cover. The war was escalating. With both his clan's and Root's elites decimated in Uzushiogakure, Danzo had to forge new top-tier warriors through more… creative methods.
"What a delightful arrangement," Orochimaru said, licking his lips.
Finally, his previously forbidden experiments could begin.
Elsewhere, Root agents delivered the Sharingan Danzo had allocated to a man named Uchiha Lieyang.
Within the Uchiha clan's secret storehouse, Lieyang arranged the eyes—most in nutrient solution, all three-tomoe Sharingan. Among them sat a peculiar pair of dull gray eyes.
The damaged and lesser Sharingan were sealed in a gourd. The high-quality three-tomoe eyes were carefully placed on the rack, alongside the gray pair.
"If only Jing hadn't sided so closely with Senju Tobirama," Lieyang muttered. "With these eyes, he could've chained together Izanagi long enough to force the clan a Hokage."
These eyes were the clan's treasure. No Uchiha's eyes ever went to the grave. Every death was followed by careful recovery of the Sharingan—whether by kin or bounty hunters.
The three-tomoe Sharingan were especially valuable for Izanagi, though the technique required Mangekyō-level chakra to manifest its full potential.
Jing had awakened the Mangekyō, but he was loyal to the village over the clan. A pity—he could've turned the tide.
What haunted Lieyang most was Mito Uzumaki, wife of the First Hokage. Her control over the Nine-Tails was perfect. Even the Mangekyō could hardly touch her mind. She stood at the level of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.
They had no one on her level. Unless…
His eyes drifted again to the gray ones.
How did Madara obtain those eyes?
They weren't inherited naturally. No known experiments had replicated them.
The secret must've died with him—his body taken by the Second Hokage after their final battle.
Lieyang stared long, then turned to leave, unaware of the shadow that crept behind him.
"Excellent nutrients."
Black Zetsu emerged silently.
He had long known of the Uchiha's eye-retrieval tradition. Even bounty exchanges paid well for Sharingan and Byakugan—especially the latter for its low rejection rate.
Normally, Zetsu didn't care about ordinary Sharingan. His interest lay in Indra's reincarnation and Mangekyō. But now, his "younger brother" needed fuel to strengthen the Ten-Tails—and these would suffice.
Without hesitation, he unfurled a sealing scroll from his body and packed every Sharingan, including the gray eyes.
Danzo had just delivered these eyes.
Now, the storehouse was empty.
Uchiha Lieyang would surely blame Danzo Shimura.
The area was under barrier protection, nearly impenetrable—unless the intruder used space-time ninjutsu like the Flying Thunder God Technique.
And Danzo was a disciple of Tobirama.
Even if he couldn't use the technique himself, he could have someone else mark the space.
Zetsu had even left subtle spatial residue to simulate the mark—making the framing seamless.
As his "brother" had said, everything could be blamed on Danzo Shimura.
He summoned a rabbit with a reverse summoning seal and merged into it. When the original body connected via telepathy, the clone transferred all the sealed goods back.
"Too bad Hashirama's body is sealed away by Mito Uzumaki herself," he muttered, looking toward Konoha.
Breaking her seal would alert her—and she still lived.
No, he would wait. She didn't have long left.
He melted back into the earth, heading toward the Hidden Cloud Village.
His original plan had been simple—revive Kaguya through the Infinite Tsukuyomi. But now, with his brother and the lingering shadow of their mother, the plan had evolved.
The phantom might not awaken the Rinnegan, but it would still be enough to tip the scale—if the time came.
And so, Black Zetsu disappeared into the ground, carrying the eyes of a century's hatred.