Sixteen years old, the Fourth Mizukage

"Lord Orochimaru, we observed some slightly abnormal data. If you have time, could you come help us analyze it?"

"Abnormal data?"

Orochimaru, who was currently observing the condition of a culture vessel with slightly unusual data, raised his head and looked curiously at the Kirigakure ninja who carried a hint of nervousness and unease.

"Interesting. I remember that you seem to be a member of Kirigakure's intelligence observation unit, yes? Ordinarily, I have almost no contact with you people. Why have you suddenly come to me for help?"

"Because… because…"

The member of Kirigakure's intelligence observation unit nervously swallowed and said with little confidence, "We believe you are a researcher greatly valued by Lord Mizukage. Your knowledge and scope of study are also broad enough. Perhaps… perhaps you might be able to see the hidden information behind this data that we cannot understand."

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow.

While naturally accepting the other party's not particularly skillful praise, he used his shockingly long tongue to lick his cheek with a sinister expression and said in a voice that did not sound too interested, "Then first tell me what abnormal data you observed. Afterward, I will judge whether I should temporarily put down the experiment the Fourth Mizukage specifically instructed me to handle and help you analyze the cause behind this data…"

"It is… a set of data about the moon's orbital trajectory. It suddenly abnormally approached Earth by a certain distance…"

The jōnin from Kirigakure's observation unit handed a prepared comparative data report to Orochimaru, while quietly saying news that made his entire body stiffen.

"You said… the moon?"

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru!"

Seeing that Orochimaru's reaction seemed promising, the member of the observation unit who had come for help immediately brightened. He promptly used concise and efficient words to explain why they had come.

"You should know that due to the needs of creating calendars, observing weather, and so on, the major ninja villages and even individual clans have always maintained the tradition of observing the moon's movement and changes in the stars. In the long history of past observation, changes in the moon and stars have always been relatively stable and regular."

"But last night, the ninja on duty in our observation unit discovered that the moon's orbital trajectory had shown an unprecedented abnormality, clearly moving closer toward Earth."

While listening to the observation unit member's description, Orochimaru also very quickly browsed through all the data provided to him.

After confirming that the other party's words were not false, he raised his head and asked expressionlessly, "Why come to me for help first with this kind of matter, instead of reporting it to the Fourth Mizukage?"

"Because we have only observed this one abnormal data point from last night. For now, we cannot determine whether this was an observational error by the shinobi on duty, or whether the moon's orbit has truly shown some abnormality…"

The observation unit member took one somewhat awkward and helpless step back, defending himself in a quiet voice.

"If we want to report this matter to Lord Fourth, then we must collect more abnormal data to support our conclusion. But Lord Orochimaru, you are the head of the scientific research department personally appointed by Lord Fourth. If you also agree with our view, then the amount of abnormal data we need to collect should be reduced by quite a bit…"

"I see… Then I will indeed accept this request for help. If it is ultimately confirmed that this abnormal data is not false, I will let the Fourth Mizukage know of your contribution."

Orochimaru nodded and put away the data provided by the observation unit with no change in expression.

The Kirigakure jōnin, who had come to ask for help with the mindset of simply trying his luck, also breathed a sigh of relief. After bowing and thanking Orochimaru, he vanished from the laboratory with the Body Flicker Technique, preparing to return and collect more abnormal data with his colleagues that could serve as evidence.

Seeing the other party's figure disappear, Orochimaru's expression also became much more solemn.

After briefly calling over Kabuto Yakushi, who was responsible for other culture vessels, and assigning him tasks, he hurriedly left his laboratory and used the Body Flicker Technique toward the Mizukage's office.

A short while later.

Rei Kaguya, who had originally looked displeased because someone had disturbed his afternoon nap, also could not help frowning before this data recording the moon's abnormal orbital trajectory, just as Orochimaru had earlier.

"It seems you also think this is not some observational error, Rei-kun."

"Those capable of being selected for the intelligence observation unit are basically the most outstanding sensory-type shinobi in every major ninja village. With their standards, even if there were perception errors, there should not be such an exaggerated deviation."

Looking at Rei's serious expression as he shook his head, Orochimaru exhaled and leaned against the bookshelf in the Mizukage's office. In a deep voice, he asked, "If this is not a natural phenomenon within the permitted range of observational error, does that mean… this is a disturbance created by the Ōtsutsuki on the moon?"

"Almost certainly. But what exactly they want to do… I do not quite understand."

Rei put down the data in his hand and lightly tapped the table with his finger, murmuring to himself in great confusion.

"Taking Hyūga Hiashi's Byakugan is one thing. As long as they do nothing unnecessary afterward, aside from people in the know like me, no one else would ever notice their existence.

"But moving the moon… this disturbance is a little too large. So large that even if they move the moon back to its original orbit now, it is already impossible for others not to grow suspicious."

"For such a secret force that has always remained high above the moon for thousands of years, coldly watching the changes in the shinobi world's history, suddenly taking such a loud and conspicuous action without any reason is far too abnormal…"

"Abnormality usually means change. Whether internal or external, there must have been one or more incidents sufficient to push them into abnormal action."

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and looked at Rei thoughtfully.

"Putting internal changes aside, the external change definitely has something to do with you, Rei-kun… Or rather, it has something to do with you, who obtained a flawless Byakugan and displayed almost mythical power."

"You mean they think that after obtaining the Byakugan, I might learn of their existence from the Hyūga clan, and in order to obtain Ōtsutsuki Hamura's complete power, become their enemy. So they were forced to take this series of actions?"

Rei raised an eyebrow and shook his head somewhat speechlessly.

"Then they seem to understand me pretty well?"

"It may not necessarily be that they understand you. It may simply be that they are self-aware about what they would do if their positions were reversed?"

Orochimaru laughed sinisterly.

"After all, people cannot speculate about things beyond the scope of their own understanding. Even when guessing at an enemy with the worst possible malice, humans usually use the things they have once done themselves as reference before exaggerating and vilifying them…"

"Hah. If it is really as you say, Orochimaru, then this distant relative of mine does not seem like a very good person either."

Rei pressed his ten fingers together, closed his eyes, and chuckled softly.

"However, if they truly intend to use moving the moon as a way to demonstrate force to me, then that feels a little… fierce on the outside, weak on the inside."

"Oh? Rei-kun thinks the same?"

The smile on Orochimaru's face became deeper and colder because of Rei's answer.

"If that distant relative of mine were in the prime of his life and sufficiently confident in his own strength, then all he would need to do is wait for me to come. Quietly wait for me, who knows nothing about the environment on the moon, to set foot there, then use the great power they employ to move the moon to seal off my retreat, and finally blast the retreatless me into dregs…"

Rei opened his eyes and smiled playfully.

"But he did not do that. Despite being the orthodox inheritor of Ōtsutsuki Hamura, after realizing that I, the descendant of a declined family, might threaten them, he put on a posture as if facing a great enemy, urgently wanting me to retreat before difficulties… That scent of bluffing is so thick he cannot hide it no matter how hard he tries."

"In other words, this will be a good opportunity to strike while they are weak, correct?"

Orochimaru took a deep breath. Like a great snake rising upright after spotting an excellent prey, chilling greed and appetite burst from his eyes.

"Necessary preparations still need to be made in advance."

Rei leaned back casually, folded his hands over his chest, and spoke unhurriedly to Orochimaru, who wished he could fly to the moon immediately.

"Even if I use every trump card I have right now, I most likely cannot do something as exaggerated as moving the moon… No matter how great the problems inside the Ōtsutsuki clan are, as long as they can still use that great power capable of moving the moon, they remain opponents we must use every ounce of strength to have a chance of defeating.

"Do not be too careless, Orochimaru."

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