Uchiha orphan, so what if I'm ruthless?

The night in Konoha was brightly lit.

Lanterns lining both sides of the streets glowed one after another, casting an orange light over the cobblestones like a layer of spun gold.

The sounds of laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the sizzling of skewers over charcoal drifted from the izakayas.

People were playing drinking games, singing loudly, or sleeping soundly on tables with satisfied smiles on their faces.

The dark clouds of war had faded, and border frictions had ceased. Kumogakure had retreated, Kirigakure was too busy fending for itself, and both Iwagakure and Sunagakure were quietly staying within their own territories.

Without the looming threat of war, Konoha was better than ever.

The lights in the Hokage building were still on, but Orochimaru was not there.

Deep underground in Konoha lay a hidden laboratory.

This place was originally a Root base. After becoming Hokage, Orochimaru had repurposed it into his own personal research facility, and it was not the only one of its kind.

The laboratory was massive, divided into several distinct zones.

Orochimaru stood in the cultivation area before a giant cylindrical glass tank filled with a pale green liquid.

Floating inside the liquid was a small human body that appeared to be only a few months old. Its limbs were curled up, its eyes tightly shut, and several thin tubes connected its body to the machinery at the top of the tank.

Occasional bubbles rose through the liquid, emitting faint gurgling sounds.

Orochimaru's mouth curled into a smile as he watched. His golden slit-like pupils gleamed faintly in the reflection of the pale green liquid.

Beside him stood several lab technicians in white coats. These individuals were originally Root members recruited by Shimura Danzo to conduct various taboo experiments.

After Danzo's death, Orochimaru took them in to serve his own purposes.

They stood silently behind him. Some held clipboards, some operated the machinery, and others prepared data reports.

One of them stepped forward and respectfully handed over a document.

Orochimaru took it, his eyes scanning the rows of data on the paper.

"Not bad. The cloning technology has basically been mastered."

He looked up at the small human body in the tank.

"Based on your estimates, how long until this vessel matures?"

The technician thought for a moment before answering respectfully, "About three months. However, the clone's lifespan is only around ten years. That is the current limit of our technology."

Orochimaru nodded casually.

"It doesn't matter. It is merely a vessel; it doesn't need a long lifespan."

Hearing this, another technician asked tentatively, "In that case, should we prepare a few more clones for you in advance?"

Orochimaru nodded. "Yes, prepare three for now, just in case."

"Yes, Lord Hokage," the technician replied.

Orochimaru currently had many research projects on his hands. He found that while being Hokage had its downsides, the benefits far outweighed them.

The downsides were merely the tedious tasks of handling village affairs, mediating between different factions, and dealing with the old teachers who occasionally popped up to voice their complaints.

The trivial matters were numerous and sometimes irritated him.

But the benefits were tangible. He could conduct various research projects in the name of the Hokage, and the funding could be drawn directly from the village's public accounts—as long as he produced results that benefited Konoha.

This was far more comfortable than his past days of secretly relying on Shimura Danzo to conduct experiments in the shadows.

He no longer had to look at others' faces, worry about being investigated, or sneak around.

Even for the more taboo experiments that still couldn't be brought into the light, as long as he tied them to the village's security, no one could say a word against him.

This was what Orochimaru valued the most.

As he was lost in thought, his brow suddenly twitched.

"Leave me for now."

The technicians exchanged glances but asked no questions. They put down their equipment and quietly exited the laboratory.

The door clicked shut behind them.

Orochimaru stood in place, unmoving.

He waited a few seconds to ensure their footsteps had faded away before walking deeper into the laboratory, stepping into another room.

This room was much smaller than the outer lab and far dimmer, illuminated only by a single yellowish light in the corner.

There was no machinery here—only a desk, a chair, and an iron cabinet leaning against the wall.

He stopped in the center of the room and looked toward the shadows in the corner.

"Come out. It's safe here."

A figure emerged from the darkness.

The man wore a black robe and an orange mask with a single circular hole, revealing a crimson Sharingan.

Uchiha Obito.

He stood there with his arms crossed, his eye staring at Orochimaru from behind the mask.

"Are you satisfied with what I gave you?"

Orochimaru licked his lips and chuckled.

"Very excellent materials."

Obito didn't waste words. He pulled out a scroll from his robes, unrolled it, and formed hand signs.

After a puff of white smoke, two white corpses appeared on the floor.

"I've prepared two more materials for you this time."

Orochimaru looked down at the White Zetsu corpses, a gleam flashing in his golden eyes.

But he didn't bend down to inspect them. Instead, he looked up at Obito.

"So, what do you want?"

Obito was equally direct. "I want your improved Reanimation Jutsu."

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, a hoarse, low chuckle escaping his throat.

His tongue darted out to lick his lips, and his gaze lingered on Obito's mask for a long time.

"You want to resurrect Uchiha Madara?"

Obito didn't deny it, seemingly unsurprised that his intentions had been seen through.

"You should know what that guy has been doing lately. He has already started collecting the Tailed Beasts. It won't be long before he comes for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."

He paused.

"When that time comes, what do you, the Hokage, plan to do? Just hand it over to him?"

Orochimaru's smile remained unchanged, and he said nothing.

He stood there with his hands in the pockets of his white coat, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.

Seeing his silence, Obito's voice deepened. "The conflict between him and Konoha is irreconcilable. You are the Hokage now. Are you planning to betray Konoha and compromise?"

Orochimaru laughed at that. It wasn't loud, but it carried an indescribable tone of amusement.

"Hearing such words from a Rogue Ninja like you is truly ironic."

Obito ignored the jab, his eye staring coldly at him.

"I didn't come here to listen to that. His target is the Tailed Beasts. You have no other choice."

He fell silent for a moment before adding, "Neither do I."

After that, he said no more, simply standing there and waiting for Orochimaru's answer.

The air in the room seemed to freeze, so quiet that only the sound of their breathing could be heard.

Orochimaru watched him, his smile slowly fading. He licked his lips again and finally spoke.

"I can give you the improved version of the Reanimation Jutsu."

Obito didn't move, waiting for the catch.

"But I have a condition."

"Speak."

Orochimaru turned around. "I will prepare the jutsu. You can come collect it when you need it."

He looked back at Obito.

"But I need you to answer one question."

Obito was silent for a moment.

"What question?"

Orochimaru stared at the mask, all traces of amusement gone from his golden eyes, replaced by a calculating scrutiny.

"After resurrecting Uchiha Madara, what do you plan to do?"

Obito didn't answer immediately. He stood perfectly still, like a statue.

After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice very soft.

"Defeat him!"

Orochimaru looked at him and didn't press further.

"Defeat Taiga?"

Obito replied, "Don't you want to? Or are you afraid that resurrecting Uchiha Madara will bring a threat to Konoha?"

Orochimaru licked his lips again and chuckled. "If you can resurrect Uchiha Madara, I can also resurrect the First Hokage and the Second Hokage."

The skin under Obito's mask twitched. "Suit yourself."

With that, he turned and walked back into the shadows. His figure gradually blurred, like a drop of ink dissolving in water, until he vanished completely, leaving behind only one sentence.

"I will come to collect what I need. Be prepared, Orochimaru. From now on, the ninja world will no longer be the same."

Orochimaru stood in place, staring at the empty corner. The corners of his mouth curled up into an ambiguous smile.

He turned and walked out of the room, returning to the cultivation area.

The pale green liquid in the tank was still bubbling, and the small human body continued to float, curled up inside.

Orochimaru stood before the tank, watching the body for a long time.

Then, he raised his hand and lightly flicked the glass wall, producing a crisp *ding*.

"Interesting. An unchanging world is the most boring."