A New Snake In The Shinobi World

Tsunade's sudden question made Kushina's heart leap into her throat.

Afraid that Orochimaru might give an inappropriate response, she held her breath. However, Orochimaru, unfazed as always, began recounting the events in Rōran without hesitation.

As Tsunade listened, her expression shifted from confusion to shock. "Through time and space? A daughter from the future?"

"That's essentially the gist of it. If you don't believe me, I can—"

"No need!" Tsunade interrupted firmly. "The Orochimaru I know would never make up something so ridiculous to deceive me."

The two had known each other for decades. If Orochimaru ever chose to lie, he would never invent such an absurd story.

"You're quite sharp," Orochimaru said with a faint smile. "What's your take on this?"

"This isn't such a big deal. Do as you like; I don't mind having her too." Tsunade waved her hand casually, her tone relaxed.

Her attitude startled Kushina, who looked at her in disbelief.

"Tsunade-sama… what are you saying?"

Sensing Kushina's shock, Tsunade sighed, looking a bit embarrassed. "You'll understand eventually."

Kushina remained silent, her disbelief still evident.

Tsunade turned her attention back to Orochimaru. "But you owe me compensation for all of this."

"Compensation?" Orochimaru leaned back into a chair, his tone amused. "What kind of compensation are you looking for? Isn't making you Hokage enough?"

"That's not the kind of compensation I want!" Tsunade snapped.

"Not this kind? Then what kind? Could it be…" Orochimaru paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Do you mean resurrecting Nawaki? If so, it's already in progress. His body is still in the cultivation stage. It'll just take a little more time."

"Nawaki? Resurrection?"

Both Tsunade and Kushina froze in place, their minds struggling to process what Orochimaru had just said.

Tsunade was struck by the mention of her younger brother, while Kushina was more astounded by the concept of resurrection itself.

"Resurrection? Is that… possible?" Kushina stammered.

"Why so surprised?" Orochimaru's tone was light, but there was a faint trace of amusement in his voice. "You both know my research has always been focused on life, don't you?"

Tsunade nodded hesitantly. "I know, but… resurrection is another matter entirely."

Orochimaru leaned forward slightly, his golden eyes gleaming with interest. "Tsunade, it seems you still don't fully trust me."

"It's not that I don't trust you…" Tsunade's voice faltered.

"Enough. Come with me. You'll see for yourselves."

Without waiting for a response, Orochimaru stood and walked toward the innermost part of the laboratory.

Tsunade and Kushina exchanged a glance before following him.

The underground lab was vast, sprawling like an imperial tomb beneath the surface.

It was filled with secret chambers, each guarded by one or two of Orochimaru's clones.

Reaching one of the chambers, Orochimaru gestured to a clone, who promptly unlocked the door.

Inside, several glass pods filled with nutrient solution came into view. Of the four pods, three were empty, while the fourth contained a figure submerged in liquid. ꞦÁΝŐ𝖇Ɛs

The figure wore nothing but white shorts, his body connected to various tubes and wires.

Tsunade's eyes widened in shock as she approached the pod.

"Nawaki?" she whispered.

In disbelief, she reached out to touch the glass, her hand trembling slightly.

"Amazing," she murmured. Turning to Orochimaru, her voice softened. "This is… a clone, isn't it? Even so, it's more than enough. Thank you."

"Clone?" Orochimaru walked up beside her. "Tsunade, this is far more than a mere clone."

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it," Orochimaru said, his tone calm yet laced with intrigue. "You know how clones are typically created, don't you?"

"Of course. Didn't you explain it to me yourself? Cells from the deceased can't be used for cloning because they've lost their vitality. Only cells from living individuals can be cultivated."

"Exactly." Orochimaru nodded. "A long time ago, I collected some of Nawaki's cells and preserved their vitality through special scientific methods. I did this as a precaution, in case something unexpected happened."

He gestured toward the figure in the pod.

"Under normal circumstances, a body grown from such cells would indeed only be a clone—a copy at best. It wouldn't truly be Nawaki."

Tsunade listened intently, her heart pounding.

"However," Orochimaru continued, "when combined with the Reanimation Jutsu developed by the Second Hokage, things become very different."

"Reanimation Jutsu?"

Both Tsunade and Kushina were stunned, their thoughts racing to process Orochimaru's words.

"Exactly." Orochimaru's voice remained steady. "Clones lack souls. They operate entirely on the instructions of their creator. The Reanimation Jutsu, on the other hand, summons a soul without a true body."

"So…"

"So by combining the two, it's possible to achieve a complete resurrection."

Tsunade finished his sentence for him, her voice trembling slightly. Her mind reeled at the implications of what he was saying.

"If a person's body can be recreated through cloning," she murmured, "and their soul can be summoned back from the Pure Land through reanimation…"

"…then resurrection is entirely achievable," Orochimaru concluded, his lips curling into a faint smile.

The room fell silent as the weight of his words sank in.

"This can't be real… it sounds like a fantasy," Tsunade muttered, shaking her head.

"In theory, it's entirely feasible," Orochimaru said, his tone confident. "With mature cloning technology, countless young and healthy bodies can be cultivated. The Reanimation Jutsu brings back the soul. By merging the two, true resurrection is achieved."

"And this process… could be repeated indefinitely?" Kushina asked hesitantly.

Orochimaru's smile widened. "Precisely. Eternal life is not just a dream, it's the product of combining ninjutsu and advanced scientific technology."

Tsunade was silent, her eyes fixed on the figure in the pod. "But… how do you ensure the soul and body merge perfectly? Wouldn't that be extremely difficult?"

"It is," Orochimaru admitted. "But for me, it's a challenge I've already mastered."

***

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