Ryujin Kenichi thought of a joke about a hero's brother dying, and at that moment, the archer and mage both said they would help the hero take revenge. Then the necromancer in the team said, "And your dead brother!" It was a very dark joke.
Now, Ryujin Kenichi could also be considered to have become a necromancer. The forbidden technique of the Impure World Reincarnation (Edo Tensei) had now been formally taught to him by Orochimaru, but it could not be used within the village for the time being.
Moreover, Orochimaru had also mentioned that this forbidden technique was still undergoing improvements and would become more practical in the future as he refined it further.
"Sensei, since there are souls and the Pure Land in this world, what kind of energy sustains their existence?" Ryujin Kenichi asked curiously.
Could it be some kind of unknown chakra source? Or perhaps something beyond the understanding of modern shinobi science?
"I don't know. The existence of souls is undeniable, but what sustains them remains a mystery," Orochimaru admitted, shaking his head. Even with all his research into immortality and the reanimation jutsu, this question had never been fully answered.
"Are you planning to study this?" Orochimaru asked, giving his disciple a scrutinizing look. This boy wouldn't be so ambitious as to attempt research into the fundamental nature of souls, would he?
"No, no, I'm just curious. I can't study it now," Ryujin Kenichi quickly waved his hands. What a joke! Studying souls at this stage? That would surely attract the attention of the Sage of Six Paths himself!
Though Kenichi had skipped through many of Naruto's flashback sequences, he did recall that the Sage of Six Paths seemed to reside in the Pure Land, alongside the souls of many powerful shinobi. According to the law of conservation of energy, even souls should require some form of energy to exist. So, what did they consume?
It was an intriguing question.
"It's good that you understand your limits. Focus on what you can grasp now, and always be prepared," Orochimaru nodded, approving of Kenichi's prudence. The nature of souls was too obscure—this was not the time to dive into such uncertain studies.
Kenichi nodded as well. Though Orochimaru didn't specify what to prepare for, Kenichi had a rough idea. His teacher was likely already planning his defection from Konoha.
"Sensei, who is this person in your photograph?" Kenichi asked, pointing at an old picture in the lab. He had seen it several times and was always curious about the extra figure in it.
It was a group photo of four people. Kenichi recognized three of them as the legendary Sannin—Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade—but the fourth person was unfamiliar. Yet, he had an undeniably striking presence.
"Oh, that. That's Hiruko, a man abandoned by the village for violating its taboos," Orochimaru glanced at the picture and sneered.
Kenichi fell into thought. Hiruko? That name sounded familiar. He recalled something about a shinobi who developed a jutsu capable of assimilating different kekkei genkai. If he was still alive, perhaps he could be intercepted—or at the very least, some of his biological material could be acquired for research.
After leaving the laboratory, Kenichi returned to his home. The surrounding forest was eerily quiet, but he was well aware that it was crawling with Root operatives.
Danzo's collaboration with Orochimaru had always been like this. The so-called "protection" felt more like surveillance. Of course, Orochimaru had no objections to this arrangement—at least for now.
While heading to buy groceries, Kenichi ran into Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki.
"Oh, little Kenichi! Are you out shopping too?" Kushina greeted him with a bright smile. She had been in an especially good mood lately.
"Yes, Kushina-nee, I'm planning to make sukiyaki at home," Kenichi responded with a polite smile. However, his interactions with her had subtly changed. He had already taken a sample of her hair for laboratory study.
Extracting and analyzing the unique chakra-infused genetic markers in Uzumaki DNA had been relatively simple. Orochimaru had conducted similar research before, particularly with the cells of the First Hokage. In theory, this experiment could yield results in just a few days.
With that in mind, Kenichi felt less attached to Kushina than before. Since he was planning to leave the village with his teacher eventually, there was no point in forming unnecessary emotional bonds.
Still, maintaining connections was always useful. Who knew what the future held? Perhaps Orochimaru would change his mind and remain in Konoha after all. The butterfly effect was unpredictable, and if things took an unexpected turn, Kenichi wanted to ensure he had options available to him.
Ryujin, you can cook? That's really impressive," Minato Namikaze said with his usual warm smile. His cheerful demeanor was something many associated with him—an embodiment of optimism and light.
Yet, Ryujin Kenichi couldn't help but wonder. Would Minato still love Konoha so deeply if he knew what fate had in store for his son? If he knew that Naruto would not be celebrated as the child of a hero but instead shunned, labeled the Kyuubi's vessel, and forced to endure a childhood of loneliness and scorn?
Perhaps he would have had his doubts. Perhaps that was why, even in death, he had left so many apologies for Naruto.
"Hehe," Ryujin Kenichi chuckled shyly, masking his true thoughts.
His initial plan had been to obtain something from Minato and Kushina—anything that could serve as a catalyst for the Impure World Reincarnation. However, recalling that Minato had used the Reaper Death Seal, he quickly lost interest. He knew that those trapped within the Death God's belly could never be revived by Edo Tensei.
Kushina Uzumaki, on the other hand, was not as powerful in raw combat, but her sealing techniques were formidable, a testament to her Uzumaki lineage. That alone made her worth studying, and Kenichi had already gathered some materials from her in the past.
After finally bidding farewell to the ever-enthusiastic Minato and Kushina, Kenichi went to the market to buy ingredients before returning home to cook.
The next day, a major event shook the village—Minato Namikaze was set to officially be announced as the Fourth Hokage.
It had happened swiftly, but that was to be expected. The higher-ups of Konoha had already decided Minato would be the Fourth. The announcement was merely a formality, a way to inform the people and solidify their trust in him.
Excitement filled the village. The people were swept up in a joyous atmosphere, speaking of Minato's unparalleled accomplishments—his speed, his heroism in the Third Great Ninja War, and his extraordinary intellect. Orochimaru, who had once been a contender for the position, had seemingly been forgotten, reduced to little more than an afterthought.
"Kenichi, do you know what I see?" Orochimaru's voice was soft yet piercing, his arms crossed as he observed the lively crowd. A knowing smirk played at his lips.
Kenichi shook his head.
"I see a rotting village, its ambitions clinging desperately to power. I see people manipulated like puppets, oblivious to the strings that bind them." Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with cold disdain, his words laced with venom.
Kenichi remained silent.
The death of Konoha's White Fang had been orchestrated, fueled by Danzo's machinations. But he wasn't the only one. There were others—hidden hands that guided Konoha's fate from the shadows.