Black Zetsu was frustrated—frustrated to the point of wanting to slam his head into a rock.
The survivors of the Uzumaki Clan had been hiding in the Land of Waves for months, yet none of the Four Great Shinobi Villages had made a move. Not one. Not even a tentative probe.
This made no sense.
Black Zetsu was certain that each of the big villages had received the intelligence he personally leaked to the black market. And yet… nothing. Not a single attempt to interfere with the Uzumaki, no signs of aggression, not even diplomatic pressure.
It was almost as if they had secretly agreed to avoid the matter entirely.
Was it because they feared White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company?
Impossible.
It was merely a small company established in the Land of Waves. Even if the organization had some unusual financial backing, the combined might of the Four Great Shinobi Villages should have been enough to crush it effortlessly. If they wanted to force the Uzumaki Clan survivors to surrender, it should have been as easy as closing a fist.
So why weren't they acting?
Did they not want the Uzumaki Clan's unmatched sealing techniques?
Did they not want Jinchuriki candidates with perfect sealing compatibility?
Black Zetsu clicked his tongue in irritation.
Come on… just make a move already!
The villages seemed perfectly at ease. But Zetsu, who needed chaos for his own plans, grew increasingly anxious. He needed the world to move, to shake, to tear itself apart.
The silence of the great nations was unbearable.
---
Entering the Land of Wind
Orochimaru had no such distractions.
After crossing the border of the Land of Rivers, he entered the scorching desert of the Land of Wind. The air turned sweltering, the sun beat down mercilessly, and the endless sea of yellow sand shimmered in waves of heat.
Wrapped in a brown robe and wearing a mask, Orochimaru narrowed his golden eyes as he looked across the dunes.
A small country should be somewhere around here… Rouran.
Rouran—technically classified as a country, though it was more like a small fortified city. It was older than Sunagakure itself, older than most modern nations. A remnant of an ancient era, tucked within the Land of Wind yet not part of it.
Orochimaru had been genuinely surprised when he learned about Rouran. Not because he wondered why Sunagakure hadn't annexed it—it was obvious they couldn't. Instead, it reminded him of an ancient Western kingdom from another world, long erased from history.
The reason Rouran survived was also clear.
The Dragon Veins.
A massive network of natural energy beneath the earth—overflowing with life force far beyond ordinary nature chakra. The Rouran royal family possessed the ability to control it, making them a dangerous threat if provoked.
If they released the Dragon Veins' power indiscriminately, the entire Land of Wind could be devastated.
That alone was enough for Sunagakure to tolerate their existence.
Orochimaru found the Dragon Veins fascinating, but ultimately not useful. The natural energy tied to the Dragon Veins was location-bound. Extracting it was far more trouble than simply absorbing the abundant Natural Energy present everywhere else in the world.
It was inefficient—hardly worth the trouble.
His goal today was something else entirely.
He was heading for Sunagakure's prison, where the Jinchuriki Bunbuku—the host of the One-Tail, Shukaku—was being held.
His research had advanced to the next phase.
Now he needed a Jinchuriki specimen to study the connection between host and beast.
To confirm whether their chakra intermingled the way he theorized.
---
Rouran — the Oasis of a Desert
The Dragon Veins turned Rouran into an unnatural oasis. Lush greenery contrasted sharply with the surrounding desert. Fresh spring water—known as the Eye of Life—flowed endlessly, sustaining the entire population.
Orochimaru didn't linger.
After a brief survey of the area, he continued toward Sunagakure.
---
Sunagakure — Approaching the Prison
Upon reaching the desert outskirts of Sunagakure, Orochimaru paused and surveyed the village from afar.
Instead of charging in recklessly, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique, summoning hordes of kikaichu from the underground insect nest beneath his laboratory—special kikaichu marked with his teleportation formula.
The insects scattered silently, infiltrating every corner of Sunagakure. Through their eyes, Orochimaru gathered information and searched for an entrance into the prison.
---
Inside the Prison
"Hey! Eat faster! I'm waiting for you to finish so I can clean up!"
The guard's harsh tone echoed in the dim corridor.
Inside the cell sat a middle-aged monk, calm and composed. His long robes were simple, his expression serene. He bowed slightly, took the lunchbox, and began eating slowly.
The guards muttered outside.
"Why are we stuck babysitting this guy?"
"No choice. He's Shukaku's Jinchuriki. If he loses control, we're all dead."
"I swear, when I get promoted, I'm requesting a transfer. I don't want this job anymore."
Bunbuku listened silently.
No resentment, no anger.
He simply ate.
When he finished, he stood and walked to the bars, extending the lunchbox.
Whack!
A baton struck his ankle.
Clang—!
The metal lunchbox clattered loudly on the stone floor.
"Didn't I tell you not to reach out?!"
The guard snarled.
Bunbuku bowed and returned to his seat. He sat cross-legged, palms pressed together. One palm bore the character "心" (heart), and the other "愛" (love). Together, they formed his guiding principle—compassion.
---
Shukaku's Rage
Inside Bunbuku's mental world, Shukaku roared angrily.
"Kill them! You have my power—use it! Why do you let them treat you like this?!"
Bunbuku responded peacefully:
"It's not their fault. I broke the rule."
"You hypocrite!" Shukaku screamed. "I hate humans! Especially fake ones like you!"
The guards outside finished their shift, still complaining.
The monk waited quietly.
Suddenly—
Soft footsteps approached.
One of the guards returned.
"Back already?" the other guard asked.
"Yes. All cleaned."
But something was wrong.
The returning guard's eyes rippled strangely, a cold and eerie light flickering within.
---
Orochimaru Appears
"You…"
Bunbuku stared carefully.
The man before him was definitely not the guard from earlier.
Orochimaru let out a low chuckle.
"Prisoners like you could walk out anytime if you wished. These little cages couldn't hold you."
He stepped through the bars as if they didn't exist.
Bunbuku rose slowly, surprised.
"You're here for Shukaku?"
"Of course, Bunbuku." Orochimaru approached calmly. "I came for you."
Bunbuku's eyes widened. His name had not been spoken aloud in years.
"Do not be nervous," Orochimaru said. "I'm not here to fight. I need your cooperation."
"For what purpose?"
"For research," Orochimaru replied, his tone turning academic. "About the future of Jinchuriki—and Tailed Beasts."
Bunbuku hesitated.
Orochimaru continued, "The great nations have all conducted Jinchuriki experiments. Recently, Uzushiogakure was destroyed by the joint forces of Hidden Mist, Hidden Sand, Hidden Stone, and Hidden Cloud."
"Sunagakure… participated?" Bunbuku whispered.
He had never imagined his own village would partake in such cruelty.
"Of course," Orochimaru said casually. "They wanted to steal the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques. To create more Jinchuriki. More tools."
Bunbuku's expression dimmed.
He pitied both the beasts and their hosts.
"So that is why you want my help?"
"Correct." Orochimaru nodded. "I want to understand why Jinchuriki die when their Tailed Beast is extracted. Is it because their chakras intertwine too deeply? Or does the Beast drain the host's life force as well?"
Inside Bunbuku's mind, Shukaku roared again.
"Kill him! He's lying! He wants to harvest your body!"
But before Bunbuku could respond—
Orochimaru's figure materialized inside the mental world.
Shukaku froze.
"How—?!"
Orochimaru smirked.
"I altered my earlier statement. My research concerns Jinchuriki—not Tailed Beasts. I have no interest in your power, Shukaku. In fact, I'd prefer it if Tailed Beasts vanished from my sight entirely. You are unstable elements."
"You arrogant snake—!"
Sand surged violently, but Orochimaru vanished from the mental realm in an instant.
He reappeared outside, standing before Bunbuku.
"How did you enter my mind…?" Bunbuku asked, stunned.
"A simple Genjutsu derivative," Orochimaru said lightly.
Then Bunbuku asked the critical question:
"If I help you… can you promise no harm will come to Shukaku?"
Shukaku shrieked, "Keşiş! Don't believe him!"
But Bunbuku felt no malice in Orochimaru's intentions.
Orochimaru placed his hand on the prison bars and marked them with the Flying Thunder God formula—hidden so skillfully no one would notice unless the entire prison collapsed.
He turned to leave.
"Bunbuku, aren't you curious who I am?"
"It is better—for both of us—that I don't know," Bunbuku responded.
Orochimaru paused for a moment.
"Sunagakure's leaders… truly incomprehensible."
He disappeared in a flash.
Bunbuku watched quietly, palms pressed together once more.
Why imprison a Jinchuriki who lived peacefully with his Tailed Beast… until death?
Only Sunagakure's superiors knew.
Or perhaps…
They didn't know anything at all.