The Third Shinobi World War had not yet begun. Rouran's Dragon Veins—once a timeless source of ancient power—would be sealed and destroyed within a few short years. Queen Sara had survived the chaos; eventually she married an unknown man and gave birth to a daughter.
If she were still alive by the time Naruto traveled to Rouran on his mission, Sara would have been close to forty.
But that was a distant future—far removed from the present chaos.
---
Madara Arrives at the Lab
A bright red sports car screeched across the dusty road, tires burning twin black arcs into the ground as it drifted into the hidden entrance of Mi's underground laboratory.
Uchiha Madara—mask on, aura intimidating, ego immaculate—stepped out of the car.
"Mr. Deng, you've arrived," the guards greeted respectfully.
Madara grunted in acknowledgment and strode inside.
The scent of chemicals and machines filled the air. Strange devices hummed along the walls. Test tubes bubbled with unnatural colors. At the very center sat Mi, goggles on, hair tied back, completely absorbed in her research.
Madara coughed.
"Mi, you haven't blown anything up in a while. Did your precious science hit a wall?"
His tone dripped with sarcasm. Madara rarely visited in person unless he wanted something—or wanted to mock someone.
Mi turned, eyes blazing.
"Bottleneck? Old Deng, the only bottleneck here is your tiny caveman brain."
She pointed a scalpel at him. "On the day you die, I'll set off hundreds of fireworks over the Mountain Cemetery! It'll be the most festive funeral the Ninja World has ever seen! I'll invite rappers, TV idols, and I'll dance on your grave."
Madara lifted an eyebrow.
"What a sharp tongue you have. Even in death you wouldn't give me peace?"
Mi flipped him off. "Shut it, you prehistoric fossil! You enjoy your comfy car, your modern amenities, yet you dare belittle my research?"
"Hmph." Madara snorted. "What use is your technology when real ninjas fight? Look at the Land of Whirlpools—destroyed by the Four Great Nations despite all their sealing arts and tools. True power decides victory."
"So return the car I gave you," Mi snapped. "That sedan is worth thirty million ryo on the black market. I could do six months of research with that alone."
Madara froze.
Return the car?
Give up his beloved machine?
Over his dead body.
"I acknowledge," Madara said stiffly, "that your research is… useful. To civilians. But it has no impact on high-level ninja combat."
His masked face flushed slightly. Even Madara wasn't shameless enough to outright refuse the request—so he danced around it instead.
Mi scoffed violently.
"Hypocritical old Deng!"
She jabbed a finger at his chest. "Listen carefully: never underestimate the power of science! When you're old and senile—"
She paused.
"Actually, forget it. At your age, you won't live long enough to see what science becomes."
Madara's eye twitched.
"Why you—!"
He raised his hand, but then froze. True, his physical power had weakened with age—but even so, knocking out the head researcher of the entire laboratory was… not a wise move.
Mi grinned smugly.
"See? When ninjas lose an argument, they resort to violence. That's why people treat ninja as tools—because that's all you are. Angry tools."
Madara turned away, cloak fluttering.
"I refuse to stoop to your level, you venomous girl."
"Old Deng!" Mi shouted after him. "Don't forget—your car needs servicing soon! If something breaks, don't you dare dump the problem on me!"
Madara grunted. "I know."
"And things haven't been calm lately," Mi said without looking up from her research. "The Land of Iron is restless—itching to take advantage of the Five Nations' conflicts. Old Deng, don't interfere."
The intelligence came from her agents stationed in the Land of Iron. With the Five Great Nations locked in ongoing friction, small countries sought chances to expand.
Madara's eyes narrowed.
Mifune… that ambitious young samurai.
So he finally defeated his predecessor and took control.
Trouble was brewing.
---
Orochimaru and the Zero-Tails
Deep within the vast underground sector of the laboratory, Orochimaru stood before an enormous sealed chamber—face calm, golden eyes cold.
Inside, the Zero-Tailed Beast—an artificial, mask-faced creature—lay curled in eerie stillness. Since being sealed, it had shown no aggression, no rebellion. In fact… it almost looked obedient.
That alone was suspicious.
Orochimaru remembered clearly: even mindless beasts resisted captivity. The Zero-Tails' utter calmness was abnormal.
Has it developed self-awareness?
The possibility was small—but possible.
Only one way to know.
Orochimaru stepped closer, voice low.
"Zero-Tailed Beast… you have developed self-awareness, haven't you?"
The creature's elongated neck bent downward. Its hollow mask-like face stared at Orochimaru.
Then—
"How… did you know?"
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"A guess."
In truth, he was probing. But the beast—newly aware and lacking worldly cunning—had answered honestly.
Orochimaru blinked.
That was easier than expected.
The Zero-Tails shifted anxiously. The sealing jutsu suppressed almost all of its power; even with self-awareness, it was helpless before Orochimaru's presence.
"What… will you do to me?" the creature asked shakily. "Will you kill me?"
Fear was plain. Even newly born creatures instinctively clung to life.
Orochimaru spread his hands.
"How about a summoning contract? I want your cells for my research. In exchange, I'll provide what you crave—Natural Energy."
He condensed a small amount of Natural Energy into his palm. It formed a swirling, mist-like aura.
The Zero-Tails jolted.
"Food!"
The beast lunged.
Orochimaru instantly entered Sage Mode. His body elongated, white snake tail slamming upward. He caught the Zero-Tails by its mask and sent it flying. The monstrous body crashed into the ground so hard that vibrations shook the entire facility.
Above, the kikaichu in the insect research chamber panicked and fled back into their hives.
Moments later—
"Orochimaru! What happened?" Hyuga Mio rushed in, eyes wide.
She saw the Zero-Tails lying in dust, and Orochimaru towering over it with a serpent's body.
"Just having a friendly conversation," Orochimaru replied calmly.
Mio stared at the scene.
Friendly…?
It looked more like Orochimaru had suplexed a kaiju.
Orochimaru turned thoughtful.
The beast reacted strongly to Natural Energy… too strongly. If it truly inherited the Nine-Tails' traits, its absorption rate should be higher. Why does such a small amount tempt it so deeply?
A design flaw?
Or an instinct—to devour the Nine-Tails and become a true tailed beast?
If Zero-Tails consumed the Nine-Tails…
Would Kurama revive?
Or merge into something entirely new?
Orochimaru's lips curled.
Fascinating.
When the dust settled, he approached again.
"Have you calmed down?"
The Zero-Tails nodded quickly—terrified.
It had self-awareness now, and the instinctive understanding that Orochimaru could kill it effortlessly.
Mio stared in disbelief.
"It can… nod?"
Orochimaru chuckled. "Now, about my proposal. Sign a summoning contract. Assist with my research. In return, I'll supply the Natural Energy you require."
The Zero-Tails hesitated—but only for a moment.
"I accept."
Refusal would not change its fate. Submission at least offered survival.
"Good choice," Orochimaru said.
He extended his hands. Yin and Yang chakra swirled around them.
"Twin Extremes Seal: Release!"
He struck the Zero-Tails' body. The sealing marks dissolved like smoke.
The beast tensed, expecting an attack.
Orochimaru prepared the Flying Thunder God seal—ready to restrain it again if it rebelled.
But instead—
The creature straightened its serpentine form and said:
"My name… is Void. I do not like the name Zero-Tailed Beast. I am not a tailed beast."
Orochimaru blinked, then smiled.
"Very well, Void. You may address me as Orochimaru. I expect our partnership will be… fruitful."
He extended his hand again, condensing Natural Energy.
Void mirrored him.
For a moment, they held hands—like a handshake.
"…"
Orochimaru stared at it strangely.
Void shrank back. "Did… I do something wrong?"
"I was gathering Natural Energy to feed you," Orochimaru said dryly. "How, exactly, do you expect me to concentrate energy while your hand is on mine?"
Void quickly retracted its hand—tail wagging nervously, like a dog waiting to be fed.
Orochimaru stared harder.
A snake acting like a dog.
Then it clicked.
Foxes are canids.
Kurama is a fox.
Void was created from Kurama's fragment…
Of course it acted like this.
The realization was absurd but undeniable.
Void was, in many ways…
…Kurama's confused, canine younger sibling.
And Orochimaru suddenly found himself wondering:
What kind of monster had he just adopted?