A New Snake In The Shinobi World

There was no doubt that the reanimated ninjas under Orochimaru's control had a profound impact on the war.

If not for the fact that many powerful individuals hadn't yet died in this era or that some of the stronger ones hadn't reached their full potential, the devastation caused by this jutsu would have been even more catastrophic.

Of course, the more reanimated ninjas Orochimaru summoned, the harder it was for him to maintain control over them.

Even with his current level of strength, he couldn't manage everything at once.

For this reason, many of the less powerful reanimated ninjas were programmed with simple attack commands. Orochimaru only exerted direct control over them when absolutely necessary.

"Negotiating with the Suna Ninjas?" Orochimaru mused, the corners of his lips curving into a faint smile. "That's fine. With the First and Second Hokage present, there shouldn't be any issues."

"As for Kumo's side…" he continued, his voice laced with indifference, "their fate depends on how efficient the Second Tsuchikage is."

Bang!

Orochimaru's musings were interrupted by the sudden, violent opening of the wooden door.

"Lord Orochimaru," she said hurriedly, "please… come quickly. Mikoto… she…"

"What's wrong?" Orochimaru asked, his tone calm and collected, despite her panic.

"She… she seems to be in pain," Kushina managed to say.

"Pain?" Orochimaru replied, his voice as composed as ever. "That's normal. After all, she's in the process of merging two distinct powers."

"Two powers?"

"Yes." Orochimaru paused, then added, "Forget it. I'll come with you and take a look."

With that, he rose slowly from his seat, adjusted his robes, and followed Kushina out of the cabin.

The orders for his plans had already been given, and there was nothing else requiring his immediate attention.

In the open clearing next to the cabin, Mikoto was kneeling on the ground, her palms pressed against the earth as she gasped for air, her breaths heavy and labored.

Her body was drenched in sweat, droplets rolling down her face and pooling on the ground below. To anyone unfamiliar with the situation, her posture might have been easily misunderstood.

Orochimaru approached her slowly, crouching down beside her. Without a word, he handed her a tissue.

"Wipe the sweat," he said casually.

"Th-thank you, my lord," Mikoto replied, her voice still trembling as she accepted the tissue and wiped her face.

"There's no need to be so formal," Orochimaru said with a faint smile. "How do you feel?"

"My eyes… they feel stronger. My vision is sharper," Mikoto replied, glancing at him.

"Just your eyes?" Orochimaru pressed, raising a brow.

"It… it feels like my body has grown stronger as well," she admitted. Then, with hesitation, she added, "Lord Orochimaru, what exactly is happening to me?"

Orochimaru's expression didn't change as he explained, "You're experiencing the fusion of the Mangekyo Sharingan and the unique physiology of the Uzumaki clan."

"The Mangekyo?" Mikoto repeated, stunned. "And the Uzumaki clan's… physique?"

Kushina, standing nearby, was equally shocked.

Mikoto blinked rapidly, trying to process what he had just said, but her disbelief was evident. "That can't be…"

Even Kushina, who had known Orochimaru for some time, seemed shaken by the revelation.

But it wasn't the mention of the Uzumaki clan's unique traits that left them reeling.

It was the implication.

The question burned in both of their minds: Could Orochimaru really give such incredible powers to someone else?

Mikoto, at least, had some prior understanding of Orochimaru's abilities. She was familiar with the potions he used to help unlock latent powers like the Sharingan. But this… this was far beyond anything she had imagined.

Kushina, on the other hand, had no prior exposure to Orochimaru's methods.

The sheer weight of what he'd said left both women speechless.

"To clarify," Orochimaru began, as if amused by their reactions, "the genetic material for the Mangekyo was extracted from myself long before I mastered Sage Mode. As for the Uzumaki clan's traits…"

He paused, the corner of his mouth curling into a smirk. "During my research, I discovered that while all Uzumaki have strong physiques, there's a natural variation in their potential. Not everyone is suited to bear the power of advanced eye techniques like the Mangekyo Sharingan. However…"

He gestured toward Mikoto. "In your case, I specially tailored your abilities. With this combination, there will be no issue suppressing the strain of the Mangekyo."

Orochimaru's words held a certainty that was both chilling and reassuring.

Sharingan, a gift from the divine fruit, could be overwhelming. But with the right counterbalance, such as the enhanced vitality of the Uzumaki clan, it could be wielded without the usual side effects.

Because the Uzumaki clan was a distant offshoot of the Senju lineage, their power was closely tied to Kaguya's bloodline. This meant that their bodies were naturally compatible with the Sharingan.

Of course, Orochimaru admitted silently, the Uzumaki physique wasn't on par with the immortal body of the First Hokage. Its recovery rate alone was much weaker.

But he had already accounted for this.

By fusing certain genes—Chana's and Nagato's—he had created a modified Uzumaki gene with enhanced healing capabilities. This new gene was strong enough to fully support the Mangekyo Sharingan, and even the Eternal Mangekyo, without risk of physical harm.

For someone like Mikoto, who possessed only the Mangekyo, this genetic enhancement was more than sufficient.

Mikoto, who would have otherwise married Fugaku and lived a peaceful life in Konoha, was now standing on the battlefield because of Orochimaru's interference.

While Orochimaru's usual indifference made him seem cold and calculating, he did feel a rare pang of guilt.

Perhaps this was why he had decided to compensate her by granting her greater power.

Improving her abilities was the least he could do for her.

It had to be said that Orochimaru's personality had softened somewhat since arriving in this world. While still ruthless, he wasn't as cold-blooded as before, especially toward the women who remained loyal to him.

"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru… thank you so much," Mikoto said earnestly as she bowed deeply.

Even though they had a personal connection, Mikoto never assumed she could stand on equal footing with him.

"I told you, no need to be so polite," Orochimaru replied, standing as well. "You're mine, so of course, I can't let you die on the battlefield."

"With the powers you now possess, unless you're up against a Kage-level opponent, no one will be able to challenge you."

His tone was confident but not arrogant, as if merely stating a fact.

"Once you've rested, return to the battlefield. It's better if no one knows about your association with someone like me."

"Lord Orochimaru, no one would believe you're a traitor," Mikoto said seriously.

She truly believed in him and had never doubted his intentions.

"Haha, I appreciate your trust," Orochimaru said with a faint chuckle. "Still, let's keep our connection quiet for now."

"Yes, my lord."

"Good. When the war ends, I'll contact you again."

"Understood."

Without hesitation, Mikoto turned and headed back to the battlefield. Her brief rest and the newfound strength she'd gained had left her in better shape than ever.

As she disappeared into the distance, Kushina hesitated before speaking.

"My lord… your relationship with Mikoto…"

"Brats shouldn't stick their noses into adult matters," Orochimaru interrupted, not even glancing her way. "Instead of gossiping, why don't you focus on improving your cooking skills? The food you make…" He clicked his tongue dramatically.

***

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