(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
(E/N: Three chapters today! Let's goo! Also, more good news, I think due to a work schedule change, I might be able to do three chapters a day from now on, or at the very least more frequently!
Which is also good, because I want to finish this fanfic soon, and start working on a new one.)
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As evening approached, Hinata made her way to Colt's house.
She was surprised to see Ichibi lying at the door, as it was unusual for him to be awake at this hour.
Just as she was about to enter the house to see what was going on, Hinata was stopped.
"Woof!"
Ichibi shook his head and barked twice, preventing Hinata from passing.
"Are you saying that Colt is training?" Hinata asked tentatively, noting the dog's determined attitude.
"Woof!"
Ichibi nodded with satisfaction before jumping down again, focusing intently on absorbing the natural energy in the surroundings.
In just a few hours, the nature energy in his body had increased by 30%.
The dog secretly hoped his owner would continue to stay inside.
That way, he can continue to get stronger.
Meanwhile, Hinata nodded and decided to return later, Colt must be doing something important.
Meanwhile, in one of Orochimaru's secret bases in the Land of Grass:
"Cough, cough!"
"How is my condition?"
Orochimaru, lying on the hospital bed, coughed violently.
His face was unnaturally pale.
"Orochimaru-sama, your body has deteriorated to the point where rejection has reached its limit," Kabuto Yakushi cautiously replied.
"How long can it last?"
"A month at most, with the risk of collapse at any time."
Orochimaru wasn't surprised by this news.
He had performed the [Living Corpse Reincarnation Technique] three years ago out of desperation.
The carefully prepared vessel, Kimimaro, had become obsolete, and Sasuke had arrived too late and was too immature. With his body at its limit, Orochimaru had no choice but to use a temporary substitute.
To last for three years already could be considered meeting his expectations.
Pushing up his glasses, Kabuto guessed at Orochimaru's plan.
"Are you ready to use Sasuke? He's ripe for the picking now…"
"Kukukuku, it's almost time," Orochimaru chuckled.
Kabuto smiled slightly.
"Then I'll go down and help you prepare the ritual."
He bowed slightly and exited Orochimaru's room.
Regarding Sasuke, Orochimaru no longer cared about his body, but he was salivating over the Uchiha's chakra.
His plan was to devour Sasuke's chakra and then reincarnate into White Zetsu.
After acquiring the White Zetsu, he became intrigued by Hashirama's power and why it resembled such a strange creature.
As a rare scientific researcher in the ninja world, Orochimaru excelled at getting to the root of problems.
This investigation really allowed Orochimaru to uncover part of the truth.
It was only a fragment, but it was shocking enough.
Thinking of this, even with Orochimaru's gloomy expression, a frenzied look appeared on his face.
At that moment, a lightning spear pierced the wall of the room.
Orochimaru's pupils contracted as he tried his best to move his body to avoid it.
But his reaction was a step too slow, and the sharp spear of [Chidori] pierced his left arm.
After several consecutive slashes of a sword, the wall gradually crumbled.
Sasuke entered, holding his sword with indifference.
"Orochimaru, I've realized that you can't make me any stronger. So, would you mind dying now?"
As Sasuke spoke, he continued to walk forward.
Orochimaru, paralyzed by the lightning's properties, couldn't move.
After learning the truth from Colt, Sasuke couldn't wait to seek revenge on Itachi.
The only obstacle before this was Orochimaru, who was greedy for his body.
From the start, both were in this for their own benefit, as such no one was surprised.
"Sasuke, do you think you can defeat me just with that technique?"
Seeing the Kusanagi sword in Sasuke's hand, Orochimaru opened his mouth and spat out a White Snake.
"So, this is your true form? It's disgusting!"
After a brief struggle, Sasuke found himself paralyzed by Orochimaru's toxin and dragged into the exclusive space of the [Living Corpse Reincarnation].
Endless flesh and blood writhed around him.
**********
When Kabuto returned and saw the destroyed gate, he had a bad feeling in his heart.
He quietly peeked inside.
Sasuke's body was covered in black curse marks, while Orochimaru's body lay motionless on the ground.
"Who are you?"
Kabuto had cold sweat on his forehead, confused about the current situation.
Had Sasuke survived, or had Orochimaru taken his body?
But that didn't seem right.
Hadn't Orochimaru's goal changed?
After getting dressed, Sasuke walked slowly towards Kabuto and glanced at him.
"Want to know? Then see for yourself."
His 3-Tomoe Sharingan spun, using a genjutsu to transmit everything that had just happened to Kabuto.
Sasuke had absorbed everything from Orochimaru, and there was no point in staying here anymore for him.
As for Kabuto, Sasuke didn't bother killing him.
He was just an empty shell, a man without purpose or identity in life who couldn't do anything significant.
Sasuke's next task was to claim Orochimaru's legacy - not just ninjutsu, but also the special talents he had cultivated.
In the newly acquired memories, Sasuke discovered several individuals qualified to be his subordinates.
To fight against the Akatsuki's Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke knew he alone was not enough.
Even according to Colt, Itachi's ultimate goal was to die at Sasuke's hands.
Sasuke wanted to accomplish this with his own power.
After thoroughly searching the base, Sasuke left.
Kabuto knelt beside Orochimaru's corpse, his eyes flickering with uncertainty, not knowing what to think.
Just as he was about to act, the White Snake Sage's abdomen squirmed, and a small white snake emerged.
"Orochimaru-sama!"
Kabuto looked at the little snake in disbelief and carefully held it in his hands.
A large number of snakes suddenly appeared in the base, pouring into the room and gathering to form Orochimaru's body.
Kabuto placed the small snake into Orochimaru's mouth, and soon, he came back to life.
"As expected of the Uchiha's power. I almost died," Orochimaru said coldly.
If it weren't for his modified [Living Corpse Reincarnation], and if the target hadn't been Sasuke's body, he would have likely been defeated by now, only hoping to be resurrected through other curse marks.
"Sir, are you...?" Kabuto was still confused.
What was happening?
Unfortunately, Orochimaru had no intention of answering.
"Let's go. And bring Test Subject One."
"Where to?"
A smile appeared on Orochimaru's face.
"To the Land of Whirlpools. We'll break the seal on my hand and then perform the real [Living Corpse Reincarnation]."