"Lord Kakuzu, Hiashi Hyuga and his wife have requested entry into the Land of Dragons for the fifth time." Ni stood beside Kakuzu, holding a summary of the border reports as she relayed the information.
Kakuzu leaned on his right hand, his expression indifferent.
"Hiashi and his wife are certainly persistent. They keep applying to enter the Land of Dragons at every opportunity. Even if they're not tired of it, I certainly am."
"Shall I issue a direct rejection?" Ni asked.
Kakuzu waved his hand dismissively and stood up.
Although Hinata's childhood in the original timeline had been anything but happy, Hiashi was still her biological father. No parent wouldn't long for their child. However, returning Hinata to the Hyuga clan was out of the question—her presence here had been the result of careful negotiations between Konoha and Kumogakure.
After a brief moment of thought, Kakuzu made his decision.
"Send an official document to Konoha, stating that the Hidden Dragon Village is willing to organize an inter-academy exchange between our ninja schools. Hinata will attend, satisfying Hiashi's wishes."
"That's an excellent idea. A perfect solution—truly worthy of you, Lord Kakuzu." Ni smiled, leaning in to give him a quick peck on the cheek before striding away with confident steps.
Kakuzu, meanwhile, gazed absently at the ceiling of the grand hall.
Two years had passed since Hinata's enrollment, when she had been bullied by the other children. Now, she was eight years old, just like those Konoha brats. Kakuzu figured it was about time to check in on them. After all, they were the story's main characters...
...
When the Fourth Hokage, Sakumo Hatake, received the proposal from the Land of Dragons, he immediately agreed without hesitation and began making the necessary arrangements.
While preparations for the exchange between the Land of Dragons and the Land of Fire were in full swing, an unexpected visitor arrived to meet Kakuzu.
"Lord Kakuzu, it has been far too long. It's been years since we last met, yet you remain as youthful as ever."
Kakuzu chuckled. "Heh, Orochimaru, you're not doing so bad yourself."
Two individuals who had conquered mortality gathered in the same place—naturally, the conversation turned to their shared interest in eternal youth and longevity. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they moved to the main topic.
"Speak, Orochimaru. What brings you here this time?"
"Hehehe, Lord Kakuzu, you've always been so straightforward. But that's what makes conversing with you so satisfying!" Orochimaru licked his lips with his long, serpentine tongue, his eyes glinting with an eerie amusement.
"I hear you're planning to visit Konoha?"
"That's correct. Are you interested in coming along?"
Orochimaru let out a chuckle before replying, "My esteemed mentor, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is still there. As his student, how could I not wish to see him?"
Kakuzu's brows twitched slightly. He immediately grasped Orochimaru's underlying intentions.
"Your feelings toward Konoha and your teacher are complicated. I don't know exactly what you're planning, but you clearly want to use this opportunity to accomplish something."
Orochimaru smirked. "As expected of Lord Kakuzu, always perceptive. My dear teacher has lived for far too long... and Konoha itself has endured for too long. It's time for some... adjustments."
"So you're calling this plan the 'Konoha Collapse Plan'?"
Orochimaru's expression stiffened momentarily but quickly relaxed into a sly grin.
"Oh my, Lord Kakuzu, you've already named my plan for me? It seems we share a similar outlook on this matter."
Kakuzu observed him with calculating eyes. Unlike the original timeline, where Orochimaru's Konoha Collapse Plan took place years later, this version was unfolding at least four to five years ahead of schedule.
Orochimaru's Sound Village was still relatively weak—the Sound Four hadn't fully matured yet. Furthermore, Konoha was in a much different state compared to the original timeline. Minato Namikaze was alive and well, and the Hokage wasn't Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Sakumo Hatake. Even Hiruzen himself was younger than he had been in the original events.
Given these factors, the balance of power leaned heavily in Konoha's favor. What was Orochimaru relying on that gave him the confidence to launch the Collapse Plan early? It didn't make sense.
Kakuzu pondered for only a second before arriving at a conclusion.
"Orochimaru, you're bold. Not only do you intend to use me, but you even came here personally to tell me about it."
"No, no, Lord Kakuzu, you wound me! 'Use' is such an ugly word. I prefer to think of it as mutual assistance."
"Oh? Then I'd like to see what kind of gift you've brought me, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. He knew that if Kakuzu was speaking this way, he was at least considering the proposal. With his usual sinister smile, he raised his left hand and snapped his fingers.
From outside the grand hall, a figure stepped forward.
It was a young man, wearing glasses, appearing to be around fourteen or fifteen years old. At first glance, he looked like a typical ninja academy student. But upon closer inspection, there was a certain calculating coldness beneath his seemingly mild-mannered exterior.
Yakushi Kabuto.
After entering, Kabuto glanced at Orochimaru, who gave him an imperceptible nod. Taking a deep breath, Kabuto turned to face Kakuzu directly.
"Lord Kakuzu, this is the result of years of tireless research by Lord Orochimaru and myself. Everything is documented within. Please, take a look."
He approached Kakuzu and respectfully presented a small box.
Kakuzu studied Kabuto carefully. The fact that this boy remained composed in such an environment and flawlessly executed Orochimaru's orders spoke volumes about his character. Even among seasoned shinobi, very few possessed such mental fortitude.
It was no surprise that in the future, Kabuto would become the mastermind behind the Fourth Great Ninja War. If not for sheer misfortune—losing to yet another overpowered protagonist—his influence could have been even greater.
Kakuzu ranked him among the most formidable "self-made shinobi," on par with Sakumo Hatake.
At this moment, however, Kakuzu had a different thought—should he eliminate Kabuto now?
Kabuto wasn't just any ordinary ninja. Left unchecked, he could become a serious threat in the future.
Sensing Kakuzu's scrutinizing gaze, Kabuto instinctively lowered his head, avoiding direct eye contact.
Kakuzu extended his hand. Just as he was about to seize Kabuto's throat, his fingers shifted downward and instead grasped the lid of the box.
"Orochimaru, let's see what kind of gift you've prepared for me."
Orochimaru chuckled. "Rest assured, Lord Kakuzu. You're going to love it."
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(I've recently started working on an Naruto fanfic with a simulation system. They are very popular now on Webnovel, but the recommendations do not promote my fanfic well, I recommend you to check out "Naruto: I Am Crazy with the Simulation System!" You can find the fanfic through my profile on the site)
Pls Drop some Power Stones
Fanfic is finished on Patreon (262 chapters in total.)
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