"This guy...?"
The words hit Minato like a physical blow, reverberating through his consciousness with the force of a thunderclap. His heart began to race, each beat echoing in his ears as the implications of Orochimaru's whispered statement crashed over him like a tidal wave. The Fourth Hokage's legendary composure, forged through countless battles and political crises, wavered for the briefest of moments.
But decades of leadership had taught him the value of maintaining appearances, especially when surrounded by allies who couldn't be allowed to know certain truths. His expression remained perfectly neutral, his posture unchanged, his breathing steady and controlled. To any observer, he appeared completely unmoved by whatever Orochimaru had said.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Minato's voice carried just the right note of dismissive irritation, as though he were brushing aside the ravings of a madman.
"Haha, hahaha..." Orochimaru's laughter was soft but filled with dark satisfaction. The serpentine Sannin had spent his entire life studying human nature, reading the subtle tells that betrayed a person's true thoughts. That momentary flicker in Minato's eyes, barely perceptible to anyone else, had told him everything he needed to know.
"You don't want to admit it?" he continued, his voice carrying that familiar note of amusement. "How fascinating. I wonder what the others would think if they knew the truth about their beloved Fourth Hokage."
The threat was implicit but unmistakable. Orochimaru held information that could potentially destroy Minato's position, his relationships, perhaps even his entire life in this world. But rather than press his advantage immediately, the captured Sannin seemed content to let the implications hang in the air like poison gas.
"Since you have captured me," Orochimaru said, his tone becoming more business-like, "I suppose I should offer you a reward for your efforts. I'll answer any questions you care to ask."
His cooperation seemed almost genuine, but everyone present understood the calculated nature of the offer. Orochimaru was a master manipulator, and every word he spoke served multiple purposes. By appearing helpful, he was demonstrating his value as a source of information while simultaneously positioning himself for whatever game he intended to play.
"Whether it's the Mangekyō Sharingan of your young Uchiha here," he continued, glancing meaningfully at Itachi, "or the mind-reading techniques of the Yamanaka clan, you'll extract the information from me eventually. I simply prefer to maintain some control over how that information is presented."
The Third Hokage's weathered face showed a flicker of something that might have been relief. Despite everything Orochimaru had done, despite the betrayal and the crimes, a part of the old man still remembered the brilliant young ninja who had once been his student. The willingness to cooperate, even under these circumstances, suggested that some vestige of that person might still exist.
But the emotional weight of the situation was clearly taking its toll on the aging Hokage. He spoke quietly to Minato, his voice too low for the others to hear, then excused himself from the room. The confrontation between teacher and former student was too painful to witness, too laden with memories of what might have been.
With the Third Hokage's departure, the atmosphere in the room shifted subtly. The questioning could now proceed without the complication of old emotional attachments, allowing for a more clinical approach to intelligence gathering.
Minato wasted no time in getting to the heart of the matter. "In addition to Nagato, Konan, and Sasori of the Red Sand, the core members of Akatsuki include someone responsible for intelligence gathering. I want to know everything about him."
The question was strategic, designed to probe the organizational structure of what had become one of the most dangerous threats to the stability of the ninja world. Konoha's intelligence network had identified several key members of Akatsuki, but their information remained frustratingly incomplete.
Under Nagato's leadership, the organization that Yahiko had originally founded as a force for peace had been transformed into something far darker. The group now operated with a level of coordination and resources that suggested extensive planning and preparation. Their ultimate goals remained unclear, but their actions indicated a long-term strategy that could reshape the entire political landscape.
"Zetsu," Orochimaru replied without hesitation, "You should be quite familiar with him already."
The casual tone of his response only made the implications more unsettling. If Konoha was already familiar with this individual, it meant their intelligence failures were even more significant than previously believed.
"What do you mean?" Minato's frown deepened as he processed the statement. His mind began racing through various possibilities, trying to identify when and where they might have encountered this mysterious figure.
"I must admit, I'm somewhat disappointed in Konoha's intelligence network," Orochimaru continued, his voice carrying that familiar note of condescending amusement. "Haven't you already had Tsunade begin researching portions of that creature?"
The words sent a chill through the room. Both Itachi and Kakashi were unfamiliar with the reference, but Minato's expression showed immediate recognition and growing alarm. The connection that Orochimaru was drawing painted a picture that was far more disturbing than any of them had imagined.
"Zetsu... is the special life form created using the DNA of the First Hokage?" Minato's voice was carefully controlled, but the shock was evident in his eyes.
The implications were staggering. If Akatsuki had access to creatures derived from Hashirama Senju's genetic material, it explained much about their capabilities and resources. The First Hokage's cells were among the most powerful biological materials in existence, capable of enhancing any technique or individual they were integrated with.
Minato's gaze shifted to Kakashi, and understanding passed between them without words. If Orochimaru's revelation was accurate, then the attack that Kakashi's team had suffered during the Third Shinobi World War took on an entirely different significance. What they had dismissed as an isolated incident was actually part of a much larger pattern.
"You said portions," Minato continued, his analytical mind focusing on the specific wording. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
"Because in addition to the White Zetsu that you've encountered multiple times," Orochimaru explained, clearly enjoying the growing tension in the room, "this creature possesses another half—another will entirely separate from the first."
He paused for dramatic effect, allowing the information to sink in before delivering the crucial detail.
"Black Zetsu."
"You're saying there are two distinct consciousnesses existing within the same body simultaneously?" Itachi interjected, his voice carrying a note of professional fascination despite the disturbing nature of the revelation.
"As expected of Uchiha Itachi," Orochimaru said with genuine appreciation, "your analytical capabilities are quite impressive. If circumstances were different, your body would make an excellent vessel for my techniques."
The casual mention of body possession sent a subtle chill through the room, but Orochimaru continued as though he were discussing the weather.
"However, your assessment isn't entirely accurate. From what I've observed, this Black Zetsu appears to be a completely independent entity, not merely another personality within White Zetsu's consciousness. They simply share the same physical form when it suits their purposes."
The distinction was crucial. Multiple personalities within a single individual could be understood and potentially manipulated. But two entirely separate beings choosing to coexist suggested a level of coordination and planning that was far more sophisticated.
"Where does this Black Zetsu originate from?" Minato pressed, his voice carrying the authority of someone accustomed to getting answers.
If White Zetsu was a creation derived from Hashirama's DNA, then Black Zetsu represented an entirely different category of threat. Understanding its origins could provide crucial insights into Akatsuki's true capabilities and long-term objectives.
"I'm afraid that particular mystery remains unsolved, even for someone with my resources," Orochimaru admitted, though his tone suggested he found the puzzle intellectually stimulating rather than frustrating.
"In all my years of research, across all the test sites I've established throughout the ninja world, I've never found a single piece of reliable information about Black Zetsu's origins or true nature. The most mysterious member of Akatsuki isn't the masked man who conceals his identity—it's this shadow creature who seems to have erased every trace of his past from history itself."
The admission was particularly unsettling coming from Orochimaru. His intelligence network rivaled that of entire nations, and his research into forbidden techniques had uncovered secrets that most people couldn't even imagine. For him to admit complete ignorance about Black Zetsu suggested something far beyond normal human understanding.
"He doesn't even know," Minato murmured, his mind working through the implications of Orochimaru's confession.
The Fourth Hokage's eyes narrowed as he considered the broader picture. Orochimaru's earlier comment about him not being "from this world" suggested that the Sannin had conducted extensive research before making such a bold claim. If someone with that level of analytical capability and resources couldn't uncover Black Zetsu's origins, then they were dealing with something that operated on an entirely different level.
"So what exactly are Nagato and the others planning?" Minato asked, shifting the focus back to more immediate concerns. "What's their ultimate objective?"
Understanding Akatsuki's goals was crucial for developing an effective response. Whether they were seeking political control, revenge against the major villages, or something even more ambitious would determine how Konoha should prepare for future encounters.
"I have absolutely no interest in other people's goals and ambitions," Orochimaru replied, his tongue flicking out to lick his lips in that characteristic serpentine gesture. "Their dreams and schemes are irrelevant to my own research objectives."
His eyes fixed on Minato with an intensity that was both predatory and intellectually curious, as though he were studying a particularly fascinating specimen.
"However, I must thank you for answering my questions so thoroughly," Minato said, his tone becoming noticeably colder. "Your cooperation has been... illuminating."
The shift in atmosphere was immediate and unmistakable. Where moments before there had been the tension of interrogation, now there was something far more dangerous. Minato's chakra began to manifest around him, not as a visible aura but as a pressure that seemed to make the very air difficult to breathe.
When Orochimaru truly felt the full weight of the Fourth Hokage's killing intent, his expression underwent a dramatic transformation. The smug confidence that had characterized his demeanor throughout the interrogation evaporated, replaced by something approaching genuine fear.
"Not just the body and chakra," he whispered, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and terror, "but the soul itself..."
Orochimaru's research into immortality techniques had made him exquisitely sensitive to the spiritual aspects of existence. The soul-transfer methods he had developed required him to carefully analyze and manipulate the essence of consciousness itself. This sensitivity, which had been crucial to his forbidden research, now allowed him to perceive something about Minato that would have been invisible to most observers.
The Fourth Hokage's soul radiated a power and stability that was completely at odds with what should have been possible. Through decades of investigation, Orochimaru had uncovered evidence of temporal anomalies connected to Minato's life—mysterious incidents in the Land of Fire and the ancient kingdom of Rōran that suggested interference with the natural flow of time and space.
His research had led him to former residents of Rōran, and through careful examination, he had detected subtle gaps in their memories—evidence of events that had been somehow edited or removed from their recollections. The patterns he had discovered all pointed to the same impossible conclusion.
Minato Namikaze was not native to this timeline, this reality, or perhaps even this universe.
The boldness of the speculation would have seemed like madness coming from anyone else, but Orochimaru's analytical methods were legendarily thorough. He had spent years gathering evidence, cross-referencing historical records, and studying the metaphysical implications of his findings.
If he could somehow capture and study Minato, if he could unlock the secrets of how someone could exist across multiple realities, the implications for his immortality research would be staggering. But such an opportunity was clearly beyond his current capabilities.
Standing before him, Minato began forming hand seals with a speed and precision that spoke to decades of perfected technique. The chakra that flowed through the movements was dense with power, and the sealing formulas that took shape were unlike anything in the standard repertoire.
"Buzz!"
Ancient lines of script began to manifest along Minato's palms, spreading outward like living calligraphy. The patterns were complex beyond normal comprehension, incorporating elements from multiple sealing traditions and theoretical frameworks that had been considered purely academic.
When Minato's palms made contact with Orochimaru's body, the effect was immediate and overwhelming. The sealing technique didn't just bind the Sannin's chakra—it reached into the fundamental aspects of his existence, constraining not just his physical abilities but his spiritual essence as well.
"My chakra... my soul... they're both imprisoned?!" Orochimaru's voice carried a note of genuine panic as he felt the seal take hold.
The technique was unlike anything he had encountered before, operating on principles that seemed to transcend normal understanding of how sealing jutsu functioned. His consciousness remained intact, but every other aspect of his being was locked away, inaccessible and beyond his control.
As the seal settled into place, Minato's eyes flickered with an emotion that was difficult to identify. With the crimes Orochimaru had committed—the human experimentation, the village betrayals, the countless lives destroyed in pursuit of forbidden knowledge—justice would normally demand execution.
But Minato had developed an intuition over the years, a sense for the deeper currents that flowed through events. Something told him that simply killing Orochimaru might not be sufficient. The Sannin's research into immortality techniques suggested that death might be merely an inconvenience rather than a permanent solution.
Moreover, keeping Orochimaru alive served multiple strategic purposes. As a source of intelligence about Akatsuki's operations, he was invaluable. As a researcher who had delved into forbidden techniques, his knowledge could prove crucial in developing countermeasures against future threats.
And perhaps most importantly, his continued existence served as a reminder of the dangerous paths that even the most brilliant minds could travel when moral constraints were abandoned.
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