Revival Chamber, Technology Development Department
In the underground laboratory of the Technology Development Department, the atmosphere was heavy with anticipation.
Senju Tobirama stood silently, watching as Kagetsu and his assistants carefully prepared to recreate the resurrection ritual.
He had observed the entire process from the sidelines, and when he noticed Orochimaru's movements, his sharp eyes narrowed slightly.
"So, you're using the Edo Tensei I created?"
"Yes. Edo Tensei allows us to summon the souls we need directly from the Pure Land. For example—yourself, and Nawaki," Orochimaru replied casually. Having completed his part of the procedure, he stepped back a couple of steps and moved beside Tobirama.
It had been nearly two months since Tobirama's resurrection.
In that time, he had focused first on adapting to his new body through rigorous training, regaining the strength he held in his previous life.
Once he had regained his prowess, he immersed himself in the Technology Development Department's archives, reviewing the vast body of research Kagetsu had accumulated over the years.
If it weren't for today being Nawaki's resurrection ceremony, Tobirama might still be buried in those research notes.
"I didn't expect you to use my jutsu like this," Tobirama murmured with a trace of emotion.
Most of the techniques he created were designed with a singular purpose: to enhance combat power and defeat enemies.
Never had he imagined that one of his jutsu would become a core component of a ceremonial process.
It was clear to him now—Orochimaru's version of Edo Tensei had diverged significantly from the technique he originally developed.
"Yes," Orochimaru confirmed with a hint of amusement in his eyes. "I've made some improvements—specifically focused on the soul's binding and corruption."
Hearing this, Tobirama didn't react to Orochimaru's smug demeanor.
Instead, he calmly extracted the key details from his words, and a look of understanding dawned on his face.
"Binding and corruption, huh?" he muttered. "To anchor the soul... and infect it with Hollow energy? Are you blending the Pure Land and Hueco Mundo?"
"It seems Kagetsu has revealed quite a bit of information to you? Even about the Hollow and Hueco Mundo. This secret, less than ten people in the entire Hidden Leaf Village know about it," Orochimaru raised an eyebrow but didn't show any displeasure in his tone.
"Kagetsu hasn't hidden anything from me. In fact, once I was ready—both physically and mentally—he began preparing the Hollowfication awakening ceremony for me," Tobirama Senju nodded in approval.
He had been in frequent contact with Kagetsu recently and greatly admired his talent.
The Hollow, Hueco Mundo, and even the mysterious Hollowfication were all products of his research.
Some of the research in the technology development department even surprised him, many of which were initiated by Kagetsu and then handed off to other researchers for further development and optimization.
"Did he tell you, Second Hokage, that ninjas infected with Hollow power and who have undergone the Hollowfication awakening ceremony can never have their souls return to the Pure Land after death?" Orochimaru suddenly asked.
"Hueco Mundo? I've heard Kagetsu mention that place. Unlike the Pure Land, it's a battlefield for souls. Once trapped there, they remain forever."
Tobirama was very interested in Hueco Mundo, but in the records room, he hadn't found even a single note about it.
Clearly, Kagetsu and his team had not included such crucial information.
Tobirama understood why.
"Hueco Mundo was originally just a testing ground, but now, as more souls enter, its boundaries keep expanding. The stronger the ninja, the purer their soul after death, making them an irresistible nourishment for Hueco Mundo," Orochimaru's eyes twinkled as he added a few words.
The Second Hokage, who had been infected with Hollow power and marked and locked by Hueco Mundo, was already counted among those on their same ship.
If the First Hokage were to be resurrected in the future, it would be the same.
Orochimaru still wanted to know what kind of changes the legendary Ninja God could bring to the Hueco Mundo.
Orochimaru was even considering whether to use the improved Edo Tensei to infect the other fallen Kage from the ninja villages, to see what would happen after the sealing technique was undone, and what effects it would have on the Hueco Mundo.
The reason this plan remained only an idea and was never carried out was because Orochimaru had certain concerns.
Since souls exist, and the legend of the Pure Land has lasted for at least a thousand years, how much power has the Pure Land accumulated?
Taking a step back, high-quality and strong souls could influence the growth and expansion of the Hueco Mundo.
But what about the Pure Land, which, like the Hueco Mundo, is also a place of the dead?
The Hueco Mundo has its privileged users. Could the legendary Sage of Six Paths and the so-called Shinigami (Death Gods) be the privileged users of the Pure Land?
A few powerful souls might not immediately reveal the Pure Land's operating mechanism, but what if their numbers increased?
Would the Edo Tensei technique completely fail?
The technique discovered by the Second Hokage, which can summon souls back from the Pure Land—a loophole in the system—would it be patched up?
At least Orochimaru believed he couldn't offer a soul of equal quality to the First Hokage's to make a fair trade with the Pure Land. Unless he was willing to sacrifice his own soul.
So before confirming how great the overall threat of the Pure Land really was, out of caution, Orochimaru and Kagetsu preferred to mark the living ninja in the ninja world—especially the Kage of each village.
In other words, when necessary, Kagetsu and Orochimaru wouldn't mind sharing some of their research and technology about Hollow Power with other ninja villages.
If needed, even the power of the Hogyoku could be shared for allies to experience.
Of course, this process required caution.
"Sis?"
A voice, confused and doubtful, echoed in the empty underground space, attracting the attention of Senju Tobirama and Orochimaru.
A boy about twelve or thirteen years old was looking around in disbelief, holding onto Tsunade.
"Long time no see, Nawaki!" Compared to the emotional Tsunade, Orochimaru only showed a slight change in expression before hiding it. He smiled and walked forward, rubbing Nawaki's head.
The pain in their hearts caused by Nawaki's death was healed a lot at this moment.
At least, the regret from back then was somewhat made up for, wasn't it?
After all, Orochimaru had returned to Tsunade a healthy Nawaki who could soon be full of life—not a hollowed-out corpse.
"Orochimaru-sensei?" Nawaki looked at Orochimaru, who had matured a lot like his sister, and at the white-haired man walking alongside him who looked extremely familiar.
A trace of fear appeared in his eyes.
"Orochimaru-sensei and sister, are you both dead too?"
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