Nawaki grimaced in pain as his older sister, Tsunade, stormed off with him in tow, pinching his ear tightly.
Her face was dark with anger, and the oppressive aura around her was so strong that even Tobirama Senju, who stood nearby, wisely kept silent.
Only after Tsunade and Nawaki's figures disappeared from view did the heavy atmosphere finally ease, and the tension in the air began to lift.
"I heard from Kagetsu that you've mastered a forbidden technique—a Soul Shadow Clone?" Tobirama asked with interest.
As someone deeply curious about unique forbidden jutsu, this caught his full attention.
Especially now that he had accepted the position and responsibilities Kagetsu had offered him.
"It has a very high threshold for training," Orochimaru responded immediately, having instantly understood Tobirama's intent the moment he spoke.
"How high?" Tobirama asked without hesitation, clearly undeterred.
For him, aside from his talent with Water Release, he had always started with forbidden techniques—most of which he had created himself to meet specific needs or counter particular enemies.
In terms of raw strength and destructive power, he might not be the strongest in the ninja world.
But when it came to understanding and creating ninjutsu and forbidden arts, he believed he was second to none.
A high threshold?
Every forbidden technique he had ever created had one. Without the necessary talent, they couldn't be learned or used at all.
"You're not ready yet," Orochimaru said firmly, shaking his head.
"Am I missing something?" Tobirama's face briefly showed a flicker of dissatisfaction, but he quickly suppressed it as another possibility dawned on him.
Orochimaru wasn't refusing to teach him. Nor did he think Tobirama lacked the talent to learn it.
Rather, it meant that Tobirama was missing something essential—something that was the very foundation, the prerequisite for practicing this technique.
It was just like Sage Jutsu. If one wanted to use it, they had to possess Sage Chakra.
Without learning how to gather and balance natural energy with one's own chakra, Sage Jutsu would remain forever out of reach.
Could it be that… Soul Shadow Clone was a form of Sage Art?
Or perhaps... Is it Hollow power?
That was the only explanation that made sense.
Only then could Orochimaru firmly believe that he couldn't master it—because this body of his truly lacked both of those powers.
"That technique was created based on my own Hōgyoku mode and the abilities awakened through the Hōgyoku. In terms of principle, only I can fully master it. However, with Kagetsu's abilities, he can also use a modified version of the Soul Shadow Clone Technique."
"Not only have I not awakened my own Hōgyoku mode or powers yet, but even if I did, whether or not I could use the Soul Shadow Clone Technique depends on how compatible my abilities are with it."
A flash of surprise passed through Orochimaru's eyes. He hadn't expected the Second Hokage to figure it out so quickly.
"I see," Senju Tobirama said with a slow nod, recalling the information he had read on the Hōgyoku and Hollow powers.
Still, he didn't seem disappointed.
For someone like him, even if Orochimaru's Soul Shadow Clone Technique didn't suit him, he believed he could create something similar with his own talent.
After all, it was just a more advanced version of the Shadow Clone.
Since he had created the original Shadow Clone Technique, what would stop him from inventing a new version—one that could exist nearly permanently?
As long as Hollow power truly had the properties to make that possible, that was all he needed.
"When can you prepare the awakening ritual for me?"
Tobirama asked directly.
"So eager?" Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, but then nodded. "As long as you're ready, Kagetsu and I can prepare the ritual anytime."
"Then let's do it as soon as possible," Tobirama replied with a nod.
He planned to create a combat clone to search outside for clues on Madara's whereabouts while his main body remained behind to take over the Hollow Research of Technology Development Department.
"Then… you're aware of the taboos and requirements of the awakening ritual, aren't you?" Orochimaru asked seriously. "If you fail, it will be no different from your resurrection failing entirely. At that point, you'll become a true Hollow."
"Maybe you'll be lucky enough to retain your consciousness, but most likely, your mind will be devoured by the Hōgyoku. Your soul will become a chaotic, amnesiac Gillian-class Hollow."
"If that happens, Tsunade and the resurrection technique we created… will never be able to bring you back again."
"I understand the dangers of these rituals and forbidden techniques even better than you do," Tobirama Senju nodded calmly. "And I'm far more cautious and careful about them. In some ways, we're the same kind of person."
"Then three days from now, I'll work with Tsunade to conduct a full physical and soul examination on you," Orochimaru responded without hesitation, directly giving a clear timeframe.
He didn't mind someone awakening their power through the Hōgyoku.
In fact, it showed the person was aligning more closely with their side—and willing to establish a deeper, almost unbreakable bond with them.
One that not even death could sever.
Whether the ritual succeeded or failed, Tobirama's soul would inevitably drift toward Hueco Mundo.
If he succeeded, Tobirama would add to their strength in the living world. If he failed, then his soul would become part of Hueco Mundo, further fueling its growth.
Besides, Orochimaru was extremely curious—just what kind of power could Tobirama awaken through the Hōgyoku?
Three days passed quickly.
Once Tsunade learned of her Second Grandpa's decision, she was unhappy, but chose not to interfere. After all, when she, Kagetsu, and Orochimaru revived him, they had already discussed this possibility.
What she hadn't expected was that Tobirama, freshly resurrected, would be so eager to undergo the Hōgyoku awakening ritual.
Tobirama's revival was still a tightly kept secret, known only to those directly involved in the ritual.
Not even the retired Third Hokage, or Jiraiya—who was currently leading a diplomatic mission with Minato to the Land of Lightning's border to negotiate with the Cloud Shinobi—knew anything about it.
As for Nawaki, there were no plans to keep his identity hidden.
However, once the Hōgyoku Mode Awakening ritual of Tobirama was completed, Nawaki would temporarily leave the village to visit family in the capital of the Land of Fire.
When he returned, he would come back with Tsunade.
To the outside world, he would be introduced as a descendant of the Senju clan who had grown up in the capital.
Because he looked so much like Nawaki, Tsunade "discovered" him and decided to bring him back to the village for training.
In an underground research base on the outskirts of the village, Tobirama Senju watched as Tsunade summoned a slug.
Under his watchful gaze, the slug puffed up its cheeks and spat out a radiant, shining orb from its mouth.
"So this is the Hōgyoku?" Tobirama murmured.
He focused all his sensory abilities on the orb, but despite its brilliance, he couldn't sense any overwhelming power from it.
And yet, there was something else—something deeper.
From the jewel, Tobirama felt a strange calling that stirred from within his soul.
It was like the pull between two magnets, an invisible force that drew him closer.
As if some hidden emptiness within him could be filled by the power held within that jewel.
****
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