Konoha, Orochimaru's secret base.
Test tubes, beakers, and flasks were neatly arranged. The air was filled with the faint smell of chemicals.
Orochimaru, dressed in a Konoha ninja uniform with his forehead protector on, calmly conducted his experiment, completely unconcerned about the impending crisis.
At a certain moment.
The corner of his mouth curled up. He turned to look at his capable assistant, Jingu Akira, and said in a raspy voice:
"Akira-kun, are you ready to defect from Konoha with me?"
Jingu Akira, a Konoha Chunin.
During the Third Great Ninja War, he had recommended himself and voluntarily joined Orochimaru, taking on the role that would have been Yakushi Kabuto's.
That's right, Jingu Akira was a transmigrator.
After a fateful encounter with the god of fortune, he crossed over to Konoha. Before he could even catch his breath, he had the misfortune of running into the Third Great Ninja War.
Fortunately, he had majored in biology in college. After demonstrating his talent, he lived safely through the war under Orochimaru's protection.
Seeing that Orochimaru's human experimentation secrets were about to be exposed, he had previously chosen to continue following him and become a rogue ninja of Konoha.
The reason for the word "previously" was, naturally, a new development.
Jingu Akira looked at Orochimaru, a similar smile gracing his lips, his voice much clearer.
"Of course... I'm not."
Orochimaru nodded.
"Very well, we..."
Halfway through his sentence, he realized something was wrong. He paused, looking at Jingu Akira in surprise.
After a moment.
"Interesting."
Orochimaru broke into a smile. His golden, snake-like pupils carefully studied Jingu Akira's young face. He flicked out his long tongue, licking his lips.
"Akira-kun, can you tell me why you suddenly changed your mind?"
If he remembered correctly, it was Jingu Akira who had proactively suggested defecting with him.
To change his mind at this point...
The young man before him was not a reckless or emotional person.
What could have caused such a change?
Orochimaru was very interested in this sudden new development.
As he wished.
At that moment.
Jingu Akira's face was filled with righteousness as he declared grandly:
"Orochimaru, I am the dignified Fourth Hokage! How could I possibly join you and become a rogue ninja of Konoha!"
Instantly!
Orochimaru's smile froze.
He had imagined countless possibilities, but this was the one answer he never expected.
"The Fourth Hokage?"
He suspected that the Jingu Akira before him might be under a Genjutsu, or perhaps an imposter.
However, the person in front of him was indeed the real Jingu Akira.
For a moment, Orochimaru was rendered somewhat silent.
Jingu Akira saw this, and his brow furrowed.
"Orochimaru, if you surrender now, as the Hokage, I can still pass a new sentence on you. Otherwise... Huh?"
Suddenly, Jingu Akira thought of something.
He scratched his head and quickly changed his tune.
"My apologies, I forgot a step."
Under Orochimaru's curious gaze.
Jingu Akira extended his hand and said with sincere apology:
"I'll take care of it right now."
After speaking, he snapped his fingers.
Shinjutsu: Omnipotence!
In an instant.
A white light shone from between his fingers.
The next second!
The white light from his fingertips enveloped Jingu Akira's entire body, then transformed into a beam that shot straight into the sky, piercing the atmosphere.
In a mere instant, the white light covered the entire planet!
At that moment, no one on the planet realized that their memories and their cognition were quietly being altered.
The strings of fate were once again being plucked by a god.
The white light that enveloped the planet came as quickly as it went.
Orochimaru, standing before him, involuntarily forgot about the white light.
It was as if time had skipped a beat.
When Orochimaru's focus returned, the first thing he saw was Jingu Akira in front of him.
His pupils shrank abruptly.
"The Fourth Hokage!!"
Jingu Akira smiled brightly and raised a hand in greeting.
"We meet again, Orochimaru."
...
Jingu Akira, having transmigrated into the world of Naruto, naturally possessed a golden finger.
It was a drop of blood.
A drop of Otsutsuki Shibai's original blood.
As the most powerful being in the Otsutsuki clan for a thousand years, Otsutsuki Shibai had consumed countless Chakra Fruits, eventually transcending life and death to evolve into a god, abandoning his physical body and leaving this dimension.
His DNA would go on to create many terrifyingly powerful individuals in the future, a testament to his strength.
After obtaining Otsutsuki Shibai's blood, Jingu Akira, though covetous, did not dare to transplant it recklessly.
He joined Orochimaru not only for protection but also to learn cutting-edge biotechnology from the ninja world's foremost scientist, in order to analyze the blood of Otsutsuki Shibai and find a way to transplant it perfectly.
Finally.
After countless experiments.
Just as Orochimaru was about to defect.
The blood of Otsutsuki Shibai was successfully transplanted into his heart without any signs of rejection.
Jingu Akira could feel it.
With every beat of his heart, now fused with Otsutsuki Shibai's blood, his constitution was continuously transforming into that of a pure-blooded Otsutsuki.
Not only that.
The moment he successfully bonded with the blood of Otsutsuki Shibai, he also awakened abilities related to Otsutsuki Shibai.
Among them was Shinjutsu: Omnipotence.
Distinct from Ninjutsu and Senjutsu.
Only an ability that a god could perform, something like a miracle, could be called a Shinjutsu.
It could manifest anything, turning one's thoughts and desires into reality.
This was Shinjutsu: Omnipotence.
Right now.
Jingu Akira had turned his thoughts into reality.
His current identity was the Fourth Hokage of Konohagakure!
...
"Fourth Hokage, I didn't expect you to arrive first."
Inside the secret base, Orochimaru looked at Jingu Akira with a grave expression.
The assistant from before had completely vanished from his memory.
In his place was the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, who had appeared by his side at some unknown time!
"Are you surprised?"
Jingu Akira looked at Orochimaru, the man he had previously always called "Lord," a smile on his face that the other could not decipher.
"Of course. After all, you are the young Hokage! Not as decrepit as the old man."
Orochimaru spread his hands, his smile returning.
There was another sentence he didn't say out loud.
'This one in front of me won't be as merciful as the old man!'
Thinking of this, Orochimaru took a step back and said with regret:
"What a pity. I was originally planning to say goodbye to my teacher."
The intelligence report clearly stated that the Third Hokage was leading the team.
He didn't know how, but the Fourth Hokage had managed to get right in front of him.
Facing this young Hokage, Orochimaru had to make a move.
"No rush."
As if he hadn't seen Orochimaru's subtle movements, Jingu Akira, wearing just a standard Konoha flak jacket, smiled.
"You'll have plenty of opportunities to see the Third Hokage later."
"That's not so certain," Orochimaru said, his eyes narrowing.
"That's not up to you," Jingu Akira replied in his capacity as the Fourth Hokage.
He had to admit, this felt pretty good.
"Is that so?"
Before Orochimaru's voice had even faded, he struck.
His waist suddenly elongated, and instead of retreating, he advanced, coiling towards Jingu Akira like a python.
Jingu Akira had just turned to the side.
Orochimaru's neck twisted, and his head flew forward, a long Kusanagi Sword emerging from his mouth, stabbing straight for his throat.
Swish!
The blade cut through the air, leaving a silver glint, but Jingu Akira's figure was gone.
Orochimaru's expression changed, and he was about to retreat.
Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!
Blood splattered.
Orochimaru was suddenly grievously wounded, and his body was sent flying backward.
He looked down.
At some point, several black rods had been embedded in his body.