There were no clones floating in growth tanks, no organs soaking in formalin, and certainly no Hashirama cells, Sharingan, or other contraband.
Orochimaru's lab was so spotless it felt wrong.
It wasn't "Orochimaru" at all.
Yorin was sure the place had been scrubbed clean long ago—or it wasn't the real lab to begin with, just a façade.
He played up his surprise, but he was certain Orochimaru and Danzō had coordinated in advance.
The alliance between these two political also-rans of Konoha hadn't ended with the failed Fourth Hokage bid. If anything, it was edging toward a tighter union—
Of course, that "union" existed only in Danzō's imagination. He thought he and Orochimaru were fulfilling each other's needs—huddling for warmth. Orochimaru had stopped taking him seriously a long time ago.
The moment a better partner appeared—or the timing turned—he would sell Danzō out without a shred of mercy…
That "better partner" could be the Fourth Hokage, even the Third—but absolutely never the Uchiha.
"Orochimaru-sama, I've admired your name for a long time."
Uchiha Yorin sat across from him and offered the greeting.
"I've heard quite a bit about you as well. Likewise, a pleasure to finally meet, Yorin-kun."
What surprised Yorin was how interested Orochimaru seemed in him.
Was it the Sharingan—or something else?
"Both, Yorin-kun."
He got that answer a little over a month later.
Can a month turn two strangers into close friends?
It can—if their minds click.
Did Uchiha Yorin and Orochimaru "click"?
In a way, yes.
Yorin understood Orochimaru's ambitions—and his heart.
More importantly, Uchiha Yorin could keep up with Orochimaru's line of thought.
He might not accept Orochimaru's hunger for immortality or for knowledge and technique—but he could at least understand it. And like Orochimaru, he was a technological progressivist: the belief that the people of today can create miracles surpassing the ancients.
For Orochimaru, that was enough—more than enough, even a pleasant surprise.
After all, not even his closest comrades, Tsunade and Jiraiya—bound by life-and-death—could truly understand him.
For a genius like him, "no one understands me" is its own deep sorrow.
So, after a month, Uchiha Yorin had become someone Orochimaru could talk to about anything—close enough to make Jiraiya jealous.
As for Danzō—he wasn't even in the conversation. Orochimaru told Yorin about their various deals without hesitation or mercy.
It wasn't even "intel sharing"; it was tea-time small talk.
If Danzō knew, who knows if he'd cry.
"You're underestimating Danzō. No matter how twisted, crazy, or pathetic he is now, once upon a time he lived up to the title 'Darkness of the Shinobi.'"
…
In Orochimaru's "front" secret lab, Yorin and he nibbled sweets and sipped tea, trading sharp takes on anything they felt like skewering.
Ripping on the Third and Danzō was a pastime for Orochimaru when he was off the clock.
Beyond that, they critiqued the ninja world's chaos—and talked about the future.
…
"Ninjutsu shouldn't be used only for killing and wrongdoing."
After a tactical sip of tea, Yorin said calmly:
"Chakra—combined with ninjutsu and technology—can change the world, create more resources and wealth, feed more people, and make life better and richer."
"Perhaps," Orochimaru replied. He didn't much care about the ninja world—or the world at large.
When Yorin spoke, his gaze drifted, as if away to some unknown place.
Just as Yorin expected—at this stage, Orochimaru cared about nothing but himself.
Good and bad for Yorin.
Bad, because if Orochimaru decided to sell him out, he wouldn't hesitate.
Good, because if Orochimaru decided to sell out Danzō, he wouldn't hesitate either.
"Truly unlucky."
"Yes, most unlucky."
Danzō would probably never understand how easily Orochimaru would sell him out—cleanly, without a flicker of doubt—
Simply because Uchiha Yorin was willing to collaborate in his research.
The Sharingan.
Yorin agreed to let Orochimaru study his eyes. More importantly, Uchiha Yorin wasn't a typical Uchiha.
If it were just an ordinary Sharingan—troublesome, yes—but with effort, Orochimaru could still acquire one.
But Yorin was different.
He had Yang Release nature.
The Sage of Six Paths' descendants split into two clans: Indra's descendants, the Uchiha; Asura's descendants, the Senju.
The former inherited the Sage's Yin nature; the latter, Yang.
Yin governs spirit; Yang nurtures the body. Thus the Uchiha possess the Sharingan, the pinnacle of genjutsu. The Senju—and the Uzumaki, who intermarried with them for generations—are famed for chakra reserves so huge they're human-tailed-beast level.
So—
If.
If Indra's and Asura's bloodlines were recombined, what would you get?
Orochimaru: "The Sage of Six Paths."
Uchiha Yorin: "Exactly—the Sage of Six Paths. And if we combine that with synthetic-human tech—what then?"
Orochimaru: "…"
This time Orochimaru didn't answer—but his pupils contracted sharply, shifting him from human to reptile in an instant.
That alone showed he'd taken the bait. Yorin answered for him:
Uchiha Yorin: "An endless supply of Sage-of-Six-Paths–class bodies. Swap at will—make your lifespan and power effectively limitless."
Orochimaru's breath hitched. He quickly poured tea, gulped it down, calmed himself, and finally said:
"That would be extremely difficult, Yorin-kun. You must know—we've experimented this long and only produced a single body capable of Wood Release."
Yorin replied, "Wood Release is a surface symptom. The strength was always Hashirama Senju—not 'Wood Release.' Hashirama's secret was twofold: Perfect Sage Mode—and Yang."
"Heh heh." Orochimaru didn't answer—just chuckled twice. Until Yorin spoke again:
"I know it's hard. But I believe it's not beyond our genius scientist. Right?"
He leaned forward slightly and met Orochimaru's eyes.
A touch impolite—but Orochimaru didn't care about such things. He answered:
"Indeed, Yorin-kun. Heh heh… heh heh heh heh…"
He smiled, buoyant—already drowning in the grand blueprint Yorin had painted.
A million fused Uchiha–Senju bodies.
With the Senju's massive chakra and robust physique—and the Uchiha's Sharingan. Even the Rinnegan above it.
In that world, the Senju are restored, the Uchiha are invincible. The system's task, the clan's survival, world conquest—checked, checked, all checked.
Even Orochimaru felt his pulse quicken at the thought.
Yes.
Exactly.
This was Yorin's route to the "achieve 1,000,000 Senju" milestone—what else, have him do it alone? He could try; Tsunade certainly couldn't.
…
Yorin: "So, Orochimaru-sensei—your answer?"
Orochimaru made his final calculation.
Compared to "Danzō-sama"—a trifling pawn—there was Yorin-kun: kind, friendly, special, and most importantly, someone who could help him fulfill his wish.
Orochimaru decided.
"My apologies, Danzō-sama… but I find Yorin-kun's side rather more compelling."