The underground laboratory was silent, except for the constant sound of liquids dripping from the capsules. The smell of formaldehyde and blood permeated the air.
In one of the chambers, Orochimaru's body trembled slightly. The white skin was still molding, as if trying to adjust to the new form. Kabuto watched attentively, taking notes and adjusting the tubes connected to the sannin's body.
"How is the adaptation, Orochimaru-sama?"
The yellowish eyes opened slowly, cold and sharp. The drawn-out voice replied: "Better... than the last host. I still feel rejection in some places, but it will adjust."
Kabuto pushed his glasses up and made a note. "The heartbeats are stabilizing. I believe that in a few days you will be able to use chakra normally."
Orochimaru slowly stood up, breaking some of the tubes. "A few days is too long, Kabuto."
He walked to the table full of reports and maps. His thin hands slid over the papers until they found one of the scrolls marked with the sound seal.
"The group sent to Konoha..." he began, his voice low and icy, "...still no information?"
Kabuto lowered his gaze. "Nothing, Orochimaru-sama. None of the four returned. No signs of life, no chakra traces."
Orochimaru frowned. "So they were eliminated quickly... without leaving a trace. Interesting."
He turned to the wall full of old photographs — Leaf ninjas, old enemies, targets. Among them, Tsunade and Jiraiya. "Jiraiya perhaps... but he would never kill without first trying to extract information. And Tsunade..." Orochimaru smiled sideways. "She is too emotional. If she had acted, Konoha would be in an uproar, and they would have already come to my hideouts."
Kabuto watched him in silence, trying to understand his master's line of reasoning.
"So what do you think happened, Orochimaru-sama?"
Orochimaru was silent for a few seconds. His snake eyes narrowed. "There was intervention from someone... someone who shouldn't have been there. The way everything was erased... it's too clean. It must be an enemy who works alone. Cold. I need to find out who interfered."
Kabuto calmly noted. "Do you want me to send scouts to the surroundings of Konoha?"
"No. Those regions are already under surveillance. Any movement would attract attention. What you must do..." Orochimaru approached, placing his hand on his assistant's shoulder, "...is prepare our best subordinates. As soon as my body stabilizes, we will go to the Uzumaki location mentioned in the scrolls."
Kabuto hesitated. "The ancient sealed sanctuary?"
"Yes." Orochimaru confirmed, his eyes shining with contained excitement. "If the records are correct, the Reaper Death Seal rests there. The same one used by the Third to seal my arms."
Kabuto frowned. "But, Orochimaru-sama... breaking the Reaper Death Seal is almost impossible. Even the Uzumaki feared it."
"Impossible?" Orochimaru laughed softly, his voice echoing through the damp walls. "That word has haunted me for decades, Kabuto. They always say it's impossible. Creating a forbidden jutsu. Swapping bodies. Overcoming death." He slowly turned, staring at the Leaf symbol engraved on one of the blades attached to the wall. "And yet, I am still alive."
Kabuto did not answer. He already knew that look — the mixture of hatred, curiosity, and desire for absolute control.
"Prepare everything," Orochimaru continued. "I need to get my arms back. Without them, I am a mutilated man. Everything is getting out of my control, and I..." he clenched his fists, his eyes trembling with rage, "...hate losing control."
Kabuto bowed. "As you wish, Orochimaru-sama."
Orochimaru closed his eyes for an instant, and a subtle smile curved his lips. "As soon as I get my hands back..." he whispered, "Konoha will understand what it truly means to be cursed."
In a vast cave, the sound of the wind inside was like laments. In the center, the Gedo Statue rose colossal and grotesque, with empty eyes and arms open towards the void. Chains of blue and red chakra intertwined in spirals, slowly draining the body of the unconscious woman in front — Fū, the bearer of Chōmei.
The concentrated energy trembled. Spiritual cracks ran across the floor, and the guttural sound of the statue filled the air.
"Sealing complete in ten minutes," Pain said, his voice echoing cold and firm. His Rinnegan eyes reflected the silhouettes of the other members projected in the summoning circle.
Hidan yawned loudly. "Ten minutes? That's an eternity. Why does this ritual have to be so damn slow? I could have finished this woman at my altar and been done with it."
Kakuzu, arms crossed, replied without looking. "Because you're stupid. Her body isn't what matters, it's the demon inside. And if you kill the vessel the wrong way, the beast's chakra disperses. Learn something useful before you open your mouth."
"You always talk like you're a teacher, you miserable old man."
"Old, yes. Miserable, no. I still have all the bounties I've earned — and you're still poor."
Deidara's mocking laugh echoed from one of the projections. "Hn. You two are as noisy as the Jinchūriki himself. Art is silence before the final explosion, hm."
Sasori, beside him, replied dryly. "Explosion is disorder. Art is permanence. Your 'art' evaporates in seconds."
"You still don't understand anything about ephemeral beauty, danna."
Pain ignored them. His hands remained raised, channeling the flow of the sealing. Beside him, Konan watched in silence, paper petals floating gently around her projection.
"It's the second beast sealed," Konan commented, her voice calm. "And only a few years since the plan began."
Pain nodded. "Progress is satisfactory. But there are still risks. The shinobi world is restructuring faster than expected. Konoha, in particular."
Itachi, motionless, slowly opened his eyes. "The death of the Third Hokage altered the balance. Tsunade took office, and control over the Jinchūriki is tighter."
"Yes," Pain said. "But our focus remains. Two beasts are in our possession. Seven are still missing."
"And the next one?" Kisame questioned, resting his chin on one of his hands. "The three-tailed beast hasn't reappeared yet, perhaps the old four-tailed monster? I feel like stretching a bit."
Pain turned his gaze to him. "You and Itachi will deal with the next target."
Kisame smiled, showing his sharp teeth. "Perfect. I was getting bored."
Deidara interrupted with a click of his tongue. "And my team, hm? We are still waiting for orders."
Pain stared at him. "You and Sasori will go to the borders of the Land of Wind. Something happened there — reports of abnormal energy and battles without a trace. Investigate."
Konan gently added: "If you discover the involvement of Suna or Konoha, retreat. It is not yet time for direct confrontation."
Deidara grumbled, but nodded.
Hidan spoke again, impatient. "And me? I want action. This Jashin cult needs new blood. Can I go after someone useful?"
Kakuzu sighed, as if he had already expected the question. "You're coming with me. We have a target. A monk from the Fire Temple with a high bounty."
Hidan's eyes gleamed. "Finally! A worthy offering. May his blood satiate Jashin!"
"Or at least pay our expenses," Kakuzu murmured.
As the discussion continued, Fū's body began to writhe. The flaming blue chakra was sucked into the statue, filling one of the Gedo's orbs. The sound was grotesque, like a contained roar of a thousand voices.
Pain slowly lowered his hands. "Sealing complete."
The projections began to disappear one by one, but before the last chakra dissipated, Itachi broke the silence. "The second beast sealed... and Konoha still has no idea of the extent of the plan. But this will not last long."
Pain replied without emotion: "They will only have time to understand when it's too late."
The cave became empty. The statue, now with two glowing orbs, seemed alive. The shadows of its fingers moved slowly, as if tasting the newly devoured energy.