The Arrival at the Yugakure

(A/N: If you were wondering why did Yoshi behave the way he was, after Mei's taunting in the previous chapter, I'll try to explain it now. No character should be perfect! Everyone must have some flaws! I mentioned that one of the MC's flaws was pride before, and what does that mean? That means that he will, of course, get mad when someone taunts him that hard right in the face. That's what's called a three-dimensional character, he's not an one-dimensional perfect robot, but a real person!)

- - -

Two figures were speedily running through a hilly forest in a flash. They were getting closer and closer to their destination, Konoha's war base in the Yugakure.

Yugakure is surrounded by several different hot springs, and so thick steam rises up around the village. Many resort hotels are built throughout the area for the hot springs' visitors to stay in.

Konoha's shinobi army led proxy warfare from that particular small village against Kumo and their own occupied proxy village of the frosty Shimogakure.

The figures on the run were Yoshi and Kakashi. Tasked by the Lord Hokage to help Orochimaru on this battlefront next. Yoshi advised Anko to sit this one down, knowing that it will be very dangerous from the beginning.

"Did you finally manage to sense them all, Yoshi?" Kakashi suddenly asked his best friend, who had his eyes closed, all the while on the run. He was not referring to the friendly Yugakure, but the enemy's Shimogakure base instead.

Due to somewhat close proximity between these two villages, Yoshi could directly sense it from many miles away efficiently, "Yes... But I still can't paint an accurate picture of their combat power..."

"But, I feel sure that they won't be any weaker than Kiri!" Kakashi looked surprised for a second then immediately turning extremely excited afterward.

His long time wish of surpassing his father, both in strength and reputation, could maybe finally be realized.

Soon, they arrived at their destination. Between some kind of mountain valleys, stood a deep and canyon where the entrance to this tragically occupied ninja village stayed.

Konoha's shinobi were patrolling around it diligently, guarding it against all sides, many scouts were also secretly hidden on the nearby basins, on the lookout for any possible threats as well.

This entire ninja village was now just Konoha's and Orochimaru's playground.

Suddenly, appearing outside the large metal's village gates, Yoshi and Kakashi nodded a little to the nearby guards, "Lord Kakashi, Lord Yoshi!"

Even though they may be only half of their age, Yoshi's and Kakashi's reputation and strengths already far surpassed their own, so they had to show a proper dose of respect to them, "Follow us please, the commander is expecting you!"

- - -

Orochimaru, one of the three legendary Sannins of the previous Great War, stood on a nearby steep hill, valley, outside a cave which was leading back to Konoha's secret base.

He was just looking at the distance deeply while waiting for someone to arrive.

"Yoshi, Kakashi, you're finally here!" Suddenly he turned back and smiled.

"Commander," They said a little cordially after exiting the dark cave the guards led them to while looking at the magnificent mountainous scenery in front of them.

"Truly a nice view, huh? How is Sakumo doing now?" He asked softly, seemingly still caring for his old friend and a sparring partner.

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru, he's doing great," Seeing Orochimaru displaying concern for his father, Kakashi decided to give him some respect.

Orochimaru suddenly looked at Kakashi, from head to toe, as if evaluating him and then nodding his head a little, "Truly a worthy son, you didn't let your father down at all, Kakashi!"

Orochimaru always had respect and good feelings towards strong and talented people.

"And you? Yoshi Uzumaki? I must admit that you look even more exceptional in person!" He said all of sudden, after turning his gaze to Yoshi next.

''Truly strange, this man seems to be really sincere in his praise!'

"Haha, I'm not worth mentioning in front of the senior..." Yoshi smiled and decided to compliment him back a little.

Orochimaru just nodded, appearing to be even more satisfied with Yoshi.

"Kakashi, that guy will take you now to meet with my current vice commander, who will introduce you to the situation of this battlefront. I have to talk about something with Yoshi in private, you don't mind?" Orochimaru asked seriously all of sudden.

Kakashi looked at Yoshi and seeing him nodding, he nodded himself as well and left the meeting place promptly alongside the guard who brought them here.

"What do you think of the Konoha's current Hokage, Yoshi?" Orochimaru suddenly looked at Yoshi and unexpectedly asked him, after Kakashi left and they remained alone.

Yoshi looked a little surprised but then quickly answered somewhat probingly.

"What is there to say about him that isn't already known by everyone? He certainly isn't called the "Professor of Shinobi", for nothing, his current position is rightfully deserved and well maintained in my opinion!"

"Haha, I'm not talking about that Yoshi!"

"You don't need to be so reserved in front of me..."

"I'm asking how you feel about him as a 'person'..."

Orochimaru glanced at him playfully, while insinuating something.

'What is this man thinking...?'

Yoshi decided to still play dumb and asked unsurely again.

"I'm sorry, senior, but I really can't understand what you mean..."

'So this little guy is also somewhat a bit smart as well...'

.

"Nothing, I was just kidding, fufu..." Orochimaru suddenly started laughing a little.

"Let's get to serious business, now!"

"Now, that you're here, I want to finally end this war!" Orochimaru sincerely and firmly exclaimed in succession all of sudden.

'So that was just a test? For what?' Yoshi thought unsurely but still proceeded to ask next.

"Okay, let's hear your plans then, senior."

"Are you good at fuinjutsu?" Orochimaru continued speaking seriously.

"I must say, that I'm very good at it..." Yoshi continued curiously.

"Great, we'll start preparations, for now, this is the plan I came up with..."

Yoshi grew more and more incredulous as he was hearing about it, 'It seems that Orochimaru really has a great talent for coming up with ingenious plans for destroying hidden villages...'

'But, why is he so invested in this?'

'Does he still daydream that Hiruzen would allow him to become the next Hokage...?'

And, after many more hours of talking about serious topics, Orochimaru suddenly turned playful again, "Alright, you have some work to do now...."

"- But first, you have someone waiting for you, fufu...'

'Someone waiting for me?'

"Follow me, quickly!" Orochimaru just smiled mysteriously and entered one of the base's hidden tunnels promptly.

- - -

In one gloomy dark cave, somewhere in the nearby mountain complexes.

Stood a peculiarly looking man with dark hair and white eyes, he was looking at the tunnel in front of him expectantly.

Soon, another young man of a similar age entered the cave curiously. On his way there, he somewhat guessed as to who was waiting for him there, "Takumi!"

"You really grew stronger!" Yoshi exclaimed while smiling a little after seeing him.

"You as well, Yoshi!" Takumi replied plainly, but there was still a minuscule and warm smile present on his face. Something quite unusual for him. In his heart, he already regarded Yoshi as his only friend in this whole world.

"It seems like you also found your own way!" Yoshi said after sensing Takumi's now quite peaceful and determined chakra aura fluctuations.

"Yes, did master already tell you everything about me?"

'Master...? Orochimaru?' After this sentence, Yoshi felt like he could somewhat understand the whole situation now.

'It seems like master left the explaining to me...' Takumi thought in a moment, then started speaking in a somewhat confident way, "It seems like we were truly right!"

"You also aren't fond of that whole village, either!"

But after the next one, Yoshi suddenly opened his eyes wide feeling a very bad premonition rising.

"Yes, judging by how you didn't even flinch at all when seeing me, even though I'm a fugitive now..."

Yoshi just sighed dejectedly, feeling quite mad at himself, 'Such a low-level mistake...'

"But, Takumi, what do you mean by your previous 'either'?"

"Isn't it obvious? I mean just look at my forehead protector now..." Takumi replied seriously.

"Oh, you're wondering about my master? Well, that's a pretty long story..."

"Can you tell me about it, Takumi? I'm really curious to hear!"

"I can already see where this conversation is going..."

"But, If you truly want me to become your ally, I need some more proof and sincerity shown..."

Yoshi already realized that they've come to himself with friendly intentions today, judging by all of their previous words and actions.

"Well, he doesn't hate the whole village exactly, more like just one man in particular..."

The more he listened to this, the more stunned Yoshi got. If Orochimaru's plan for the destruction of Kumo sounded insane before, then this story sounded even more so.

Orochimaru possessed a complex personality that he formed after the death of his parents while he was young, along with his horror for Tsunade losing Nawaki, her younger brother, and later shedding tears when she lost Dan, made Orochimaru disdain the fragility of human life and how it affected those still living, which led him to desire immortality.

To that end, the primary purpose of Orochimaru's human experimentation is to test what modifications the human body can endure and harness a subject's unique abilities for himself.

Once accomplishing this goal, Orochimaru had hoped to be worthy of the title of "ultimate being", unable to die and able to achieve his secondary goal to learn every ninja technique in the world, which would normally take many lifetimes to obtain.

And that all brought him into the situation happening a few years back. In his quest to get stronger, live longer, and master all the ninjutsu in existence, he stumbled upon a peculiar technique.

That technique binds the soul of a deceased person to a living vessel, restoring them as they were when they were alive in order to do their summoner's bidding.

The technique was called "Summoning: Worldly Resurrection", and it was considered a kinjutsu, declared as such by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, its own creator. Kinjutsu are techniques that have been banned from being taught or used.

But, despite being banned, the mere use of these techniques generally does not carry any legal consequences with respect to the village they're used in, except those brought on by the techniques themselves.

However, their use is heavily frowned upon, especially those techniques that violate nature.

That was also a big part of the reason why the majority of Konoha's general populace currently disliked and even condemned him. Practicing this technique, obviously requires some actual human remains, and where could they be easily found? At Konoha's cemetery, of course!

But, how could a usual civilian from Konoha find about someone messing with their graveyards, and excavating corpses silently, in the night? Someone must've leaked it, of course, someone from the high-level, who was privy to that kind of information.

And after a year of hard deliberating, Orochimaru finally found who it was!

It was his own sensei, Hiruzen Sarutobi, also known as the Third Hokage.

As Orochimaru's nature gradually changed over time, Hiruzen also grew more, and more, dissatisfied with him.

Whether, it was because he didn't like his new-found cold and amoral personality, or it was simply because Orochimaru couldn't be so easily controlled anymore, no one knew.

Orochimaru still wasn't sure to this day, if Hiruzen Sarutobi even delivered him that technique on a silver platter, covertly, just so he could demonize him with it later.

It was evident that Hiruzen started grooming the young brat, Minato Namikaze, as his next successor, instead of his own 'favorite' disciple. But, for what reasons?

Maybe he just thought that Orochimaru now was too cold and indifferent for the position of the Hokage. That he would put his own selfish needs in front of the overall well-being of every Konoha citizen.

Or then again, maybe, just because he couldn't control him later on, from the shadows, like he obviously could young and inexperienced, extremely idealistic, Minato Namikaze.

'Judging by my plentiful interactions with him before, I would say it's the second...'

'It's really no wonder that Orochimaru rebelled, and even came back for revenge, later, after so many years!'

'I can imagine, just how wronged, and betrayed he must've felt in his heart, later, for this...'

Yoshi thought in a daze after Takumi finally finished his story.

"So, do you believe in our sincerity, now?" Takumi asked after finally catching a breath.

"Yeah, so that means that Orochimaru will use those plans we discussed before, to earn enough reputation and merits on this front so that Konoha's high-level and civilians can't overlook him when deciding for the next Hokage, is that it?" Yoshi nodded and suddenly asked all in one go.

"Yes, that is precisely so. Do you now agree to be our ally?" Takumi asked a bit expectingly.

Yoshi just nodded his head while thinking happily, 'It's finally time for me to get that technique!'

He doesn't doubt that if he asked now, Orochimaru would share it with him, in the face of their alliance, and him doing Orochimaru a large favor in that future operation in Kumo.

'Father, Mother, I can't wait to see you again and show you all of my progress...'

'It's been so long...'

And while he was thinking about all of that, Takumi suddenly opened his mouth hesitatingly, bringing Yoshi out of his stupor, "Yoshi, do you know about Hyuga's curse seal?"

"Yeah, I know about it," Yoshi answered honestly while glancing at Takumi who was now subconsciously holding his forehead with his right hand.

The cursed seal is used by the Hyuga clan in order to protect their Kekkei Genkai, the Byakugan.

Members of the clan's main house brand members of the clan's branch house with the cursed seal so that, when they die, their Byakugan will be sealed away, preventing its secrets from being learned by enemies.

The cursed seal can also be used by the main house to discipline branch house members: if the main house member uses a special hand seal, the branch house member will experience intense pain, discouraging them from disobeying the main house again.

"So..." Takumi started speaking hesitatingly again, but Yoshi stopped him quickly.

"I know what you want to ask, Takumi, and I will help you!" Yoshi said firmly and continued.

"I'll help you get rid of that curse seal that's been plaguing you for years!"

Takumi looked at him astonished like he was looking at his life savior. But, he already understood that there's no free lunch in this world, so he asked again expectingly, "And what do I have to do?"

"Nothing, for now, I'll call you in the future if I need your help on fighting some strong enemies."

"Of course, Yoshi, that's nothing!"

Takumi replied quickly, feeling extremely overjoyed at the moment.

His master Orochimaru could teach him ninjutsu, scientific knowledge, but even he, couldn't do anything about that peculiar Hyuga clan's curse mark.

And, who is the better one to crack that seal, other than the most talented person in the whole Uzumaki clan's history, Yoshi Uzumaki?

"Alright, let me see it, already!"

- - -

Later that day, Takumi was running through a vast forest quickly. His destination was the notorious Ryuichi Cave, whose coordinates he was currently holding in his hand. He was also thinking about many things on his way there.

Such as his current chances for succeeding in learning the Sage Mode this time. He already knew that his own master Orochimaru failed in it, expecting him to surely fail as well.

But Takumi thought instead that his chances this time were quite good. That was because he knew something that his master didn't. It was his continuous augmenting of his own body on a cellular level for many years before.

Sometime recently, he realized that his Byakugan awakened a really extraordinary and precious ability. It was the ability to see things on a microscopic level. Allowing him to fully tap into his own body cell's systems, increasing his physical vitality part of his overall chakra reserves, massively.

After the Ninja Academy, while searching for his own way, he was recruited by Danzo to enter his Root forces. There, he showed exceptional talent, climbing through ranks very fast.

Later, after Orochimaru joined the Root as well, researching various things together with Danzo, they became acquainted. Orochimaru even accepted him as his only personal disciple sometime later.

In fact, at the moment he was tasked by Orochimaru to send something to Danzo. Something which was the right arm, all the previously harvested Sharingan, were directly transplanted on.

Shin is one of Orochimaru's experimental test subjects and followers who possess a unique genetic make-up that allowed for tissue and organ transplantation with absolutely no chance of rejection.

His right arm was prepared for Danzo. Orochimaru wanted to give that arm to Danzo, in hopes of latter supporting him to the position of the Hokage after his Kumo plan finishes successfully.

Takumi decided to deliver that specially-sealed peculiar arm only after he finishes with his expedition to the Ryuichi Cave, "Yoshi, don't break your promise, I'll now try to get even stronger to help you fight your enemies in the future, so you don't forget to crack that damned seal soon!"

- - -

If you truly appreciate my efforts in writing chapters this long, and my really thoughtful writing style, then consider supporting me on the P-atreon right now!

The link is the first one in my fanfic's main page, in the story's synopsis!

You can get advanced chapters of the same length there, starting from the upcoming Monday, and you can even participate in the future polls I make there for deciding on my next fanfics there!

You can join now, the payment is monthly, either way, so you won't lose anything by joining now, instead of on the coming Monday!

Thanks for supporting me, and all the best! <3