34 A new home and a new purpose

So, a human puppet truly can wield the jutsu of its former life! How utterly fascinating! Orochimaru sighed internally, his scientific curiosity piqued. One day, I will unravel the secrets of how such a magnificent creation is made! Life is so very interesting. It's all about learning. Orochimaru never forgot his personal ninja way: to learn every technique in existence and master the fundamental truths of the world. He had always worked tirelessly toward that goal.

BOOM!

In an instant, the sky above them darkened. A wave of black iron sand coalesced into countless sharp needles, raining down on the spot where Orochimaru stood. The scale of the attack was immense, and the magnetic properties of the iron sand made it impossible to dodge. It was a technique that had to be endured, but what ordinary person could withstand the lethality of Sasori's reinforced iron sand? It was a storm of near-unstoppable death.

"Pffft!"

The black needles pierced Orochimaru's body from every angle. With a wet, sickening thud, he collapsed to the ground like a grotesque pincushion, his body so thoroughly perforated that not a single patch of flesh remained unharmed.

"Hah. Is that all you had? If I had known, I would have at least let you get in a few more attacks," Sasori sneered, pulling the Kazekage puppet back to his side, a hint of pride in his voice. The legendary Sannin… he was nothing special. "This is what becomes of those who covet the secrets of the Akatsuki!"

Seeing that the battle was decided, Sasori confidently sealed the Kazekage puppet back into its scroll. "Let's go. It's over," he said, turning to Pain with a proud expression.

At that moment, Orochimaru's haunting voice echoed through the clearing. "Hehehe… to be able to create a puppet so perfect… it truly is marvelous."

"Do the other members of the Akatsuki possess abilities as interesting as yours?"

Sasori's face darkened. "Still not dead? What a persistent pest!"

"Hehehe~" Orochimaru's bloody mouth split open in a gruesome smile, and from within, a brand new, pristine Orochimaru slithered out, launching himself toward the two of them like a striking snake. Sasori, assuming he was the target, immediately fell into a defensive stance. However, Orochimaru completely ignored him, flashing past the puppet master and stretching out his palm, aiming directly for Pain's face.

The unexpected attack filled Orochimaru with confidence. "The Rinnegan is mine!" he shouted excitedly.

Pain's voice was calm, almost bored. "Hmph. Reckless."

Just as Orochimaru's fingers were about to dig into Pain's eye socket, an invisible barrier materialized between them.

"What?!" Orochimaru was shocked. "What is this power?"

Pain raised a single hand, his voice like the whisper of a cold, indifferent god. "Orochimaru, this is the punishment for your greed."

"Almighty Push!"

"Whoa!" Orochimaru was sent flying, tumbling through the air before crashing violently to the ground. His head buzzed with a concussive force, leaving him no time to even think of retaliating. Not only was he thrown back, but a huge portion of the surrounding forest was obliterated by the sheer force of the technique.

What is this jutsu? What kind of power is this? Orochimaru was stunned. The power of the Rinnegan was truly terrifying.

Pain raised his right hand, pointing his palm at the disheveled Sannin. "Orochimaru, there should be a limit to your games. You… have crossed the line."

"Haha, that's right," Orochimaru smiled awkwardly, standing up and dusting himself off. "I thought I might get lucky, but after that demonstration, I realize it will not be so easy."

"Then I will get straight to the point. I wish to join the Akatsuki. Is that possible?"

"Huh?" The Red Sand Scorpion, who had been caught in the blast, emerged from a pile of splintered wood, his voice sharp with hostility. "You… after what you just did! How dare you make such an outrageous request?"

Orochimaru replied, "As I said, I am very interested in the Akatsuki. If that is the case, would it not be easier for me to achieve my goals by simply letting me join?"

"I am very strong. My inclusion would be of great benefit to your organization."

Hearing this, the Red Sand Scorpion frowned. "You already lost to me! What gives you the right to make such bold claims?"

Orochimaru replied calmly, "Tsk tsk tsk… I was not taking our fight seriously just now. Surely you could feel that."

"Tsk!" Scorpion gritted his teeth but said no more. He knew, in his heart, that what Orochimaru said was true.

Pain closed his eyes, silent for a moment, then spoke. "Fine."

The Red Sand Scorpion was aghast. "Hey! You can't be serious about letting him join! That repulsive snake has wicked intentions! He is clearly here to steal our secrets!"

"Hmph. None of that matters," Pain stated, expressing his cold logic. "Rather than letting a dishonest man wander around and spy on us from the shadows, it is better to keep him by my side where I can watch him. He should know… as long as I am here, he can do nothing reckless."

Orochimaru said frankly, "Yes. I am well aware of that." He was speaking from the heart. After witnessing just one of Pain's techniques, he understood the immense gap in their power.

"Let's go," Pain said, turning to leave.

The Red Sand Scorpion shot a final glare at Orochimaru. "We may be colleagues in the future," he muttered, "but I want to remind you, do not speak to me casually. I hate you. You are an ugly man, with even uglier abilities!"

"Hehe…" Orochimaru paid no mind to Sasori's harsh words. His mind was already dissecting everything he had seen, everything he had learned.

I feel like I've seen that face before, he thought, his mind replaying the image of Pain. If I remember correctly, he looks like that little boy I met all those years ago…

Haha, fate is truly a fascinating thing, isn't it… Jiraiya?

At Uchiha Madara's secret base, a voice called out. "Father! I'm back!" White Zetsu, holding Shiro, emerged from the ground at Madara's feet.

"Good boy, you've finally returned. I missed you so much!" Madara hurriedly took Shiro into his arms, holding him close. Soon, more White Zetsu clones emerged from the earth like mushrooms after a spring rain. From within their bodies stepped the members of the Uchiha clan.

"Lord… Madara?"

Uchiha Fugaku immediately spotted the figure standing in the center of the cavern. Though he was old and withered, his image, his sheer presence, was unmistakably that of Uchiha Madara. Their legendary ancestor was still alive. The oppressive weight of his bloodline made Fugaku, the proud clan leader, shiver. He fought to suppress his fear. If his wife Mikoto hadn't been there, he likely would have fallen to his knees and kowtowed.

Not only Fugaku, but all the Uchiha were so frightened they dared not even breathe. They had harbored doubts when they first agreed to this. Now, the sight of the living Uchiha Madara standing before them shattered all of them.

"Lord Madara!" Uchiha Fugaku took the lead, guiding his clansmen forward. "I am the eighth head of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Fugaku. It is the greatest honor of my life to meet you today."

"It is because of my incompetence, my failure to uphold the teachings of our ancestors, that the Uchiha clan has been ostracized in Konoha, pushed into dire straits, and now faces the threat of extinction."

"We have come here today to seek refuge with you, hoping that you can lead the Uchiha to reclaim their former glory. If you have need of us, we will die for you, without a moment's hesitation!"

"Alright, spare me the pleasantries. I expect nothing from you," Uchiha Madara said, his empty eye sockets making his expression unreadable. He felt no great affection for these clansmen, despite their shared blood. He had known long ago that the Uchiha would come to this. The hostility of the village leadership had been a poison for decades. He had chosen to leave, but they had refused to follow him, their fear greater than their pride. He had failed to protect his younger brother, and he had failed to protect his clan as he had promised. But now, he had seen the truth of the world. There was no loyalty between nations, villages, or even people. There were only temporary winners and losers, all driven by self-interest. Now, he only hoped for Shiro's happiness. And, step by step, to achieve his own goals.

"Your name is Fugaku, is it not?"

"Yes, Lord Madara."

"Good. I have a task that I need you and your clansmen to carry out."

"Please, tell us."

"My son is in a crucial stage of his growth, and he requires fresh sustenance. There is a large, empty cavern nearby. You will take your clansmen… and begin farming."

"(… uhhh"

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