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The token Sasame gave Izumi—inscribed with Heaven's Mandate—was purchased with Destiny Points.
Functioning like a communication device, it activated upon chakra infusion, similar to the Rinnegan's Projection Technique.
Cost? A mere 10 points.
Emerging from Orochimaru's underground lab, Sasame found himself deep in wooded wilderness east of Konoha.
A short walk brought him to the Memorial Stone.
There, standing before Rin Nohara and Obito Uchiha's graves—
Hatake Kakashi.
"Who's there?"
The silver-haired jonin turned, spotting Sasame immediately.
"Kakashi-senpai," Sasame greeted. "Sasame, Tsunade's student."
"Ah."
Kakashi's lone visible eye crinkled. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"My parents died in the war," Sasame explained. "I'm an orphan."
"...Sorry."
Kakashi's posture softened.
"No need."
Sasame studied the headstones. "I've heard of your team's exploits. True role models."
Role models?
Kakashi's fingers twitched.
That mission had been "correct" for Konoha—yet required him to kill his own teammate.
The scars ran deep.
"My apologies," Sasame said smoothly. "I'll leave you to your thoughts."
Vanishing before Kakashi could respond, he reappeared moments later—
Just in time to witness space itself distorting.
Obito Uchiha materialized in the treeline, watching Kakashi with hollow eyes.
"Aww, reunited with your old buddy~"
A white Zetsu sprouted from the earth. "Feeling nostalgic?"
"Shut it."
Obito's voice could've frozen lava.
"Geez, after I saved your hide in Kiri?"
Zetsu pouted. "That wound nearly split you like firewood!"
Obito ignored him.
His injuries after battling that masked interloper had been severe—worse than Kannabi Bridge.
Without Zetsu's flesh grafts and Hashirama cells, he'd be dead twice over.
"Next time, I'll carve him apart."**
Zetsu changed tactics. "Why not reclaim your Sharingan? With both eyes—"
"Let Kakashi rot with that reminder."
Obito's smirk was venomous. "Besides, one eye suffices."
(Translation: I might get my ass kicked again.)
Zetsu sighed. "Itachi's movements are tracked. Ready when you are."
"Plant a spore on Kakashi first."
With that, Obito phased out of reality.
"Humans and your drama," Zetsu muttered, preparing to submerge—
Suiton: Suidanha!
Its head toppled before hitting the ground.
Sasame caught it mid-air. "Useful."
Even a Zetsu clone had research value—especially for his project with Hinata.
Combine its cells with Sharingan and Hashirama DNA?
Potential goldmine.
Now if only he could recruit Kimimaro...
Orphanage - Laboratory
"Check this out."
Sasame tossed the Zetsu head to Yakushi Kabuto, his sole scientific asset.
Kabuto blinked at the still-twitching specimen. "Is this... human?"
"Play with it."
Sasame clapped his shoulder. "How's Edo Tensei and Curse Mark research?"
"..."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "What exactly do you think I am?"
(A one-man R&D department apparently.)
Sasame coughed.
Without Orochimaru's direct tutelage, Kabuto's progress was slower.
The solution? More hands.
Two names came to mind—
Hiruko and Shinnō.
Hiruko, master of the Ghost Armor Technique, could fuse bloodlines with chakra beasts.
Shinnō? A medical genius behind two forbidden jutsu:
Physical Revival (regeneration from dismemberment)
Cellular Activation (hyper-enhanced physiology)
Paired with the Eight Gates, Shinnō could theoretically open all gates without dying.
Perfect for Tsunade.
Then there was his Dark Chakra and the pseudo-tailed beast Zero-Tails.
Walking treasure trove, this guy.
"I'll recruit you assistants soon."
(After mastering Flying Thunder God for safe globetrotting.)
Kabuto nodded, already dissecting the Zetsu with morbid fascination.
Konoha - Nightfall
Exhausted from ANBU duties, Itachi Uchiha headed home to dote on his precious otouto.
Then—in a deserted alley—space warped.
Obito's masked form emerged.
"Uchiha Mada—"
"WHERE IS SHISUI?"
Itachi's Sharingan spun violently, tomoe edges bleeding together.
Obito stiffened.
Mangekyō awakening?!
Also—what?
Since when was he responsible for Shisui's disappearance?
A lie formed on his tongue—then died.
A Mangekyō-wielding Itachi served his plans better.
"ANSWER ME!"
Itachi's killing intent spiked. Rare emotional outburst.
Three years without Shisui—his mentor, his brother in all but blood—had worn his control thin.
Obito phased backward as kunai embedded where his throat had been.
Itachi's eyes crystallized—
Three interlocking scythes swirling in crimson.
Mangekyō Sharingan: Activated.
Unseen in the shadows, Orochimaru licked his lips.
(The harvest ripens...)
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 163 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 35 power stones I will publish the next chapter.
(Give me all your power stones)