Naruto helped Orochimaru set up the recovered experimental equipment.

"Though it's a bit rudimentary, I now have my own lab in the Rain Village."

Standing in front of the lab, Orochimaru, dressed in pristine white, stood beside Naruto.

"Naruto-kun, in my absence, Myoshin has already made a mark in the ninja world..."

"As a starting battle, it was so-so..."

Naruto said nonchalantly, noticing the dark red ring with the kanji for 'Sky' on Orochimaru's left pinky finger.

The ring was Orochimaru's former Akatsuki alias. After leaving Akatsuki, he kept the severed left hand and the ring in a lab. This time, he retrieved the ring, signifying his commitment to Myoshin.

In the tower's meeting room, Naruto sat down and asked directly, "Orochimaru, do you have any of Itachi's biological material?"

Orochimaru, intrigued, replied, "Yes, I collected some during his youth. What do you plan to do, Naruto-kun?"

Naruto's eyes darkened under his mask. "Try to reincarnate him using the Impure World Reincarnation."

Orochimaru said, "That's not difficult, but I need a 'living sacrifice'..."

"Wait a moment."

Naruto stood up and disappeared, returning shortly with a man whose eyes were vacant.

Naruto never harmed innocent people, past, present, or future. This man was a remnant of Hanzo's faction who tried to infiltrate the village during Naruto's Lightning Release training. Naruto spared him for this purpose.

"Heh heh... how convenient!"

Orochimaru smiled, setting up the ritual on the spot. He placed Itachi's biological material and the living sacrifice in the ritual, his long hair flowing as he formed hand seals.

—Forbidden Jutsu: Impure World Reincarnation!

However... the jutsu didn't activate!

Orochimaru frowned, lowering his hands. "There are two possibilities: either Itachi is still alive, or he's already in the state of Impure World Reincarnation..."

Naruto wasn't surprised. "So it's true, Kabuto has already started his actions..."

Orochimaru said, "Kabuto, I see."

Naruto rested his chin on his hand, gazing at the rain outside the tower, deep in thought.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Itachi had implanted a crow in me, equipped with Shisui's Kotoamatsukami in its left eye. Itachi wrote a genjutsu named 'Protect Konoha' in that eye, triggered by seeing Itachi's eyes. This was meant for Sasuke, anticipating his revenge on Konoha and the need to transplant Itachi's eyes for eternal light. To stop Sasuke, I would inevitably fight him.

In my past life, I knew nothing of this. Encountering Itachi's Impure World Reincarnation, I accidentally triggered the jutsu, freeing Itachi from Kabuto's control.

Unlike the last encounter with Sasuke in the Land of Iron, Sasuke should have already transplanted Itachi's eyes.

So, the next time I face Sasuke and make eye contact, the crow inside me will respond, and Kotoamatsukami will activate on Sasuke.

Naruto clenched his fist.

But 'Sasuke' is someone I refuse to control with genjutsu.

So I want to eliminate this obstacle as soon as possible.

But as expected, there are many hurdles.

Oh well, Akatsuki's plans are extensive and won't be completed quickly. I'll find another way when the time comes.

Orochimaru watched Naruto in deep thought, thinking: Naruto-kun's thoughts are hard to read, but if something troubles him this much, it must involve Sasuke. Their entanglement is something I'm very interested in...

"Let's put Itachi's matter aside for now." Naruto's words brought Orochimaru back to reality.

Rustle, rustle, rustle...!

Konan wrapped the living sacrifice in paper and took him away.

Orochimaru also put away Itachi's biological material.

Naruto pushed a wooden box towards Orochimaru...

Thud, thud, thud...!!

The box rattled continuously.

Orochimaru opened it, revealing Hidan's head, glaring with wide eyes, ready to bite.

Naruto said, "Orochimaru, can you create a new body for him, retaining his original abilities?"

Hidan: "I'll bite you all!!"

Orochimaru smiled. "That's easy. Though his body is just a head, his soul is intact. I've studied the 'Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood' for a long time. The curse involves the soul, and the body is just a medium..."

Hidan: "I hate soil and darkness, let me out!!"

Naruto said, "How long will it take?"

Hidan: "Kakuzu, where are you!!"

Orochimaru pondered. "About half a month."

Hidan: "Damn it, I can't feel my body!"

Naruto said, "He'll be a strong card in our hand..."

Hidan: "Don't let me stand up again, or I'll make you all sacrifices to Jashin-sama..."

Naruto frowned. "So noisy..."

Orochimaru laughed. "Agreed."

Konan said coldly, "It's been over half a month since you last used that jutsu..."

"Oh, right, I almost forgot..."

Naruto removed his mask.

Sizzle, the three-tomoe Sharingan in his right eye turned into a Mangekyo!

He lifted Hidan's head from the box.

Hidan snarled, "Blond spiky hair, what are you looking at!" Sizzle!

Naruto's right eye focused.

—Kotoamatsukami!

"Hidan, you can still worship Jashin-sama, but you must obey me first, understand?"

Hidan's expression turned fanatical. "For Naruto-sama, I'd even offer Jashin-sama's head!!!"

Sizzle!

The Mangekyo reverted to three-tomoe, and Naruto put his mask back on. "Cooperate with Orochimaru and don't cause trouble..."

Orochimaru took Hidan's now docile head, smiling. "I'll get to work, Naruto-kun..."

Naruto nodded. "Go ahead."

Orochimaru left with Hidan.

Konan said, "During your training, I completed the formation of the intelligence department. Would you like to inspect it?"

Naruto's spirits lifted. "Oh? Then let's go see it."

In the cold and solemn plaza, over a hundred Rain ninjas, their faces hidden behind masks, knelt on one knee in the rain.

Konan said, "A total of 108, all elite survivors of past harsh conditions..."

Naruto's Rinnegan scanned the crowd. These men and women, young and old, were all at Jonin level.

Naruto was deeply moved.

For a small village like the Rain, this was almost their entire strength. Konan had given him everything.

So, he had to be responsible for their lives!

"Let me see your skills..."

Whoosh! His cloak billowed as Naruto stepped forward, his Lightning Release forming a Purple Lightning armor!

"Everyone, come at me together!"