Chapter Twenty-Four: The Arrival of the Pains

Orochimaru transplanted the arm containing the cells of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, onto Naruto, and then ceased to concern himself with the matter—this chapter of events was, for the moment, concluded.

Now it was Tsunade’s turn; her task was to ensure the flawless fusion of the arm with Naruto’s body.

Orochimaru turned to Kabuto Yakushi and said, “From now on, let that Wood Release bloodline user instruct Naruto.”

Kabuto nodded in assent. Indeed, he had anticipated this. Lord Orochimaru wished for Naruto to master the Wood Release, a power that could rival the First Hokage himself.

...

Leaving the Snake’s Den, Orochimaru entered the Sound Village. The villagers were still gripped by panic after the recent attack by the two members of the Akatsuki. Unless one was of the caliber of Kimimaro or Guren, everyone else feared another assault by the Akatsuki pair.

Orochimaru’s gaze swept across the village. Everywhere he looked, the ninja of the Sound Village seemed too weak. Excluding the civilians, there were fewer than three thousand ninja in total—several times less than the great ninja villages. While their quality was arguably superior, with each being ruthless killers, they were still far inferior to the future Allied Shinobi Forces formed by the union of the four great villages.

And then there was the White Zetsu army of Akatsuki.

The Sound Village could not compare at all.

Though the Sound Village had previously destroyed the Leaf Village, it had done so by overwhelming Konoha’s elite forces and seizing the advantage of a surprise attack. In a head-on clash, toppling the Leaf would be far from easy.

That was a village renowned for producing miracles.

“Eight Gates army, Byakugan army, Sharingan army, Jinchuriki army…”

Orochimaru pondered his plans. With some modifications, he could multiply the Sound ninja’s strength several times over, eventually creating a three-way balance between the Sound Village, the Allied Shinobi Forces, and the White Zetsu army.

“But that’s still not enough.”

Orochimaru considered enabling civilians to train as well, thereby increasing the number of ninja, so that the Sound Village could overwhelm the Allied Forces and the White Zetsu army in both quantity and quality.

As he walked, Orochimaru encountered Gaara and Chiyo, returning from outside the village.

Gaara was in low spirits. Though he had tasted Deidara’s blood, it was only a little—he could not finish Deidara off.

Chiyo seemed despondent as well, even somewhat troubled. She had spoken much to Sasori during their battle, but he would not listen—she felt she had failed as a grandmother.

Upon seeing Orochimaru, Gaara acted as if he hadn’t seen him at all; he had no wish to interact with Orochimaru.

But Chiyo’s eyes widened, and in her pained gaze, a glimmer of hope appeared.

“Help me find Sasori!”

It was as if Chiyo had seized her last lifeline—she wanted to see her grandson once more.

A faint smile touched Orochimaru’s lips. “Come with me,” he said.

He led Chiyo to a room, unhurriedly poured two cups of hot water, handed one to Chiyo, and kept one for himself.

Chiyo had no appetite for hot water. She pressed, “If you help me find Sasori again, I will teach you the Reincarnation of the Self Technique!”

Orochimaru had invited her to the Sound Village precisely for this technique. Previously, she had hesitated to teach it to him, wary of its dangers—but now she no longer cared.

After seeing Sasori, her longing for him overwhelmed her. Let the shinobi world be deluged—she only wished to see her grandson again.

Orochimaru calmly swirled his steaming cup. “No need to rush. Drink some hot water. Hot water solves everything.”

Chiyo: “...”

...

Chiyo taught Orochimaru the Reincarnation of the Self Technique. She reasoned that teaching it to him would do no harm—the technique shares one’s own life to revive another. If Orochimaru used it, he would essentially be courting death.

At most, Orochimaru could teach it to those willing to die for him. If Orochimaru died, someone could revive him—nothing more.

What Chiyo did not know was that Orochimaru had long since achieved immortality.

The so-called “life force” had become a consumable energy for him. While using the technique would drain his life, he would not die, and his life force would soon recover.

Such was the effect of his “Immortal Power.”

“Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!”

Orochimaru created seven or eight shadow clones and began learning the Reincarnation of the Self Technique from Chiyo.

...

Pain stepped out of the Rain Village. The village, usually shrouded in endless drizzle, was suddenly clear.

Six bodies moved as one—each a corpse made into a puppet, each with its own title. At this moment, it was Deva Path Pain who walked.

At Pain’s side was a girl with pale blue-violet hair and light amber eyes.

Deva Path paused and looked at her. “Konan, you need go no farther.”

She gazed at him, affection hidden in her eyes. The body of Deva Path Pain was that of Yahiko, the one she loved.

“I’ll come to you. Lately, your body has been failing more and more,” Konan said.

Deva Path was silent for a moment, then shook his head. “There’s no need. I’m just retrieving the One-Tail and Nine-Tails.”

The man controlling the six Pains was named Nagato—the true body. He was growing weaker by the day, to the point where he could only move if carried by one of the Pains.

Konan had proposed to go to Nagato’s side, but he refused.

“Can’t you avoid going? I have a bad feeling,” Konan said.

The premonition was baseless, a sense of impending loss. People say a woman’s intuition is rarely wrong—she was worried.

“Don’t worry,” Deva Path replied. “There aren’t many in this world who can kill me. It’s only the One-Tail and the Nine-Tails. Before I realize Yahiko’s dream, I will not die.”

The six Pains, each wielding one of the Rinnegan’s six abilities—those eyes, once awakened, held unfathomable power. There truly weren’t many who could kill their wielder.

Konan considered this and found it reasonable. “Very well. But at the first sign of trouble, contact me immediately.”

The Akatsuki’s numbers were few; unless necessary, Konan had to remain in the Rain Village.

...

Half a month slipped by. With the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, Orochimaru mastered the Reincarnation of the Self Technique. All that remained was to await Pain’s arrival.

Orochimaru intended to resurrect a crucial figure.

During this lull, Orochimaru began researching the Blood Dragon Eye of the Chinoike clan’s Chino.

He had studied both the Sharingan and the Byakugan thoroughly, but the Blood Dragon Eye was uncharted territory.

All chakra and bloodline limits in the shinobi world originated from the Otsutsuki clan; the Blood Dragon Eye must be related to the Rinnegan.

Of course, this was only conjecture—he needed experimental proof.

While Orochimaru delved into the Blood Dragon Eye, Naruto, through the use of Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, mastered numerous Wood Release techniques.

Naruto, now matured, had shed his former innocence and clumsiness. He had become a prodigy, draining Yamato of all his Wood Release knowledge in just half a month.

Naruto’s Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu was terrifying—he could create tens of thousands of clones, each a genius in its own right, learning at a blinding pace.

At this moment, Yamato was teaching Naruto a technique he himself had yet to master—the First Hokage’s Wood Release: Wood Dragon Jutsu.

Once mastered, this technique could instantly grow a massive wooden dragon from a single seed, able to absorb the opponent’s chakra. Even the Nine-Tails, under Madara’s control, had once been suppressed by this jutsu.

It was a forbidden technique from the scroll of seals. The Third Hokage judged Naruto ready and instructed Yamato to pass it on to him.

Naruto applied himself diligently.

A few more days passed, and Pain finally arrived at the gates of the Sound Village.

Mmm-hmm~ Haha~ Hmph-hmph~...the ceremony!