Kabuto Yakushi might seem unimpressive at first glance, having been defeated by Naruto multiple times. But the truth was that he had never really been serious in those battles. In terms of strength, Kabuto was on par with Kakashi. He was also a genius spy who had infiltrated all Five Great Nations at various points in time.
In later arcs, Kabuto became an even greater force, transforming into "Sage Kabuto." He fought against the Uchiha brothers, Itachi and Sasuke, alone, and although he was eventually defeated, few in the ninja world could stand against the combined might of the two.
By the time Kabuto achieved Sage Mode, he had surpassed even Orochimaru, who had never mastered this technique. In the entire history of the ninja world, fewer than a handful had ever reached such heights of power, including Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage.
"It seems you know of me," Kabuto said, catching the surprise in Daniel's eyes upon seeing him. Kabuto's true identity was known to very few, with Orochimaru being one of the only people who fully understood him. So for this stranger, whom Kabuto had never met, to recognize him so easily was both puzzling and concerning.
"Of course. You're Orochimaru's trusted right-hand man, Kabuto Yakushi. It's hard not to know about you," Daniel responded with a knowing smirk. After all, Orochimaru rarely placed his full trust in anyone, not even with those like Kimimaro or Guren, who were willing to offer their bodies to him. Kabuto, however, was different. Orochimaru trusted him completely.
Likewise, Kabuto viewed Orochimaru as his anchor, his goal in life. That's why, after Sasuke killed Orochimaru, Kabuto went to great lengths to acquire Orochimaru's powers through the White Snake's DNA.
Having knowledge of these details gave Daniel a tremendous advantage over Kabuto. In most other worlds, Daniel would have been more cautious about revealing sensitive information. But in the world of Naruto, he had little to fear in that regard.
"Well, I'm honored," Kabuto replied with a calm, almost gentle smile as he adjusted his rectangular glasses.
Kabuto didn't actually need glasses. Few ninjas suffered from poor eyesight, though the Uchiha were a notable exception. The glasses were merely a prop to make him seem more harmless, much like a certain "good-hearted" captain known for hiding his true nature.
"Would you like to resurrect Nonō Yakushi?" Daniel asked.
Crack.
Kabuto's fingers instantly crushed the bridge of his glasses. In that moment, his eyes gleamed with a sharp, murderous intent so intense that it caused Sasuke to shiver involuntarily.
Having walked alongside Orochimaru through countless killings, Kabuto's killing intent was something Sasuke could hardly withstand.
Kabuto had once been a kind-hearted person. But in the brutal world of Naruto, good-hearted people often met tragic fates. Through Danzo's manipulations, Kabuto had been forced to fight and ultimately kill his own adoptive mother, Nonō Yakushi.
This traumatic event had profoundly changed Kabuto.
"Why did Nonō Yakushi attempt to assassinate you? Why didn't she recognize you at that moment? Have you ever thought about why?" Daniel's words struck directly at the heart of Kabuto's deepest trauma. Nonō's failure to recognize him had been one of the biggest blows to Kabuto's psyche, as he had recognized her immediately. The realization that she didn't know him anymore had devastated him.
Her final question—asking Kabuto who he was before she died—was one of the key reasons Kabuto had spiraled into darkness.
"Why?" Kabuto's voice was now icy cold.
For years, Kabuto had believed that Nonō had simply forgotten him, that she had erased him from her memories.
"It was because of Danzo. He gradually replaced your photos with those of other people, showing them to Nonō over time. That's why she didn't recognize you. As for the assassination mission, that was Danzo's last task for her. The reward for completing it was your freedom. He promised that once the mission was over, both of you could leave the life of espionage behind and return to the orphanage to live normal lives together. But she had no idea that the mission itself was a trap, designed by Danzo to force you into a deadly confrontation."
"Danzo," Kabuto growled, his face twisting with rage. It took him a long time, and several deep breaths, to regain his composure.
"And why should I believe you?" Kabuto asked, his voice calm once again, but his eyes still gleaming with suspicion.
"Whether you believe me or not is your choice. I'm simply sharing what I know," Daniel replied. In the world of Naruto, few figures were as notorious for scheming and manipulation as Danzo and Zetsu.
"If you want proof, why don't you use the Reanimation Jutsu to summon Nonō Yakushi? Ask her yourself. Or, if you prefer, confront Danzo directly."
"Anyway, it looks like the others are back. Let's go see Orochimaru," Daniel said as he noticed Zabuza and Haku returning. Without waiting for Kabuto's response, he stood up.
"Follow me," Kabuto said after taking a few more deep breaths to calm himself. His expression returned to its usual calm demeanor.
---
"Quite the gloomy place. I almost forgot how much snakes love these kinds of environments," Daniel remarked as they descended into a dark, underground passage in a secluded valley. The dim lighting only added to the eerie atmosphere.
Normally, Kabuto might have bantered in response, but his thoughts were preoccupied with the revelations about Nonō Yakushi. If not for the need to escort Daniel's group to Orochimaru, Kabuto would have preferred to find a quiet place to collect his thoughts.
"This is quite the lineup," Daniel observed as they entered a large underground hall. Orochimaru sat at the head, flanked by two figures: Kimimaro, the white-haired ninja with two red dots on his forehead, and Guren, the green-clad kunoichi with the Crystal Release kekkei genkai. Both were formidable fighters, and Guren had been Orochimaru's top candidate for a new vessel before Sasuke entered the picture.
Kimimaro, despite his mastery of the Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse), suffered from a terminal illness that even Orochimaru couldn't cure. Guren's Crystal Release put her next in line, but Sasuke's sudden arrival bumped her down the list.
Beyond those present in the room, Daniel could sense four more powerful individuals lurking nearby—undoubtedly the Sound Four. With Kabuto present as well, Orochimaru had gathered nearly all his top lieutenants, save for Jugo.
"What business do you have with me?" Orochimaru asked, casting a brief glance at Kabuto as he spoke. The change in Kabuto's demeanor had not escaped Orochimaru's notice.
"Collaboration," Daniel replied bluntly. "I know you have an interest in studying all of the ninja world's jutsu."
"Collaboration? Oh? I'm curious. What kind of collaboration?" Orochimaru's interest was piqued. Many sought partnerships with him, but most simply coveted his power.
"Collaboration in research," Daniel elaborated. "I know things that most people do not. For instance, I know that your desire for immortality isn't about something as trivial as ruling the ninja world. You want eternal life so that you can study and master all the jutsu in existence. A human lifespan is simply too short to accomplish such a goal. Only by becoming immortal can you truly achieve that."
"You understand me quite well," Orochimaru responded, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. Not many, including his own teacher, the Third Hokage, had ever truly grasped Orochimaru's motivations.
The horrors of the shinobi world had left deep scars on many. For Itachi, witnessing the brutalities of war at a young age had shaped his desire for peace, even if it meant massacring his own clan. Jiraiya had spent his life searching for a way to end the cycle of violence, ultimately placing his hopes in a so-called "Child of Prophecy."
Orochimaru, however, had been deeply affected by the fragility of life, particularly after the death of Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki.
"But you must know that working with me isn't something that comes easily," Orochimaru continued, hinting that Daniel needed to prove his worth if he wanted a partnership.
"Of course. I'm well aware," Daniel responded. Orochimaru was a dangerous individual—still very much the ruthless villain at this point in time. Negotiating with someone like him required one to be on equal footing, or risk being betrayed.
That was the fundamental rule of negotiations in the ninja world: without leverage, there was no reason for the other party to engage. Even Naruto's famed "talk no jutsu" only worked after he had beaten his opponents into submission.
"Is this enough?" Daniel asked, vanishing from Orochimaru's sight in an instant. Orochimaru's pupils constricted. Despite his vast experience and having witnessed countless powerful ninjas in action, including the legendary Six Paths of Pain, Orochimaru had never seen someone move this fast.
Bang! Bang!
Before Orochimaru could react, two bodies were flung to the floor at his feet. He looked down to see that they were Kimimaro and Guren, both of whom had been knocked unconscious without even realizing what had happened
.
Kimimaro and Guren were both elite jonin-level fighters. But even with their immense strength, they hadn't been able to react in time before being taken down. Orochimaru himself would have struggled to accomplish such a feat, perhaps only individuals like Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju, or Pain could achieve this.
"Is this enough?" Daniel asked, his tone casual. He had never intended to approach Orochimaru without leverage. If he hadn't been confident in his strength, he would have sought out another means to achieve his goals, such as through Konoha's resources.
"Of course," Orochimaru replied, regaining his composure. However, if one looked closely, there was a flicker of unease in his eyes. Daniel's demonstration had made it clear that he could kill Orochimaru at any moment if he so desired. Even with his ability to reincarnate, Orochimaru had no interest in dying meaninglessly.
"Someone as powerful as you... It's strange that I've never heard of you before," Orochimaru mused. "Why is that?"
"I'm not from this world," Daniel replied, smiling.
"Not from this world?" Orochimaru repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"This world is vast. Surely you don't believe that only the ninja world exists? What lies beyond the ocean? Do you know?" Daniel asked, chuckling to himself. The technological development in the world of Naruto was bizarre. Ninja academies taught students about the Earth and the Moon, and the existence of outer space was common knowledge. They had electricity, televisions, computers, air conditioners, refrigerators, and even movie stars, like Princess Yukie of the Land of Snow, who was also a famous actress.
They even had walkie-talkies, though strangely, no telephones or cell phones. Most people still traveled by foot or by horse-drawn carriage, as bicycles and cars didn't seem to exist.
"I see. So, you're from beyond the ninja world," Orochimaru said, finally understanding. He didn't question Daniel's claim, as it was the most logical explanation for why someone with such strength was unknown to the ninja world. If Daniel had been active within the ninja world, there was no way he could have stayed under the radar.
"The other side of the ocean? No, I don't know what's there," Orochimaru admitted. Few in the ninja world had ever shown much interest in what lay beyond their borders. They weren't scholars or explorers, after all. Most ninjas stayed within their villages and rarely ventured outside, let alone across the sea.
There were no "great treasures" waiting beyond the horizon in this world.
In terms of ambition, most figures in the ninja world were fairly small-minded. Danzo and the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, were certainly ambitious, but their goals were always limited to becoming the leader of their respective villages. Few had the audacity to dream of becoming the daimyo of a country.
True ambition, like that of a ruler such as Qin Shi Huang, was far more rare. Qin Shi Huang had once seen unifying China as his ultimate goal, but now, that was only the beginning for him.
"You are indeed powerful," Daniel praised after witnessing the technological wonders of Orochimaru's lab. Despite being ruthless, Orochimaru's cutting-edge experiments were undeniably impressive.
Orochimaru's lab contained an array of biological research projects, many of which centered around fusing human and animal DNA. Most of Orochimaru's experiments revolved around two primary areas: the development of cursed seals and the integration of animal powers into humans.
However, it was clear that Orochimaru hadn't yet perfected these techniques, as many of his test subjects were left disfigured or mutated. One example was Mizuki, the former Konoha teacher who had tricked Naruto into stealing the scroll of forbidden jutsu. Mizuki had undergone an early version of Orochimaru's experiments, fusing his DNA with that of a tiger.
But the process was far from perfect. While Mizuki gained tremendous strength, his body mutated, and his lifespan was dramatically shortened, leaving him as a broken, dying old man by the end of his arc.
Many worlds had attempted similar experiments with humans and animals. The Marvel universe had its own share of genetic splicing, as did the world of Akame ga Kill.
In truth, the most successful examples of such experiments were probably the artificial Zoan-type Devil Fruits in One Piece, which perfectly integrated animal abilities with humans.
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