Naruto : I Got "Return by Death" Kind Of Cheat

Danzō had assumed Orochimaru had come to demand accountability—he was even prepared with excuses.

"All for the sake of Konoha," Danzō would claim. "I had no choice."

But to his surprise, Orochimaru said nothing about Nawaki's death. Even better—there was an unexpected gift.

Nawaki's death had stirred something in Orochimaru. He had become deeply interested in the study of life.

Danzō's raspy voice could barely hide his excitement.

"Orochimaru, among all the younger generation, you are the one I value most.

You have talent, tenacity, and relentless ambition. Yet your ceiling is capped by your lack of a bloodline limit. You're a commoner by birth, your body holds no special inheritance.

And compared to bloodlines, effort is meaningless.

I spent forty years refining Wind Release. But so what? In front of a true bloodline user, I'm crushed like paper.

You trained tirelessly in Earth Release and summoning techniques—again, so what?

You never witnessed Lord Hashirama or Uchiha Madara on the battlefield. That was what true strength looks like.

You and I—both shackled by our bodies.

But giving up isn't the ninja way. This barrier can be overcome.

Lord Tobirama had some theoretical models. Though he never implemented them, I believe they hold potential.

If you're willing to pursue the study of ninja physiology and life for the sake of the village, I'll support you with everything I have.

Tobirama's notes on transplantation, physical enhancement, and kekkei genkai—I'll give them to you tonight.

During the war, all captured enemies will become your test subjects.

Once the war ends, we can even gather volunteers from within ANBU. After all, ANBU undergo strict indoctrination—their loyalty is absolute.

And if your research shows promise, I will offer myself as your test subject.

I have materials ready for transplant, but lack the technology to proceed."

Orochimaru thought silently: Danzō must be referring to the highest-tier materials in the shinobi world.

He replied, "I want to begin research tonight."

A rare smile crept across Danzō's face.

"Then tonight I'll provide you with instruments and transfer all captives in the camp to your tent.

Ōnoki killed the Senju heir Nawaki—Konoha will retaliate.

I'll order ANBU to capture Iwa shinobi alive. All captives will go to you.

During wartime, you'll have an endless supply of test subjects. Don't worry about conserving them. Progress matters more.

However, I do want to suggest your initial research focus."

"Oh? And what would that be?"

Orochimaru was intrigued. What did Danzō want transplanted?

"Begin with ocular transplantation," Danzō said.

Orochimaru understood immediately.

Danzō's old comrade Uchiha Kagami had died mysteriously—his body never recovered.

It seemed his Sharingan now rested with Danzō.

Whether it was entrusted willingly or taken by force, who could say?

"Orochimaru, from today forward, you are the Head of the Root Research Division. Your codename is Alpha."

"Why Root and not ANBU?" Orochimaru asked.

Danzō replied, "Hiruzen won't stain his name—not even with ANBU's dirty work.

From now on, Root will shoulder all the village's darkness.

Root doesn't just train ANBU recruits. We complete missions that even ANBU can't be seen doing.

Don't worry. Hiruzen will learn of your affiliation and approve it soon enough."

Orochimaru turned and left.

Seeing Fox Squad stationed outside, Danzō called, "Fox. Come in."

Yako received a new task: escort all captives in camp to Orochimaru's tent.

Danzō also informed him that Orochimaru was now part of Root and held the authority of a division commander.

At the prisoner stockade, Yako ordered three team members to tie up five Iwa shinobi and bring them along.

These captives had already been drugged by the interrogation unit—unable to mold chakra or resist.

One of them asked fearfully, "Where are you taking us? Is this a prisoner exchange?"

Yako thought for a moment, then replied, "If I'm not mistaken, prisoner exchanges are over. From today on, Konoha won't be trading anyone."

"W-why? Why are you Leaf shinobi so cruel?"

Yako shook his head. Inwardly, he muttered, Then why didn't you kill yourself when you had the chance?

When they arrived outside Orochimaru's tent, a young boy was already waiting.

The tent flap opened, and Orochimaru stepped out, glancing at the captives first.

Through the slit in the canvas, Yako glimpsed two large tables inside, with crude surgical tools: scalpels, scissors, tweezers, drills…

The boy shouted emotionally, "Orochimaru-sensei! My condolences!

With Nawaki gone, I will train twice as hard to make up for his loss.

Please, take me as your disciple! I will never let you down!"

Orochimaru didn't seem impressed by the boy, but finally turned to him.

"Does your clan head Danzō know you're here?"

"No, I haven't seen Lord Danzō. I think he's still in the village."

This boy from the Shimura clan didn't even know Danzō was at the front.

He had taken a spot on Nawaki's team. Now that Nawaki was dead, he assumed his chance had come.

Orochimaru let out a strange laugh. "Fine. Go inside."

Then he turned to Yako.

"Bring the prisoners in. Wait outside. You'll clean up the corpses tomorrow."

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru."

Soon, agonized screams erupted from the tent.

Orochimaru frowned at the noise. Moments later, the screams abruptly stopped.

The rest of the night was filled with muffled cries and thuds. The sounds chilled the blood.

The next morning, Orochimaru stepped out into the sun.

The light cast over his pale face. He looked… satisfied. Whether with his experiment or the sunshine, no one could tell.

He waved at Fox Squad to go in and dispose of the bodies.

Six corpses.

Wait. Six?

There were only five prisoners. Who was the sixth?

The Shimura boy had been dissected.

Did Danzō know?

Should this be reported?

Yako hesitated, but decided to report it anyway.

Orochimaru wasn't his superior. But Danzō was the superior of his superior's superior.

The Iwa bodies were dragged outside the camp and burned. The Shimura boy's corpse was set aside.

Yako found Danzō and reported the boy's death.

Danzō froze, then said, "I understand."

Inwardly, Danzō muttered: To transplant eyes, sacrifices are necessary.

He and the boy shared blood. But Orochimaru hadn't acted without reason. Still, in the future, the number of Shimura test subjects would have to be limited.

Yako was stunned. That's it? That's all he had to say?

He quickly left and had the Shimura boy's corpse cremated.

As the flames consumed the body, Yako couldn't help but sigh.

Danzō was ruthless—to enemies and to his own.

And that kid… trying to play the "next Nawaki" card… what a tragic joke.

Especially those hollow eye sockets. Who knew where the eyes had gone.

Black Ape, the squad captain, had recovered well and returned to the front from the village.

"Long time no see, Fox."

"Long time no see, Captain."

Yako glanced at Black Ape's leg. The injured one was thinner than the healthy one.

Poor guy. Lost an arm, and now his leg was still messed up.

Black Ape said:

"From now on, we need at least three captured Iwa shinobi. The stronger, the better.

Fox, your team is the strongest. You'll take point.

You won't go unrewarded—I just got a Doton ninjutsu scroll for you. Choose one technique."

Yako was thrilled.

He'd completed many ANBU missions. Finally, he could claim a jutsu.

There was no fixed standard for ANBU rewards—B-rank missions didn't guarantee B-rank jutsu.

Rewarding someone often depended on their "Will of Fire." And that was entirely up to the superior's subjective judgment.

Luckily, Black Ape believed Fox's Will of Fire was like forged steel. Another superior might not agree.

Yako scanned the Doton scroll's contents.

He already had three elemental jutsu: Doton: Earth Release: Earth-Style Fish Reflection Technique, Earth-Style Substitution, and Suiton: Water Formation Wall.

He had infiltration, substitution, defense—but no offensive technique.

Then he saw a familiar name: Doton: Earth Flow Spears.

He had seen Iwa jōnin use it during the Mount Ushigakure battle.

Chakra was poured into the earth, producing sharp stone spears that could skewer enemies.

It could even strike from behind. A perfect ambush technique.

"Captain, I'll take this B-rank jutsu."

Black Ape read the name and shuddered.

"My leg was shattered in a fight against that technique. It's a good one."

He opened to the correct section of the scroll and let Yako copy it.

When Yako finished, Black Ape said, "We leave tomorrow night to hunt Iwa shinobi. Learn this technique quickly."

Yako didn't sleep. He went straight to the training field.

Why choose this jutsu? Because it required only one hand seal—the Bird seal.

Fast and deadly.

He recalled a general once said: Why aim? Just pull the trigger and shoot first. The one who fires first wins.

Same in ninja battles—one-seal jutsu beat three-seal jutsu.

"Doton: Earth Flow Spears!"

A stone spear shot from the ground and struck a training post.

Too bad. It shattered on impact. Not strong enough yet.

Still, this wasn't like a system-granted jutsu—he had to refine it manually.

He trained repeatedly, improving the spear's chakra density.

Sets of ten. Rest. Repeat.

By sunrise, his spears could pierce the post clean through.

He nodded. Good enough for real combat.

Now came the time to refine speed and strength. Precision.

A few strong jutsu were better than many weak ones.

Even Kakashi, famed for knowing a thousand techniques, mainly used just three to five.

That night, Black Ape's squad departed to capture Iwa shinobi.

They left Fire Country's forest and entered the endless plains of the Land of Grass.

Konoha ninja preferred forests. The open grasslands made them feel naked—unprotected.

Black Ape briefed the team leads:

"Homura Mitokado has returned from talks with Kumo. Kumo plans to strike Takigakure and declare war on Iwa while they're weak.

The Iwa ninja in Grass may retreat soon.

We need to move fast—before they're gone."

The Mount Ushigakure battle had turned the tide—Konoha was now on the offensive.

White Ram used his Byakugan to scout ahead.

Soon, they spotted an Iwa squad by a river.

"Four Iwa-nin. Just finished gathering water. Moving toward the two o'clock direction," White Ram reported.

"Perfect," said Black Ape. "White Ram Squad and I will attack from the center. Fox Squad and Leaf Monkey Squad, flank from both sides!"

Yellow Dog had evaluated Black Ape's recovery. Now Black Ape had to prove he was still up to the task.

Yako led his team toward the river, then jumped.

Mid-air, he felt a slight irritation in his nostrils.

Thanks to the Senju genetic enhancement, his senses were extremely acute.

He'd inhaled something faint but unpleasant.

It came from the river.

But the water looked normal.

Leaf Monkey Squad was moving fast—no time to hesitate.

Still… why did the water smell faintly caustic?

Yako pushed down his unease and pressed on.

The Iwa-nin noticed the ambush—three ANBU squads approaching from different angles.

They tried to break out.

They were strong—at least chūnin-level. Fast.

Yako channeled chakra into his arm and hurled a kunai with all his might.

With his enhanced physique, his aim and strength had improved dramatically.

The kunai skimmed over the grass and struck the last Iwa-nin in the leg.

He screamed and rolled on the ground.

His teammates left him and kept running.

"Nice shot, Fox!" Black Ape shouted.

Yako had clearly grown stronger.

Purple Cat used the Mind Body Switch Technique to immobilize the downed enemy. Antelope injected a paralytic toxin.

The Iwa-nin went limp—captured.

A dull pursuit followed.

The remaining Iwa-nin sacrificed two teammates to buy time for their captain.

Capturing live enemies was harder than killing them.

Eventually, the captain turned back toward the river.

Suddenly White Ram shouted, "It's a trap!"

They'd chased too far—beyond the Byakugan's range.

Thirty figures erupted from the river—masks unmistakable.

Ame-nin. Hidden Rain.

Apparently, after Konoha and Kumo joined forces, Iwa had brokered a deal with Hanzō.

Iwa and Ame were now allies.

The Ame-nin stormed in, gas masks on.

Then Yako remembered the faint acrid smell from the river.

Was that Ame's poison?

"Poison! Everyone, watch out!"