Naruto: Kurotsuchi Mayuri

Konoha Hidden Village.

Technology Development Department.

Orochimaru, wearing the Hokage robe, stared at the sealing device that held the Ryūmyaku vein's energy core, his eyes gleaming with fascination.

"So this is the Ryūmyaku vein power mentioned in the mission report? The one that can travel through time and space?"

"Yes." Standing behind Orochimaru, Kagetsu looked at the crystal stone glowing with a purple light and replied.

"You're not even a little tempted by the power of the Ryūmyaku vein, Kagetsu?"

Orochimaru shifted his gaze from the seal and turned to look at Kagetsu, asking with curiosity.

The power to travel through time and space... 

Who wouldn't be tempted by such energy?

"Sensei, I knew you'd be interested in the power of the Ryūmyaku vein." 

Kagetsu met Orochimaru's eyes and raised his eyebrows slightly, as if he had already expected this reaction from the moment Orochimaru learned the Ryūmyaku vein had time-traveling properties.

"Of course I'm tempted! If given the chance, who wouldn't want to go back in time and fix their regrets?"

There were only the two of them in the room, so Orochimaru spoke frankly. 

Walking this path, he had far too many things he wished he could change—so many regrets burned into his memory.

"You wouldn't actually do it." 

Kagetsu looked at Orochimaru seriously and shook his head.

"You sound so certain! Do you really trust me that much? I'm not exactly known for being trustworthy," Orochimaru said with a smile at Kagetsu's confident tone.

"What would you want to change by going back to the past?" Kagetsu asked in return. 

But before Orochimaru could respond, he continued.

"Do you want to save your parents? Or bring back Nawaki? Or is it something else?"

Orochimaru's expression froze.

"To achieve this, we already have better ways. Besides, haven't you already let go of many things in your heart?

In other words, sensei, you've just taken the position of the Fourth Hokage. Are you really planning to abandon that responsibility and return to the past just to chase after some vague regrets?

Even if you could go back, are you sure you can fix those regrets? Or even change anything at all? Time and space are complicated. Who knows? You might end up in a completely different world."

Kagetsu stepped forward, standing in front of the seal that held the core crystal of the Ryūmyaku vein, and said softly, "Besides, the power of the Ryūmyaku vein has just been stabilized. It's incomplete now. It would be very difficult to use it to travel through time."

"Really?" Orochimaru smiled meaningfully and replied, "If the Ryūmyaku vein is a natural energy formed from the power of the earth, then unless the earth's natural energy is completely exhausted, the energy you take will eventually return.

It's only a matter of time. Using that excuse to fool me—don't you think you're underestimating me?"

Kagetsu didn't say anything more.

Orochimaru was also silent for a moment. Then, as he turned to leave, he said, "Don't worry. It was just a moment of temptation.

I've already stepped out of the shadow in my heart and seen a wider world. If I wanted to run back to the past to fix everything every time I faced a setback or regret, that would be no better than drinking poison to quench thirst."

Unless the world comes to a standstill, as long as you're still alive and can think, more regrets and setbacks will always be waiting ahead.

Are you saying that when the time comes, I should keep traveling through time again and again just to fix things?

If time-space had a will of its own, it would probably try to erase me by now.

What has already happened—established history—is the unchangeable past. The only thing we can chase and change is the future.

But you mentioned wanting to work with Sunagakure using the power of the Ryūmyaku vein. I'd like to hear your plan."

The two of them walked away from the Technology Development Department, heading down the street toward the Hokage's office while greeting the villagers who called out to them.

Even though Orochimaru had only recently taken over the Hokage position, there was already a noticeable change in his demeanor.

The usual cold and gloomy aura he carried had lightened considerably. Even he, who was known for keeping a straight face, responded to the villagers' enthusiasm with a faint smile.

It wasn't the same warm presence that Minato Namikaze had, but for those who knew him well, it was still quite surprising.

"Money," Kagetsu said softly, revealing the core of his plan.

"Money? You mean by taking on missions from Sunagakure?" Orochimaru frowned. "Aren't they already barely keeping themselves together?

I heard the Daimyo of the Land of Wind is planning to cut Sunagakure's military budget and instead assign those funds to Konohagakure of the Land of Fire, to hire our shinobi for missions.

If we keep pushing forward, Sunagakure might reach its breaking point."

"The desert environment of the Land of Wind makes them heavily dependent on other countries for basic supplies, like food and lumber.

But at the same time, they also have unique resources of their own.

We can begin by working together step-by-step, and eventually tie Sunagakure completely to Konoha's interests," Kagetsu replied.

"You mean we supply them with food, and in return they give us resources that Konoha needs?" Orochimaru asked, thinking it through. "The problem is—what does Sunagakure have that's worth Konoha's attention?"

In Orochimaru's mind—or rather, in the minds of all previous Hokage—the harsh environment of the Land of Wind had always seemed too barren to be worth conquering.

Even in Sunagakure, the village hidden in the Land of Wind, every generation of Kazekage had one goal — break through limitations and search for resources outside their land, even if it meant starting wars.

After all, out of the Five Great Nations, the Land of Wind was the poorest. And naturally, the poorest ninja village was in the Land of Wind too.

If Sunagakure hadn't always set its sights on the rich lands of the Land of Fire, constantly scheming to infiltrate Konoha, the Hokage of each generation would have preferred to avoid war with them altogether.

"Poisons, minerals, and their unique puppet techniques."

Kagetsu understood very well — in the current ninja world, everyone focused on how to use ninjutsu for combat. No one even considered using it for things like improving productivity or building society.

Even if someone had such a thought, the harsh environment of the shinobi world wouldn't allow it. And even if they wanted to try, they couldn't pull it off. For over a thousand years, there seemed to be a powerful force deeply rooted in the hearts of all ninja.

Kagetsu even believed that even if he exposed the truth behind this mindset, very few would respond or try to change their way of thinking.

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