Chapter 324 - Cap 302: Weeds Never Die

* * * [Valley of the End, Unknown Cave] * * *

Slowly, a pale man opened his tired eyes as he surveyed his surroundings, only to notice how the place was dark and damp. He could only frown in irritation as he felt the strength drain from his body.

Slowly, he surveyed his body, only to feel the anger and hatred grow to unimaginable levels.

"My body, my research, everything... They took everything from me!" - The man roared in fury as he felt his pulse increase considerably.

"You'd better calm down, Orochimaru-sama" - said a male voice as he walked in his direction, revealing the silhouette of a young man of about 18 years old with blue hair, pale skin, and snake-like eyes.

"Mitsuki... How long do you think I can hold out without being able to seize a body?" - The shattered Orochimaru asked as he looked at his first successful cloning attempt. Mitsuki had not only been a result of his DNA but also Kabuto's and a woman with good genes, so you could say that instead of a clone, he was like his son, a pity he couldn't release him sooner because his genetic code was still not stable and had only managed to activate as an emergency protocol.

"About a month, father" - Mitsuki answered seriously - "And your power level is currently that of a Jonin..."

"Shit!" - Orochimaru roared, just to calm himself down because he knew that if he didn't, things wouldn't end well for him.

"But there is a slight inconvenience, father" - said Mitsuki. The bad news still wasn't over for the Renegade Sannin, it seemed.

"Speak..." - Orochimaru said neutrally.

"You can't take a body in your current state. No, it's better to say that it's not recommended..." - Mitsuki answered seriously.

"What do you mean?" - Orochimaru asked with a frown because he couldn't make out what he was trying to say - "Wait... How could I possibly not manage to understand!"

Orochimaru came to a realization, his mind was almost completely blank outside a few details - "No! It's impossible! Impossible, impossible, impossible!"

Orochimaru went into a deep state of denial as he continued to search through his memories, only to feel as if he was staring into a deep dark abyss - "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"As you may have already noticed, your soul, as well as your memories, have been critically damaged" - Mitsuki said while looking at his father - "Your soul was already a bit unstable after devouring the souls of those who you seized control of their body, but now that you received that massive damage both physically, and spiritually, your soul is on the verge of breaking..."

". . ." - Orochimaru gritted his teeth in fury as he coldly recalled those responsible for causing his downfall because it was impossible not to when their faces were scarred deep within his psyche - "Akatsuki.... Uchiha Obito... Black Zetsu... Namikaze Menma..."

Orochimaru's hatred was so deep that he had pushed aside his logical line of thinking - "It doesn't matter, I want you to bring a Jonin capable and compatible enough for my body, because if I'm going to die, then I'll take those three bastards with me to hell..."

The Sannin no longer cared about surviving because he knew very well that his end was near, so he only focused on one goal, kill the ones responsible for his current state and ruin their plans in the most sadistic way possible.

"Ok, I'm going to do it..." - Mitsuki said as he nodded with concern - "But are you sure, father?"

"More sure impossible" - replied Orochimaru fiercely - "My hatred for Konoha and the Uzumaki clan doesn't even compare to 1% with the hatred I feel for those three sons of bitches who not only ruined my dreams but also my future..."

". . ." - Mitsuki nodded weakly as he saw how his father was showing a side he had never seen before - "Is there anything else you wish for?"

"Yes..." - Orochimaru replied as a cold smile appeared on his face - "I want you to go to Uzu no Kuni, more specifically speaking to the Uzumaki Shrine and make contact with Uzumaki Kurama. I want you to tell him about my situation and my d.e.s.i.r.e to obtain a Shinigami no Kamen, so I can bring back some old acquaintances..."

"The odds of Uzumaki Kurama killing me are 80%, father, I don't think I can complete that mission..." - Mitsuki replied with a mixture of doubt and fear because despite being an artificially created life, he still had emotions and the d.e.s.i.r.e to continue to exist.

"Relax, I'm sure he will give you the mask with open arms if you give this to him" - replied Orochimaru while indicating him to open a compartment that was hidden in the cave - "I hid this in this place because I knew that one day it would be useful, although I never thought it would be so soon..."

Mitsuki slowly opened the compartment, only to see a necklace with a red spiral-shaped emblem - ". . ."

"That's the Uzumaki Medallion that I managed to get by mere luck, an artifact that proves the friendship of the Uzumaki clan" - Orochimaru said neutrally - "According to what I managed to find out, that medallion serves to collect a favor from the Uzumaki clan, so Uzumaki Kurama won't put up much resistance after observing that you have it in your possession."

"OK... I'll go after I complete your first order, father" - said Mitsuki as he disappeared from the place, leaving an enraged Renegade Sannin unable to do anything to calm his inner rage.

* * * * *

Kurama was sitting silently watching the night sky when his expression changed to one of absolute neutrality - "It's a surprise to see you in front of me, Uchiha Obito, although I would have preferred you to do it with your real face and not using the corpse of someone who is important to me..."

"Believe me if I appeared in front of you with my true self right now, I would end up dead before I could even say anything" - Obito replied while using Yugito's body. She had a cold smile on her face as her Rinnegan glowed with mischief - "But well, I didn't come to talk about that, but to offer you a deal that I'm sure you won't want to pass up."

"Just talk before I do something I don't wish to..." - Kurama said as he began to release his chakra with hatred in his gaze.

"It's simple, don't join the battle as you have done before and as a reward, I will bring back this woman, after all, she has no other use besides being your collar" - replied Yugito with a smile - "Tell me... What do you think of the plan?"

Kurama frowned when he heard this as he looked at the controlled body of his sister's Jinchuriki.

"There's going to be an attack in the middle of the night, if you don't participate, then I'll take it as if you accepted my deal" - Yugito said before disappearing from the place.

Kurama was silent for a few seconds before thinking about all the possible solutions for his situation. He could try his best to catch Yugito, but there was a problem called Kamui. Kushina had tried to create a Seal powerful enough to be able to stop that technique, but she still couldn't find the last piece to complete the seal formula, leaving the technique without enough power to be able to block the Sharingan's Space-Time Technique.

Kurama quickly shook his head, only to frown when he felt a strange disturbance in the House of Masks, or better known as the Uzumaki Shrine where they kept the Shinigami no Kamen, so he teleported without a second thought, only to notice how a light blue-haired man with a slightly familiar appearance was standing in front of him.

The red-haired man only looked at the intruder for a few seconds with a frown, just to smell a familiar scent - "Orochimaru..."

"I am not my father" - the intruder replied seriously as he looked at the man who had appeared out of nowhere - "It is a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to be able to stand in your presence, Uzumaki Kurama-sama"

"Father..." - Kurama muttered as he narrowed his eyes.

"I am an artificially created human thanks to the DNA of father, Kabuto-sama, and an unknown woman" - replied Mitsuki calmly - "My name is Mitsuki, it's a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e."

"I see... although that doesn't explain why one of Orochimaru's creations is here" - said Kurama seriously - "More so when he's supposedly dead..."

"As you may have noticed with my presence, my father is still alive, although his state is not the best" - replied Mitsuki while shaking his head - "We have estimated that he won't be able to live for more than a month even if he takes possession of a different body..."

"That's the first good news I have received in the last few days" - said Kurama sarcastically - "Now speak, spawn of the traitor, tell me what you need from Uzu before I wipe you out of existence."