Naruto: Drop System

"A perfected Edo Tensei!"

Orochimaru's entire body trembled.

His brilliant mind was processing, confirming that Yagyu's method was completely feasible.

Ever since obtaining the Eight-Headed Serpent Technique and Edo Tensei from the forbidden jutsu archive, Orochimaru had spent years refining these techniques.

The Eight-Headed Serpent Technique was nearly complete. The White Phosphorus Snake was now his true form.

However, Edo Tensei remained elusive, with Orochimaru failing to make any significant progress over the years.

With Yagyu taking his Hashirama cells, he couldn't conduct experiments with them, nor had his research into the Sharingan reached the depths achieved in the original series.

But Yagyu's words now pointed Orochimaru toward a path to perfect Edo Tensei, a path with a clear end in sight.

It was possible. More than possible. It was the answer!

Orochimaru could barely resist the urge to dash into his lab and extract his own cells for research.

After regaining his composure, Orochimaru looked at the smiling Yagyu across from him and sincerely remarked, "Yagyu-kun, you're like a perfect creation of Senju from the Forest. Not only have you inherited the First Hokage's Wood Release, but you also possess the Second Hokage's mind."

"In less than three years, you've solved a problem that had troubled me for years."

"You flatter me, Orochimaru-sama. I'm merely standing on the shoulders of giants, with a bit broader view," Yagyu replied, smiling as he poured Orochimaru another cup of tea.

Eager to start his experiments, Orochimaru got straight to the point, "So, Yagyu-kun, what is it you'd like me to do for you?"

Yagyu hadn't brought him the White Zetsu clone—the most unique reincarnated body in the ninja world—and revealed the compatibility between Zetsu clones and Edo Tensei without reason.

Instead of answering, Yagyu clapped his hands.

In an instant, two Wood Clones appeared beside him, each carrying a tightly bound figure wrapped in branches.

Seeing this, Orochimaru's pupils contracted again. He instinctively muttered, "Flying Thunder God Jutsu!"

Teleportation without the sound of displacement, chakra rippling out of thin air.

This type of instant movement was familiar to Orochimaru. The last person he saw wielding such a technique was Minato Namikaze.

When Yagyu had made him reincarnate the previous Hokage, it must have been for more advanced Wood Release techniques and the forbidden arts of the Second Hokage.

Orochimaru was shaken, realizing that Yagyu had mastered the Flying Thunder God technique in just three years. This kid had an extremely rare affinity for time-space ninjutsu and possessed exceptional talent for other ninja techniques as well.

As one of the Legendary Sannin, a direct disciple of the Third Hokage, and someone who had studied the Flying Thunder God Jutsu from the forbidden jutsu archive, Orochimaru himself hadn't been able to master it.

Even the Third Hokage, who excelled in jutsu, hadn't mastered it.

Yet Yagyu had become the third person after the Second and Fourth Hokage to master this jutsu.

Could he also have inherited the Second Hokage's talent for jutsu?

After the two Wood Clones set down their bundled loads, they disappeared as abruptly as they had arrived.

"Both of these are White Zetsu clones, gifted to you as experimental material, Orochimaru-sama," Yagyu leaned forward, lowering his voice as he smiled at Orochimaru. "I need no payment. I just hope that when you perfect Edo Tensei, you'll turn the shinobi world upside down."

Orochimaru was silent for a moment.

Looking at Yagyu's smiling face, countless possibilities ran through his mind.

Turn the shinobi world upside down? Did Yagyu intend to disrupt the balance?

Unify the shinobi world? Or was there another purpose?

Considering this, Orochimaru rasped, "What exactly do you want me to do?"

"You don't need to act intentionally," Yagyu replied, finishing his tea. He rose and looked down at Orochimaru with a slight smile. "Once you perfect Edo Tensei, an external force will guide you to uncover the truth of this world."

"I look forward to your performance, Orochimaru-sama."

With that, Yagyu disappeared without a trace, along with all Wood Clones that had been monitoring Orochimaru's underground lair.

Yagyu had withdrawn his surveillance on Orochimaru, allowing the snake to grow on its own.

This was a necessary move.

Black Zetsu, the true mastermind who had hidden for millennia, was indeed meticulous in his planning.

In the past two years, Hundred Faces had contributed greatly to the Akatsuki, occasionally collecting cells from fallen White Zetsu clones and injecting them into sacrificial bodies, creating almost perfect Edo Tensei bodies that annihilated enemies.

All these scenes had been witnessed by White Zetsu clones who had every reason to observe.

With his level of cunning, Black Zetsu had certainly deduced the secret of White Zetsu clones enabling perfected Edo Tensei.

Yet, two years had passed, and he still hadn't prompted Hundred Faces to seek out Madara Uchiha's body.

Initially, Yagyu thought Black Zetsu was merely evaluating him.

But over time, he realized Black Zetsu might actually be afraid.

Afraid that Hundred Faces would absorb Madara's body and that Black Zetsu could no longer place his bets on Hundred Faces.

Yagyu couldn't help but be exasperated.

He had intended for Hundred Faces to demonstrate his power and worth, but he had overdone it and ended up scaring Black Zetsu off.

So, Yagyu decided to change plans.

Originally, he had intended for his Wood Clone to take Kabuto's place in the original story, becoming Obito Uchiha's partner and holding the reins tightly.

But now, he would let Orochimaru play Kabuto's role, stirring up the current situation.

Meanwhile, he would remain in the shadows, reaping the benefits.

When Yagyu returned home to the Leaf Village from the Land of Fields, he found that Hinata had already woken up.

Upon seeing him, however, Hinata's face instantly turned bright red, and she lowered her head, avoiding his gaze for quite some time. White steam seemed to puff from her head periodically.

But, to her credit, she hadn't fainted, which was quite impressive.

Sensing this, Yagyu decided not to tease her any further and instead changed the subject. "Hinata, please take the ingredients over to Lady Tsunade's place. I need to go find someone."

"Uh-huh..." Hinata nodded repeatedly and quickly headed toward the kitchen.

She needed some time alone to calm herself down. Otherwise, if she stayed with Yagyu, she'd keep replaying the scene from the bathroom in her mind.

After Hinata left, Yagyu set out to find someone.

His first stop was Ino's family flower shop. She wasn't there, as he'd expected.

The entire Team 10 had advanced to Chunin over the past three years, and with the reputation of their families backing them, the new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho had gained the trust of many clients, taking on even more missions than Team 8.

After all, every member of Team 8 was a Jonin, and their team leader was an elite Jonin. Assigning them low-level missions would be a waste of their skills.

Since the beginning of the year, Team 8 had been assigned only A-rank missions and above.

At the Leaf Village hospital, Yagyu found Sakura, now a high-ranking medical professional.

Three years had passed, and Sakura's presence was much like her counterpart in Shippuden.

Much like Hinata, she now carried the aura of a skilled Taijutsu practitioner, with sharp, confident eyes.

The only difference was her long hair, which she still wore, though now styled in a high ponytail or tied in a bun, much like Tsunade's.

Sakura was thrilled to see Yagyu.

Had she not been dressed as a doctor, smelling of medicine, she might have jumped into his arms.

After a brief chat, he asked her to join them at Tsunade's after work, then went to Kurenai's place, only to find it empty.

Rather than visiting the Hyuga Clan's estate to find Hanabi, his fiancée's younger sister, Yagyu made his way to a grand, traditional mansion much like Tsunade and Hinata's homes.

The sign above the door read "Kurama."

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