Naruto: Starting with Snatching the Mangekyō Sharingan

Nagato looked at Zetsu and gave a serious warning.

"Konoha isn't just any ordinary place. Be cautious with this mission, don't let your guard down."

"Don't worry, Nagato," Black Zetsu responded with a smirk, his tone full of disdain. "For most people, Konoha may seem like a fortress, but for White Zetsu and me, sneaking into Konoha feels like returning home. Breaking someone out of Konoha's prison is hardly a challenge."

"In that case, I'll leave the task of recruiting Orochimaru to you," Nagato said, nodding in satisfaction at Black Zetsu's confidence.

"Leave it to me," Black Zetsu replied before slowly sinking into the ground, vanishing without a trace.

As Black Zetsu disappeared, Nagato shook his head and returned his focus to his training. Ever since he had obtained Uchiha Madara's true legacy through Zetsu, his strength had been growing at an astonishing rate.

"Only now am I beginning to fully unleash the power of these Rinnegan eyes," Nagato murmured, feeling the immense energy coursing through his eyes. A faint smile appeared on his lips.

With the true power of the Rinnegan at his disposal, Nagato was confident he could capture the Tailed Beasts on his own. Recruiting more members for the Akatsuki was merely a precaution, in case he became tied up and unable to act directly.

Deep within Konoha's prison, in a solitary cell, Orochimaru sat quietly on a simple bed, his eyes closed as though meditating. Shackles engraved with sealing talismans bound his wrists and ankles, suppressing his chakra.

It had been a week since his capture. The genjutsu Uchiha Akira had placed on him had long since been dispelled, and Orochimaru was fully aware of his current predicament.

Yet, despite the dire situation, Orochimaru remained calm and collected.

Suddenly, his expression shifted. A flicker of surprise crossed his face before it quickly gave way to a smile.

"Interesting. The organization called Akatsuki truly is extraordinary. To think they could enter and exit Konoha's prison so effortlessly... What an impressive ability. This world still holds many unknowns," Orochimaru mused, his curiosity toward Akatsuki growing.

Moments earlier, Black Zetsu had used his Mayfly Technique to contact Orochimaru, conveying Akatsuki's proposal. Orochimaru agreed to join, under the condition that they free him.

(T/N: The Mayfly is an infiltration technique. It allows him to merge his body with the ground and flora and travel at very high speeds)

Much to Orochimaru's surprise, the person who infiltrated the prison effortlessly disabled the seals suppressing his power. It was as though removing the restraints was child's play.

Now unshackled, Orochimaru could once again refine his chakra freely. Though the chains remained on his body, they had become meaningless ornaments.

"Konoha... farewell. This day has come sooner than I expected," Orochimaru murmured, casting a final glance toward the Hokage's office before forming a series of hand seals.

Without a sound, the ground beneath him cracked open, and Orochimaru's body dissolved into a viscous flow, seeping into the fissure and vanishing underground.

All that remained in the cell was an eerily lifelike skin, perfectly mimicking Orochimaru's form.

Two hours later, the ANBU and law enforcement stationed to guard Orochimaru discovered his escape. Chaos erupted as they reported the incident to the Hokage's office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat motionless at his desk, staring blankly at the report. He seemed as though carved from stone, his emotions unreadable.

Orochimaru had escaped.

Hiruzen didn't know if he felt relief or sorrow. What lingered in his heart was an inexplicable calm. Among his three disciples, Hiruzen had always favored Orochimaru the most. Orochimaru's talent surpassed that of the other two, and Hiruzen had once harbored the highest hopes for him.

But fate had taken a cruel turn, leading Orochimaru down a path of no return. Hiruzen had sensed it long ago.

Back when he decided to step down as Hokage, he saw the ambition and malice in Orochimaru's eyes. That was why, when choosing a successor, he passed over Orochimaru and recommended Namikaze Minato instead.

Now, seated as the Hokage once again, Hiruzen slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were icy and filled with killing intent. A chilling whisper escaped his lips. "Orochimaru…"

Within the Uchiha compound, both Akira and Fugaku were stunned when they heard the news of Orochimaru's escape.

Akira frowned. "The seals I personally placed should've been impossible for Orochimaru to break. Someone must have helped him."

Fugaku nodded, his expression grave. "Do you think it could've been Sarutobi Hiruzen? Perhaps he couldn't bear to see his prized student executed. But then again, not many in the shinobi world could break your seals…"

"It wouldn't be Sarutobi Hiruzen," Akira said firmly. "The risk is too great. Doing something like this would jeopardize his position as Hokage."

"True," Fugaku agreed. "I only mentioned it as a passing thought. Realistically, there aren't many who could accomplish this so silently. It could be the work of that masked man, or perhaps Nagato. The masked man's space-time ninjutsu would make such an infiltration trivial."

Akira considered this possibility and nodded slightly. "It's most likely the work of White Zetsu, under Nagato's orders. With Obito dead, only White Zetsu possesses the capability to pull this off."

"If Nagato sent White Zetsu to rescue Orochimaru, we'll need to watch out for Edo Tensei," Akira said, a hint of unease creeping into his voice. "We cannot allow him to use our own methods against us."

"Then we should use Edo Tensei preemptively," Akira decided. "I'll summon Uchiha Obito myself before Orochimaru can act. That way, he won't be able to exploit him."

"You've mastered Edo Tensei?" Fugaku asked, surprised.

"It wasn't difficult," Akira replied calmly.

"Orochimaru's combat strength isn't a threat," Akira added. "But his other abilities are dangerous. If he joins Akatsuki, the results could be unpredictable."

Fugaku's expression darkened. "You're talking about his forbidden techniques, like Edo Tensei?"

"Exactly," Akira confirmed. "For now, Edo Tensei has its limits. The summoned shinobi can't exhibit their full strength. But given Orochimaru's intellect, it's only a matter of time before he refines the technique. If he manages to summon someone like Senju Hashirama…"

Akira chuckled softly. "That won't happen. I'll summon Hashirama first. That will make it impossible for Orochimaru to summon him again."

Fugaku was taken aback. "You can summon the First Hokage?"

"Like I said, it's not difficult," Akira replied with composure.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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