Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou-Chapter 206: Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou []

Inside the dimly lit tent, Orochimaru's face carried a terrifyingly sickly smile, while his snake-like pupils were brimming with endless ambition for the future.

"Heh heh, the tailed beasts are constantly sealed within the jinchūriki. This kind of lifeform research seems to suggest that only the human soul can come close to this energy. So, does this imply that aging, sickness, and death are purely physical? And that the soul might be immortal? What if our souls, like the tailed beasts, could perpetually inhabit vibrant, young bodies? Wouldn't that mean we could achieve eternal life?"

Even though it was already well-known that Orochimaru would walk this path, only by truly witnessing his genius and mad ideas could one grasp the shocking depth of his thoughts.

"Orochimaru, you are truly a genius!"

After a long silence, Shirou gazed at Orochimaru with an expression he couldn't completely mask, filled with shock and admiration, as he uttered these words.

"Heh heh, Shirou-kun, we are both insatiable seekers, always exploring and never satisfied. That's why we are kindred spirits."

Beneath Orochimaru's sickly smile, a rare hint of joy flickered—there was no recognition he valued more than this.

Little did Shirou expect that Orochimaru's inspiration for his Living Corpse Reincarnation technique had originated in the study of the tailed beasts.

Reflecting on the Third Great Ninja War, when Orochimaru infiltrated the Hidden Cloud Village, triggering the rampage of the Eight-Tails, and then secretly collecting its cells at great risk, it became clear that this must have been when Orochimaru began researching the power of the tailed beasts. He then started delving into the secret of how these creatures had lived for millennia. After all, in the village, the Nine-Tails was not something easily accessible for such experiments.

"No wonder... Even in the entire ninja world, where even the Sage of Six Paths has faded into legend, only the tailed beasts have survived for over a thousand years..."

Shirou nodded silently. After all, immortality was too elusive, requiring research to start from scratch. Within the entire ninja world, only the tailed beasts could provide a clue to immortality. How could Orochimaru not be tempted? This was the first step in turning the impossible into the possible—a precious and foundational material.

Even the sages of the Three Great Summoning Realms merely had long lifespans, nothing more.

Orochimaru had already embarked on this endless road of scientific exploration.

"Indeed, if we analyze the research data, the power of the tailed beasts is largely a combination of spiritual energy and chakra. Simply put, they are entities with chakra given physical form..."

When Shirou began analyzing Orochimaru's data, the latter wasn't the least bit bothered that his research had been exposed. On the contrary, he grew even more excited and immersed himself in the discussion.

"Shirou-kun, I already have a direction. The Kato Clan's secret Spirit Transformation Technique—this is the perfect ninjutsu for a soul to leave its physical body. Although it's just a preliminary idea right now, I believe that one day, I can overcome the limit of a soul leaving its body to find a new one..."

At this moment, Orochimaru seemed to have found the ultimate purpose of life, his excitement causing him to momentarily lose himself. However, Shirou frowned and shook his head in response:

"This preliminary idea is theoretically feasible, but the study of the soul... I've seen some records in the Senju Clan's sealing scrolls left by the Second Hokage. After the soul leaves the body, how can it completely break free from its original body's constraints? Ordinary souls will quickly die after leaving the body. Of course, some jutsu can delay this process. Moreover, when a soul occupies another's body, there will be intense rejection..."

Shirou wasn't making things up. He had indeed read such records in Tsunade's research room. These were invaluable materials from the Second Hokage's studies. After all, with the creation of the Edo Tensei forbidden technique, it would be hard to believe that Tobirama Senju hadn't delved into the taboos of souls and resurrection.

However, upon hearing this, Orochimaru didn't feel discouraged. Instead, his raspy voice became even more excited:

"Every jutsu begins from nothing. Now that we have a direction and even some leads, we've already taken the most critical step. All that's left is continuous experimentation. Success is inevitable."

This idea had been suppressed in his heart for far too long. Orochimaru stared at Shirou with a sickly, excited expression.

"Shirou-kun, what do you think of the direction of my research into this forbidden jutsu?"

Orochimaru was already impatient to hear Shirou's thoughts, his pale gold snake-like pupils gleaming with a hint of madness.

Shirou gently set the research materials aside, then raised his head to look at Orochimaru, revealing a similarly ambitious smile.

"Human life is far too brief. Even the most brilliant and dazzling life passes in the blink of an eye. No one, not even a powerful figure like the First Hokage, can escape aging and death. But our ambitions require long-lasting lifespans..."

In the dim tent, Shirou openly expressed his ambitions, his raspy voice revealing the depths of his desire.

"Heh heh, Shirou-kun, your ambition is to create a unified, peaceful ninja world. But history has already given us the answer: after the First Hokage passed away, the peaceful world he built collapsed in an instant..."

The two shared a glance, their faces both breaking into smiles filled with ambition.

Only a long-lasting life could support their boundless ambitions! Both were greedy visionaries!

Shirou desired to control everything, while Orochimaru sought eternal life to endlessly pursue the truths of the world.

Although their ambitions were different, the path ahead required the same thing—immortality.

"However, this research will likely require an immense amount of resources and time," Shirou suddenly remarked, his tone shifting as his gaze took on a more meaningful look. He didn't believe for a second that Orochimaru was purely discussing the secret of immortality out of selflessness.

Sure enough, Orochimaru licked his lips and revealed a greedy smile.

"Shirou-kun, don't be impatient. Every experiment walks the path of countless failures. Shirou-kun's ambition to become Hokage is the first step, while I require stable, massive funding for my research. This is why we are truly kindred spirits."

When Orochimaru mentioned the Hokage, Shirou narrowed his eyes.

"Orochimaru, are you so certain I can become Hokage?"

This time, Orochimaru shook his head, his sickly smile returning as he rasped, "Shirou-kun, it's not that I'm certain of you—I'm certain of Tsunade's support for you!"

What a move! Who could say Orochimaru didn't understand politics? He saw through it all too clearly.

For a Uchiha to become Hokage? Difficult. Extremely difficult.

But with Senju Tsunade supporting him?

When Shirou heard Orochimaru's words, he slowly raised his head and smiled, openly revealing his unbridled ambition.

"Time is the best answer. In the chaotic Warring States period, families filled with hatred toward each other gradually saw that hatred fade under the rule of great power over time..."

Shirou's ambitious voice echoed within the tent. What he spoke of was the very history of Konoha and the transition from the Warring States to the ninja village era.

"If the ninja world had only one village, one voice, then wouldn't the brutal wars come to an end? Wouldn't that make us the saviors of the ninja world?"

As Shirou slowly turned back, he looked at Orochimaru with a mysterious smile.

"Like the First Hokage in the past, a powerful force brought peace to the ninja world. Hatred dared not fester. Though his hands were stained with blood, if such a person also possessed an eternal lifespan, then what do you think would happen?"

At this point, Shirou's eyes gleamed with the excitement of someone envisioning himself as the savior of the world.

"Peace."

"Even the deepest hatred would eventually be worn away by the river of time. Just like the hatred between the Uchiha and Senju during the Warring States period—today, that hatred has all but vanished."

Shirou backed his words with undeniable facts, not just lofty, unrealistic ambitions. The most obvious example was the deep hatred between the Uchiha and Senju. It had been immense, yet over time, as the older generation passed on, so too did the hatred.

Upon hearing Shirou's equally unrestrained and mad ambitions, Orochimaru, instead of being shocked, revealed a sickly smile filled with excitement.

"Heh heh, we are both mad geniuses."

Shirou's ambition to unify the ninja world was no less insane than Orochimaru's quest for immortality.

But when two madmen collided, they sparked a blazing fire.

"Heh heh, when the time comes, perhaps the ninja world will witness the rise of a legendary Sage of Six Paths! No, the sages have already disappeared. Instead, it will welcome the rise of a true god of the ninja world!"

However, hearing Orochimaru's laugh, Shirou simply smiled and replied, "No. It will be us, together, who usher in a new era!"

Upon hearing such a wild and audacious ambition, Orochimaru's smile grew even more twisted and obsessive.

"Not bad! We will no longer be outcasts or mere dreamers—we will become gods ushering in a new era for the Shinobi world!"

At that moment, as the two exchanged smiles filled with mutual recognition, a golden-haired figure standing at the entrance of the tent under the moonlight overheard their insane conversation. With an annoyed expression, she muttered to herself:

"Two lunatics!"

The figure under the moonlight was none other than the golden-haired Senju Tsunade. Although she muttered in irritation, the shock on her face was undeniable.

She had thought her own discoveries were outrageous enough, but compared to the plans of Orochimaru and Shirou, they paled in comparison. One was chasing immortality, seeking endless life to explore the unknown, while the other, after exposing his inner ambition and desire, dared to dream of becoming a god of the shinobi world—a god that would reign forever!

To Tsunade, this was a direct assault on her worldview. She couldn't help but feel both shaken and amazed. If it were before, she might have written this off as pure madness.

But ever since she had secretly uncovered the hidden truths about the Senju and Uchiha clans, her understanding of the world had already been shattered. This new wave of revelation, though shocking, wasn't entirely beyond her ability to process.

Madness or not, if they truly succeeded, it could indeed bring peace to the shinobi world. Her grandfather had already proven how effective power could be in maintaining order—it was just that he lacked immortality to sustain it.

And the temptation to become a god of the shinobi world...

Even Tsunade couldn't help but feel her heart skip a beat. To bring peace to the world while also becoming a god—who wouldn't be tempted by such an idea? Moreover, as the most skilled medical ninja in the shinobi world, the research into life itself was undeniably fascinating to her.

...

Slowly, Shirou stepped out of the tent and into the moonlight. He bathed in its glow as silence enveloped the surroundings. Tilting his head back, he gazed at the full moon, and the deep, spinning Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes revealed his unwavering conviction.

"No one starts at the top," he said softly. "Not you, not me, not even the Sage of Six Paths. But this empty throne in the heavens has waited long enough. From now on, we will stand at its peak together."

As Shirou basked in the moonlight, a raspy laugh came from Orochimaru, who had also stepped outside.

Tsunade, watching the two of them, rolled her eyes in irritation. Despite her expression, the slight curve of her lips and the excitement in her eyes betrayed her true feelings.

"Heh heh, it seems the topic of immortality has caught your interest as well, Tsunade!" Orochimaru teased bluntly.

Tsunade's expression remained calm as she gave a small nod.

"No. I simply think that Shirou might be the windmill that pushes the shinobi world forward. My grandfather, as the First Hokage, followed a steady path that strengthened Konoha for just one generation. But the shinobi world still fell into the cycle of war."

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"Perhaps this research into life itself might truly achieve the ideal of peace." At this point, Tsunade's voice paused slightly. She turned her gaze toward Shirou, who was still enjoying the moonlight, and a smile crept onto her face.

"Becoming a god... that's not a bad goal. After all, shouldn't the granddaughter of the God of Shinobi aim for the same?"

Her calm statement seemed to imply that no one else in the shinobi world was more suited to pursue godhood than she was. After all, her grandfather was the one who had brought peace to an age of chaos.

Under the moonlight, Tsunade folded her arms across her chest. Her noble smile exuded a confidence that came from deep within her bones.

The ideas of these three lunatics might have been dismissed as nonsense by anyone else. But the truly terrifying thing about them wasn't just their madness—it was their genius and their potential to change the world.

"Heh heh, if Jiraiya knew about this, he'd probably think we've all lost our minds," Orochimaru said with a raspy laugh, though a complicated expression flickered in his eyes. There was a hint of joy that his path was no longer lonely, but also a trace of sorrow for those who could not accept it.

"Jiraiya, huh..." Tsunade's calm expression didn't waver. Ever since they returned from the Second Great Shinobi War, she had known that they were walking down different paths.

Immortality! If other shinobi, or even Jiraiya, were to hear about this, they would surely laugh at the absurdity of it—and might even respond with anger at such crazed and unrealistic ideas.

"It's nothing more than a group of narrow-minded fools, bound by the shackles of fate!"

Hearing their musings, Shirou slowly turned around to face them. His calm gaze swept over the two as he spoke with an air of detachment.

"Before there were shinobi, did the samurai and onmyōji ever imagine that the emergence of chakra would spark a revolution in this world? Did they ever expect that shinobi and chakra would one day replace them?"

No, they didn't.

It was precisely this kind of thinking, bound by rules and restrictions, that limited their potential. No matter how hard they tried, they could only shine brightly for a brief moment but could never push the world forward.

Only those who dared to break free from the chains of fate and boldly step forward could truly drive the world toward progress.

In the distance, hidden in the shadows, White Zetsu listened to these words and let out a raspy laugh.

"Heh heh, it seems that Lord Madara's chosen successor is already starting to walk his path..."

But in the next moment, White Zetsu's laughter froze, and he was unable to smile anymore.

Under the moonlight, three figures suddenly appeared above him. Bursting from the soil, White Zetsu stared in shock at the three faces that had surrounded him.

Shirou, Tsunade, and Orochimaru stood in a triangular formation around him.

"Discovered, huh?" White Zetsu's shock gradually turned into a smile. Even surrounded by three Kage-level shinobi, he didn't show the slightest trace of nervousness.

PS: We are cooking here!