Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 106: Reunion with Orochimaru

"Lord Hagoromo!"

Uchiha Izumi and Uchiha Kei immediately bowed respectfully upon noticing Hagoromo Gengetsu beside them. Their respect wasn't just due to Hagoromo's clan rescuing and taking them in; it was also out of reverence for his strength. The Uchiha clan, known for valuing power, naturally gravitated towards this man, who was as renowned as Senju Hashirama and their own ancestor, Uchiha Madara, and had achieved the unprecedented feat of living a second life.

Acknowledging them with a nod, Hagoromo Gengetsu walked towards Sasuke as Izumi and Kei stepped aside without hesitation.

"Orochimaru's curse mark, I see," Hagoromo observed, recognizing the natural energy contained within Sasuke's curse mark, a result of his extensive research on Sage Techniques in Konoha. The curse mark was not a Sage Mode; even its creator, Orochimaru, hadn't mastered such a technique. Instead, it was a secret jutsu utilizing the unique ability of Jugo, who could naturally absorb and integrate natural energy into his body. The curse mark was a crude adaptation of this ability, often transforming its users into grotesque forms. Hagoromo had little regard for such a technique, deeming it unnecessary for someone with Sasuke's potential. Moreover, the curse mark posed significant risks.

"Hold still," Hagoromo instructed the perspiring Sasuke, who, without Orochimaru's special medicine to suppress the curse mark's backlash, was enduring its effects. Determined not to disappoint Hagoromo, Sasuke gritted his teeth and remained motionless.

Nodding in approval, Hagoromo recalled the Evil Sealing Method he'd encountered in Root and performed the reverse hand seals, muttering, "Evil Release Method!" Placing his right hand on Sasuke's curse mark, a red glow emerged, and Hagoromo pulled out a spectral white snake from the mark. With a stomp, a coffin rose from the ground, revealing an unconscious murderer used as a sacrifice.

Hagoromo then completely extracted Orochimaru's soul fragment from the curse mark and inserted it into the criminal's body. The man's appearance swiftly morphed into that of Orochimaru, characterized by pale skin and golden snake-like eyes.

"Long time no see, Orochimaru," Hagoromo greeted, smiling faintly at the figure before him, who had survived by fragmenting his soul.

"Orochimaru," technically a soul fragment, narrowed his eyes. "Am I resurrected from Sasuke's curse mark? What happened? Did I die? No, I sense my main body is still alive." Scanning his surroundings, Orochimaru noticed Izumi and Kei, recognizing the Uchiha bloodline. "Interesting! Very interesting!" Orochimaru licked his lips, finally addressing Hagoromo, "It seems, Lord Hagoromo, that you've brought me to an intriguing place."

Hagoromo understood Orochimaru's implication. "Soon, you'll be in an even more interesting place. Then, we can chat more," he said before swiftly restraining Orochimaru and sealing him back into the coffin with a sealing jutsu. Orochimaru, despite his resistance, was overpowered and trapped.

Turning to the now relieved Sasuke, Hagoromo reassured him, "The curse mark is gone. Remember, true strength comes from within." Sasuke, shaken by the unexpected revelation that Orochimaru had been residing within his curse mark, nodded earnestly.

"Was that Orochimaru just now?" Kei, feeling uneasy after Orochimaru's gaze, commented, "He didn't seem that impressive."

"That was merely a soul fragment of Orochimaru," Hagoromo explained casually. He chose not to destroy the fragment, as it wouldn't affect Orochimaru's main body and was more valuable for future interactions. With the fragment's power limited, Hagoromo saw no harm in keeping it around.

After parting with the Uchiha trio, Hagoromo attended to clan matters, checked on Shinno and Seimei—who were teaching medicine and smithing, respectively—and focused on resolving his soul's incompleteness.

Six months later, in a desolate region far from the Land of Keys, Hagoromo stood quietly. Outwardly unchanged, he appeared to be in his prime at twenty-five, reflective of his shinobi prowess. A new addition was the blue three-thread crescent moon mark on his forehead, resembling the Hagoromo clan's crest.

Inspired by Tsunade, Hagoromo had developed and perfected his own version of the S-Rank medical sealing jutsu, the Yin Seal, over these months. Unlike the misconception that it was a female-exclusive jutsu, the Yin Seal required high levels of medical knowledge, sealing techniques, and precise chakra control. Benefiting from the advanced medical ninjutsu knowledge from Konoha and enhanced by Sakura's chakra control talents, Hagoromo mastered the Yin Seal, allowing him to store vast amounts of chakra and maintain peak physical condition. This significantly improved his overall strength and endurance.

His primary focus, however, was on modifying the Reaper Death Seal. Having made sufficient preparations, it was time to complete the final step and achieve his true peak state.