Orochimaru had been tirelessly working day and night in his lab. He was entirely consumed by his latest experiment, forgetting to eat and sleep. Uzumaki Naruto occasionally visited, his attitude toward Orochimaru noticeably more relaxed.
"Naruto-kun," Orochimaru said, excitement evident in his voice. "The fusion of cells is perfect. This is the most meaningful experiment I've ever conducted."
Naruto, although unfamiliar with the complexities of the experiment, felt a sense of relief. It seemed Orochimaru was confident in his success.
"But have you considered," Kurama's voice echoed in Naruto's mind, "that if Orochimaru succeeds, he might create someone as powerful as you?"
Naruto smirked. "Lama, even if that happens, do they have my senjutsu? Do they have you? Let them try."
Kurama flicked its tail proudly. "Fair point. No one can match the combination of your abilities and my power."
---
The Procedure
Soon, Orochimaru presented Naruto with a glass vessel filled with red liquid. "This contains the fused cells integrated with your blood. I will inject it back into your body and place you in a culture medium to observe the changes."
The procedure was smooth. Orochimaru locked Naruto in the tank, monitoring him closely for hours. Finally satisfied, he left the room.
"Master Orochimaru," Kabuto greeted him outside. "How did it go?"
"There are no signs of Wood Style rejection. His body has accepted the cells." Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "If successful, his Uzumaki physique will only be enhanced, not altered."
Kabuto nodded thoughtfully. "But... shouldn't we test this on others to confirm?"
Orochimaru agreed. Taking the remaining experimental material, he approached a group of elite ninjas. "If this works, you will surpass the five great nations in strength."
He injected the first subject. But before he could proceed further, the man's body exploded violently, obliterating the laboratory. Orochimaru and Kabuto barely escaped with their lives.
---
Orochimaru's Miscalculation
As the dust settled, Orochimaru was stunned. "Why did it fail? Their bodies should have been compatible!"
Kabuto pondered. "Perhaps the material works only on Naruto because of his unique lineage?"
Unbeknownst to Orochimaru, Naruto's connection to the Sage of Six Paths' chakra and his reincarnation as Ashura made him uniquely compatible. Without this, the foreign chakra overwhelmed the test subjects, leading to catastrophic failure.
Madara's voice resounded from the spiritual world. "Fools. Did you think anyone could wield the Sage's power without consequence?"
Tobirama explained, "Naruto's compatibility comes from being Ashura's reincarnation. Orochimaru's experiments failed because he lacks critical knowledge about the Sage's chakra."
Tsunade smirked. "If Orochimaru tried injecting himself, he'd be the next to explode."
---
The Transformation
Meanwhile, inside the tank, Naruto drifted into unconsciousness. His spiritual world swirled with chaos as he felt a searing pain in his eyes.
Suddenly, the familiar scarlet glow of the Three Tomoe Sharingan appeared in his vision. But before he could fully grasp it, his Sharingan began to shift, morphing into a pair of rippled purple Rinnegan.
"What is this?" Naruto muttered, overwhelmed by the immense surge of chakra coursing through him.
Kurama's voice pierced through the chaos. "Naruto! Wake up!"
Naruto's eyes fluttered open. "Kurama... what happened?"
"You passed out," Kurama said, relief washing over it. "But your Sharingan... it didn't last. And the Rinnegan you saw—was that real?"
Naruto sighed, lying on Kurama's massive paw. "If I failed, then this was all for nothing. I'll have to confront Orochimaru later."
Suddenly, a deep, unfamiliar voice echoed through the spiritual realm.
---
The Sage of Six Paths Appears
"Hehehe... so this is the boy Hamura prophesized about. A blue-eyed child with the power to play with tailed beasts."
Naruto and Kurama turned toward the voice, startled to see a majestic figure—Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths.
"Who... who are you?" Naruto stammered.
Hagoromo's presence radiated wisdom and power. "I am Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths. It seems my chakra has awakened within you, Uzumaki Naruto."
Naruto blinked in disbelief. "The Sage of Six Paths? Why are you here?"
Hagoromo chuckled. "Your actions have drawn my attention. You are Ashura's reincarnation, and through your determination, you have triggered my chakra within you. The transformation you witnessed—the Rinnegan—is a manifestation of this connection."
Naruto clenched his fists. "So, I failed to gain Sharingan?"
Hagoromo shook his head. "No, child. You have surpassed it. The Rinnegan is the pinnacle of ocular powers, far beyond the Sharingan. However, its awakening within you is incomplete. It requires balance between Ashura and Indra's chakra."
Kurama growled. "Does that mean Naruto will need Sasuke's help?"
Hagoromo nodded. "Precisely. Sasuke, as Indra's reincarnation, holds the key to fully awakening your Rinnegan."
---
The Future of the Ninja World
Naruto took a deep breath, absorbing the gravity of Hagoromo's words. "So, this power isn't truly mine yet. What should I do now?"
Hagoromo smiled. "Continue your journey. Your bond with Sasuke will be instrumental. But be warned—power alone will not bring peace to the ninja world. True strength lies in unity and understanding."
Naruto bowed his head, determination burning in his eyes. "I won't let you down."
Hagoromo placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "I believe in you, Uzumaki Naruto. The fate of the world rests on your shoulders."
As the Sage's presence faded, Naruto found himself back in the tank, his body pulsating with newfound strength.
Kurama smirked. "Looks like you're not just some ordinary ninja after all."
Naruto grinned. "Let's show the world what we can do, Kurama."
---
Aftermath
Orochimaru returned to check on Naruto, his face pale from the earlier explosion. "Naruto-kun, are you... alive?"
Naruto stepped out of the tank, his aura radiating power. "I'm better than ever, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru's eyes widened as he sensed the change in Naruto. "What... what happened to you?"
Naruto smirked. "Let's just say your experiment didn't go as planned. But don't worry, I'll take it from here."
As Naruto walked away, Orochimaru stood frozen, realizing that his ambitions had created something far beyond his control.
Meanwhile, in the shadows, Sasuke Uchiha sensed a shift in the balance of power. "Naruto... what have you done?"
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