Naruto: Reborn As Orochimaru

Hiruzen nodded slightly, recalling the events that led up to this moment.

A year ago, the recovery potion developed by Orochimaru had shown a peculiar limitation—though it was remarkably effective, it could only be used twice within a year. After the second use, any subsequent dose would see drastically diminished effects. This wasn't exactly a "drawback," but it was certainly a limitation. Hiruzen had hoped that Orochimaru would eventually overcome it, but at the time, Orochimaru mentioned he was working on something new and more powerful. With other pressing matters at hand, Hiruzen had refrained from pushing for immediate results. Instead, he tasked a ninja named Dan with testing it, but the effects remained unchanged.

Recently, with all the chaos surrounding Tsunade's parents' deaths, the issue had been delayed. But now that things had somewhat settled, they had finally come to address the matter. Orochimaru's explanation today confirmed that there was no immediate solution. Nevertheless, the current results were still impressive—being able to use the potion twice within a year was already an incredible achievement. Hiruzen had simply hoped for more.

"Teacher, if there's nothing else…," Orochimaru said, ready to leave.

"Ah, there is one more thing," Hiruzen interrupted. "The volunteer for the next drug test has been selected."

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow slightly but said nothing. He knew what this meant. The village had chosen someone willing to put their life on the line for science, for the sake of Konoha's advancement. It wasn't uncommon; ninja were trained from a young age to serve their village, and many were willing to become test subjects if it meant Konoha would grow stronger. Their loyalty and willingness to sacrifice were both admirable and unsettling.

"Come in," Hiruzen called.

The door opened, and an ANBU operative stepped inside. Orochimaru's eyes widened in mild surprise—he recognized this person. It was someone he had worked with before, though not closely.

"You're the volunteer this time?" Orochimaru asked.

"Yes," the ANBU responded, his voice steady.

Orochimaru tilted his head slightly. "May I ask why you volunteered?"

"Because I trust you," the ANBU said without hesitation.

Orochimaru couldn't help but smirk. Trust, huh? It was rare for someone to say something like that to him, especially considering the risks involved in experimental work.

"Haha, let's get started, then," Orochimaru said, not wasting any more time. He pulled out a scroll, unfurling it with practiced ease. Bang! A burst of white smoke filled the room, and when it cleared, a light green reagent appeared in his hand.

He handed the small vial to the ANBU before addressing him directly. "Fox, as the lead researcher, I must warn you—this process could result in death."

"I'm ready," the ANBU operative, known as 'Fox' for his mask, replied calmly. His eyes betrayed no fear, only resolve.

Orochimaru admired the loyalty and dedication instilled in Konoha's forces, though a part of him also found it troubling. The ability to make someone willing to die for an experiment… it was a testament to the village's power over its soldiers, a power he found both fascinating and dangerous.

He handed the reagent to Fox, who hesitated only for a moment before removing his mask. Beneath it was the face of a man in his thirties weathered but determined. He stared at the vial for a second, then, without further delay, drank it in one gulp.

"To make the effect take hold faster, you'll need to circulate your chakra," Orochimaru instructed.

Fox nodded and focused, channeling his chakra throughout his body. At first, nothing seemed to happen, but soon a heat began spreading from his stomach, coursing through his veins like fire. His skin flushed, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead, glistening in the dim light of the room.

The sensation was not entirely unpleasant—it was akin to soaking in a hot bath, warmth suffusing every muscle in his body. However, Fox knew better than to relax. He had prepared himself for the possibility of extreme side effects or even death.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru turned to Hiruzen. "Teacher, I'll take my leave. You can handle the observation from here."

Hiruzen nodded, his eyes still focused on the ANBU operative undergoing the effects of the experiment. "We'll take it from here. Thank you, Orochimaru."

With that, Orochimaru exited the room, leaving the remaining task to the Hokage and his advisors. As soon as he was gone, Danzo, Koharu, and Homura emerged from an adjoining room, having observed the proceedings silently from the start.

They watched closely as Fox sat cross-legged on the floor, meditating as the potion continued to work its way through his system. Sweat dripped down his brow, but beyond that, there were no immediate signs of distress.

Danzo was the first to break the silence. "How is he?"

Ten minutes had passed, and Fox finally opened his eyes. He looked down at his hands, feeling the surge of chakra now coursing through him. "My chakra… it's increased by about 50%," he reported, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Fifty percent?!" Danzo's usually impassive face briefly betrayed his shock, as did the others in the room. Even Hiruzen couldn't hide his surprise.

Fox was an elite chunin, not a jonin, but for a thirty-year-old man, whose chakra reserves had long since stabilized, to experience a 50% increase? That was staggering. It was unheard of for an adult ninja to increase their chakra capacity by such a margin, especially after reaching maturity. 

Hiruzen's mind raced with the implications. If this serum could reliably increase chakra by that amount, it could significantly enhance Konoha's military might.

Danzo, ever pragmatic, leaned forward slightly. "Do you feel any discomfort or side effects?"

Fox shook his head, wiping the last bit of sweat from his brow. "No. I feel… stronger. More energetic. There's no pain, only the heat that spread through my body earlier."

Danzo exhaled slowly, clearly still processing what this could mean. "If this works on more than just one subject… Konoha's forces could become nearly unstoppable."

Hiruzen, though equally impressed, wasn't quite ready to celebrate yet. "We'll need more tests. This could be a unique case. Still, it's promising."

"Promising indeed," Danzo muttered, his eyes gleaming with ambition.