Orochimaru had given Uchiha Akihara a mental stimunt potion with a clear goal in mind, to lure the Uchiha cn into seeking him out. He needed opportunities to obtain genetic material from other Uchiha members, and he knew that an unconventional method for awakening the Sharingan would be irresistible to them.

  He was certain that once any Uchiha experienced the potion's effects, they'd be too intrigued not to follow up. It was only a matter of time before they came knocking.

  Where had he gotten the knowledge to create such a potion? That hardly required expnation. Orochimaru had been researching the Uchiha cn's genetic makeup for a long time, and with his vast knowledge of forbidden techniques and scientific advancements, creating something like this was well within his capabilities.

  After all, if he wanted to unlock the full power of the Rinnegan one day, a mental stimunt like this would be essential, albeit in a much stronger form.

  However, he had intentionally downpyed the potion's effectiveness to Uchiha Akihara, warning that it "might" work, especially if the girl's Uchiha blood was too diluted. Without a strong enough bloodline, all the stimution in the world wouldn't awaken the Sharingan.

  But now, days had passed, and still no one from the Uchiha cn had approached him. Were they cautious? Concerned about the Third Hokage's opinion? Or had the potion simply failed?

  No matter. Orochimaru wasn't one to wait around indefinitely. If this method didn't work, he had plenty of others at his disposal.

  Fortunately, his concerns turned out to be unnecessary. That very afternoon, after leaving the Hokage's office, he received a formal invitation from the Uchiha cn to visit as their honored guest. And, as dinner approached, a young Uchiha was sent to personally escort him.

  "Lord Orochimaru," a soft voice said as he opened his door. Standing before him was a bck-haired, bck-eyed girl, fidgeting slightly but trying to appear confident. "On the orders of our cn leader, I'm here to guide you."

  Orochimaru was slightly surprised, though he masked it well. "Akihara's daughter, I presume? May I ask your name?"

  "Mi... Mikoto," she stammered nervously, looking up at him with awe. Despite his youth, Orochimaru was a figure of legend, the Sannin were revered throughout Konoha, and even the Uchiha cn held him in high regard. Facing him directly was intimidating, especially for someone her age.

  "Mikoto… Uchiha Mikoto?" Orochimaru repeated, noting her reaction.

  "Yes, sir!" she replied, nodding quickly.

  Orochimaru's curiosity was piqued. So, this girl was indeed Uchiha Mikoto, the future wife of Uchiha Fugaku and the mother of Itachi and Sasuke. Though intermarriage within the cn was common among the Uchiha to preserve their bloodline, he hadn't known until now if Mikoto had always been Uchiha or had taken on the name through marriage.

  It was now confirmed: Mikoto was a true Uchiha by birth. And considering the strength of the Uchiha bloodline that would pass down to her sons, Itachi and Sasuke, that wasn't surprising.

  "Very well. Lead the way," Orochimaru said with a small smile, gesturing for her to proceed.

  ---

  Under Mikoto's guidance, Orochimaru arrived at the Uchiha compound, nestled within Konoha but distinct enough to feel like its own encve. In those days, the Uchiha had yet to face the full brunt of Konoha's suspicion and had not been relegated to the outskirts. Their compound was still a prominent part of the vilge, much like the Senju cn's area had once been.

  Upon Orochimaru's arrival, Uchiha Soyama, the Uchiha cn leader, greeted him personally. Though he didn't smile, his demeanor was welcoming enough, signaling that this was more than a routine formal visit.

  As the evening progressed, many members of the Uchiha cn attended the banquet held in his honor, though by the end of the night, only Uchiha Soyama and Uchiha Akihara remained with him in the room. It was clear that the real conversation was about to begin.

  After the other cn members left, Soyama gnced at Orochimaru with a hesitant look, as if weighing his words.

  "If there's something you'd like to discuss, cn leader, you may as well say it openly," Orochimaru said with a faint smile, sensing the Uchiha's caution.

  Soyama nodded, then let out a sigh. "Very well. Since you're being straightforward, I won't beat around the bush."

  He expined why the Uchiha cn had deyed in approaching Orochimaru. Despite their interest in his potion, they'd felt the need to proceed carefully. After all, Orochimaru was Hiruzen's disciple, and his retionship with Tsunade tied him further to the vilge's power structure. The Uchiha cn, already isoted by past tensions with the Senju and the vilge leadership, couldn't afford a misstep. They needed to be sure of Orochimaru's intentions before approaching him.

  "Which brings us to our purpose here tonight…" Soyama continued. "We're not concerned about who developed this potion or the specifics of its creation. We only want to know how many of these mental stimunts you have, and how many you're willing to offer the Uchiha cn."

  Orochimaru's lips curled into a sly smile. "If I told you I had three hundred and could give you all of them, would you dare to accept them, cn leader?"

  Soyama's expression froze for a moment before he let out a wry chuckle. "Ah, Lord Orochimaru, you see things with remarkable crity."

  From the moment the Second Hokage took power, Konoha had been wary of the Uchiha's strength, fearing it would become too great. Retions between the vilge and the cn had only just begun to improve, but if the Uchiha suddenly acquired hundreds of Sharingan, that fragile trust would be shattered in an instant.

  Orochimaru's comment made it clear, he understood the Uchiha's precarious position and knew there was no need for pretense.

  "Enough small talk," Orochimaru continued smoothly. "Now that we're speaking openly, I'll tell you the truth. Yes, the potion was indeed developed by me."

  Soyama's eyes widened slightly, though he quickly concealed his surprise.

  "However," Orochimaru added, "the quantity is limited, and I haven't made it public. As for the reason… I think we both know why."

  Soyama narrowed his eyes. "And what is it you want in exchange, Lord Orochimaru?"

  Orochimaru's expression remained calm, though his gaze sharpened. "It's simple. You provide me with sufficient blood samples, and I'll supply you with the mental stimunt potions."

  ****

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