In Naruto, multiverse and more with Gacha system

Orochimaru leaned back, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"I..."

Rika opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Not because someone interrupted her—because there was nothing to say.

Yes, Shizuka had sacrificed herself. But that didn't mean she had to do the same.

A smart person wouldn't throw their life away just to follow.

A smart person would find a way to save her friend.

The problem was, she didn't know how.

And that? That was rare. One of the few times in her life where she had no plan, no answer.

Just an empty, useless feeling sitting heavy in her chest.

She turned to Shizuka. Maybe she had something to say. Maybe she had an idea.

But Shizuka just smiled, her usual carefree, nothing-bothers-me smile, and said,

"Don't worry, you don't have to follow me~."

Like it was that simple.

Like she hadn't just given up her freedom.

Like this didn't matter.

Rika's hands curled into fists under the table.

That settled it.

She turned back to him.

Rika was staring at Orochimaru—defiant, bold, like a moth flying headfirst into the flame.

"Can you free Shizuka?"

"No."

The answer came easily. Effortless. Dismissive.

And just like that, the spark in her eyes burned hotter.

Ahh, humans. So emotional. So predictable.

She clenched her fists under the table, fighting to keep her voice steady.

"Then take me too."

If she couldn't save Shizuka—she'd share the burden.

And that—that made Orochimaru pause.

Not because it moved him. Not because he cared.

But because it was interesting.

And Orochimaru loved interesting things.

Shizuka blinked, then sighed dramatically.

"Ahh, Rika-chan~ are you sure? It's really not that bad, you know. Our Master takes very good care of us."

"Bold of you," Orochimaru murmured, his tone smooth, almost amused. "Offering yourself up so easily."

And she met his gaze, unwavering.

"She is my friend."

A declaration. A promise. A challenge.

Fascinating.

Orochimaru didn't say anything for a moment.

He didn't have to.

He wasn't a telepath, but he didn't need to be one to know—Rika didn't trust him.

None of them did.

Not that it mattered.

Some might wonder why he even bothered with them.

Why he let them live, despite his nature.

Was it because they were useful? Because killing them would be a waste of potential?

No.

Their knowledge, skills, or experience—none of that was the main reason.

Not when he was Orochimaru.

One of the top minds of the Naruto world.

Not when he had the template of one of the greatest minds from One Punch Man.

Not when he had a literal gacha system.

So, what? Was it because of their looks?

Had he fallen for them? Gotten all soft and sentimental? Was this the start of some cliché "Villain Falls for the Heroine" arc?

Not even close.

He could still kill them.

Any one of them.

In the next second.

And he wouldn't regret it.

But he wouldn't.

Not because of their skills. Not because of their beauty.

Because they were canon.

Like him.

And that? That made things so much more fun.

Be honest—if you got isekai'd into a world you knew from fiction, would you just casually murder people you used to see on screen?

People whose deaths never happened in the source material?

Yeah, didn't think so.

But it wasn't just about them being canon.

He wanted to see.

To observe.

To test something.

That invisible thread called predefined destiny.

That invisible force called plot.

To test the effect of fate.

The timeline.

And what better testing ground… than a low-level world?

If he hadn't regained his memories, he probably would have followed along too—like every other piece on the board.

But now?

Now that he had them?

Now, he wasn't just some random shogi piece.

Not some pawn in a 4D chess match between cosmic beings.

He was a player.

And the entire Omniverse?

That was his board.

He wasn't arrogant enough to believe only he was a player, that everyone else was just a mindless piece moving at fate's whim.

He knew better.

The cosmic entities, the so-called gods, the ones who sat above existence itself?

They weren't fools.

But they shouldn't be invincible, either.

Maybe they could be challenged. Outplayed. Overcome.

The Biggest Question

And most importantly?

Who even thinks there's no ROB?

No all-powerful being pulling the strings? No unseen force dictating every move, every choice, every so-called "coincidence"?

No one else had his exact situation.

No one else had system.

Only a fool would think otherwise.

He thought back to the countless fanfictions he remembered.

Stories that once seemed like nothing more than fiction.

Just creative works from bored minds.

But now?

Now, he wasn't so sure.

Who's to say they weren't just as real as him?

That each and every one of those worlds didn't exist somewhere, playing out their tales, evolving past their original scripts?

And if that was true…

Then just how big is this game?

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