At this moment, Orochimaru was full of doubts.
He and Yami weren't close, and they had never even met before.
But there was some fate between them. After all, he had once given Yami the Kusanagi sword, and he also had a good relationship with Danzō. The two could be considered covert collaborators.
So why did Yami suddenly come looking for him?
Orochimaru was no fool. He understood clearly that Yami couldn't have come on the orders of the Third Hokage. He knew his teacher too well. There was no way Hiruzen would dispatch someone this powerful just to hunt him down.
Could it be... Danzō?
In just a short moment, Orochimaru considered countless possibilities, as well as Yami's reason for being here.
Even so, he didn't forget to let out a strange chuckle.
"What a rare guest... the Konoha Shinigami, a genius ninja said to rival the Fourth Hokage, actually came to this remote place of mine."
"Danzō's influence remains as sharp as ever. It hasn't even been long, yet he's already grasped the situation in the Sound Village. Root... really is terrifying."
[Host establishes a fear bond with Orochimaru. Special talent 'Ninjutsu Research Focus' awarded.]
[Ninjutsu Research Focus: Increases host's efficiency in learning ninjutsu.]
Ignoring the system prompt in his mind, Yami smiled slightly, like a perfectly polite young man.
"Orochimaru-san is too modest. I've been wanting to visit for some time, but I've been busy training. Now that I have free time, I thought I'd drop by."
"As for the Sound Village and your connection to it, Konoha hasn't investigated it yet. I only learned of it by chance and came to pay a visit."
"Oh?"
Orochimaru's eyes lit up slightly.
Seeing that Yami wasn't here to fight, he was somewhat relieved.
A battle was the last thing he wanted.
Although he had been nearly killed by Uchiha Itachi, the strength between ninjas couldn't be measured solely by scale. It was always a comprehensive competition of ability.
He didn't believe that Yami's genjutsu was stronger than Mangekyō Sharingan.
But one thing was certain: Yami was no weakling. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been evaluated as a "perfect ninja" by Itachi.
So, if fighting could be avoided, it was better not to fight.
The Sound Village had just been established. He wasn't interested in rebuilding from scratch again.
The atmosphere between them relaxed considerably.
As for the unconscious shinobi lying on the ground, Orochimaru didn't even glance at him.
"I've heard of your genius back in Konoha. Is the Kusanagi sword still to your liking?"
Yami casually twirled the blade, its sharp cold light flashing. "Very useful. Speaking of which, you only gave me this gift once. Why didn't you give me another?"
Orochimaru nearly choked.
Did this kid seriously think he gave away the Kusanagi sword willingly? And now had the nerve to ask for more?
Damn it.
Everyone in the Shimura clan is the same.
One betrayed an ally, the other robbed him blind. All of them deserve to die!
"Yami-kun, you're joking."
Orochimaru cursed internally, but maintained his smile. "Treasures like the Kusanagi sword are rare. And you wouldn't care for an ordinary gift."
"Let's get to the point. You've caused quite a commotion. A number of my valuable samples have been ruined."
"There's no real purpose. I'm just here to find a teacher."
Yami's words stunned Orochimaru.
"A teacher? Yami-kun, are you joking?"
"With your strength, there's no one in the entire ninja world qualified to be your teacher. I'm just a rogue ninja. I'm not worthy."
Yami nodded in agreement. "You're quite self-aware. In combat, you're a bit short to be my teacher."
"..."
This kid really deserved a beating.
But Yami ignored Orochimaru's mood and continued, "Still, you do have your strengths. I admire your work in forbidden techniques and summoning arts. I've long been fascinated with Ryūchi Cave."
"The most important thing is..."
Yami smiled. "There are only one and a half people in the entire ninja world who can be called scientists. One is you. The other is Obito."
"And it just so happens, I'm also interested in this field. So I came."
"Huh..."
This time, Orochimaru was truly surprised. His eyes flickered continuously.
He hadn't expected Yami's goal to be this.
Very few people in the ninja world cared about science. Konoha had its own research department, but most of it was geared toward combat use. Very few had the patience or resolve to engage in pure research.
Because of that, Orochimaru had always felt his pursuits were too advanced and unpopular.
Even so, he still wasn't entirely convinced.
"Yami-kun, why are you interested in science?"
"Logically speaking, shouldn't you be chasing stronger ninjutsu, greater power, or status?"
"Why not both?" Yami responded calmly. "Science can also help ninjas grow stronger. Ordinary shinobi can only rely on scientific power to push their limits."
That single statement hit Orochimaru right in the heart.
This world was truly unfair.
He, Orochimaru, was also a once-in-a-generation genius. He became a Genin at six, a student of the Third Hokage, and earned the title of Sannin by the age of twenty-six.
But after that, his strength plateaued. He reached his limit.
Then came Uchiha Itachi, who at thirteen years old crushed his pride with a mere pair of eyes.
That was the power of bloodline, a natural barrier that separated monsters from geniuses.
"I see... Yami-kun."
Orochimaru instinctively assumed that Yami had also sensed his own limit and wanted to break through by other means—thus his interest in technology.
Well, he wasn't entirely wrong.
But it wasn't Yami who had reached the limit. It was Kurenai, Yugao, and others.
The two major plug-ins of the ninja world—Sharingan and Hashirama cells.
Sharingan had to be transplanted, and Hashirama cells were ridiculously overpowered, with leftover samples everywhere. Yami wouldn't let anyone use them lightly.
Currently, his own body was on par with Senju Hashirama. Sooner or later, there'd be another ninja world plug-in called "Yami Cells."
Yami's goal in seeking Orochimaru was to enhance his scientific research capabilities, and along the way, to develop and refine several forbidden techniques.
As for himself, he would continue to patiently gather power until he was truly invincible.
"But... why should I agree?"
Orochimaru suddenly shifted tone. His smile turned playful. "This is the result of my years of research."
"You think two sentences are enough for me to just give it all away? That's a little unrealistic, don't you think?"
He may have praised Yami, but how could someone like Orochimaru easily share the fruits of his life's work?
Tch—!
A blinding bolt of lightning zipped past Orochimaru's cheek before he could react. It clipped a strand of his hair and blasted into the wall behind him.
"Someone once tried to talk to me the way you did. I ended up beating him up three times."
Yami looked at the lightning spear in his hand calmly. "The famous Itachi who slaughtered his clan awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. So what?"
"People only live once. They can't squander their lives."
"You think you can kill me?"
Orochimaru didn't flinch at the Chidori Sharp Spear. His pupils narrowed.
"No."
Yami answered bluntly.
You could say Orochimaru was evil. You could say he wasn't strong. But you couldn't deny this man's survival skills.
Other than Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, no one in the ninja world could match Orochimaru's ability to stay alive.
Even Yami wasn't confident in fully erasing him from existence.
But...
The boy smiled faintly. "It's true I can't kill you, but I can outlast you."
"I know what you value most is immortality and learning every ninjutsu."
"If I told Jiraiya your location, do you think you could ever find peace again?"
Orochimaru's expression darkened.
Yami struck again. "And this base... it must have cost a fortune to build a lab of this scale."
He dispersed the lightning and formed a translucent cube in his palm.
"Dust Release?!"
Orochimaru's pupils shrank.
"Guess how many attacks I need to destroy your Sound Village? And how many times I can do it?"
Orochimaru had never wanted to kill someone so badly.
If his glare could kill, Yami would already be worse off than Nawaki who got blown up.
This type of psychological torture was too much.
Jiraiya was like gum stuck to your shoe—once you got him, you could forget about peaceful research.
And if Yami kept dropping Dust Release bombs from time to time...
He'd probably die of old age before ever perfecting his immortality technique or mastering all jutsu.
But despite his rage, Orochimaru had to admit he was afraid.
The cold rationality of a snake pushed him toward the optimal decision.
"Yami-kun, you sure know how to joke."
Orochimaru smiled softly. "I'm delighted someone appreciates my research. There are too many idiots in the ninja world who don't understand what science truly represents. It's rare to meet someone like you."
"If you want to research with me, of course I welcome it."
Yami smiled and dispersed the Dust Release.
"Then I'll be in your care, Orochimaru-sensei."
"I'll teach you everything I know."
The tension in the room vanished. The two now looked like they were getting along, with no trace of the previous life-or-death stand-off.
When Orochimaru heard that Yami planned to stay a while, he didn't object.
A small white snake slithered out of the lab. Ten minutes later, a man followed it back.
Upon entering, he ignored the mess and respectfully bowed.
"Lord Orochimaru."
"You should've heard the name before—Konoha Shinigami, Shimura Yami. From now on, call him Master Yami."
"Go prepare a room, Kabuto."
Yakushi Kabuto smiled slightly. "Master Yami, please follow me."
Yami blinked.
Wasn't this guy stationed at Kirigakure? How did he end up with Orochimaru?
Is this fate just too hard to cut off?
(To be continued.)
***
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