Orochimaru stood up and picked up the glass case containing shed snakeskin.
The first time he had seen a white snake's shed skin was when he and Sarutobi Hiruzen had gone to visit their parents' memorial.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had told him that the white snake symbolized luck and rebirth. So Orochimaru had taken it as a luck charm.
Later, Orochimaru saw Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki, accidentally step on an explosive tag and get blown up.A life suddenly disappeared before his eyes.
At that moment, Orochimaru suddenly realized that life was very fragile. Later, he witnessed the death of Kato Dan, who had almost become Tsunade's lover.
Orochimaru still remembered the scene at that time. Kato Dan's internal organs were blown away, and his life was in critical condition.
At that time, Tsunade, the best and strongest medical ninja in Konoha, desperately tried to save Kato Dan.
But even when she used medical ninjutsu like crazy, she couldn't regenerate Kato Dan's internal organs.
Orochimaru said, "It is rumored that white snakes possess the power of regeneration and luck, but unfortunately, they are just some boring legends. Whether it's a white snake or a human, they are ugly when they are about to die."
Orochimaru put down the glass case in his hand. On the table, there were several specimens soaked in solution.
White snakes are indeed hard to find. But it was nothing to Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru-sama."
Kiyoshi calmly said, "Do you know why white snakes shed their skin?"
Orochimaru paused slightly and turned his head to say, "Shedding skin is just a natural process for creatures to grow, nothing special."
Kiyoshi smiled slightly, his eyes still on his white snake.
He said, "Orochimaru-sama, I don't think shedding skin is just a biological or physical process."
"Oh?"
Orochimaru's eyebrows raised slightly, his voice hoarse.
"Then what do you think shedding skin means?"
He wanted to see what kind of words Kiyoshi, a kid similar to himself, would say.
Anko, who was standing next to him, felt that she couldn't understand the conversation between Kiyoshi and Orochimaru.
Orochimaru, who had always paid attention to science and rigor, was actually talking about legends and myths with Kiyoshi?
Anko was not interested in these things. She just wanted to know if Kiyoshi would pay her back for her dango later.
That was a high-end product!
In order to buy that dango, almost all of her pocket money had been used up.
"The so-called regeneration happens because the past body can no longer bear oneself."
"Then through shedding skin, one obtains a new body. Every shedding is abandoning the shackles of the past and extending life."
Kiyoshi once again talked about the topic of eternal life.
In Konoha, this was something that couldn't even be talked about.
Because other ninjas would only think it was rebellious and blasphemous to the natural laws of life and death.
But Orochimaru had been pursuing this goal all his life, and all his actions were based on this foundation.
Orochimaru frowned slightly, and put down the glass case in his hand.
He said in a hoarse voice, "What do you want to say? Even white snakes cannot truly escape the fate of death. They shed their skin, but they will still die eventually."
Kiyoshi said, "Orochimaru-sama, you said that white snakes symbolize luck and regeneration."
"Their death is only the end of their physical body, but their souls, their wills, can be continued through shedding skin, just like the snakeskin Anko had just talked about. That white snake has long disappeared, but the shed snakeskin is still here."
Orochimaru went silent for a moment, his eyes falling on the white snake specimens again.
His fingers lightly tapped on the table, making a low sound, as if he was thinking about something.
After a long time, he slowly opened his mouth.
"The continuation of the soul...will...interesting idea."
Kiyoshi's idea suddenly broke his old way of thinking. It was like a thunderclap.
The white snake still dies after shedding its skin because it cannot truly transcend the concept of life.
But ninjas are different. The soul and will are not untouchable areas for them.
If ninjas could shed their old bodies like white snakes and replace them with young and powerful bodies, wouldn't that be a kind of eternal life?
The so-called soul is attached to spiritual energy, and spiritual energy is closely related to physical energy.
If a young body nourishes this spiritual energy at all times, then how long can the soul live?
Can eternal life be achieved?
Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth. This... was indeed promising.
In fact, he had already grasped some clues about "regeneration."
Activating the body's latent potential makes people stronger, and at the same time, it also improves their regeneration ability.
The "curse mark" is a body activation technique.
Then, can he get his hands on "eternal life"?
"Hehe, your insights are unique, Kiyoshi-kun. You will definitely achieve great things in the future. Are you interested in becoming my assistant?"
Orochimaru extended an invitation.
"Orochimaru-sama, I am a disciple of Nono-sensei."
Kiyoshi shook his head, pretending to be embarrassed and refused.
"A disciple of Nono, huh..."
Orochimaru was still smiling. It didn't matter. He had time to wait.
Nono had already proposed to Danzo the idea of leaving Konoha and retiring from the ninja world.
When that time comes, what reason will Kiyoshi have not to join him?
"Since Kiyoshi-kun and I are both fated with snakes, I will give this to you."
Orochimaru suddenly opened his mouth wide, opening and closing his mouth at an exaggerated angle.
With the movement of his Adam's apple, he spat out a scroll.
He wiped the mucus on it with his hand and handed it to Kiyoshi, saying.
"This is the Orochimaru-style Body Replacement Technique."
Orochimaru handed this ninjutsu scroll to Kiyoshi.
He had been thinking about shedding skin and regeneration before, but he had not associated the soul and will with it.
If you want someone to do things for you, appropriate benefits are essential.
Anko looked at Orochimaru and Kiyoshi in disbelief.
Orochimaru actually gave Kiyoshi a ninjutsu as soon as he came in.
In this day and age, can ninjutsu be used as a souvenir?
Anko suddenly felt uncomfortable. She hadn't even received Orochimaru's teachings yet.
"Thank you, Orochimaru-sama."
Kiyoshi accepted the scroll.
Orochimaru, who is still considered orderly now, is not as arrogant as he will be later in the future.
Even his methods of recruiting subordinates and assistants are much gentler.
"Anko, send Kiyoshi back."
Orochimaru said to Anko, who had been waiting beside him.
He felt that this seedling was good, and he also had the idea of taking him as a disciple.
"Understood, Orochimaru-sama."
Even though she felt that Kiyoshi was not qualified to take that ninjutsu, Anko lowered her head and replied obediently upon hearing Orochimaru's order.
Then she took Kiyoshi out. Kiyoshi put away the scroll and followed her out.
"Remember to pay me back for the dango."
Anko once again made a request for compensation.
"Okay."
Kiyoshi, who had obtained a new ninjutsu, was in a good mood and agreed to buy a new dango on the street to compensate Anko.