In the dimly lit training ground of the underground palace, Orochimaru met with Gen'yūmaru.
"Orochimaru-sama!"
Gen'yūmaru bowed respectfully to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru smiled: "Did you awaken a Shinjutsu?"
Gen'yūmaru said hesitantly: "I'm not too sure either!"
Saying that, Gen'yūmaru swiped a claw at the void. Soon, a belt-like mark extended along the trajectory of his swipe to a nearby wall.
Orochimaru didn't rush to speak but quietly waited for Gen'yūmaru's next demonstration.
Subsequently, Gen'yūmaru lightly clawed at his own chest, and a similar belt-like mark appeared there. Then, he reached towards the belt-like mark on his chest and actually stuck his hand straight in.
"Eh!?"
Orochimaru's pupils shrank abruptly, then he reacted and turned his head sharply to look at the belt mark on the wall not far away. He found that Gen'yūmaru's arm, which had reached into his own chest, was actually protruding from the belt mark on the wall.
Orochimaru was overjoyed: "It's a space-time type Shinjutsu!"
Undoubtedly.
The Shinjutsu Gen'yūmaru awakened was exactly the 'Claw Marks' possessed by Code in the original timeline!
The ability of 'Claw Marks' is similar to the Fourth Hokage's 'Flying Thunder God Technique'. Those belt-like marks laid down by the user are the 'Claw Marks'.
These 'Claw Marks', like the formula markings of the 'Flying Thunder God Technique', are coordinates for locating space. Once the user lays down 'Claw Marks', they can shuttle freely between these 'Claw Marks'.
Just like how Gen'yūmaru's hand clearly reached towards the claw mark on his own chest, yet it extended out from the claw mark on the distant wall.
Gen'yūmaru then introduced: "It's called 'Claw Marks'!"
Orochimaru clicked his tongue in wonder: "Good, very good!"
Even though the existence of the Research Institute had raised the high-end combat power of the Shinobi World significantly, 'Space-Time Ninjutsu' remained extremely rare.
Experimental subjects like Orochimaru and Owl, although having undergone the ritual's baptism and obtained 'Six Paths Level' combat power, did not possess abilities that true 'Six Paths Level' beings could easily accomplish, such as condensing 'Truth-Seeking Balls' or opening 'Space Portals'.
So Orochimaru was very interested in the 'Claw Marks' awakened by Gen'yūmaru, and even already regarded it as his own.
Sensing Orochimaru's heated and undisguised gaze, Gen'yūmaru's expression turned solemn: "Orochimaru-sama!"
Orochimaru turned a deaf ear and strode towards Gen'yūmaru.
Gen'yūmaru took a step back and shouted again: "Orochimaru-sama!"
Orochimaru didn't stop, smiling as he said: "This 'Claw Marks' is a type of Shinjutsu. You can't control it; better hand it over to me!"
Seeing Orochimaru reveal his true colors, Gen'yūmaru immediately swung his arm at the void ahead. With a swish, a claw mark extended along the trajectory of Gen'yūmaru's swing and imprinted on Orochimaru's body.
Orochimaru looked down with a smile. He didn't dodge or evade, seeming not to care at all about the claw mark imprinted on him.
Gen'yūmaru retreated backward while reaching towards the claw mark on his chest again, then extending his hand from the claw mark on Orochimaru's body, instantly grabbing Orochimaru's neck: "Orochimaru-sama, I hope you can calm down! I am no longer the Gen'yūmaru from before. If you insist on attacking me, I will have no choice but to kill you!"
Yakushi Kabuto on the side was a bit nervous: "Orochimaru-sama!"
Orochimaru raised his hand, signaling Kabuto not to be nervous, then said to Gen'yūmaru: "Do you think you can escape my grasp?"
Gen'yūmaru said coldly: "With 'Claw Marks', I can go anywhere I want! Moreover, your life or death is now in my hands. With just a light squeeze, I can snap your neck, so you'd better not act rashly."
Orochimaru, who had just stopped, took another step forward, walking towards Gen'yūmaru with a smile.
"Don't move! Stand there and don't move!"
The bewildered Gen'yūmaru increased the strength in his hand.
However, Orochimaru was completely unmoved, continuing to approach Gen'yūmaru without stopping.
"You forced me!"
Gen'yūmaru roared, then the hand gripping Orochimaru's neck exerted force abruptly.
It should be known that having survived the ritual, his strength had long surpassed ordinary ninjas. Even if it were a piece of iron, he could snap it.
But just as he exerted force with his hand, a strong sense of discomfort surged through his body. It felt as if something was absorbing his power, making him feel weak all over. Even the chakra in his body began to loosen and leak out.
And the source of this leakage was none other than Orochimaru, who was walking towards him step by step.
Gen'yūmaru looked sharply at Orochimaru and shouted with a terrified expression: "You... what exactly did you do to me?"
Orochimaru walked up to Gen'yūmaru and patted his shoulder lightly: "Your Shinjutsu, I'll be taking it!"
"D-Damn it!"
Only then did Gen'yūmaru realize that not only was his body weak and chakra leaking, but even the 'Claw Marks' he controlled before were out of control at this moment. His arm passing through the 'Claw Marks' actually couldn't be withdrawn.
And right in front of Gen'yūmaru, Orochimaru reached his hand into the 'Claw Marks' on his own body, then extended it from the 'Claw Marks' on Gen'yūmaru's body, reversely grabbing Gen'yūmaru's neck: "Your life, I'll be taking it too!"
Obviously.
Orochimaru intentionally got hit by Gen'yūmaru's 'Claw Marks' just now. His purpose was to use the 'Claw Marks' as a medium to activate his own Shinjutsu 'Absorption' and absorb Gen'yūmaru's Shinjutsu 'Claw Marks'.
Everything went as he expected. Without much trouble, his 'Absorption' absorbed Gen'yūmaru's 'Claw Marks', becoming the second Shinjutsu under his control.
As for Gen'yūmaru, the experimental subject who helped him nurture the Shinjutsu, he naturally had to kill him to silence him. Otherwise, once the Research Institute found out, it might attract Shinji's attention.
So although Gen'yūmaru was a good combat asset, Orochimaru had no intention of subduing him. After absorbing the Shinjutsu, he immediately struck with lethal intent.
Crack...
With a crisp sound, Gen'yūmaru's neck was snapped by Orochimaru.
Gen'yūmaru, with weak breath, didn't die immediately thanks to his powerful vitality. He slumped on the ground and begged Orochimaru: "Please help my clansmen..."
Orochimaru looked indifferent, then turned and walked out. While walking, he instructed Yakushi Kabuto standing by the side: "Dispose of him!"
"Yes!"
Kabuto responded softly.
Subsequently, Kabuto walked up to Gen'yūmaru. Looking at the dying boy, Kabuto said softly: "Let me tell you, your clansmen have long been dead."
To eliminate traces, all loose ends regarding the experimental subjects abducted by Orochimaru had long been cleaned up...