"With Lord Orochimaru's current physical condition, he won't be able to last much longer. Once we return, we must prepare the Living Corpse Reincarnation ritual as soon as possible…"
Only Kabuto Yakushi, who was closest to Orochimaru, could clearly sense just how terrible the latter's body had become.
Orochimaru's skin had always been deathly pale, but now he looked as if that pale complexion had been bleached several more times over. That color was no longer something a human face should have.
As expected, the earlier battle had been far too much for him.
Originally, if Orochimaru wanted to accomplish his objective, quietly carrying out his plan would have been the most appropriate course of action. Yet for some unknown reason, this time Orochimaru had placed particular importance on making the other party "submit wholeheartedly." He would not allow the target's own will to contain even the slightest refusal.
In that case, one side had to act voluntarily, while the other side could only adopt a somewhat more forceful attitude.
Fortunately, the target needed immense power to achieve his own goal. Orochimaru only needed to prove that he had the ability to grant that power. So, in order to demonstrate that he could do so, he had caused a huge commotion in Konoha while it was almost at its strongest.
Still, it had to be said that ever since completing the Living Corpse Reincarnation, Orochimaru's reincarnation frequency had been extremely high. This technique had a three-year cooldown, and he basically changed bodies every three years.
Considering the compatibility between body and soul, frequent reincarnation did not seem like a good thing no matter how one looked at it, but Orochimaru still did it.
The reason was simple. If he could switch to a body in better condition, why would he not?
For Orochimaru, changing bodies was like changing batteries when one had run out of power.
With his ability to "research" and his spirit for reckless experimentation, he would surely perform some kind of experiment on himself from time to time. Because of that, Orochimaru was extremely demanding on his hardware. A shinobi's body could be used for sixty years without issue, while Orochimaru could ruin one in just three years…
Or rather, perhaps it should be considered fortunate that it had a three-year shelf life at all? That meant Orochimaru had been using it "very carefully."
"He's here…"
Orochimaru spat out those two words in his low, hoarse voice.
Kabuto's hair nearly stood on end, because he saw the figure of Orochimaru's "old friend" entering their field of vision from afar.
He released the right hand that had been supporting Orochimaru. With a hook of his fingers, a kunai appeared in his palm. Then, with a flick of his left sleeve, several willow-leaf-shaped scalpels were caught between his fingers.
"Lord Orochimaru, you should leave first after all… I'll hold him off for a moment."
If one examined Kabuto Yakushi in detail, one would find that he was quite a complicated person. His feelings toward Orochimaru were less "loyalty" and more "expectation."
Kabuto had always expected Orochimaru to be someone "omnipotent." Having no "self" of his own, he wished to continue following such a person forever. That was the reason he refused to abandon Orochimaru.
In truth, Orochimaru was almost omnipotent…
Except when it came to defeating Hagoromo.
No matter what, Kabuto could not allow Orochimaru, weakened as he was, to die here. In his first reaction, he still regarded Hagoromo as a pursuer from Konoha.
As for trying to stop the White Yaksha for a moment, that was not because Kabuto was arrogant. Rather, he saw that Hagoromo had not come alone.
Hagoromo had brought Naruto with him. More accurately, Hagoromo was carrying Naruto on his back, while the latter looked as if he had fallen asleep. Hagoromo had not actually come to capture Orochimaru. To prevent Naruto from shouting the moment he saw Uncle Snake, Hagoromo had made him "fall asleep."
"Kabuto, don't move recklessly. He probably has no hostility," Orochimaru said.
Although Orochimaru's condition was currently terrible to the extreme, his attitude did not change much after seeing Hagoromo. He remained calm.
"It looks that way, but it's better to be safe," Kabuto said.
Kabuto's understanding of Hagoromo was clearly not as deep as Orochimaru's. He feared that the White Yaksha might suddenly lash out.
In reality, however, this was basically the kind of situation where if you did not provoke him, he would not bother with you. But once one side showed hostility…
Hagoromo approached step by step, and Kabuto grew increasingly tense. Then Kabuto felt as if the other party had glanced at him. Immediately after he blinked, he no longer had the chance to confirm whether that had really happened.
Kabuto found himself in a pitch-black space. In every direction, above his head and beneath his feet, there was nothing to rely on.
Then, in that inescapable place, from every direction he hurriedly looked, all kinds of ninja tools of varying lengths appeared and shot toward him in a panicked barrage.
He could not dodge, could not defend, and could not even move!
Genjutsu was considered Hagoromo's weak point, but that depended on whom he was being compared to.
Of course, he could not cast genjutsu directly through ocular power like an Uchiha's Sharingan. He still needed to form hand seals.
However, at this moment, he was carrying Naruto on his back, and his hands were wrapped behind him… With such an absurd body structure for forming hand seals, Kabuto naturally had no way of noticing.
Orochimaru glanced at Kabuto, then raised a slightly trembling hand and placed it on the latter's shoulder. Only then did he say to Hagoromo, "Temporary Paralysis Technique?"
"What an unpleasant genjutsu."
"It's only ordinary. It's far inferior to Uncle Jiraiya's."
It really was far inferior. In Hagoromo's genjutsu, even Orochimaru in his current state could break free.
Kabuto crouched on the ground, gasping heavily. The earlier experience and his current tension had made him break out in cold sweat in an instant. The person before him was far more terrifying than he had imagined.
Orochimaru did not respond to Hagoromo's words, because he did not know Jiraiya could use the Temporary Paralysis Technique.
Or rather, Hagoromo's basis for comparison itself had a problem. He compared everything to "the strongest," so naturally, sometimes his own techniques appeared to be merely "ordinary."
The Temporary Paralysis Technique was a rather special kind of genjutsu. Its main feature was adding binding power into the illusion. Even if the opponent clearly knew they were trapped in a genjutsu, their body could not move, and it was also extremely difficult to dispel. They could only be "slaughtered at another's mercy."
Jiraiya's "Sage Art: Toad Confrontation Chant: Acala" was the strongest Temporary Paralysis Technique Hagoromo knew of. It could also be classified as one of the strongest genjutsu. It was powerful enough that neither the Rinnegan nor the Sharingan could see through it.
However, rather than calling it Jiraiya's technique, it was more accurate to say it was a skill he could only use together with the two Great Toad Sages of Mount Myōboku.
And so, Hagoromo unknowingly leaked information again. Orochimaru hurriedly made a note in his little book:
Jiraiya can use a powerful Temporary Paralysis Technique.
This special type of genjutsu was one of Uncle Snake's eternal sore spots. Back then, he had been defeated by Uchiha Itachi's similar genjutsu, Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique. He had even lost his beloved left hand of many years in order to escape that technique.
"Hagoromo, what exactly is your purpose in 'pursuing' me in such a hurry? Surely it isn't because of what just happened in Konoha. Just now, I perfectly fulfilled everyone's expectations… including the Third Hokage's."
Orochimaru probed indirectly. He knew Hagoromo should be chasing him for some other reason, but as for what that reason was, to be honest, he dared not recklessly guess what strange idea had popped into Hagoromo's head this time.
Besides, the child he was carrying should be that Nine-Tails brat, right?
Hagoromo did not respond to Orochimaru directly. Instead, he said, "With your current condition, your body shouldn't last much longer, right? When will the reincarnation ritual begin?"
"This near-death state… is simply perfect."
Even Orochimaru probably would not feel comfortable hearing Hagoromo speak as if he were eagerly waiting for him to faceplant.
But with Hagoromo's next sentence, that discomfort vanished completely.
"Orochimaru, are you interested in resurrection techniques other than the Impure World Reincarnation?"
Orochimaru: "…"
This question seemed a little unnecessary.
Would Orochimaru be interested?
Yes.
Extremely interested.
Very interested.
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