"If it's about recalling souls, I have a method."
Hearing this, Ryuji and Tsunade fixed their gazes on him.
Orochimaru calmly picked up his teacup, took a small sip, then said, "I know of a forbidden technique that can briefly summon a person's soul from the Pure Land back to the living world."
"Briefly won't work. It must be permanent."
Ryuji shook his head slightly.
"Then there's no way."
Orochimaru spread his hands, indicating to Tsunade he was also powerless.
The technique he used to recall souls of the dead was the Impure World Reincarnation, developed by the Second Hokage. It used remains of the deceased and a living sacrifice to summon the soul from the Pure Land into the sacrifice for control.
But at this stage, the technique was an incomplete, flawed product. Not only was the success rate extremely low, but the summoned dead also had vastly reduced power compared to their living selves and couldn't be maintained for long.
"Must the soul be recalled permanently?"
Tsunade bit her lower lip, her face filled with frustration.
Ryuji hesitated, then replied truthfully, "It must be permanently recalled. Otherwise, even if we create new bodies for them and return their souls, after some time, they'll depart again."
"Hoo~" Tsunade took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. She forced a bitter smile. "I understand. I'll try to search for a method to permanently recall souls."
"I advise you not to search," Orochimaru said.
"Why?"
"Techniques involving the soul are mostly taboo, requiring a price. With your character, even if you found one, you wouldn't use it. In the end, it would only be false hope."
"...I see."
Tsunade fell silent for a moment, the bitterness in her mouth deepening.
She slammed the table, standing up. "You two chat. I'm going drinking."
Without waiting for their reaction, she turned and left.
Neither tried to stop her.
They both felt the woman's inner bitterness. Only alcohol could soothe that wounded heart now.
Bang!
Hearing the paper sliding door slam shut, Ryuji withdrew his gaze, looking at Orochimaru.
Orochimaru looked back at the same moment.
Ryuji smiled lightly. "Have you considered the matter from last time?"
The matter from last time, of course, referred to exchanging soul creation technology for the Scroll of Seals.
Though not explicitly stated, Orochimaru understood.
He shook his head gently. "Still undecided."
"That's fine. It's normal to be cautious with important matters. However..." Ryuji paused, then continued, "I don't need the original Scroll of Seals. A hand-copied version is fine. I only care about the forbidden techniques recorded on it, not the scroll itself."
"I know that."
As he spoke, a trace of a smile appeared on Orochimaru's face. "But even so, I need to consider it carefully."
"Alright, take your time then!"
Ryuji said indifferently, picking up a pastry from the plate to eat.
Having sparred with Gin most of the day, then fighting Jiraiya after returning, he was somewhat hungry, eating without much concern for appearances.
This intrigued Orochimaru.
Though Ryuji was a fifteen-year-old youth, his usual demeanor made one forget that, seeming more like a seasoned veteran.
But now, eating without regard for manners, he truly seemed his age.
'Which side is the real you?'
Orochimaru felt interest stir.
His eyes shifted. He suddenly asked, "Ryuji-kun, what are your thoughts on war?"
Ryuji paused his eating. "Which aspect?"
After asking, he resumed eating.
"All of it."
"All..."
Ryuji swallowed the food in his throat, took a big gulp of tea, let out a satisfying burp, then said, "If you mean all aspects, I could talk until dawn tomorrow and not finish."
"Oh~"
Orochimaru didn't affirm or deny, but didn't question either.
After a moment's thought, he asked another question, "Ryuji-kun, achieving such success at such a young age, have you thought about what kind of person you want to become in the future, or what your dream is?"
"No."
Ryuji answered without hesitation, the answer surprising Orochimaru.
Generally, those who achieve fame young have a deep obsession with some pursuit. Only such extraordinary obsession gives one the drive to strive.
Otherwise, with so many talented people, why are you so exceptional?
Orochimaru always thought Ryuji, like himself, Jiraiya, or Tsunade, had a deep obsession with something. But the answer was the opposite.
"I never thought about what kind of person to become, nor what to pursue in the future. I just want to cherish each present day."
"Has your pursuit already been achieved, then? I see."
Orochimaru understood, envy unconcealed on his face.
But Ryuji shook his head. "Saying it's already achieved isn't quite right either. It's only temporarily achieved. If I don't work hard to protect it, the achieved pursuit can still be destroyed."
Ryuji referred to possible future crises.
Like Six Paths Madara, Kaguya, even Momoshiki or Otsutsuki Isshiki.
Their emergence would shatter the current peace. All his preparations were to meet these crises.
Orochimaru didn't know this, thinking Ryuji was being vigilant in peace, worried about the Shinobi World's chaotic situation.
He silently assessed: 'Intelligent, hardworking, exceptionally talented, achieving fame young yet remaining humble. Senki Ryuji might surpass everyone, reaching unprecedented heights.'
Later, they chatted for a while longer until the moon rose high before Orochimaru took his leave.
"Finally over for today."
Ryuji sat up, stretching lazily, preparing to go to the lab to research new auxiliary armor.
But just then, the door knocked.
"Come in."
The door slid open. Kana, wearing a low-cut mesh-patterned Shinobi attire, entered.
"Something up?"
Ryuji asked while massaging his stiff neck.
"Um..."
A soft, hesitant voice came from her.
Ryuji looked over curiously. The girl's head was lowered, her face bright red, puzzling him.
"Is something wrong?"
"..."
The girl fidgeted with her clothes, silent.
If Ryuji didn't understand now, he'd have wasted two lifetimes.
However...
"I'm not in the mood right now."
Though it had been over ten days, the previous month and a half had been too intense. He felt somewhat indifferent to such matters now; even with a new body, he lacked interest.
"I thought of a great idea. It'll definitely get you interested."
The girl lifted her head, looking at Ryuji expectantly. Her full, fleshy face was like a ripe apple, glowing red.
Ryuji looked at the girl, silent for a moment. "...You have ten minutes. If it doesn't work in ten, we'll call it a day."
"It will work."
Kana smiled, kneeling before Ryuji...
The moon departed with the forty-thousand-word censorship beast.
The night passed uneventfully.
…
The next day.
Ryuji slowly awoke. The girl beside him was still sleeping soundly.
He didn't disturb Kana.
Exhausted from trying to please him last night, she deserved more sleep.
Ryuji gently extracted his numb left arm, got up, dressed, and left the bedroom.
Aka waited outside with washing supplies and hot water.
After a quick wash, Ryuji headed to Training Ground 32, munching on a bun Aka made.
He hadn't fully adapted to his new combat style. With time, he'd practice more.
Time flew.
Soon, it was December.
The weather entered the coldest period of deep winter. The Great Shinobi Villages, as if by agreement, all ceased fighting.
Though everyone knew this was the calm before the storm, the Shinobi World enjoyed rare peace.
Konoha, with the temporary peace, regained some of its former bustle.
But beneath this prosperous surface, undercurrents swirled.
Because the Sunagakure's delegation had been in Konoha for half a year.
According to the peace treaty between the two villages, Sunagakure would send a study delegation to Konoha for six months to learn medical and Shinobi education knowledge, and Konoha must not deliberately withhold information.
Now, only three days remained until the study period ended.
Ryuji had already prepared the application to conclude the study period, to be submitted to the Third Hokage in three days before leading the delegation back.
But clearly, Konoha didn't want to let the team return.
With the war against Iwagakure not yet over, Konoha didn't want to openly break the agreement, planning to use other pretexts to detain the team.
Like having their people provoke… if the other side retaliated, immediately arrest and investigate.
Not to assign real crimes, just to keep them in Konoha, preventing their return.
But Ryuji anticipated this. He held daily meetings, instructing those going out to keep a low profile, not to retaliate even if provoked. Thus, Konoha's repeated provocations failed to entrap Sunagakure.
Though everyone harbored simmering anger, they were Shinobi, trained for such situations.
Seeing the plan fail, Konoha prepared to break the agreement openly.
Anbu, Root, Police Force...
Konoha's streets saw large numbers of Shinobi patrolling daily, entering a full wartime alert state.
Such blatant actions made every Sunagakure's Shinobi aware, each secretly preparing for the day the agreement broke.
But on the final day before the study period ended, an incident occurred.
Meeting Room.
"What did you say!?"
Ryuji shot up from his seat, his gaze sharp as he looked at the reporting Shinobi.
The subordinate repeated the report at astonishing speed, "Karura-sama got into a conflict with the Police Force on the commercial street. She's currently fighting with Konoha's personnel."
"How is that possible!?"
Everyone in the meeting room widened their eyes, expressions of disbelief.
Among the hundred-plus Sunagakure's delegation members, anyone else might conflict with Konoha, but not the Karura siblings.
Because their personalities were too gentle; they would never provoke conflict.