"…This part… has quite a few formulas. It's too complex—I haven't fully understood it yet."
Ren spoke in a deliberately vague tone, carefully controlling his expression.
Dealing with someone like Orochimaru was never simple.
You couldn't act too ignorant—that would be suspicious. After all, someone personally brought here by Tsunade to access the archives could never be a fool.
But you also couldn't appear too intelligent.
That was even more dangerous.
And right now—
Even though Ren had intentionally held back, Orochimaru's gaze had already changed.
There was curiosity in it.
Interest.
A faint sense of… ownership.
It made Ren's scalp prickle.
"Hmm… it doesn't matter," Orochimaru said slowly, his raspy voice dragging slightly. "For a Genin who has only recently graduated, this level of comprehension is already quite impressive."
Then—
He smiled.
A thin, unsettling curve of his lips.
"Tell me… would you be interested in coming to my research laboratory?"
Ren's heart skipped a beat.
"I happen to be lacking assistants," Orochimaru continued casually. "People capable of analyzing the mysteries of life with me."
His golden pupils narrowed slightly.
"If it's you… perhaps you have the potential."
"…Uh…"
Ren opened his mouth, already preparing a polite refusal.
But before he could speak—
"Hmph!"
Tsunade's cold snort cut through the air.
Her expression darkened instantly.
"Orochimaru, put away those thoughts of yours."
Her voice was sharp.
"This kid is Minato's disciple and a student of the advanced medical class. He has neither the time nor the interest to become your research assistant."
She stepped forward slightly, placing herself more firmly between Orochimaru and Ren.
"You don't need to worry about his future."
"Hehehe…"
Orochimaru let out a low chuckle.
The sound echoed faintly in the enclosed archive, making the already cold air feel even more oppressive.
"Don't be so tense, Tsunade."
"I'm merely offering him… a choice."
His gaze flickered back to Ren.
"A broader horizon."
After a brief pause, he added softly:
"After all… knowledge is priceless, isn't it?"
Ren didn't respond.
And neither did Tsunade.
The silence lingered for a moment.
Then Orochimaru straightened slightly, as if losing interest.
"Well… I still have several experiments to attend to today."
He turned around.
"Let's talk again… if the opportunity arises."
With that—
His figure slowly receded into the shadows.
And just like that—
He was gone.
---
Only after that cold, damp presence completely vanished did the air begin to feel normal again.
Ren quietly exhaled.
Only now did he realize—
His palms were soaked with cold sweat.
That man…
Just standing near him had been exhausting.
At that moment, Tsunade stepped closer.
She leaned against the table beside Ren, glancing down at the dark green scroll.
As she did, her posture caused her chest to press against the stone surface—though she paid it no attention whatsoever.
"…Hmph."
"It seems that guy really has put effort into this over the past few years."
Her tone carried reluctant acknowledgment.
"This version is indeed far more mature than before."
As the top medical ninja in the world, Tsunade only needed a brief glance to grasp the core principles behind the scroll.
Then she straightened up again.
"For now, just focus on reading."
"If there's anything you don't understand, come ask me."
She paused slightly.
"I probably won't be accompanying you for the next two days. If you come here, just mention my name."
Ren nodded.
"Understood, Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade hesitated for a moment before adding:
"And if you run into that guy again…"
Her expression turned serious.
"It's fine to ask him questions."
"But no matter what—don't pay attention to his nonsense."
Her gaze hardened slightly.
"His research ability is undeniable."
"But in recent years…"
"…his motives have become increasingly difficult to understand."
For a brief moment—
A complicated emotion flickered across her face.
At this point in time, Orochimaru's human experiments hadn't been exposed yet.
To most of Konoha, he was still a respected elite—
A beloved disciple of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
A top candidate for the next Hokage.
But Tsunade—
She felt something was wrong.
Not just intuition.
There was precedent.
Tobirama Senju had also conducted experiments.
But Tobirama had limits.
He used enemies.
He had boundaries.
And more importantly—
He had people like Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki watching over him.
Orochimaru… was different.
Still—
Tsunade said nothing further.
She had no intention of digging deeper.
As long as he didn't interfere with her—
As long as she could properly train Ren before leaving Konoha—
Everything else…
She could ignore.
---
"I'll keep that in mind," Ren replied seriously.
After Tsunade left, he continued reading.
Time passed quietly.
Eventually, he finished both scrolls.
After a brief moment of thought, he rolled them up and returned them to their original shelves.
---
For the next two days—
Ren returned to the archive room at noon every day.
Without fail.
He read.
Studied.
Analyzed.
To be precise—
There were still many parts he didn't fully understand.
Especially in the newer scroll.
Things like chakra frequency resonance, experimental formulas, and theories about the origin of life marks—
He could read every word.
But true comprehension?
Still shallow.
At times, he even suspected Orochimaru had deliberately left traps within the research.
But—
That didn't stop him.
Because every day—
He returned to that white world.
---
The silent laboratory.
The glass pod.
The broken girl floating inside.
---
"Good afternoon," Ren said softly.
"I'm back again."
"Can you hear me?"
[…]
No response.
Ren didn't mind.
"It's okay even if you're not conscious."
"I'll come here often."
[…]
Silence.
Ren continued speaking anyway.
"Based on the nervous system's original pulse frequency… find suitable nodes to trigger phase resonance…"
"…then accelerate electronic signal transmission…"
"That's what this section means, right?"
[…]
Still nothing.
---
For three days—
Ren repeated this process.
Every day, he tried to talk.
At first, simple greetings.
Then gradually—
His own understanding.
His own thoughts.
Things not provided by the system—
But formed through his own analysis.
And every time—
The result was the same.
No response.
---
Until—
The third day.
Afternoon.
Something changed.
---
[…]
---
Ren froze.
The ellipsis—
Was shorter.
A tiny detail.
But unmistakable.
His eyes sharpened.
Immediately, he continued speaking.
And this time—
The world reacted.
---
[You sit in the pure white laboratory, gazing at the girl inside the life-support pod.]
[Suddenly—like a drop of water falling into stillness—the girl's eyelashes flutter ever so slightly.]
[Then, the pod slowly opens.]
[A chilling aura washes over you.]
---
[A: You're awake, aren't you? You've endured loneliness for too long… but I can stay with you forever.]
[B: Come with me. I'll do my best to take care of you.]
[C: (Say nothing. Lean forward and kiss her forehead.)]
---
Ren stared at the options.
"…Sleeping Beauty, huh…"
Without hesitation—
He chose C.
---
There was no warmth.
No real sensation.
No physical contact.
But—
The moment he made his choice—
The interface flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
---
[Ding! "Nerve Activation Technique (Incomplete)" has been added to the conquest list!]
[Current Favorability: 1/25 (Stranger)]
[Note: Due to the target being in a fragmented state, the favorability cap is locked at 25. You must help complete her limbs and internal organs before unlocking the full limit.]
---
"…Wait a second."
Ren's expression froze.
"…Incomplete… limbs?"
"…Internal organs too?"
He slowly looked back at the girl floating in the pod.
Then back at the system message.
A long silence followed.
Then—
"…You're telling me…"
"…I have to assemble her myself?"