16-20

Chapter 16 Untitled

"It's a pity that the two modes cannot coexist, making this technique not yet perfect." Orochimaru was satisfied, but also very regretful.

It is difficult to maintain a static blood suit after activating a moving blood suit.

Similarly, it is difficult to activate a moving blood suit while maintaining a static blood suit.

"These are two different chakra operation modes. If you want them to coexist harmoniously, it's better than my Baihao Technique and Creation Regeneration." Tsunade, who was deeply involved in the development of this technique, pointed out the problem sharply. where.

Both modes operate along the same meridian route, and activating one will inevitably lead to the offline of the other.

It's not that it can't be solved, such as reducing the overlap of meridian routes and dividing the body into two areas. It may be possible to achieve this with one mind and two tasks.

Body modification can also be used to adjust the body.

But these two methods have their own shortcomings. The former requires further optimization, and the threshold for practice is raised again; the latter's body modification is purely to adapt to the blood suit technique, and the upper limit of strength is easily affected. locked.

Being able to create this technique in this period of time, even if it seems to be just a semi-finished product, but it can allow people to practice successfully, Tsunade is already very satisfied.

She didn't want to get involved in further optimization. She had already done what she had done, and it was time to take Jingyin away from the village and travel far away from right and wrong and worries.

"Shikane kid, give this to that Mate Dai." Tsunade took out a scroll from her arms and threw it directly to Shikane.

After throwing it away, without waiting for Shikane and Orochimaru to speak, he turned around and waved his hand, calling Jingyin to leave the venue.

"I have checked their bodies. As long as they are still practicing the Eight Gates Dunjia, the pressure and wear and tear on their bodies will be continuous. All I can give them is to strengthen their bodies as much as possible."

"It seems that she is determined to leave the village." A touch of frustration flashed in Orochimaru's snake-like golden-yellow pupils.

He had already seen the changes in Tsunade these days, and vaguely guessed her determination and purpose. After this separation, I'm afraid it will be a long, long time before we meet again.

"I'll give you two two days to adjust your condition. Two days later, I will take you out of the village to perform a mission." Orochimaru withdrew his gaze and said to Shikane and Hongdou beside him.

He did not try to keep Tsunade or comfort her. He understood and understood the mental anguish Tsunade was facing now. In addition to the clansmen, this anguish also comes from the third generation Hokage, the third generation teacher and him.

Tsunade's departure may be the best solution for the village, the clan, and herself at present. So what reason does Orochimaru have to stop it?

Even if Sandai finds out, he will just keep silent, acquiesce in Tsunade's departure, and help her clean up the mess.

Shikane did not try to understand his teacher Orochimaru's psychological fluctuations at this moment. His panel had finally been updated again just now.

[Create Ninjutsu: New

Name: Blood suit

Level: A→S

Effect: The main attack of the moving blood suit can greatly improve the strength of the human body and ninjutsu, and needs to be actively activated;

The main defense of the static blood suit forms a chakra film under the skin to enhance the body's defense, and has good resistance to physical attacks, sharp weapon attacks, and ninjutsu attacks.

Conclusion: A powerful ninjutsu that combines offense and defense, but has a training threshold.

Recognition: 900/1000 (The higher the recognition, the more inspiration and rewards there will be in the subdivided fields of similar works)

Reward: Physical fitness +3, Chakra amount +100 (Note: After reaching the physical fitness limit at this time, the increase in Chakra amount will be invalid)]

The recognition of Tsunade and Orochimaru, two shadow-level ninjas, instantly raised the recognition to a very high level.

More inspirations related to this technique appeared in his mind one by one at this moment, like a flash of inspiration, and there was a way forward.

Although Shikane's current knowledge and technology cannot immediately evolve this technique, or even be reborn, at least there is a direction for improvement and adjustment.

Just like Kakashi's Chidori, there are advanced Raikiri and various derivative series ninjutsu derived from it.

But looking at the explanation behind the reward, Shikane chewed it twice in his mind and gave a conclusion: There is a limit to the increase in physical fitness. When the physical fitness cannot be improved at the current stage, the upper limit of chakra extraction and output of this body will also be improved. stop?

Of course, it may not mean this either.

After Shikane went through it in his mind, he put it aside for now. He doesn't need to worry about the distant future now.

He is less than seven years old now, and his body and chakra are still in their growth stage. At least for the next ten years, he should not have to worry about this problem.

[Talent Card: Nie Yuli

World: Death

Quality: Purple (1900/10000)]

Effect: Growth research talent

Field: Your research talent in the biological and neurological fields is far superior to other research and development fields!

Passive: Biological transformation!

Accumulation: Any research is inseparable from the accumulation of a large amount of knowledge and material experiments. All the knowledge you have mastered will be understood and memorized in a more efficient way, and then another kind of knowledge feedback will be given in the form of rewards!

Achievement: Every time a recognized work is created, the higher the recognition, the better one's physical fitness and strength can be improved.

Recognized R&D finished products: dog food, parasitic worm killer, Yin Dun Secret Technique: Shadow Coffin, S-level Ninjutsu: Blood Suit

Reward: Physical fitness +3, Chakra +100

Obsession: Become a scientist who surpasses Urahara Kisuke]

The quality of his talent has been upgraded again, which also means that Shikane's learning and understanding ability has been further improved.

"Then let's disband. You have performed very well these days! Your talent surprised me. If you are willing, I can share some of my research resources with you." Orochimaru looked at Lu with appreciation. Nie.

At least for now, he thinks Shikane suits him well.

"Teacher Orochimaru, can I take this ninjutsu back to my family?" Shikane took the initiative to ask Orochimaru before leaving.

"Whatever you want." Orochimaru didn't care. He enjoys the sense of accomplishment that comes from creating techniques, and as for ownership, strictly speaking, he doesn't care.

At least he doesn't care about the blood suit ninjutsu.

What's more, Shikane himself has a share of this technique, and he has the right to decide whether to hand over this technique, treasure it, or give it to his族人for practice.

Shikane, who received Orochimaru's reply, breathed a sigh of relief.

Don't be fooled by the fact that everyone in the original work who has a name has a handy ninjutsu. Some, such as the representative Second and Third Hokage, and Orochimaru, even master an endless stream of ninjutsu and forbidden techniques.

In fact, in this world, the circulation of ninjutsu is very closed. No village would be willing to let ninjutsu run rampant.

Even in the Konoha Ninja School, after a few years, most of the students are just learning knowledge and laying the foundation. The ninjutsu they learn after graduation are just basic things like the three body techniques.

After that, according to the three-person team model created by the second generation, the three Genin who graduated from the school will be assigned to the subordinates of a Jonin to form a mission team in the form of master-apprentice transmission.

Of course, Jonin, as the top leaders of the village, can decide whether the three Genin assigned to him can pass his assessment. If they fail, they can only be sent back to start over.

There is another way, which is that outstanding people can choose to join Anbu or take on tasks independently.

Mate Dai is like this, taking on some tasks such as finding cats, dogs, and things in the mode of an independent Genin to earn money.

But no matter which one it is, there is a threshold for obtaining ninjutsu.

In the case of a three-person team, even the team leader in charge will not easily pass on the ninjutsu he has mastered. It is more about guiding some combat experience and training.

Anbu needs to exchange merit for ninjutsu, and needs to consider the ninjutsu cooperation between partners.

No matter which one, the ninja organization headed by the village strictly controls the leakage and circulation of ninjutsu.

Shikane's question came down, and Orochimaru's reply meant that he was willing to endorse him and bear all possible troubles in the future. Although this possibility is not high.

But with a big tree to rely on, Shikane of course chose to make the best use of everything and minimize possible troubles.

Before going home, Shikane first found Mate Dai who was training with Mate Kai in the village and handed him the scroll Tsunade gave him.

"This is the solution that Lady Tsunade gave you. It can't solve the aftereffects of the Eight Gates Dunjia, but it can make your body more resilient and resilient."

"Master Tsunade?" The faces of Mate Dai and his son suddenly showed a strong sense of emotion, the kind of emotion bursting from the heart, as dazzling as their exposed teeth.

Shaking his head, Shikane planned to slip away. Although this father and son will become famous figures in the future, their infectiousness and resilience are too strong. They can be contacted, but not for a long time.

After Mate Dai and his son finished their emotions, they found that Shikane had become a distant figure. Holding the scroll that seemed to bring him warmth in his hand, Mate Dai shouted youth with tears in his eyes, and added another hundred frog jumps to him and Mate Kai beside him.

"Don't you need to go to Lady Tsunade to study today?"

In the Nara clan, Nara Shikahisa and Nara Yoshino were slightly surprised to see their son returning home early.

Nara Shikane, who has been invisible day and night during this period, is the Shikane they are familiar with. The entire Nara clan has spread the word about Shikane's peculiarities.

"The study is over." Shikane looked at the lazy Lu Jiu, sat down in front of him, yawned subconsciously and uncontrollably, and replied while supporting his head with his right hand.

"I thought your mental and physical fitness were far superior to other people in the Nara clan, but I didn't expect you to feel tired too."

Looking at Shikane with a helpless and lazy look on his face, Lu Jiu smiled in his heart. Finally, from the current Shikane, he felt a bit of Nara's true colors.

"Has that technique been successful?"

Before Shikane could reply, Lu Jiu asked with some expectation in his eyes.

It is no secret to the Nara clan that Shikane is creating a technique with Orochimaru and Tsunade. Orochimaru and the others never wanted to keep this secret.

With the secret technique Shadow Coffin first, Shikane's new technique also attracted the attention of the elders of the Nara clan.

Including Lu Jiu, once this technique is created, the Nara clan will definitely be able to obtain the right to use and teach it. At that time, Nara Shikane will also receive part of the clan's resource allocation and attention.

The fact that the Genin named Mate Dai took Shikane's handwritten letter to the Nara pharmacy to exchange for medicinal materials was part of the attention the elders paid to Shikane.

Without the Shadow Coffin first, and Orochimaru solemnly accepting disciples later, his talent, future, and potential all began to show, and Lu Jiu would not allow Shikane to act like this.

"Yes, it was successful." Shikane took out three scrolls from his arms.

"This is the Eight Gates Dunjia, the ninja technique practiced by Mate Dai. The inspiration for the blood suit comes from it. The core is also part of its concept."

"This is the moving blood suit, which is the main attack technique."

"This is a static blood suit, which is mainly a defensive technique."

After reading the Eight Gates Dunjia Technique, Lu Jiu put it down and threw it aside. It's not that this technique is not strong, but no matter how strong this technique is, no member of the Nara clan will practice it.

The self-abuse training intensity alone is enough to make the Nara clan avoid it. So this technique, in the hands of the Nara clan, can only be used for collection and dust collection.

Lu Jiu's attention was all on the two scrolls behind him.

He reached out and opened the two scrolls side by side on the floor. The scrolls were densely packed with various meridian diagrams of the human body, as well as explanations and interpretations.

The Nara clan's smart brain allowed him to read ten lines at a glance and understand the text and content on the scroll in the fastest time.

But even with Nara Shikahisa's reading comprehension skills honed day after day in the Hokage's office, it took him a while to face the rich content on the two scrolls.

The atmosphere in the room fell silent for a while. Lu Jiu was reading quickly, while Shikane was a little distracted.

I don't know how long it took, but Lu Jiu finished reading, closed the two scrolls again, closed his eyes and meditated, or rested his mind for a while.

"It's a very good technique. It involves many aspects, and it also requires a certain threshold of medical knowledge to understand it correctly." Lu Jiu sighed.

This is a technique that is both mutually reinforcing and opposing, and is called spear and shield. If you find a suitable practitioner, you can create a powerful ninja at the Jonin level.

What's even more rare is its versatility. As long as you can understand it, you may be able to master and learn it. Even if you are a little stupid, you can cultivate one of these techniques to an extremely high level with time and effort.

"This technique..."

"Whatever." Shikane interrupted him as if he knew what his father was going to say next: "These are the original words of Teacher Orochimaru."

"Really? Then I really want to thank Lady Tsunade and Lord Orochimaru." Lu Jiu smiled.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 17 Leaving the Village

No one knows the importance of ninjutsu as a resource better than the ninja clans. Monopolizing ninjutsu is equivalent to monopolizing books and knowledge.

Ninja clans are families that pass down ninjutsu.

For example, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

"What do you want to do with it?" Nara Shikaku easily discerned the deeper needs behind Shikane's words.

It not only meant that Orochimaru was willing to endorse the ownership of this ninjutsu, but also that Shikane had his own plans for it.

"The Dynamic Blood Armor is very suitable for the Akimichi clan." Shikane said.

"It is indeed very suitable." Nara Shikaku thought about it in his mind and nodded seriously.

The Akimichi clan's Multi-Size Technique also causes a lot of damage and burden to the body, plus there are the Three Colored Pills, which are specially made for the Akimichi physique.

The Akimichi clan's secret Yang Release technique, coupled with their diet of accumulating fat and energy in their bodies, is indeed more suitable for the Dynamic Blood Armor than other ninjas.

Conversely, the Static Blood Armor is also very suitable for the Nara clan. With the defensive effect of the Static Blood Armor, the Nara clan's Shadow Imitation Technique and other shadow secret techniques will be given even stronger lethality.

Use the Shadow Imitation Technique to control the enemy, then take out a kunai and slit their throat. With the protection of the Static Blood Armor, the Nara clan would pay a very small price, or even no price at all, to eliminate the controlled enemy.

"Then let's give this ninjutsu to them, as a technique shared by the three clans." Shikane also brought in the Yamanaka clan. Although the Yamanaka clan, known for their auxiliary ninjutsu, may not have many people who would practice it.

A ninja clan with an orderly inheritance will not easily change its course or its training methods. For example, as veteran families who joined the village at its founding, would the Ino-Shika-Cho and other clans lack channels and ways to obtain high-end ninjutsu if needed?

But why do these secret technique families still focus on their own clan's secret ninjutsu?

Because this is a broad road paved by their ancestors, and it is the ninjutsu system that their bodies are most suited for. They don't need to seek outside, they have enough within.

Powerful ninjas are those who strengthen and maximize one of their outstanding characteristics.

Just like bloodline ninjas, they must be based on their own bloodline limit.

This makes families like the Ino-Shika-Cho, who have been passed down for at least hundreds of years, very cautious about learning new ninjutsu. Even if a certain ninjutsu is very suitable, they will spend a lot of time verifying it bit by bit, and only after final confirmation will they officially incorporate it into the family's training ninjutsu system.

Otherwise, it's up to the individual to decide whether to learn it or not.

Shikane also knew very well that even if this technique was given to the Akimichi and Yamanaka clans, due to various reasons, it would either be put on the shelf or only a few people would read and practice it for the time being.

Unless one day its importance is comparable to the signature secret techniques of their respective families, then it might truly spread. But no matter what, as long as someone practices it, it can bring Shikane recognition.

Nara Shikaku put away all three ninjutsu scrolls. Any one of the three scrolls could make a ninja rise and give him the foundation to establish a small ninja clan.

"Also, in two days, Orochimaru-sensei will take me and Anko out of the village on a mission." Shikane mentioned to Shikaku when he returned to his room to rest.

Nara Shikaku waved his hand listlessly, indicating that he knew. This kind of mission outside the village is something that every ninja will inevitably experience. With Orochimaru accompanying them, he is not worried about Shikane's safety.

Time passed quickly.

After Orochimaru received a B-rank mission, he left the village with Shikane and Anko.

"Sensei, will you become the Fourth Hokage?"

It seemed that she rarely left the village, and Anko was particularly curious along the way. Although she still remembered the rules for missions outside the village that she learned in school and from Orochimaru's teachings, the way she looked around revealed her naivety.

"Why do you ask that?" Orochimaru's gaze instantly fell on Anko beside him.

Startled by Orochimaru's sudden gaze, Anko puffed up her cheeks: "If you become the Fourth Hokage, sensei, wouldn't I be the Fourth Hokage's disciple? Maybe after you step down, I can even take over as the Fifth Hokage."

"Do you also want to become Hokage?" Hearing Anko's words, Orochimaru's face had a momentary loss of focus.

From his childhood self, to his disciple Nawaki who died on the battlefield before he could grow up, and now Anko, everything seemed like a circle.

Did he still want to become Hokage?

Orochimaru couldn't be sure at the moment, after all, the desire for immortality seemed to occupy an extremely important place in his heart at this moment.

"What about you, Shikane, do you also want to become Hokage?" Orochimaru looked at Shikane on the other side.

"Of course, but only if it doesn't affect what I want to do. Like research." Shikane was also honest.

Orochimaru smiled.

"Sensei, you haven't answered me yet, will you become the Fourth Hokage?" Anko inexplicably felt ignored by the two, and she immediately spoke up again, wanting to attract their attention, or at least let her join in.

Whenever Shikane and Orochimaru started talking, she always felt like she was an unnecessary extra. Even though her talent wasn't bad either.

"Maybe. But the one to take over might also be Sakumo-senpai." Orochimaru was noncommittal. He no longer wanted to guess his teacher's thoughts.

"Sakumo-senpai is quite strong." Anko muttered a few words when she heard the name Hatake Sakumo. Indeed, the Fourth Hokage candidates weren't just the Sannin, there was also Hatake Sakumo, whose prestige was comparable to the Sannin, or even slightly higher.

"Let's focus on the mission first." Orochimaru patted Anko's head, causing her face to instantly flush red.

"A B-rank mission, it involves ninjas, right? I'll perform well and complete the mission for you to see, sensei." Anko stammered her assurance, her tone filled with joy and enthusiasm.

"This mission is not important, it's just something we'll do along the way." Orochimaru shook his head. "The reason I'm leaving the village this time is to take you two to a place, to meet someone."

"To meet who?" Anko looked up in confusion.

"Jūgo." Orochimaru said a name that Anko couldn't recall even after racking her brains.

Shikane looked at Orochimaru with a strange expression. Although his memory wasn't very clear, he still knew some key people and events.

Jūgo, wasn't that Orochimaru's starting capital!

Almost all of Orochimaru's later research was inseparable from Jūgo as the origin. Relying on him, Orochimaru created the incomplete Sage Transformation curse mark, perfected the Living Corpse Reincarnation, and took a big step towards the path of immortality.

In Shikane's view, the so-called curse mark + Living Corpse Reincarnation was equivalent to a castrated version of the Otsutsuki clan's method of resurrection using Kāma. The only thing limiting him was that his body and chakra hadn't reached the required level.

This alone showed how outstanding Orochimaru's research talent was.

It was just that his vision was too limited, causing him to be obsessed with the power of the Sharingan in his later years.

As for how Orochimaru, who had always been in the village, knew about the outside world, Shikane didn't even bother to think about it. A ninja of Orochimaru's level would more or less have some subordinates who did dirty work or loyal followers who reported various intelligence to him.

Shikane didn't expect that Orochimaru had already taken over Jiraiya's class and started to stride towards the position of kindergarten principal.

Unfortunately, he still missed the most valuable one in the Land of Rain.

Ninjas travel quickly, and Orochimaru could have been even faster if not for taking care of Shikane and Anko. After several days of continuous travel, they arrived at their destination.

"This place..." In front of a dilapidated village, Anko swayed uncomfortably. Suddenly, her gaze swept towards the dense forest on her left.

"Found you!" Anko pulled out a kunai from her back pocket, then swung her arm, throwing the kunai towards a certain spot in the forest.

Clang!

The thrown kunai hit a hard object in the forest and was knocked away. A dark shadow, carrying a gust of wind, rushed out of the forest.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The three Sannin, Orochimaru, Shikane, and Anko, who were already prepared, immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to leave their original spot. The next moment, the ground where they had been standing exploded into a large crater under the impact of a heavy force.

"This looks a bit like Tsunade-sama's monstrous strength punch."

Seeing the severely damaged terrain, Anko's eyes twitched involuntarily. If it had hit her, even if she had mastered the Static Blood Armor, it wouldn't have been easy, let alone now that she hadn't mastered it yet.

Focusing her gaze on the dark shadow after the dust settled, she wanted to see who dared to take the initiative to attack the three of them.

"Kill you!"

Filled with violent roars, the young man, whose body was half transformed with some strange limbs, looked at the three of them with madness in his eyes.

Whoosh!

The young man's figure instantly disappeared from his spot, falling from mid-air like a cannonball towards where Shikane and the others were.

Another large crater appeared, and at the center of the pit was the young man, his eyes scanning the prey like a wolf.

"Don't run, let me kill you! If I kill you, I can find peace!" The young man muttered incoherently, searching for the traces of Shikane and the others.

Dynamic Blood Armor: Activate.

Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!

A blazing fire pillar erupted from the ground, directly hitting the young man who couldn't dodge in time. The fire pillar spread and turned the area around the young man into a sea of flames.

The fire pillar lasted for a full ten seconds before it extinguished.

Anko took a breath, her chest heaving, and looked at the area that was still burning with flames. She subconsciously said, "Is he dead?"

"Unfortunately, no." Shikane and Orochimaru exchanged glances, and Shikane took a step forward, shielding Anko behind him.

"Damn it, it hurts!"

The roar of the voice dispersed the surrounding flames, revealing the enemy who had been hit by the Dragon Fire Technique. His body had traces of high-temperature burns, but strangely, he was recovering his injuries at an incredible speed, consuming a large amount of chakra.

At the same time, the transformation of his body became even more severe, almost covering his entire body.

If he could still be recognized as a human before, now he had transformed into a beast. The skin tissue of his body had also turned into a thick heat-insulating layer, providing heat insulation while also increasing his own defense.

As he spoke, a large amount of steam began to spew out from the potholes on his body's surface, dissipating the heat.

"What is this!" Anko could hardly believe what she saw. She had never seen or heard of such a perverted existence.

Was it some kind of unknown bloodline limit?

Anko couldn't help but think subconsciously. With her mind and knowledge, the most logical and factual explanation she could come up with was that the person in front of her had some kind of unknown body-enhancing bloodline limit.

"More power!"

The young man, now transformed into a monster, attacked again.

A golden snake as thick as an adult's thigh suddenly shot out from Orochimaru's sleeve, like a predator, coiling around the transformed young man in a flash, suspending him in mid-air.

"It seems his mental will has been deeply affected and he can't communicate anymore." Looking at the madness and bloodlust revealed in his entire body, including his golden eyes, Orochimaru felt somewhat bored.

A beast without intelligence, no matter how powerful, is just a beast. Moreover, he wasn't as powerful as imagined.

Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique!

Pulling the transformed young man closer, Orochimaru immediately cast a genjutsu on him.

Although the Hell Viewing Technique was only a D-rank genjutsu, it was a technique that, regardless of the person's will, would force the victim to face their own fears and materialize their inner fears.

The stronger the fear in the victim's heart, the stronger the impact of the Hell Viewing Technique.

Under Orochimaru's genjutsu, the transformed young man fell into a mental breakdown almost without any resistance, and then fainted due to the excessive shock.

At the same time, the transformed parts of his body began to slowly fade away, revealing a somewhat young face.

"It seems we're lucky." Orochimaru looked at the unconscious young man with great interest, his long tongue licking his lips. "We just arrived and found our target."

"Huh?" Anko poked her head out from behind, looking at the young man lying on the ground in surprise. "Is he the one you were looking for, sensei, the one named Jūgo? Why is he like this? Is it some kind of bloodline limit?"

"No, it's because his body has been immersed in a place with an extremely high concentration of natural energy for a long time, causing a mutation. His loss of control is also due to the rampage of natural energy affecting his mind." Orochimaru obviously had enough information.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 18 Jugo

"Natural energy? What's that?" Hearing her teacher's explanation, Anko felt confused.

"Natural energy is the power to activate senjutsu. You don't need to understand this for now." Orochimaru gave Anko a simple explanation. "This place is rich in natural energy, it's a good place to practice senjutsu. It's a pity, it's useless to us."

"Why is it useless? Is senjutsu very powerful?" Anko asked.

"Ninjutsu is activated by chakra, what is the source of chakra?" Orochimaru, who was in a good mood, summoned a large snake, threw the unconscious Jugo onto the snake, and tested Anko at the same time.

"Chakra is the product of the average mixing of the body's spiritual energy and physical energy." Anko gave her answer without hesitation.

"Senjutsu is the balanced fusion of the body's spiritual energy and physical energy, plus natural energy. You can think of it as a higher level of energy above the chakra level.

Ninjutsu activated by senjutsu energy will be more destructive and lethal. And this is just one of its characteristics." Orochimaru motioned for Anko and the others to follow, and explained to Anko as they left.

In any case, as a teacher, Orochimaru is still very qualified. Any child he values and teaches can learn what they want to learn from him.

"Then isn't this place very important?" Anko said subconsciously. Since this place is rich in natural energy and senjutsu is so powerful, shouldn't this place be marked?

"Natural energy is very dangerous! You can see this young man. His body and spirit have been eroded by natural energy too much, so that he cannot maintain the stability of his mental state.

In fact, I'm already surprised that he hasn't been assimilated by natural energy and is still alive."

Orochimaru pointed to the young man on the snake, "Natural energy is difficult to control, even the three holy places with clear senjutsu inheritance cannot guarantee that people can perfectly master senjutsu."

"But teacher, you still haven't told me why we don't need this place." Anko pouted.

"Because there are better places for us to choose." Kane on the side reached out and poked Anko's arm. "Aren't the three holy places that have inherited senjutsu, Mount Myoboku contracted by Master Jiraiya, Shikkotsu Forest contracted by Master Tsunade, and Ryūchi Cave contracted by Master Orochimaru?"

"Did Master Orochimaru say this?" Anko looked blank after hearing this. Could it be that Master Orochimaru also gave Kane a make-up lesson behind her back?

This is not impossible!

After all, some time ago, Master Orochimaru almost let her go.

"Kane is right. But you are still far away from practicing senjutsu." Orochimaru poured cold water on the excited Anko. The senjutsu trial of Ryūchi Cave is not a kind trial, it is extremely dangerous. Even Orochimaru himself has no confidence in his successful cultivation.

But he knew that Jiraiya had practiced the senjutsu of Mount Myoboku, and he had also seen the power of senjutsu. That kind of powerful power was very intoxicating and exciting.

The figures of the three became farther and farther away, and gradually disappeared into the dense forest.

two days later.

In an inn.

Anko squatted down and suddenly put her face in front of Jugo who woke up.

"Why don't you talk?" Anko was a little puzzled.

This young man has been acting very strange since he woke up, taciturn. There is no tyranny and madness of shouting and killing when we first met, and there is no asking who they are, where are they taking him? What to do?

Like a puppet who closed himself up, he didn't run away, he just followed them blindly.

"Ahhhhh! Why don't you answer me! Are you looking down on me?" Anko has been defeated many times in the past two days under the silence of Jugo, she even thought he was dumb! If he hadn't spoken when they first met.

"Stay away from me."

A sudden sentence made Anko, who was still going crazy, quiet down immediately, she looked at Jugo who spoke in surprise.

"Why stay away from you?" Anko leaned closer.

"I'm dangerous." Jugo looked at his outstretched hands, his eyes a little lost.

"It's quite dangerous. But Master Orochimaru told me that you were just making uncontrolled actions under the stimulation of natural energy." Anko sat face to face with him and comforted him.

At least after two days of contact, Anko can still feel a peaceful and kind character from the other party. When I saw a small animal in the wild, I would stop and pet it twice, and the animals he petted would be very docile.

It seems that he can attract the closeness and love of many small animals. There are also small animals who take out their prey and storage to entertain him, which makes Anko envious.

I have been communicating non-stop for the past two days, just to find out how Jugo can attract small animals, but I have been hitting the wall for two consecutive days.

"You know natural energy?" Jugo glanced at Anko in surprise.

"Of course!" Anko opened her mouth to report her family name, but after thinking about it, she held back and just picked up some things she could say to prove that she really knew about natural energy.

"I'm in pain, my body will lose control and explode every once in a while, in that state, I can't control myself, I want to see blood and hear screams.

There used to be people in the village who could control me when I was out of control, but later, there was no one who could stop me. The only thing I can do is run out when I'm about to have an attack, and go to the forest to vent.

Everything that happened during the out-of-control stage is a bit blurry to me, as if there is another me in my mind. I didn't attack you on purpose. I'm grateful that you knocked me out."

Jugo lowered his head, his tone full of self-blame and pain.

"So, is this why you didn't run away when you woke up, and cooperated?" Kane's voice came from outside the door.

Anko and Jugo turned their eyes, and saw Kane walking in with Orochimaru holding a big bag. The bag was full of food.

At this moment, Jugo seemed to have lost his language ability again and became silent.

"Is it because you don't want to hurt others again, and you want to find someone who can control yourself when you go crazy? You are a very gentle person." Orochimaru put down the food, and looked at the somewhat helpless Jugo with golden eyes, his eyes full of appreciation.

Of course, he didn't appreciate Jugo's kind and gentle personality, he just appreciated his physique that could spontaneously absorb natural energy, use natural energy, and still live.

Naturally, a gentle and kind person who is unwilling to cause trouble to others is much easier to worry about than being unruly.

"So that's what you planned?" Anko suddenly realized.

"I'm sorry." Jugo, who felt that he had caused trouble and trouble to the other party, immediately bowed his head and apologized.

"It's okay, the purpose of my going there was to find you." Orochimaru answered frankly.

"Find me?" Jugo raised his head in a daze, he didn't know why someone would come to him, a person who always brought bad luck and trouble?

"I need your help, Jugo-kun." Orochimaru walked up to Jugo, squatted down so his eyes were level with his, and his golden pupils reflected Jugo's face, his eyes full of greed and surprise.

"Me?" Jugo, who was needed for the first time, pointed at himself with his finger, a little dazed. He didn't feel uncomfortable with the greed and surprise in Orochimaru's eyes.

He has seen too many eyes of disgust and hostility, he can always clearly perceive some people's emotions towards him, although the Orochimaru in front of him is not considered friendly, but Jugo who saw the maliciousness doesn't care.

What he couldn't figure out was that he would be searched for and needed.

"Your body is a treasure, Jugo-kun, let me study it. I'm sure you will give me a big surprise." Orochimaru revealed his purpose in front of Jugo without any concealment.

Orochimaru doesn't mind deceiving, but when he doesn't need to deceive, he will be honest enough.

For example, when he saw the three children who gave them flowers in the Land of Rain, he would seemingly coldly say to Jiraiya that the best help for them was to kill them and let them be relieved.

He really thinks that in the war-torn environment of the Land of Rain, these three children are very difficult to survive, even if they do have some tricks.

For such children living in war, the most merciful thing is not to let them live another day, but to let them get rid of this terrible hell-like life as soon as possible. He doesn't think this kind of thinking is cold-blooded.

It's just that he didn't expect Jiraiya to choose to stay on his own initiative and take care of the three children until they had the ability to protect themselves.

"Huh, teacher, are you going to experiment on him?" Anko subconsciously looked at Orochimaru for a moment, then glanced at Kane who seemed to have a tacit understanding, feeling that she was excluded by the two again, she immediately puffed up her cheeks again, feeling sullen in her heart.

"I will." Jugo raised his hand: "As long as you can prevent me from killing again and stop me when I go crazy, I am willing to cooperate."

"Don't worry, maybe we can find a way to stabilize your emotions." Kane added.

"Is it really possible?" Jugo's eyes lit up for a moment when he heard Kane's words, and his face was full of excitement and joy.

"With enough data on your body, you can try it. The reason why you go crazy is because you can't control that huge natural energy. But as long as you can control it, you can control yourself from going crazy. " Kane yawned, rubbed his eyes and comforted.

Orochimaru glanced at Kane, but didn't deny anything.

In fact, according to his wishes, he wouldn't care whether Jugo could control himself or not. He is a pragmatist. As long as Jugo actively cooperates, it is enough for him to study.

Other details are extra costs. The always indifferent Orochimaru has no intention and energy to waste on an experimental subject.

Even if this experimental subject is very important, but when it is not needed, he does not need to take care of the other party's psychology and help the other party solve any difficult and miscellaneous diseases.

Jugo's mood became cheerful for a while, and he became more energetic. Although he didn't dare to believe Kane's promise in his heart, the other party gave him such a hope, which is worth looking forward to anyway.

Without this promise, he would actively cooperate with them, wouldn't he?

...

Three more days passed on the journey.

Boom!

There was a sudden loud noise inside a forest.

"Kill you!" The alienated Jugo punched Anko.

Latent Shadow Snake Hand!

Anko dodged at the same time, and a snake with fangs bared also emerged from her sleeve, and its fangs bit towards Jugo.

Jugo was about to swing his arm to knock away the snake that was pounced on him, but his body suddenly froze, his raised arm hung in the air, and his yellow eyes in his eye sockets swept towards Nara Shikane who was using Anko as a cover to block his vision.

Shadow Imitation Technique.

Shikane maintained the seal, and under the impact of Jugo's violent natural energy, the control of the shadow secret technique was greatly hindered, as if Jugo could regain control of his body by exploding in the next moment.

But Kane didn't need to control it for too long, because in the next instant, the snake summoned by Anko had already bitten the skin on Jugo's neck.

The hardened skin couldn't resist the fangs of the venomous snake. After being injected with the venom in the fangs of the venomous snake, Jugo's resistance suddenly plummeted.

Puff!

The snake body connecting Jugo and Anko also disappeared into smoke. Kane also dispelled his Shadow Imitation Technique.

However, Jugo on the field remained motionless, like a stone statue.

"Your neurotoxin is really useful!" Seeing Jugo who had lost his ability to move, Anko also breathed a sigh of relief.

Orochimaru changed Jugo, who went berserk every two or three days, to their trial, requiring them to use different methods to deal with Jugo before reaching their destination. In this way, the two people's actual combat ability and tacit understanding can be cultivated.

To be honest, if she hadn't mastered the blood-stained outfit, she felt that she wouldn't be able to last long under the berserk Jugo.

Although Jugo doesn't know ninjutsu and fights entirely by brute force, his fighting style is sharp and barbaric enough. Under the blessing of natural energy, his body can transform into various modes to resist the attacks of the two.

Last time she delayed Jugo for a long time, and finally at the last moment, with the cooperation of Shikane, she used the Naraku Jianjutsu to control Jugo. This time it was easier, using the neurotoxin that Shikane prepared from a certain kind of poisonous snake in Ryūchi Cave.

Just a tiny bit is enough to make a giant wild boar lose its ability to move, and if it is not rescued urgently, it will die of suffocation.

"Is he okay?" Seeing the violent toxin, Anko looked at Jugo worriedly.

"According to the data from last time, the dosage I set will not harm him. The natural energy in his body is now competing with the neurotoxin for control of the body's nerves. When the neurotoxin is almost cleared and eliminated, The excess natural energy in his body should also be almost completely dissipated."

shiKane stepped forward to observe for a while, used medical ninjutsu to check Jugo's physical condition, and then came to a conclusion.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 19: The Base

"Lord Orochimaru!"

At a remote, lawless area on the border of the Land of Fire, several ninjas suddenly leaped out from the ground, bowing their heads and kneeling on one knee before Orochimaru.

"Has anything noteworthy happened?" Orochimaru, along with Shikane, Jugo, and Karin, paused, looking at the three ninjas who appeared before him.

"Everything is as usual," the leading ninja replied immediately.

"Go about your business. I'll be staying here for a while," Orochimaru waved his hand, signaling the three to leave.

"Where are we, Teacher Orochimaru?" Watching the three ninjas quickly disappear, Anko's curiosity was piqued.

"Just a private base I built outside," Orochimaru continued forward with the trio, stopping in front of a cliff not far away. His fingers flew, forming seals, and finally, his palms clasped together. Like a summoning technique, his hands covered the cliff face.

With Orochimaru's palm as the center, dense black runes spread like a spiderweb across the cliff. Under Anko's focused gaze, the cliff suddenly trembled and began to move, revealing a dark cave behind it.

"Come in," Orochimaru took the lead and stepped into the cave, Anko following closely behind. When all four had entered the cave, the shifted cliff door rumbled shut.

With the closing of the cliff, the cave's interior suddenly brightened. Torches began to burn, illuminating a brightly lit path that revealed every detail of the dark cave's depths.

This was a base built within the mountain's belly.

Following the carved stairs winding downwards, they finally reached the open space below.

Along the way, there were rooms, even cells with iron bars.

The first floor was filled with various instruments.

The second floor had individual rooms, seemingly a living area.

They glanced at the third floor but didn't go deeper. The lingering coldness in the darkness and the faintly visible bars still indicated its purpose.

"This is your resting area. You can choose any room. We'll be staying here for a while," Orochimaru said in the second-floor corridor after briefly showing Shikane and the others around the base.

"Also, Shikane, you'll be my assistant tomorrow. No problem, right?" Orochimaru said, turning his gaze to Shikane beside him.

"Are we researching natural energy? I have no problem," Shikane nodded. He had now mastered a good number of medical ninjutsu and had a deeper understanding and progress in human anatomy. Assisting Orochimaru wouldn't be an issue.

With Orochimaru's personality, he wouldn't hoard knowledge, guarding against Shikane learning from him. At least from their current interactions, Orochimaru was genuinely teaching him and Anko.

...

The next day.

Jugo lay on the experimental table as a subject for the entire day.

Orochimaru's coldness and obsession during research made Anko, who witnessed her teacher's ruthless side, shiver.

What shocked Anko even more was that Shikane, younger than her, could remain calm during this uncomfortable research and even discuss things with Orochimaru from time to time.

For a moment, Anko vaguely thought that Orochimaru and Shikane were the normal ones in the team.

Was her teacher leading a team that recruited weirdos?

Even Jugo, the experimental subject, was an ultimate weirdo in Anko's eyes. Who could endure a whole day of being researched with bloodletting, dissection, and other methods, only grunt a few times, then be healed with medical ninjutsu and act like nothing happened, getting dressed and moving around?

"Aren't you in pain?" Anko approached the dressed Jugo and whispered. She felt Jugo was quite honest and kind when calm and could be considered a friend. Enduring that research she couldn't bear to watch made her feel somewhat guilty.

"Pain? No!" Jugo looked at Anko's concerned face, feeling touched while shaking his head. "The medicine Shikane prepared is very good. My whole body was numb. I didn't feel any pain, just a bit bored."

"Aren't you angry that Teacher treated you like that?" Anko was a bit bewildered. She thought Jugo would be furious at Orochimaru and their actions, but what was this outcome?

"I agreed to be an experimental subject. Before the research, Shikane explained the whole process to me and got my consent. Shikane kept his promise to me. No pain during the process, no scars afterward. Why should I be angry?

I can be needed, quietly researched here, not going out to kill. I feel good, at ease," Jugo shook his head and said calmly.

"You're such a weirdo!" Anko commented on Jugo.

On the other side.

"Jugo's body is truly a treasure. Looking at this data, I have an urge to get started," Orochimaru looked at today's experimental data, a rare hint of joy on his usually calm face.

This data would be useless in the hands of some ignorant brutes, but in the eyes of a research-oriented intelligent person like him, its value was higher than an S-rank forbidden technique.

It pointed him in a new direction!

This made Orochimaru's research desire surge. The last time he felt this excited about a subject and data was when it involved the First Hokage's Wood Style cells.

But that was partly out of curiosity about Wood Style and partly to deceive research funding.

The current research on Jugo was related to his future immortality and path to becoming a Sage. To put it bluntly, having Jugo as a research subject meant there was a walkable path ahead of him.

"Teacher Orochimaru, do you want to master Sage Mode?" Shikane stood beside Orochimaru, also holding a copy of Jugo's body data.

"Who wouldn't? Those who master Sage Mode are called Sages! Like the three great sacred grounds of the summoning animals. The Sages there have lived for at least a thousand years! From this perspective, if summoning animals that mastered Sage energy can live for a thousand years, what about humans?"

Orochimaru's eyes burned with fervor. It was precisely because of Ryūchi Cave and the other two sacred grounds as examples that he dared to truly yearn for and pursue immortality.

"But the Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave..." Orochimaru's face showed an unpleasant expression. "Before you have enough self-protection, Shikane, it's best not to meet the Sage of Ryūchi Cave. It's not an easy creature to deal with."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 20: The Road Ahead and Returning to the Village [Please Keep Reading]

"Ahhhhhhhh!"

A bloodcurdling scream echoed from the training ground. A man with gray-brown skin, his entire body covered in spider-like appendages, lay on the ground, roaring unconsciously.

The spider-leg-like appendages granted him extraordinary agility, his figure leaping back and forth across the training ground.

His scythe-like arms sliced through the air, leaving deep gashes on the surrounding walls.

About fifteen minutes later, the once ferocious man suddenly stumbled and fell to the ground.

His two scythe-like arms struggled to lift his body, but ultimately failed.

Like a dying beast, the man struggled on the ground, the light in his eyes and the rise and fall of his chest growing weaker and weaker.

Finally, he collapsed completely. His mutated limbs receded, revealing the body and face of a normal man.

"Test Subject 03, failed."

Watching this scene on the screen, Shikane drew a vertical line on the file in his hand.

"Retrieve it." Orochimaru, standing beside him, showed no frustration at the experiment's failure. For him, this current failure was far from enough to discourage him.

He just wanted to analyze the test subject's physical data, identify the cause of the failure, and then through repeated searching and corrections, grasp the final correct answer.

When Shikane went to the training ground to bring the body back to the laboratory, the seemingly lifeless corpse suddenly mutated again and sprang up.

His arms transformed into scythes once more, while the rest of his body remained unchanged. The man's lifeless eyes were now filled with ferocity and hatred.

However, in the next moment, the man's attack abruptly stopped. The tip of his scythe-arm was only an inch away from Shikane's forehead.

He could have pierced Shikane's head in the next instant, but his body couldn't move.

"Still alive? No, you're at your last gasp." Shikane looked at the man whose eyes were filled with unwillingness, glanced at the shadow that merged with him, and sighed slightly.

As Shikane spoke, the light in the man's eyes completely faded, and all the mutations in his body disappeared.

Anko watched this scene numbly. She had seen it too many times to be affected, and could even help out when needed, although only as a fighter.

They placed the body on the experimental table and connected and bound the surrounding instruments.

Anko was somewhat bored, watching Orochimaru and Shikane, who had immediately immersed themselves in data analysis.

She wanted to participate, but she couldn't understand the complex data. Even if Orochimaru had created a shadow clone to teach her, she still needed enough time to learn and master it.

How much she could ultimately learn depended on her talent for research.

"The body has been modified to withstand a certain amount of natural energy. But why did it fail later?" Orochimaru looked at the data in his hand, trying to find the loopholes.

"Is the natural energy taken from Jugo too violent? Or is there a problem with the sealing technique?"

"Is there a possibility that it's a chakra problem, Orochimaru-sensei?" Shikane looked up at the puzzled Orochimaru.

"Chakra?" Orochimaru looked down at Shikane in front of him.

"You and Tsunade-sama explained to me that both the human body and chakra have their own unique characteristics.

Based on the fact that chakra is a combination of human will and body, it can also be said that everyone's chakra is different.

To let the test subject accept a certain amount of Jugo's natural chakra under the sealing technique and modification, shouldn't we also consider how to shield the influence of Jugo's will carried by this part of natural chakra?"

"That's a very interesting argument, Shikane." Orochimaru's eyes lit up. The immortality he envisioned was to maintain his youth by constantly changing bodies.

The most important point was to implant his own spirit, will, and memories into another new individual through chakra, an energy that inherently possessed such characteristics, thus achieving the goal of taking over the new body.

Shikane's reminder undoubtedly made his vision clearer and more attainable.

"So, you're saying that two conflicting wills' chakra in one body will lead to instability in the test subject?" Orochimaru tossed the experimental report data in his hand aside.

"I think so." Shikane nodded.

"Then only one will can control the body, but Jugo's natural chakra itself is violent and destroys reason.

It seems that the sealing technique needs to be adjusted and improved, and new experiments will have to wait. Coincidentally, we're running out of test subjects at the base. Maybe I'll have to go to the bounty station again and find a few rogue ninjas."

Orochimaru licked his lips.

Disguising himself to take on missions, finding missing-nin based on provided information, capturing them and bringing them back to the base for experiments, and then after their deaths, taking their heads to the bounty station to exchange for money.

This was Orochimaru's other path, both for research and profit, besides defrauding funds.

As Orochimaru, who had deeply understood and researched various forms of chakra, once he had inspiration and was enlightened, he almost immediately thought of multiple ways to experiment in his mind.

If the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique was successfully developed in the future, how could he weaken the resistance of the reincarnated body?

Compared to the deeply ingrained chakra of adult ninjas, would teaching and brainwashing from childhood make their resistance weaker?

The erosion of the mind and the erosion of the body must at least reach a level comparable to the reincarnated body.

Orochimaru subconsciously began to fantasize.

So, on his next outing, should he search for and adopt more talented children from other ninja villages and cultivate them slowly?

For example, those with Kekkei Genkai?

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. Once this idea took root in his heart, he soon became unable to restrain his inner excitement.

Shikane, on the other hand, was carefully recalling the technique Orochimaru had taught him, the one called the Cursed Seal, which could only barely be considered a half-finished technique.

He glanced at Anko, who was standing bored beside him.

As the first person in his impression to bear the Sky Curse Seal, Anko's situation was also lamentable. Attacked by the teacher she admired, she developed a strong hatred for Orochimaru under various blows.

Thinking about it seriously now, Orochimaru was probably desperate at that time.

His secret activities were exposed by Danzo, and upon receiving the news, Orochimaru knew very well that he had no time and no ability to take anyone with him.

Even he himself wasn't sure if he could leave Konoha alive.

Attacking Anko, bestowing the Sky Curse Seal, and erasing part of her memory, apart from the slight protection brought by their teacher-student bond, was also to leave a way out for himself.

If he died at the hands of his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the others, and Anko, who had been implanted with the Cursed Seal, survived, then he would still have a chance to make a comeback.

"But we've been away from the village for several months." Shikane reminded Orochimaru again.

A B-rank mission, no matter what unexpected events occurred, with Orochimaru as the team leader, they should have completed it and returned to the village within a few months.

"Has it been several months? It seems I've been too immersed in my research." Orochimaru frowned, hesitated for a moment, and then sighed.

"Let's get ready. The excuse I used last time should have dragged on for the appropriate amount of time by now. It's time for us to return to the village."

"Are we going back to the village?"

Anko, who was standing beside them, immediately perked up upon hearing Orochimaru's words. Although it was exciting to leave the village on missions, after several months, coupled with staying underground for so long, she did miss Konoha and the soft bed at home.

"Yes, if we don't go back soon, I'm afraid some people will become restless." Orochimaru was a bit disappointed. After all, there was still research in the village that he was responsible for.

He could certainly abandon his duties, but the consequences were not what he wanted to see. Danzo might not be a good collaborator, but he paid generously!

When would he be able to achieve financial freedom in his research?

"Jugo, you stay at this base." Orochimaru looked at the young man beside Anko and, after some thought, decided not to take him back to the village.

"I..." Jugo felt a bit panicked. Because he had been following Orochimaru and the others these days, he didn't have to worry about hurting innocent people when he went berserk.

Whether it was Orochimaru or Shikane, they could always control him in time until he calmed down.

Now that Orochimaru and Shikane were leaving without him, his heart, which had been peaceful for a long time, once again became fearful.

"Before we leave, I'll prepare enough neurotoxin injections for you. You can inject yourself with a certain dose before you lose control and go berserk.

Next time, I'll prepare better, targeted medicine or sealing techniques to balance the natural chakra in your body." Shikane stepped forward, comforting the somewhat helpless Jugo.

"Then let's all get ready. The next time we meet might be several months later." Orochimaru had no objections to Shikane's words.

Originally, his plan was to build a cell and throw Jugo in there. As long as he didn't escape, it didn't matter what kind of damage he caused.

But since Shikane had his own ideas, Orochimaru didn't mind the decision he made.

...

Konoha Village.

"It's Lord Orochimaru!" The ninja guarding the gate immediately perked up when he saw the dust-covered Orochimaru and the other two.

After completing the entry procedures, Orochimaru and Shikane hadn't walked far into the village before they sensed a restless atmosphere.

It seemed that something major had happened in the village during their absence!

Orochimaru waved his hand, signaling the team to disband.

Upon returning home, the first thing Shikane did was ask his father the question on his mind, "Did something happen in the village?"

"Why do you ask?" Lu Ji, who hadn't even had a chance to exchange greetings with Shikane, was taken aback and asked softly.

"The atmosphere in the village feels off. Something that can affect the village's atmosphere can't be a small matter, can it?" Shikane sat down opposite Lu Ji and tossed the backpack he was carrying aside.

"Sakumo-senpai is dead." Looking at Shikane's inquisitive face, Lu Ji thought for a moment and decided not to hide it from him, revealing the news.

In fact, there was no need to hide this matter. Even the children in the Konoha Ninja Academy knew about it. Even if he didn't say it, Shikane would definitely hear about it from Orochimaru or his friends later.

"Konoha's White Fang?" Shikane was momentarily stunned.

"Yes... Because he abandoned a mission, causing damage to the village's interests, Sakumo-senpai, filled with guilt, committed suicide at home two days ago." Lu Ji patted Shikane's head and explained softly.

"Do you believe that?" Shikane gave his cheapskate dad a strange look. That explanation was fooling no one!

"That's the official statement." Lu Ji forcefully ruffled Shikane's hair, messing up his hairstyle, and said in a serious tone.

"Then let's just say that's the case." Shikane fell silent for a moment and nodded. Since there was already an official statement, there wouldn't be any other explanations on the surface. His cheapskate dad saying this was also a reminder to him.

"What about Kakashi Hatake?" Shikane thought of the person who was quite favored and valued by the teachers at the academy.

"He graduated from the Konoha Ninja Academy earlier. He was one of the youngest graduates. If nothing unexpected happens, he'll soon become a Chunin."

Seeing that Shikane understood his words, Lu Ji withdrew his hand. But upon hearing Shikane's question, he subconsciously sighed and shared the information he knew.

"Such a young Chunin?" Shikane wondered if he should visit Kakashi, but he didn't have a deep relationship with him.

Their only interaction was a few encounters and conversations at the Ninja Academy. The impression Kakashi left on him was that of a cool, quiet genius who didn't fit in with his classmates.

After he was recruited as a disciple by Orochimaru and left the Ninja Academy's classes, the two had even less interaction.

Even his once inseparable friends, Dosu Kinuta and Yuki Yamanaka, had significantly fewer opportunities to meet.

With such a relationship, there seemed to be no need for him to visit.

If nothing unexpected happened, Kakashi, struck by his father's death and tormented by the rumors in the village, would soon fall into the cold and closed-off "mission-focused" mode, considering completing missions as a ninja's primary goal.

In this mode, Kakashi was aloof and unreasonable, and even the youthful Might Guy couldn't influence him during this period.

Only the future Team 7 led by Minato Namikaze could change that.

After figuring this out, Shikane temporarily put Kakashi out of his mind. He planned to take advantage of this time back in the village to properly digest what he had learned from Orochimaru over the past few months.