If one wishes for their soul to leave the body, the first step is to perceive where the soul resides.
This is a deeply abstract process. In the shinobi world, there's no well-established methodology for it.
In other words: if you can do it, you can. If you can't—well, you just can't. Bridging the gap between those two states is something one must figure out alone. That's true for most S-rank difficulty ninjutsu.
Aside from techniques like the Eight-Forked Serpent Jutsu that require vast foundational knowledge, most are obscure, convoluted, and often seem like nonsense. The reason is simple: while these jutsu are powerful, even their original creators may not have fully understood them. Many were born from coincidence and incomplete theory.
Take the Eight-Forked Serpent Jutsu again—Orochimaru had to revise it over a dozen times to reach its current form. The original creator, despite their brilliance, lacked the insight to simplify what should've been more straightforward.
As for the Spiritualization Technique—maintaining a soul body, tracking targets, invading another's spiritual world—yes, all of these are extremely difficult. But the true barrier is right at the start: being able to sense the soul at all.
Once that's achieved, the rest can be gradually refined, even if imperfectly.
So, when Kakashi took that first step, he was already well on his way.
"It's surprising that the breathing technique had this kind of effect,"
Orochimaru mused, licking his lips. He found the Djinn's theory very plausible.
He didn't believe for a moment that he'd simply stumbled upon a genius of the soul arts by luck. Kakashi's rapid progress proved that point. After sensing the soul, however, progress began to slow—especially the actual act of separating from his body.
"Don't rush it,"
Orochimaru finally said after an hour, motioning for Kakashi to end his meditation.
"For most, it could take a week or more. In your case... I expect you'll get there faster."
Kakashi gave a tired nod. Extended meditation was draining. He hadn't yet reached Orochimaru's level of "Constant Full-Concentration Breathing," where natural energy could replenish body and mind alike.
"Do you have any other instructions, Lord Orochimaru?"
"Just take this—and you're good to go."
Orochimaru reached out and touched Kakashi's shoulder. Instantly, Kakashi felt a foreign presence enter his body, a strange weight pressing on him from within.
"A small... boost," Orochimaru said with a grin.
"This will help sharpen your sensitivity."
Even with talent, Kakashi would normally need repeated trial and error to transform the abstract into reality. But with Orochimaru's little white snake inhabiting his body, the process would speed up. That unfamiliar presence would sharpen Kakashi's awareness—at the cost of some discomfort.
A week is a lot of time, and Orochimaru intended to save every moment possible.
---
Meanwhile, in Grass Ninja Village — a dimly lit chamber...
The sound of a tongue clicking broke the silence.
"Did I hear that right?" the silver-haired man said with a grin. "You want me to catch a Tailed Beast for you?"
After leaving Ryūchi Cave, Kabuto Yakushi had traveled toward the Land of Rain, taking a roundabout route to mask his destination. He had taken some black market jobs along the way and lingered a bit too long in Grass Ninja territory.
Eventually, the village's intelligence unit noticed him.
Kabuto wasn't concerned—none of them posed any real threat. What surprised him was that the elders of Kusanagi Village didn't report him to Konoha. Instead, they approached him with an offer of cooperation.
At first, Kabuto assumed this was thanks to Orochimaru's past dealings—specifically, having taken in Karin and her mother from this region—but clearly, the Grass elders wanted more.
A tailed beast? From a village like Grass?
"We'll reward you well," Elder Yangmian said solemnly.
"Please, help Grass Ninja Village."
"Sorry, I'll pass," Kabuto replied with a sly smile.
"One Konoha is enough trouble. I'm not in the mood to provoke another village."
His implication was clear: If even I wouldn't dare mess with Takigakure, what makes you think you can?
> "Takigakure's only real strength is its location," the elder countered calmly.
"They're nothing without it. And we won't be acting alone—we have two powerful allies."
Kabuto raised an eyebrow. Takigakure… that means Seven-Tails, Chōmei. Still, not that much of a threat.
...
"This is a good opportunity for you as well. If we obtain a tailed beast, even Konoha would think twice before crossing us. You'd have a safe haven here."
Kabuto sneered internally, but kept a calm face.
"Fine. I'm in. So... who are these 'two powerful allies' you mentioned?"
The elder smiled, relieved.
"You've probably heard of them: S-rank rogue ninjas—the Red Sand Scorpion and the bounty hunter Kakuzu. The latter is formerly of Takigakure. With their help, success is within reach."
Kabuto's eyes narrowed.
So even Grass managed to rope in those two... interesting.
They were tired of being the prey of greater nations.
The tailed beast wasn't even the final goal.
It was merely the key.
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