"Hmm! My training has finally yielded some results," Amemiya Kenichi said with a simple, honest smile. He didn't expect to be able to hide his progress from his teacher.
Besides, he couldn't afford to stop training. Only by growing stronger could he secure a voice in the future. Kenichi was determined to study the Rinnegan and the Ōtsutsuki Clan's bloodline.
Oh, and the Divine Tree—that thing fascinated him too.
"I thought you'd never reach Jonin status in your lifetime, but now that you're approaching Chūnin level, there's still a chance," Orochimaru said, turning and leading Kenichi toward the laboratory.
He didn't care much about his disciple potentially becoming a Chūnin. Unless Kenichi demonstrated the potential to become a Jonin, Orochimaru wouldn't pay him much attention.
After all, for Orochimaru, Jonin was merely the starting point. Becoming a Jonin only meant one had the potential to become truly strong. Above Jonin were Elite Jōnin, and then there were the Three Great Sages like himself, and the Kage-level shinobi.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with a feverish intensity. Beyond Kage-class shinobi lay those who surpassed even the Kage, and above them all, the revered God of Shinobi.
"Teacher, I have some thoughts about... that experiment," Amemiya Kenichi murmured, leaning closer to Orochimaru. Orochimaru glanced around before waving him off.
Kenichi understood his teacher's meaning and fell silent.
Though they were alone, Orochimaru clearly didn't want to discuss the experiment here. Kenichi followed him to their research facility.
"Tell me, what's on your mind?" Orochimaru asked, settling into a chair and examining a petri dish as he waited for Kenichi's explanation.
"Teacher, I was thinking... When we tested the mice earlier, I noticed..." Kenichi summarized his findings as concisely as possible, then introduced a new concept.
Orochimaru had initially seemed distracted, but as Kenichi spoke, his interest grew. He straightened in his chair, listening intently.
"This concept of rejection you've mentioned is quite intriguing," Orochimaru said, glancing appreciatively at Amemiya Kenichi. Though his disciple lacked talent on the path of a ninja, he certainly possessed remarkable insight in scientific matters.
Moreover, Orochimaru had already observed phenomena similar to the rejection Amemiya described, especially in his current research on achieving immortality.
"So, if I understand you correctly, we should first conduct rejection tests to identify candidates whose cells are most compatible with the First Hokage's, and then devise methods to suppress the rejection response?" Orochimaru asked, his eyes gleaming with interest.
Amemiya nodded.
"And Teacher, this approach would reduce the number of test subjects required, while also minimizing the risk of detection," Amemiya added, carefully framing his arguments to appeal to Orochimaru's concerns. Only by demonstrating how this plan benefited Orochimaru could he hope to persuade him.
"I'll consider it," Orochimaru replied, neither agreeing nor refusing outright. But based on Amemiya's understanding of his teacher, he knew Orochimaru was already intrigued.
This was likely related to Orochimaru's continued ambition to become the Fourth Hokage. Once the Fourth Hokage was chosen, Orochimaru would probably act with even fewer restraints.
"Kenichi, your suggestion this time was excellent. What reward would you like?" Orochimaru asked with a smile, his eyes filled with curiosity and scrutiny.
Orochimaru was quite pleased with this disciple. He was a valuable assistant in his scientific pursuits, and Orochimaru wasn't one to skimp on rewards.
"Teacher, I'd like to study Kekkei Genkai," Amemiya Kenichi replied after a moment's thought.
He didn't need Ninjutsu; Orochimaru would teach him any technique he wanted, along with combat skills and strategies.
As for the Forbidden Technique Scroll he truly desired, obtaining it seemed impossible. Though Sarutobi Hiruzen was aging, his power remained formidable. He was a truly formidable ninja.
Despite the constant criticism Sarutobi Hiruzen faced, he undeniably deserved the title of "Great Shinobi." Perhaps he would have been better off never becoming Hokage.
Even his teacher found dealing with Sarutobi Hiruzen tricky, unless he fully mastered the Impure World Reincarnation. But that was a matter for the future.
So Amemiya Kenichi settled for second best: a Kekkei Genkai.
"Oh? The Hyuga Clan? Or the Uchiha Clan?" Orochimaru smiled approvingly at the answer. His disciple was just like him.
"Neither, Teacher. I've heard there's a very powerful Kekkei Genkai in Kirigakure, apparently held by the Kaguya Clan." Amemiya Kenichi had no interest in the Sharingan or Byakugan.
But the Kaguya Clan's Shikotsumyaku intrigued him greatly.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. The Kaguya Clan's Kekkei Genkai from Kirigakure? That would be the Shikotsumyaku. Still, that thing was quite interesting. Orochimaru had heard tales of their exploits.
"This will take time," Orochimaru said, not immediately agreeing. He was very interested in researching the Shikotsumyaku—to be precise, he was interested in all Ninjutsu and Kekkei Genkai in the world.
But Kirigakure had Kage-class experts. Capturing an experimental subject wouldn't be easy.
"Hmm!" Amemiya Kenichi knew this would take time and wasn't in a hurry. He remembered Orochimaru had Kimimaro, but he honestly didn't know when they'd met.
Anyway, Amemiya Kenichi wasn't worried. Even though he and Orochimaru were teacher and student, considering what happened with Anko Mitarashi, another of Orochimaru's students, Amemiya Kenichi knew he wouldn't be in too much danger even if Orochimaru defected.
But you never knew. Anko Mitarashi hadn't been deeply involved in the experiments, while Amemiya Kenichi was practically Orochimaru's second-in-command in the lab, so he'd inevitably bear some responsibility.
"I'll give you three test subjects later. Use them to test this rejection phenomenon you mentioned, then write a report for me," Orochimaru said calmly.
Amemiya Kenichi licked his lips and nodded with a smile.
As long as he continued working under Orochimaru, his hands would inevitably be stained with blood. There was no way around it, and Amemiya Kenichi had long since accepted that.
"Understood, Teacher."