In the dim underground laboratory, the cold stone walls were permeated with the lingering scent of disinfectant mixed with blood. The only light source came from a single flickering candle on the workbench, casting Orochimaru's lean silhouette onto the wall like a distorted serpent.
"Devouring souls... unknown power..."
Orochimaru's fingertips repeatedly caressed the ancient scroll that contained the secret records. His vertical pupils were filled with fanaticism and intense focus, locked onto the few lines describing the Hollows.
Undoubtedly, the new creatures described in the scroll, the 'Hollows,' with their cruel depiction of the strong preying on the weak, devouring souls for evolution, acted like a key, unlocking his understanding and ideas. It offered a path of evolution entirely different from the existing rules of the shinobi world: achieving spiritual evolution by devouring the souls of their own kind.
"These unique creatures called 'Hollows' must possess a power different from that of ninjas," Orochimaru's slender tongue licked his lips. "What could it be?"
Hiashi Hyuga understood Orochimaru far too well. For Orochimaru, who craved to master all truths, such an entirely unfamiliar yet feasible path laid before him was an irresistible temptation. Moreover, this new idea of devouring souls to strengthen one's own soul happened to perfectly compensate for the soul-damaging flaw of the Impurities Reincarnation, giving him no reason to hesitate further.
So, during this period, Orochimaru, as if possessed, continuously tried to develop this unprecedented jutsu framework. And now, he finally had made some breakthrough!
Orochimaru carefully put away the scroll in his hand, then turned, his lower body, like a snake's tail, writhing as he walked with a fanatic expression into his laboratory.
On the restraint table in the center of the lab, a ninja was firmly confined by special metal shackles. The light illuminated his lifeless face. He wasn't unconscious; he had been injected with potent nerve inhibitors and muscle relaxants, placing him in a state of extreme lucidity but "paralysis," unable to move even a single finger. Only his eyeballs trembled and rolled with fear, and meaningless gasps escaped his throat.
This was the "material" Orochimaru had meticulously prepared: a rogue ninja skilled in genjutsu.
First, to clarify: what is known as spiritual energy, when combined with chakra, becomes Yin Release chakra. Yin Release is one of the seven chakra nature transformations, originating from the mental energy that governs imagination, possessing the characteristic of "creating physical forms from nothing." The Nara clan's Shadow Imitation Technique and the Yamanaka clan's Mind Transfer Technique essentially use what is called Yin Release chakra, concretizing mental energy to achieve physical interference. Therefore, being skilled in genjutsu or having strong resistance implies, to a certain extent, powerful mental energy and mastery of Yin Release, which is to say, a powerful "soul."
Orochimaru himself was a ninja with extremely strong genjutsu mastery, naturally understanding that genjutsu users' souls were most suitable for consumption. If it weren't for his repeated use of Impurities Reincarnation later, combined with fragmenting countless soul pieces with cursed seals, Orochimaru wouldn't have fallen into genjutsu with a single glance from Itachi Uchiha. The current Orochimaru had not yet undergone reincarnation, and his soul was still very powerful, so he had this confidence.
"Don't be afraid."
Orochimaru looked down at the ninja on the restraint table, a sickly smile appearing on his face as he softly said, "You will witness the birth of truth. You should feel honored for this."
With that, he raised his hands and formed complex hand signs. The basis of this jutsu, without a doubt, was Impurities Reincarnation. It involved the process of completely detaching one's own soul and transferring it into a new physical vessel. Thus, Orochimaru had an unparalleled profound understanding of the soul detachment process, the soul's link to the body, and how to stabilize the soul in a new vessel. This was the foundation for him to "perceive" and "manipulate" souls.
"Come!"
Orochimaru's vast spiritual energy, like tentacles, invisibly and precisely pierced into the ninja's brain, forcibly establishing a mental link and driving in an anchor point. The ninja's body trembled violently. His previously terrified eyes instantly glazed over, and his mind was engulfed by an even deeper fear. He could clearly "feel" a cold, slimy, malevolent soul invading the deepest reaches of his brain.
If it were according to the Impurities Reincarnation procedure, Orochimaru could already transfer souls now. However, what he was doing now was entirely different.
"..."
Orochimaru took a deep breath, his expression becoming solemn and grave. His hands began to form different hand signs again. If the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, were here, he would surely feel a strong sense of familiarity. That's right, what Orochimaru was using now was precisely the Impure World Reincarnation. This ninjutsu, developed by the Second Hokage, which Orochimaru had attempted to perfect, proved that souls from the Pure Land could be summoned back to the living world and bound within a sacrificial body. This gave Orochimaru the most crucial element.
Souls were not untouchable; the Impure World Reincarnation jutsu could forcibly summon, bind, and even control them. And building upon summoning, binding, and controlling, by shaping Yin Release chakra into different structures, one could achieve "detachment" and "absorption"!
Buzz!
Around Orochimaru's chest, about an inch from his body, the air seemed to twist and spin. His pure Yin Release chakra underwent shape transformation, and a visible chakra vortex gradually appeared. This vortex was not physical; it radiated a heart-pounding suction, its interior deep and cold, as if even light would be swallowed by it. This was precisely his imitation of the "Hollow Hole" from the scroll of the 'Hollows'. It was not a physical entity but a pure energy structure, designed to "detach" and "absorb" souls!
With the "Hollow Hole" constructed, a sharp glint flashed in Orochimaru's eyes. He quickly formed hand signs again and said in a deep voice, "Secret Art: Soul Eater!"
In an instant, an invisible suction targeting the soul level erupted. Through the previously established mental link, this suction transformed into countless barbed chains, piercing into the ninja's body and hooking onto his soul. This time, it was modified from the Death Reaper Seal (referring to the technique from Naruto that summons the Shinigami to extract a soul).
"Agh!!"
A scream, so agonizing it transcended human limits, instantly ripped through the laboratory's silence! The ninja's eyes widened, bloodshot and almost bursting. The sound even overcame the potent nerve inhibitors and muscle relaxants, and his body convulsed uncontrollably on the restraint table. This pain didn't originate from his flesh but was the extreme torture of his soul being torn apart, violently ripped outward!
Soon, under the tearing force of the "pseudo-Hollow Hole," a nearly invisible, ethereal spirit was forcibly peeled away bit by bit. The spirit, with its clearly human face, was full of struggle and resistance, but it was firmly locked and pulled by the "pseudo-Hollow Hole," unable to avoid being dragged toward the vortex in front of Orochimaru!