At the mention of this word, Orochimaru's eyes instantly shifted.
Uchiha Yato then said:
"Don't give me that hostile look."
"You know as well as I do that I have no moral boundaries either. In a way, we're cut from the same cloth."
"But I have no interest in immortality. My abilities already allow me to extend my lifespan—that's enough for me."
Though Uchiha Yato didn't say it outright, his implication was clear. He was extending an olive branch to Orochimaru, hoping to avoid conflict.
After all, he genuinely wanted to maintain a good relationship with Orochimaru. While Orochimaru was undeniably villainous in the original story, he was still a charismatic antagonist—one whom Uchiha Yato rather admired.
Hearing this, Orochimaru's expression softened slightly, though he remained silent.
Uchiha Yato then continued:
"I picked up a little something from Sunagakure. Thought you might be interested."
As he spoke, Uchiha Yato pulled out the "Dottore's Slice" he had obtained from the gacha.
There was no way he could tell Orochimaru that this was a gacha prize, so he simply claimed it was from Sunagakure.
Upon seeing it—a specimen that resembled the kind of experimental vessel Orochimaru himself would use—his curiosity was immediately piqued.
Uchiha Yato explained, "This is called 'Dottore's Slice.'"
"You can think of it as a tissue sample left behind by an extremely powerful individual."
"You can choose to study it—or even use it on yourself."
As he spoke, Uchiha Yato deliberately waved the slice in front of Orochimaru.
His intention wasn't just to let Orochimaru examine it more closely—it was also to emphasize just how rare and valuable this item was.There's no such thing as a free lunch. Uchiha Yato's actions weren't just about gathering fragments for his Eternal Mangekyo—more importantly, they were to show Orochimaru how valuable an ally he was.
Seeing Uchiha Yato's demeanor, Orochimaru maintained his usual expression, though his keen interest in experimenting with this item was evident.
Uchiha Yato continued in a persuasive tone, "If you use this fragment directly, you'll create a Shadow Clone of yourself—one with flesh and blood, sharing the same thoughts and consciousness."
"When one body dies, the other clone becomes your new vessel."
Hearing this, Orochimaru finally understood why Uchiha Yato claimed this was related to immortality. With proper application and successful replication, one could continuously transfer bodies to achieve eternal life.
This realization made Orochimaru's gaze toward Uchiha Yato grow fervent, even as he calculated whether he could defeat—or kill—him.
"Put that look away," Uchiha Yato said. "That expression might fool Tsunade and Jiraiya, but no one else."
He wasn't wrong. Orochimaru's eyes burned with the greed of a predator.
Unfazed, Orochimaru calmly admitted, "After seeing the benefits of what you've described, it's only natural to have... thoughts."
He licked his lips before continuing, "I also know your capabilities well, Yato. I'd prefer not to clash with you."
"The simplest shinobi solution is still to settle it with a fight."
This was the most straightforward method Orochimaru had arrived at after careful consideration. First, Uchiha Yato's skills were undeniable even within the Hidden Leaf. Second, his unorthodox ideas made him someone Orochimaru didn't want as an enemy. Lastly, Yato was currently his strongest supporter in Konoha.
For these reasons, Orochimaru was willing to give him some face.
Uchiha Yato remained unhurried. To him, this tool was indeed perfect for Orochimaru. He had never intended it for anyone else, so Orochimaru's direct approach was welcome.
Smiling, Yato nodded. "Fine by me."
Hearing this, Orochimaru nearly dragged him off to a secluded spot for their match right then.
But Uchiha Yato's tone shifted as he added, "However, I want to raise the stakes. Let's make this a proper wager."
Orochimaru's smile didn't waver as he listened. He knew Yato's ambitions weren't small—sufficient compensation would be necessary for the bet to hold.
Uchiha Yato continued, "Once you've finished researching this fragment in my possession... I expect you'll use it on yourself.""First, I need to know if this fragment has the potential to be replicated. Second, if after using it, one of the two Orochimarus counts as my subordinate, what do you think?"
Upon hearing Uchiha Yato's request, Orochimaru pondered carefully. Before he could respond, Yato continued speaking.
"If you win, I'll give you a pair of Sharingan, even my Mangekyo."
This offer significantly raised the stakes for Orochimaru.
Without much hesitation, Orochimaru openly accepted Yato's proposal.
Just as Orochimaru was about to leave, Yato spoke again.
"Why go through all that trouble? I have a tool here."
"Just find a remote location!"
As he spoke, Yato produced his Instant Teleportation Gate.
After this period, the device had recharged enough to allow another long-distance round trip.
Yato didn't hesitate either. After explaining to Orochimaru, he noticed Orochimaru's growing interest in both the newly revealed tool and Yato himself.
Then, Orochimaru muttered somewhat cryptically.
"Yato-kun truly has the luck of the privileged."
Yato, puzzled by Orochimaru's words, heard him continue.
"There are only a few treasures like this in the Shinobi World, and you've managed to find them all. Quite enviable, really."
Yato chuckled in response.
"Then join the Uchiha."
Orochimaru, unfazed, teased back.
"Oh? If I join the Uchiha, will all these treasures become mine?"
Yato replied, "No, no, no. If you join the Uchiha, your things become mine, and my things remain mine. That way, you won't have any psychological burdens."
Hearing this, Orochimaru's expression stiffened, his ever-present smile faltering slightly.
Without further ado, the two stepped through the Instant Teleportation Gate and left the Hidden Leaf.
...
The evening breeze brushed over the sea.
By now, Uchiha Yato and Orochimaru had traveled far from the Hidden Leaf, arriving at a remote island.
The reason they knew it was an island was simple—the endless expanse of blue surrounding them made it obvious.
Yato checked their location using the small map icon that came with the device's manual.
They were closest to the Land of Water, meaning they were in completely uncharted waters.
Orochimaru spoke up.
"Let's keep it simple. There's no one around anyway."
Yato, however, decided to skip the formalities.
"Then here I come!"
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I'm back!