While Yuuki was in his office, contemplating which clan to 'PY' next, a small, grey-blue snake appeared in the office.
"Minister!"
Mitsuba's startled cry rang out.
"It's alright, he's one of us."
Yuuki comforted Mitsuba and took the scroll from the snake's mouth.
This was Orochimaru and Yuuki's method of communication; Orochimaru had given Yuuki several snake summoning scrolls.
It wasn't that Yuuki didn't have his own summoning beast; it was clearly Orochimaru's habitual caution.
If information was relayed by Yuuki's summoning beast, wouldn't that expose Orochimaru's location?
Clearly, as a Rogue Ninja, Orochimaru wouldn't be careless about such things.
Yuuki took out Orochimaru's scroll and, after reading it, understood Orochimaru's intentions.
He couldn't help but feel speechless. "Oh, Orochimaru, you really take me for Danzo!"
"If I hadn't watched Naruto, I really would have been fooled by you!!!"
Land of Rice Fields.
Since his last meeting with Yuuki, Orochimaru had not continued to wander, returning to his base with Haku and Karin.
At this time, Otogakure had already been established in the Land of Rice Fields. This was a Village for Orochimaru to accumulate wealth.
However, on the surface, it had no connection to Orochimaru; it was a Village composed of local Ninja from the Land of Rice Fields.
Orochimaru naturally stayed in one of his strongholds; as a Rogue Ninja, Orochimaru was quite satisfied with his situation.
He had money, leisure, and a hidden lair underground. Everyone's pursuits are different, so what they value also differs.
If Yuuki and the Uchiha clan members had to hide underground like rats, it would be worse than killing them—well, except for Madara and Obito, those two oddballs.
Compared to such a life of constant hiding, Yuuki still preferred to openly enjoy the cheers of the people.
Orochimaru did not change his primary objective because of Yuuki's words; he still focused on Kekkei and secret jutsu research.
However, he still dedicated a portion of his time each day to researching Chakra, which he had once taken for granted but formed the basis of all Ninja abilities.
Orochimaru's research into Chakra was not going smoothly.
Initially, after more than half a month of numerous experiments, Orochimaru discovered that while Chakra was mysterious, it was actually very simple.
It was simply the combination of a creature's physical energy and spiritual energy that formed Chakra.
Since its composition was simple, he decided to start with the way Chakra was formed.
Orochimaru tried to understand how Chakra was formed after physical and spiritual energy mixed.
The result was still nothing; it seemed that as long as physical energy and spiritual energy mixed in a one-to-one ratio, Chakra would form.
There was no intermediate process, no earth-shattering changes, just like water and alcohol mixing to naturally form liquor.
Orochimaru didn't know if his direction was wrong or if the instruments weren't precise enough to observe the formation process.
The research seemed to have hit a dead end before it even began.
It wasn't until a research session on the Cursed Seal that Orochimaru suddenly remembered his stalled Chakra research.
Orochimaru thought of Sage Mode Chakra and Natural Energy.
After completing the Cursed Seal experiment, Orochimaru resumed his Chakra research, and finally, after adding Natural Energy, he made a breakthrough.
Orochimaru discovered a difference: Natural Energy and Chakra were almost like fire and water, but upon contact with Chakra, some Natural Energy mysteriously vanished.
After several careful inspections, Orochimaru found that the vanished Natural Energy had actually transformed into Chakra. That tiny bit of Chakra was so minuscule compared to the Natural Energy that Orochimaru hadn't noticed it initially.
Orochimaru's mind raced with possibilities, and after numerous experiments and gradual eliminations, he reached his final conclusion.
Chakra can be converted from Natural Energy. As long as Chakra and Natural Energy are in contact for a certain period, a portion of the Natural Energy will form Chakra, while the rest dissipates.
Chakra is refined from Natural Energy!
But this still didn't answer Orochimaru's original question: how is Chakra formed within a living body?
Orochimaru naturally thought of the Six Paths Sage.
As a descendant of Ryūchi Cave, although his relationship with the White Snake Sage was not good, he at least knew that the Six Paths Sage was not a myth but a real person.
Regarding this legendary figure who shared Chakra with the world and was himself called a Sage, Orochimaru felt he needed to update his understanding.
Orochimaru, eager to delve deeper into how Chakra forms within the body, was approached by visitors yesterday.
Unlike the original story, it wasn't Sasori and Pain who came to recruit Orochimaru, as Sasori was currently working for Yuuki!
It was Pain and Biwa Jūzō.
Before arriving at Orochimaru's location, Nagato, who had been training for a long time, was finally able to skillfully use the jutsu that made him confident in becoming a god: Shinra Tensei!
Nagato, now fully immersed in his chuunibyou phase, took Konan and Deva Path Pain to the furthest Land of Tea first to recruit Suikazan Fuguki.
Unfortunately, Suikazan Fuguki lacked foresight. After being beaten to death by Deva Path Pain, Samehada also became Nagato's spoils of war.
Afterward, they headed north and successfully recruited Biwa Jūzō, who understood the rules of the Ninja World.
After all, the rules of the Ninja World are ostensibly based on reputation, but in reality, they are based on strength. Ninja with no reputation but great strength are rare, but not nonexistent.
When Deva Path Pain and Biwa Jūzō appeared before Orochimaru, Orochimaru instantly recognized Biwa Jūzō, and soon after, he finally remembered who Pain was.
He was the leader of those three brats from the Land of Rain back then!
Upon seeing Pain's Rinnegan, combined with his recent experiments, Orochimaru's mind filled with many deductions.
Jiraiya, the Sage of Mount Myōboku, the Child of Prophecy, the Rinnegan, the Six Paths Sage.
As Jiraiya's former companion, Orochimaru knew Jiraiya inside and out. After much deduction, Orochimaru felt he had uncovered an incredible secret: Mount Myōboku was playing a grand game!
While not entirely wrong to some extent, the Six Paths Sage, the ancestor of the Uchiha Clan, was indeed fooled by Gamamaru into sealing his own mother.
However, it's debatable who was using whom between Gamamaru and the Six Paths Sage.
This time, Orochimaru wasn't as reckless as he was in the original story. After Pain extended an invitation, Orochimaru readily agreed to join the Akatsuki Organization without even a fight.
And on the second day after joining the Akatsuki Organization, which was today, Orochimaru shared some of his discoveries with Yuuki and revealed some information about the Akatsuki Organization.
The entire message meant: I, Orochimaru, have made groundbreaking progress in Chakra research!
But because of this, I discovered a huge secret and was captured by a mysterious organization hidden within the Ninja World. The situation is urgent!
Fortunately, the other party also valued my research abilities, so I still have some freedom. However, continuing your Uchiha Tomoki's research carries too great a risk.
Aside from not being able to conduct the research, the implicit meaning was: pay me more.
In summary, it was: Yuuki-kun, I, Orochimaru, need money!
Yuuki was almost laughing with anger after reading it. "Very good, Orochimaru, keep being dishonest. Shisui's Sharingan jutsu hasn't been used yet!"
If you don't wise up, using it on you, Orochimaru, wouldn't be a waste!
However, Yuuki ultimately didn't plan to call Shisui back now. After all, Kotoamatsukami involves thoughts; what if it made Orochimaru stupid!
Even if he didn't become stupid, if it triggered the 'whitewash' debuff, Orochimaru would be useless. Kotoamatsukami could only be a last resort.
Yuuki simply wrote 'Read!' on Orochimaru's scroll.
Afterward, he thought for a moment, went to Qing Yue's laboratory, took out the first White Zetsu corpse they had captured, packaged it, and sent it to Orochimaru.
It was more or less a warning.
In the evening, Orochimaru, who seemed to have nothing else to do after joining the Akatsuki Organization except changing his coat, wearing a ring, and painting his nails, continued his research.
After receiving Yuuki's reply and the White Zetsu corpse, Orochimaru remembered Zetsu, whom he had met that morning.
Orochimaru knew his plan had fallen through!
However, Orochimaru didn't pay too much attention to it; it was just a casual move.
What interested Orochimaru was Yuuki.
"Yuuki-kun, it seems you know a lot of things!"
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