Autumn turned to winter, and a heavy snowfall caused the temperature in the Land of Fire to plummet, covering everything in white snow.
Inside the cave where the Iburi Clan lived, warm-toned lights glowed, replacing the previous darkness and dampness, keeping the cold at bay.
Deep within the cave, a hidden passage, only accessible by triggering a mechanism, led to the entrance of Orochimaru's lavishly built Laboratory. This passage also connected to three emergency escape routes.
These escape routes were built by Aokawa at Orochimaru's suggestion. If the Iburi Clan were ever attacked by enemies, they could lure them into the hidden passage, escape through the emergency exits, and then activate the traps within the passage, sending those enemies to the Pure Land ahead of time.
"Orochimaru-sama, are you satisfied?"
Aokawa saw Orochimaru walking silently through the Laboratory, a hint of apprehension on his face, thinking there might be something amiss.
"Very good, you've all worked hard."
Orochimaru looked at the scientific equipment in the Laboratory, considering that she currently had no better defense against genjutsu. Visual genjutsu was more insidious than auditory genjutsu, and one could fall victim to it inadvertently. Auditory genjutsu was not common in the Ninja World; only the Shinon Clan, a Ninja clan living in the Land of Rice Fields, specialized in it.
Orochimaru guessed that Tayuya, one of Orochimaru's subordinates in the original story, was from the Shinon Clan. Her auditory genjutsu, Demonic Flute: Illusionary Warriors Manipulating Melody, was effective even in the later stages when used by Yakushi Kabuto against Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi.
"Aokawa, based on the experimental data obtained from Chiriu, I've improved the medicine's formula." Orochimaru took out a bag of stabilizing pills and the formula, handing them to Aokawa. "Take one pill every seven days, or take it when you feel your Bloodline Limit is out of control."
"Orochimaru-sama, you..."
Aokawa held the bag of stabilizing pills and the formula with trembling hands. He never expected Orochimaru-sama to directly give him the formula. What an immense trust this was for their Iburi Clan!
Not only did she give them the formula, which was developed at great cost, but she also built a Laboratory beneath their clan's living area.
"Aokawa, I trust you, just as you trusted me, not doubting me because of my youthful appearance, and believing that I would bring you hope."
Orochimaru smiled, seeing Aokawa's touched, tear-streaked face. She had considered that the Iburi Clan might betray her.
Absolute loyalty means absolute disloyalty. If the Iburi Clan betrayed her trust, she would only use them as tools, tools that could be discarded at any time.
"Orochimaru-sama, the Iburi Clan will never betray your trust!"
Aokawa knelt on one knee. At this moment, Orochimaru's petite figure appeared incredibly grand in his eyes.
"Aokawa, once you've memorized the formula, destroy it. If it falls into other hands, your Iburi Clan will be very vulnerable."
Orochimaru reminded him. If the stabilizing pill's formula were leaked, the Iburi Clan would be the most affected. Some of the medicinal ingredients in the stabilizing pills were not easily obtained.
If someone deliberately targeted them, they could easily make them comply by controlling the supply of ingredients.
"I understand, Orochimaru-sama."
Aokawa looked at the formula in his hand, engraving it firmly in his mind, then destroyed it after memorizing it.
"Aokawa, I need you to arrange for personnel to go to the Land of Waves and establish a processing plant."
Orochimaru took out the skincare product formula and gave it to Aokawa.
"Orochimaru-sama, this is..."
Aokawa looked at the skincare product formula in his hand. Forgive him, a rough old man, he really couldn't understand it. Even the women in the clan might not understand it. They had lived in the cave for a long time, rarely interacting with the outside world, and probably didn't even know what cosmetics were, let alone skincare products.
"The products produced and sold by the processing plant will fund my research."
Orochimaru considered several countries for building the processing plant. After much thought, the Land of Waves, which was still very poor and hadn't yet built the Great Naruto Bridge, was the most suitable for establishing a processing plant.
Although the people of the Land of Waves might be relatively simple and some might try to take advantage of the processing plant due to poverty, the personnel she sent there were not to be trifled with.
Once the Iburi Clan's Bloodline Limit was controllable, physical attacks couldn't harm them. Their greatest fear was Wind Release; powerful Wind Release Ninja could blow away their smoke form, but it was difficult to kill them.
As for being dispersed... Orochimaru, who had experimented on Chiriu, was confident that after Iburi Clan members took the stabilizing pills, they would not be dispersed and killed by Wind Release, unless it was a Kage-level Wind Release. But Kage-level powerhouses were rare in the Ninja World; how could one encounter them just like that?
Or it would require multiple Wind Release Ninja working together to perform a Wind Release, otherwise, the Iburi Clan members in their smoke state could not be dispersed.
Of course, there might be some exceptions, but that would be an extremely small probability, and it couldn't be ruled out entirely.
The Land of Waves was already a poor land, and its Daimyo wasn't a wealthy person. If a little bribe could keep him from causing trouble, that would be best. If he dared to demand too much, then she would control him with her Bloodline Limit. If all else failed, she would kill him and take his place.
"Orochimaru-sama, building a processing plant in the Land of Waves with our Iburi Clan's manpower might be..."
Aokawa looked at Orochimaru, hesitating, his expression one of extreme difficulty.
"Aokawa, just hire local people from the Land of Waves."
Orochimaru took out a business plan as thick as a book and handed it to Aokawa. "Here is a detailed business plan. Follow it, and there won't be too many problems."
Saying this, Orochimaru took out a scroll, unsealed it, and two suitcases appeared on the ground.
"This is the funding for building the processing plant and producing the products. Don't disturb me unless it's important."
"Please rest assured, leave it to me, Orochimaru-sama!"
Aokawa solemnly put away the business plan and skincare product formula, then carried the two suitcases and left Orochimaru's Laboratory.
Aokawa walked up the stairs, using the lights on both sides. He flipped through the business plan, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes, and his admiration and respect for Orochimaru grew even deeper.
Orochimaru-sama considered things so thoroughly!
Even the hiring of employees was planned out!
Aokawa looked at the business plan, feeling like a chess piece in Orochimaru-sama's hand. All the paths ahead and what to do were already planned, and he just needed to follow them.
Anyone could be given the business plan, and as long as they followed it, there would be no problems. It covered almost everything from building the processing plant to the series of events after its completion, considering all aspects.
After distributing the stabilizing pills to his clan members, Aokawa selected suitable individuals from among them and personally led them to the Land of Waves to build the processing plant.
The members of the Iburi Clan, after taking the stabilizing pills, immediately felt a change in their bodies. They all returned to their homes, took off their heavy protective suits, and changed into normal clothes.
"Aokawa Clan Head, can I go to the Land of Waves with you? I want to repay Orochimaru-sama's kindness."
Chiriu didn't rush home. He walked up to Aokawa and offered to go to the Land of Waves with him. He wanted to do more to repay Orochimaru-sama, who had changed the fate of their clan.
Aokawa patted Chiriu's shoulder and said, "Chiriu, while I'm away, you'll be the Vice Clan Head. When Orochimaru-sama needs people, it'll be up to you."
"Aokawa Clan Head, please rest assured, whatever Orochimaru-sama asks, even my life."
Chiriu said very seriously. He had already made up his mind when he agreed to various experiments for Orochimaru.
The clan members, having changed into their clothes, walked out of their homes with relaxed expressions. They felt an unprecedented lightness, even lighter than before wearing the protective suits, as if a heavy burden that had been pressing on their bodies had been lifted.
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