Minato Namikaze noticed the gazes of the people around them and quickly reminded Akimichi Choza.
"Minato, Orochimaru-sama is super amazing! I often hear my grandpa talk about her!"
Akimichi Choza quickly lowered his voice, saying with regret, "I can't believe we're so lucky to meet Orochimaru-sama. If I had known it was her, I would have asked for an autograph!"
Seeing Akimichi Choza like this, Minato Namikaze could only show an awkward but polite smile.
In a brightly lit Laboratory, an experiment was underway in one room.
"Imu, are you ready?"
Orochimaru's Shadow Clone held a syringe containing a clear, translucent liquid.
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama, I'm ready!"
Imu nodded heavily. The assistants gathered in the room nervously awaited the experimental results.
"How about we do a few more animal experiments?"
Orochimaru was still quite reluctant to directly use immature research results on people, especially since the subject of the experiment was her very important assistant.
"Orochimaru-sama, at a time like this, how can you back down? I'm already prepared!"
Imu looked at Orochimaru with firm eyes.
"Alright."
Orochimaru injected the syringe into Imu's arm, injecting the serum into her body.
"Quick! Don't miss any changes in Imu's body!"
Orochimaru looked at the assistants, who quickly walked over and lifted Imu onto the instrument. All changes in Imu's body would be recorded by the instrument.
Hyuga Mio's veins bulged at her temples, and she used her Byakugan to observe the changes in her body.
Soon after, Imu's changes stopped. Her appearance changed from 30 to 20 years old. All physical data indicated that everything in her body had returned to how it was at 20 years old, and was even better than when she was 20.
"Orochimaru-sama, it's a success! You've succeeded!"
The assistants cheered.
"Not me, but us. This is the result of all our efforts."
Orochimaru smiled slightly and corrected them, looking at Hyuga Mio with a questioning look in her eyes.
Hyuga Mio shook her head slightly and walked to Orochimaru's side, whispering in her ear, "I'm very satisfied with my mature figure and appearance now, Orochimaru, you are too, right?"
"Of course..."
Orochimaru thought of something and blushed.
Hyuga Mio also realized the impropriety of her words and felt her face getting hot.
In Orochimaru's home, living room.
"Did you forget anything?"
Orochimaru handed a long list to Ichikishimahime.
"Aren't these things enough?"
Ichikishimahime patted the large scroll beside her. The scroll's height was almost taller than her.
"You haven't been back in a long time. This time, bring more gifts. Use the gifts to silence Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime, and also the White Snake Sage. Remember to give her the gift I prepared for the White Snake Sage."
Orochimaru patted Ichikishimahime's head, her gaze seemingly saying, "Get your act together!"
"Got it, got it!"
Ichikishimahime impatiently picked up the scroll and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Land of Waves, White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company.
"Lord Orochimaru, should we get involved in the war?"
Aokawa was a bit unsure what to do. Sunagakure tearing up the alliance agreement to attack Konoha made it inappropriate for him, as a witness, to remain silent. However, the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company was neutral and would not participate in wars, so taking Konoha's side in this matter might be improper.
"Why must we get involved in the war?"
Orochimaru opened her thermos, took a sip of medicinal tea, closed the ledger in her hand, picked up another, glanced at the overly focused Aokawa, then returned her gaze to the ledger in her hand, saying indifferently, "The White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company has always been a neutral company, and this will not change. We only need to condemn Sunagakure for unilaterally tearing up the alliance agreement."
To Orochimaru, the matter was simple. The White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company did not need to take any side because the company itself represented an independent force. As a witness, was there a problem with condemning the treacherous Sunagakure?
In the Ninja World, no one would find a problem with this. The White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company was condemning Sunagakure's actions, not taking Konoha's side, which also expressed the company's neutral stance.
"Orochimaru, will merely condemning them make others look down on the company?"
Kakuzu felt that mere condemnation wasn't enough and suggested, "The company won't participate in the war, so how about we sanction Sunagakure in business matters?"
Kakuzu had been the Vice President and CFO of the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company for quite some time. In his view, the business world was a battlefield without bloodshed.
If they couldn't participate in a bloody battlefield, then they would target Sunagakure in the bloodless business world.
"After Sunagakure acts against Konoha, Konoha might cut off Sunagakure or the Land of Wind's routes for obtaining supplies from abroad. We just need to fan the flames."
Orochimaru briefly revealed Konoha's counterattack plan, looking at Kakuzu, who was dressed in a motorcycle suit, with a slicked-back hairstyle and sunglasses, looking as if he had just returned from a wild ride on the streets.
"Targeting Sunagakure in business cannot be too obvious. It will give the Various Ninja Villages an impression of, 'If your White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company can target Sunagakure today, will you target us tomorrow?'"
Orochimaru would neither underestimate nor overestimate the thought processes of people in the Ninja World. She still couldn't understand the Third Kazekage's series of confusing actions.
"As expected of Lord Orochimaru!"
Aokawa felt enlightened, and the matters he had been struggling with seemed insignificant now.
"Aokawa, this is my latest research achievement, the Anti-aging Serum."
Orochimaru pulled a cooler from her sleeve. The box opened with a hiss, white cold air wafted out, and the air temperature instantly dropped several degrees.
Inside the cooler were ten clear, pale green vials of medicine — the Anti-aging Serum.
This was the result of her research into White Zetsu Cells. People injected with the Anti-aging Serum would rejuvenate from the inside out, thereby extending their lifespan.
Of course, Orochimaru had another method to extend life, which required genetic-level transplantation and modification of the body.
The advantage of the Anti-aging Serum was convenience and safety. Genetic transplantation and modification carried certain risks; even with high precision, it was not 100% successful.
"Anti-aging Serum… Lord Orochimaru, this serum…"
Aokawa could guess the effect of the Anti-aging Serum from its name.
"Eternal youth, extended lifespan. One Anti-aging Serum can extend life by about 20 years. More importantly, it can fix the user's appearance at a certain age. When first injected, the dosage determines the age, and one vial can make you about 10 years younger."
Orochimaru pointed at the Anti-aging Serum. The amount in one vial was very small; ten vials together weren't much.
Aokawa looked at the Anti-aging Serum in the cooler and asked, "I see, Lord Orochimaru, is this the company's latest product to be launched?"
"Hmm?"
Orochimaru was stunned, wondering if she had misheard.
Slap—!
Kakuzu raised a hand to his forehead. He couldn't stand Aokawa's foolish loyalty anymore. This was clearly a reward from Orochimaru to him, yet he thought it was the company's latest product.
"Aokawa! There's a limit to being foolish! This is Orochimaru's reward for you, a life-extending medicine. How could it be casually put up for sale?!"
Kakuzu really couldn't hold back anymore. He had never seen anyone more loyal than Aokawa.
If such a person hadn't met a boss as good to her subordinates as Orochimaru, the ultimate outcome would be to be used until death.
"Lord Orochimaru, this… is this really…"
Aokawa finally realized that these ten Anti-aging Serums were for him from Lord Orochimaru, not for sale.
"Kakuzu is right. How could something like this be sold? It's for our own people. You can use these ten Anti-aging Serums for yourself and your wife, or give them to others. How you choose to use them is your freedom."
Orochimaru closed the cooler, stood up, and said, "Nothing else, I'll be leaving first."
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