Land of Whirlpools, Ascension Island Underground Laboratory.
Sora's figure appeared in the center of the laboratory. He first carefully checked the arranged sealing formulas as per routine, and only after confirming there were no issues did he completely relax.
This was his absolutely secret place, belonging only to him.
He walked to the experimental table, swept his palm across its surface, and several sealing scrolls neatly spread out.
These were precisely the spoils looted from Orochimaru's Land of Rice Paddies base.
"Let me see what kind of 'generous gifts' Orochimaru has sent me this time."
A trace of cold mockery played on Sora's lips as he first unsealed the scroll containing the core items.
Poof!
The cylindrical culture tank containing the Wood Release cells appeared on the experimental table.
A flash of fervor passed through Sora's eyes.
This was one of the top-tier "materials" in the Naruto world, involving the power of Asura's chakra and the Divine Tree. It held immeasurable value for his future exploration of Kekkei Mora, and even the secrets of the Otsutsuki clan.
These highly active cells, painstakingly cultivated by Orochimaru, were now all to his advantage.
After carefully transferring the culture tank to the laboratory's safest low-temperature preservation area, Sora continued taking inventory of the other scrolls.
He unsealed another, larger scroll. Inside were a large number of experimental records and some scattered experimental samples.
Sora quickly flipped through the paper documents, his gaze sharply scanning the data and charts.
Suddenly, his movements paused slightly. He pulled out a relatively separate report from the pile of documents.
"Oh? This is here too?"
An even more obvious smile appeared on Sora's face.
This was precisely the "Yamato cells" he had traded out earlier in exchange for the "artificial tailed beast" technology.
Clearly, Orochimaru had also placed these in the Land of Rice Paddies base for research, attempting to compare them with his own cultivated Wood Release cells.
"Came full circle and returned to my hands, with so much extra interest attached."
In a pleasant mood, Sora set this report aside separately.
Seeing Orochimaru suffer such a major setback was even more satisfying to him than obtaining these physical gains.
After imagining Orochimaru's reaction upon learning the news about the Land of Rice Paddies base, Sora searched for a while longer. Unfortunately, he couldn't find any information related to the "Living Corpse Reincarnation" technique.
It was clear Orochimaru had not conducted this research in the Land of Rice Paddies, which inevitably disappointed him somewhat.
After all, "Living Corpse Reincarnation" was a crucial piece for him to achieve Kekkei Mora, directly related to soul separation and merging with clone bodies.
But fortunately, Orochimaru definitely had the "Living Corpse Reincarnation" information. He could find a way to obtain it later.
Without dwelling on it further, Sora continued examining the remaining spoils.
"Cloning technology... and a more detailed version at that!"
The moment he saw the document title, Sora's spirits lifted. He immediately picked it up and carefully read through it.
This information was far more systematic and complete than what he had obtained from the border valley in the Land of Bears. It not only detailed the complete cell cloning process but also included optimized culture medium formulas. Its value was extremely high.
"Excellent find!"
Sora carefully stored the information, already having a plan in mind.
"Once Kabuto leaves Konoha and his foundation is more solid, I can have him start learning about this area of knowledge."
After properly organizing these most important gains by category, Sora glanced at the timing device in the corner of the laboratory.
"This trip took about ten days total."
"The mission deadline for the Land of Wind's Dragon Vein is twenty days. It's still too early to return and report now. That would easily arouse suspicion."
Hiruzen Sarutobi already harbored suspicions about him. If he completed every mission "excessively" efficiently, it would inevitably make that paranoid Hokage think more.
An idea occurred to Sora. His hands quickly formed hand seals, then pressed against the ground.
"Summoning Technique!"
Poof!
The imposing figure of Tenji appeared in the laboratory.
After more than a month apart, its physique seemed to have grown slightly larger again.
"Master!"
"Mm, it seems you haven't been slacking off."
Sora sensed Tenji's condition and nodded in satisfaction.
"I called you out today to teach you a new technique."
"A new technique?"
Curiosity shone in Tenji's eyes.
Sora took out the training scroll for the "Reverse Summoning Technique" he had previously obtained from the Land of Cats from his ninja tool pouch.
"This is the Reverse Summoning Technique."
Sora explained:
"Once mastered, even if I don't actively summon you, when you encounter danger or when I need you, you can perform a reverse summoning on your own, coming to my side, or summoning me to your location."
This technique was of extraordinary significance. It could greatly enhance tactical coordination between him and his summon, and more importantly, provide mutual support at critical moments, offering another means of survival.
Tenji was highly intelligent and immediately understood the importance of this technique.
"Master, I will master it as soon as possible!"
"Good, practice here peacefully. Ask me if there's anything you don't understand."
Sora patted Tenji's shoulder.
After arranging for Tenji, Sora walked to the side and began organizing the remaining information obtained from Orochimaru's base, especially the experimental data concerning human meridian networks and chakra nature fusion.
Although he wouldn't conduct inhumane human experiments like Orochimaru, these cutting-edge research ideas and data analysis provided significant inspiration for his understanding of the essence of Kekkei Genkai.
...
At the same time, at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain, Orochimaru's tent.
Orochimaru sat in his chair, his expression extremely gloomy.
He had just received an urgent message from a trusted subordinate in the Land of Rice Paddies. Five secret research bases he had painstakingly operated within the Land of Rice Paddies had been completely uprooted in a single day with swift and decisive force!
All stationed personnel were annihilated. Core experimental data was plundered. The most important "Wood Release cell" samples and "Yamato cell" samples were lost. The bases themselves were thoroughly destroyed, with no valuable remnants found.
The methods were clean, efficient, ruthless, and decisive.
"Five bases... simultaneously..."
Fury surged in Orochimaru's heart. This was definitely not a coincidence, nor was it the work of an ordinary force.
The other party clearly had a thorough understanding of his base distribution and possessed the formidable strength to launch simultaneous multi-point strikes.
This was a targeted, premeditated, and precise attack aimed at him!
This couldn't help but remind Orochimaru of the information his trusted subordinate sent back to Konoha to investigate Sora a few days ago.
Sora had returned to Konoha a month ago, then left the village to find a summon. Then, about ten days ago, he left the village again to carry out a confidential mission personally assigned by the Hokage, with the suspected destination being the Land of Wind. He had not yet returned to the village.
This information instantly gave Orochimaru's suspicion a focal point.
"Sora..."
He silently uttered the name, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
He was seventy percent certain that the events in the Land of Rice Paddies, even if not carried out by Sora's own hand, were inevitably connected to him!
This was retaliation! Retaliation for the joint ambush he set up with Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning!
Moreover, the other party chose to act precisely at this time, just when he was tied down by the frontline war with Iwagakure, his attention largely occupied. The timing was extremely precise.
But... the Land of Wind and the Land of Rice Paddies?
Orochimaru's brows furrowed tightly.
The distance between these two places was far more than a thousand miles. One was in the southwest of the ninja continent, the other in the northeast.
How could Sora possibly launch an attack in the Land of Rice Paddies while simultaneously carrying out a mission to the Land of Wind?
Unless he possessed rare Space-Time Ninjutsu abilities, but that was clearly impossible. Sora had never exchanged for such ninjutsu in the Anbu, nor did he have the qualifications to do so.
But if not Sora, then who?
A force with such strength, harboring such great hostility towards him...
Danzo? Iwagakure? Or some other enemy lurking in the shadows?
Orochimaru found he couldn't be sure for the moment.
This feeling of being out of control, secretly watched, and bitten hard was extremely displeasing to him.
"It seems... I've been too 'active' lately."
Orochimaru forced himself to calm down, analyzing the current situation.
The losses in the Land of Rice Paddies were massive. The loss of the Wood Release cells and related data, in particular, could be said to have severed one of his important research arms.
The frontline war was tense. The pressure from Iwagakure was increasing. He couldn't easily extricate himself.
More importantly, the old man (Hiruzen) had clearly become suspicious of him because of the Land of Lightning incident. Sending Sora to the Land of Wind for this so-called "confidential mission" might well be a move to keep Sora away, avoiding any further attempts on his life by him (Orochimaru).
Under these circumstances, if he made any major moves against Sora again, the first one to object would probably be Hiruzen Sarutobi.
That old man, though aged and becoming indecisive, still wielded shrewd methods when it came to maintaining village stability and balancing internal forces.
"Hmph, I'll let you live a little longer for now."
Orochimaru sneered inwardly.
He wasn't worried about Sora coming directly to trouble him.
Not to mention he was currently at the heavily guarded frontline camp, his status alone as the Hokage's student, one of the Legendary Three, and a hero of the Kikyōyama battle meant Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't allow Sora to move against him openly.
Konoha's internal stability was paramount above all.
The most important thing now was to withdraw those forces hidden in the shadows, avoiding giving the other party leads to find more evidence.
Simultaneously, the frontline must hold. As long as he could still bring victories to Konoha, his position within the village would remain secure.
However, Orochimaru's curiosity about how Sora escaped Kumogakure's dragnet-like encirclement only grew.
That brat must still be hiding more secrets he didn't understand.
These secrets, he would uncover them one by one sooner or later. Along with that coveted body and power, he would never give up!
Thinking of this, Orochimaru hesitated no longer. He walked to the corner of the tent, retrieved a small scroll used for long-distance communication, quickly wrote instructions on it, then formed hand seals to activate it.
"Go, investigate the scene of every destroyed base in the Land of Rice Paddies in detail, especially energy residues and combat traces. I want to know if the one who acted was really 'him'!"
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