Danzo...
His thirst for power had reached an almost pathological level.
To cultivate a military force 'Root' completely loyal to him personally.
He not only trained war orphans from a young age but also did everything possible to collect potential seedlings from various ninja clans in Konoha.
And these scrolls were one of the byproducts of his ambition.
Over decades.
Using Root's authority and secret channels, Danzo had collected various named jutsu from almost all of Konoha and even other corners of the ninja world.
Jutsu of the five basic nature transformations, obscure secret arts, practical Taijutsu and Genjutsu outlines, sealing jutsu...
Even fragments or complete copies of many ninja clans' secret transmissions could be found here.
For example, there was a complete backup of the Yamanaka clan's secret techniques!
Next.
Yao looked at Karin: "You are a survivor of the Uzumaki clan. A significant portion of these scrolls are about the Uzumaki clan's sealing jutsu!"
"Karin, if you are interested, you can try to learn them!"
"Your large chakra reserves make you very suitable for the path of sealing jutsu."
Only then did Sasuke and Karin understand. Their eyes looking at those scrolls instantly became fervent.
Ninjutsu!
For ninja longing to become stronger and orphans wanting to establish themselves, this was undoubtedly a huge treasure.
For the two of them, Sasuke was better off; the Uchiha clan still had quite a few family-inherited Fire Release jutsu.
Karin was worse off!
The Uzumaki clan had long been exterminated, and the Land of Whirlpools destroyed.
Karin had been hiding with her mother and had no access to the Uzumaki clan's sealing jutsu, let alone learning them.
"Thank you!"
Karin was moved to tears.
Yao waved his hand:
"Alright! Organize these yourselves! If you find something interesting, you can try to learn it!"
Hearing this, Sasuke and Karin didn't bother with surprise or politeness.
They immediately got up and started rummaging through this "scroll mountain."
Sasuke had a clear goal: all scrolls related to Fire Release and Lightning Release.
Karin selected the Uzumaki clan's sealing jutsu.
Yao also selected some scrolls. He was mainly looking for two things:
First, Wood Release related materials!
Although he had mastered many Wood Release jutsu, his mastery of Wood Release was still at a basic level.
Although he could master other Wood Release jutsu by slowly figuring them out himself.
But the efficiency was obviously incomparable to learning from existing systematic data.
Second, Wind Release ninjutsu.
Danzo himself was best at Wind Release. The Wind Release related scrolls collected in his "Root" base.
Whether in quantity or quality, they were undoubtedly top-notch.
Learning some Wind Release would allow him to better play the role of the "Danzo" persona and do some things inconvenient for him.
"Good harvest!"
"Take what you need back to study first. Sort and store the rest; they might come in handy later!"
...
In a dark underground secret room, the air was thick with the smell of medicine.
Only a few oil lamps provided dim, flickering light, casting distorted shadows on the damp stone walls.
"Arghhh!!!"
Waves of irrepressible screams came from the depths of the secret room, filled with endless pain and violence.
Orochimaru was curled up on a bed, his body convulsing uncontrollably due to intense pain.
Veins bulged on his forehead and neck, cold sweat soaking the long hair on his forehead.
His arms, from the shoulders down, hung limply, presenting a weird grayish color.
Starkly different from the pale complexion of the rest of his body.
"Lord Orochimaru, please endure a bit longer..."
Kabuto knelt by the bed, his face grave, sweat also on his forehead.
He held specially made ointment and bandages, trying to apply the ointment to those dead arms.
However, the ointment had no effect upon contact with the skin.
The grayish skin showed no signs of improvement, and the soul-deep pain did not lessen in the slightest.
"It's useless... Kabuto..."
Orochimaru squeezed a hoarse voice through his teeth: "This is soul trauma caused by the Dead Demon Consuming Seal!"
"Ordinary medical ninjutsu... won't work at all!"
Orochimaru raised his head abruptly. In his eyes, besides pain, there was more overwhelming resentment and madness.
"That old thing Sarutobi Hiruzen, biting me even in death!"
Orochimaru growled low, his voice filled with unwillingness and hatred.
The Dead Demon Consuming Seal activated by Sarutobi Hiruzen before his death completely sealed the part of his soul corresponding to his hands.
It not only deprived him of the "right to use ninjutsu" but also caused permanent tearing and pain.
This trauma acted directly on the essence of the soul; any treatment at the physical level was meaningless.
Kabuto stopped his futile application, his gaze incredibly solemn.
"Soul trauma to the hands... ordinary medical ninjutsu is ineffective."
Orochimaru's voice was raspy: "It seems... it seems we can only try that woman's methods."
Kabuto immediately understood who he was referring to and pushed up his glasses: "You mean... Lady Tsunade? But her whereabouts are uncertain, and her attitude towards you..."
"No matter what... we must find her! Find Tsunade!"
A hint of paranoia flashed in Orochimaru's eyes. "This is currently... the most likely method to lift this seal. Kabuto, prepare, we..."
Whoosh!
Just then.
A figure appeared silently in front of them.
Short black hair, calm face—it was Uchiha Yao.
Seeing the newcomer.
Orochimaru's pupils constricted violently, his whole body tensing instantly!
That was an instinctive reaction when encountering extreme danger.
Even though his hands couldn't form seals, his chakra was mobilized subconsciously.
Kabuto's face changed drastically. He shielded Orochimaru, several poison-coated senbon already clamped between his fingers, staring fixedly at this uninvited guest.
"It's you!"
Kabuto shouted sternly.
Orochimaru also stared fixedly at Yao, especially his eyes.
Three tomoe rotated slowly—it was the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Unexpectedly opened three tomoe! When did this happen? Didn't this kid have no talent for the Sharingan?
And also...
Why is he here?! How did he find this place?
What is his purpose? Sent by Konoha to hunt him down? Or...
Countless questions and confusions rose from the bottom of Orochimaru's heart.
Yao glanced at Yakushi Kabuto, who was facing a formidable enemy, and finally landed on Orochimaru, without surprise in his eyes.
"It seems... the old man Third left Lord Orochimaru an unforgettable souvenir before he died!"
Orochimaru's heart sank. The other party not only knew his hiding place but also clearly knew the condition of his hands.
This was definitely not a coincidence!
"Uchiha brat..."
Orochimaru spoke: "Trespassing in someone else's place is not very polite behavior. Did Konoha send you?"
"Konoha?"
Yao raised his eyebrows slightly, the corner of his mouth seeming to curve into an extremely shallow arc. "No! I represent myself!"
"Lord Orochimaru, I came to make a deal with you!"