"Since Lord Orochimaru wants to come to my Hidden Rain Village and establish a few ninjutsu research institutes, that couldn't be better!"
"But Lord Orochimaru, coming here… surely there aren't any conditions or strings attached, right?"
Konan, who stood nearby, was about to speak up to dissuade Ning Feng, but he spoke first instead. His sharp eyes seemed to see straight through Orochimaru.
For some reason, Orochimaru felt as though everything he had done had been completely seen through—even his innermost thoughts seemed firmly grasped by the other party.
This feeling made him extremely uncomfortable, yet he had no choice but to endure it.
"Heh, heh, heh… Since I've come to the Third Amekage, how could there be any additional conditions?"
"It's already more than generous for you to take in remnants like us."
Orochimaru spoke with apparent humility.
"Hahaha! If that's the case, then since Lord Orochimaru is willing to stay in my Hidden Rain Village, I, Uchiha Feng, naturally welcome you."
"However… Lord Orochimaru, I do have a small condition. I hope you can satisfy it."
As Ning Feng spoke, the corners of his lips curled slightly upward.
Since Orochimaru had delivered himself to his doorstep, there was no reason not to take advantage.
"Oh? And what condition might that be?"
Orochimaru smiled faintly, trying to see through Ning Feng, only to find that this young man was unfathomable—completely impossible to read.
"Lord Orochimaru, since you were forced to leave Konoha, you must have researched quite a number of forbidden techniques and mastered plenty of core technologies."
"Since you wish to stay in my Hidden Rain Village, you should at least show a bit of sincerity—for example, the Impure World Reincarnation technique. What do you think?"
Uchiha Feng spoke calmly.
Yet his casual words stirred a violent storm in Orochimaru's heart. He felt a sudden jolt and stared at Ning Feng in shock.
After all, forbidden techniques like Impure World Reincarnation had indeed been created by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama—but those who truly refined and developed them further were people like Orochimaru.
Moreover, Orochimaru had always conducted such forbidden research in absolute secrecy, fearing discovery.
But what he hadn't expected was—how did Uchiha Feng know!?
And judging by his tone, it seemed as though he hadn't expended much effort at all—as if a simple investigation had revealed everything.
In an instant, the way Orochimaru looked at Uchiha Feng changed.
The earlier mix of outward admiration and inner disdain was replaced with deep wariness.
"Cough, cough…"
"Lord Uchiha Feng must be joking. How could I possibly know a forbidden technique like Impure World Reincarnation?"
Orochimaru quickly tried to cover it up.
He hated being seen through—especially like this. It felt unbearably uncomfortable.
"Lord Orochimaru, there's no need to pretend in front of me. I don't just know that you're researching Impure World Reincarnation—I also know you're studying the secret of immortality."
Ning Feng shrugged, his tone still as calm and indifferent as before.
Yet that calm, colorless tone once again sent a massive shockwave through Orochimaru's heart.
And this time, it was even more terrifying than before.
Now, Orochimaru's gaze toward Uchiha Feng was no longer just cautious—it was tinged with fear… even dread.
"Y-you… how do you know this!?"
Orochimaru no longer dared to play tricks in front of him.
He had never imagined that the intelligence network of the Hidden Rain Village could be so terrifying—capable of uncovering even the details of his forbidden research.
What that implied—no one understood better than Orochimaru himself.
If Ning Feng hadn't known these things, Orochimaru might still have dared to scheme, even to steal Ning Feng's body or launch a sneak attack.
But now, he didn't dare.
There was nothing left in his heart but fear.
Seeing Orochimaru fall silent, Ning Feng smiled faintly, thinking to himself that even an old fox like Hiruzen Sarutobi had been toyed with in his hands—let alone Orochimaru.
Nagato and Konan, standing nearby, had not spoken a single word the entire time.
Yet though they remained silent, both were sharp enough to clearly see what was happening—the ambitious Orochimaru, who sought to manipulate everything, had been completely suppressed in front of their great Third Amekage.
Even in Konoha, Orochimaru had probably never suffered such a setback.
The two couldn't help but feel like laughing.
Meanwhile, Yakushi Kabuto, standing behind Orochimaru, took a deep look at Uchiha Feng.
As Orochimaru's subordinate, Kabuto had never been content with his position. He had always wanted to accomplish something great on his own.
He had originally followed Orochimaru because he was drawn to his mysterious aura and immense power…
But now, seeing Orochimaru being suppressed, Kabuto suddenly found himself wanting to follow Uchiha Feng instead—to emulate him.
"Lord Orochimaru…"
Kabuto gently patted Orochimaru's shoulder. Only then did Orochimaru snap back to his senses, his signature smile returning.
"I didn't expect Lord Uchiha Feng to have already grasped so much of my information. It would indeed be unreasonable for me not to share these forbidden techniques."
"But rest assured, Lord Uchiha Feng—once Orochimaru settles in the Hidden Rain Village, I will certainly share my core forbidden techniques with you!"
Orochimaru hurriedly assured him.
If his earlier words had been mere deception, then this statement came straight from his heart.
In other words—did he dare to play tricks in front of Uchiha Feng?
"Good."
Ning Feng nodded slightly.
In truth, his Hidden Rain Village had been lacking a specialized research institute for forbidden techniques like Orochimaru's.
In the original story, villages like Konoha and Kumogakure constantly advanced through relentless ninjutsu research.
As a smaller hidden village, the Hidden Rain had always lacked this capability. But now, with Orochimaru's arrival, this weakness would finally be remedied.
As for Orochimaru conducting human experiments—Ning Feng didn't particularly care.
As long as the test subjects were corpses of ninjas from other villages, everything would be fine.
So long as it didn't affect the ninjas of the Hidden Rain Village.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed.
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