Chapter 114: The Temptation of Immortality
Immortality.
Requiem.
These two words were like a curse, completely shattering Orochimaru's psychological defenses.
He had conducted human experiments in Konoha for so many years, bearing infamy and defecting from the village—for what? Was it not to seek "immortality" in this turbulent Ninja World, to gain the time to "learn all Ninjutsu"?
Compared to engaging in boring political conspiracies in the Ninja World, this research—exploring the ultimate form of life and touching the authority of the Creator—was his lifelong pursuit!
At this moment, there were no stray thoughts in Orochimaru's eyes.
Betrayal, power struggles—in the face of the vast truth of immortality, they were laughably vulgar.
I understand..." Orochimaru gripped the Golden Arrow tightly, his knuckles turning white. "I will solve this puzzle for you. As long as I can reach that end, even if I have to turn the Ninja World upside down..."
"But I need a guarantee."
Yahiko interrupted his fanaticism. "I cannot hand it over to an ambitious man who might jump ship at any time."
As he spoke, he looked at Konan, who had just returned after seeing off Pakura.
"Konan."
"Yes."
Konan didn't waste words. She stepped toward Orochimaru, and behind her, a strange doll wearing a stylish suit and a fedora slowly appeared.
It held a paintbrush in its hand, its face bearing an absurd manga-style look.
Stand—Heavens Door.
Orochimaru instinctively wanted to retreat.
"To prevent you from faking experimental data and to allow you to focus more single-mindedly on being a pure scientist," Konan said expressionlessly, "I need to add some settings to you."
"This is a deal, Orochimaru."
Yahiko's voice drifted from the side. "You sell your freedom, and I give you immortality. It's a fair trade, isn't it?"
Is this... the secret behind the rock-solid unity of the Akatsuki's core members?
As clever as Orochimaru was, he understood instantly.
Normally, if anyone dared to modify his will, he would resist even at the cost of mutual destruction. But at this moment, holding the Golden Arrow that led to "immortality," the temptation of "hearing the Dao in the morning and being able to die in the evening" made him give up the struggle.
If he didn't sign this contract of indenture, he would forever only wander outside the gates of truth.
"Come."
Orochimaru proactively dropped his defenses and tilted his head back, his eyes showing a sacrificial resolve, even carrying a hint of morbid anticipation.
"As long as you can let me see the end... you can take this level of freedom."
Konan raised her hand, and Heavens Door activated.
Flip-flap.
A scene defying the Laws of physics appeared. Orochimaru's face flipped open layer by layer like the pages of a book, revealing dense text. It recorded his life, his Ninjutsu, and his ambitions.
Konan wielded her paintbrush, writing a line of irreversible, absolute commands on the blank page of Orochimaru's "subconscious" with fluid strokes:
[Hold nothing back from Yahiko in all matters, share all research results, and dedicate your life to the evolution of the organization.]
As the final stroke fell, the pages snapped shut.
Orochimaru opened his eyes again.
In those golden vertical pupils, the former gloom and calculation had vanished. In their place was a focus so pure it was almost morbid.
He looked at Yahiko and bowed deeply.
This time, there were no fake pleasantries, no hidden killing intent.
Only a submission from the Soul.
"The laboratory list can be provided by tomorrow," Orochimaru's voice was calm and efficient, as if he were a different person. "Additionally, I need to request a batch of live samples, preferably those with a Kekkei Genkai."
"Granted."
Yahiko turned and looked at the map of the Ninja World hanging on the wall of the secret room. His gaze crossed the Land of Rain and landed on the small countries scattered around.
Kusagakure, Takigakure, Yugakure... Yahiko's finger lightly drew a circle on the map, the corner of his mouth curling into a capitalist's cold smile. "This map is too fragmented; it's an eyesore. It would surely look much better if they were connected into one piece."
...Land of Rivers.
This buffer zone sandwiched between the great nations of Fire and Wind was filled with hot springs and broken terrain. Although its military power was a joke, its special geographical location made it a prime spot for international intelligence brokers to fence stolen goods and for rogue Ninja to flee.
Hidden Rain Village, Leader's Office.
Yahiko idly twirled the fountain pen in his hand and tossed a document, still warm with ink, in front of Kakuzu and Sasori.
On the cover of the document, the bolded black letters exuded an overbearing aura—"Pan-Land of Rain Regional Common Security Treaty."
"Go and say hello to our neighbors."
Yahiko leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced. "Tell the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers that the Hidden Rain Village is a reasonable neighbor. To prevent his country from being caught in the crossfire of the great nations, we are more than happy to provide comprehensive'security services'."
Kakuzu reached out and picked up the document, his emerald green eyes flashing with the cold light of calculation.
"Is this a business negotiation or a purge?"
"Courtesy first, then force." Yahiko's chin pointed toward Sasori of the Red Sand, who was standing beside Kakuzu, head down, adjusting the joints of hiruko. "Of course, if they don't understand what courtesy means, Sasori will teach them what 'rules' are."
"Tch."
From beneath the heavy demon-mask of hiruko came Sasori's muffled and impatient voice: "I hope that Daimyo's bones are a bit tougher. Don't let him kneel before I've even finished connecting my threads, like those trash from Sunagakure."
"Go."
Yahiko turned around and looked at the continuous curtain of rain outside the window, his mouth curling into a meaningful arc. "Remember, we want the chicken that lays golden eggs, not a dead one."
...Land of Rivers, Daimyo's Palace.
Completely different from the perennially rainy Land of Rain, it was sunny here, with the air filled with the extravagant scent of sulfur mixed with rouge and powder.
Inside a hot spring pool made of white jade, the sound of music was decadent. The Daimyo of the Land of Rivers, draped in a loose silk bathrobe, lay languidly in the warm water as two lightly dressed maids carefully peeled iced grapes and fed them into his greasy mouth.
"Lord Daimyo, this batch of 'Drunken Immortal Brew' smuggled from the Land of Fire is top-grade. Please have a taste."
A fat-headed attendant knelt on the ground, holding up a crystal-clear crystal goblet.
The Daimyo narrowed his eyes and took a sip of the deep red wine, his face flushing with satisfaction. "Not bad. As long as there is no war, this is still a prosperous age."
Just then, an attendant came scrambling into the hall, slipped, and fell flat on his face on the marble floor.
"L-Lord Daimyo! Something has happened!"
The attendant didn't bother to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth and tremblingly presented a black-and-red scroll. "The messenger from the Hidden Rain Village sent this, saying it's... a final ultimatum!"
"What's the panic! Can't you see I'm in the middle of enjoying myself?"
The Daimyo frowned in displeasure, kicked away the maid beside him, took the scroll, and tore it open.
After reading just three lines, his originally ruddy fat face instantly turned ashen, and the flesh on his cheeks twitched.
Smash!
The expensive crystal cup was slammed onto the ground, shattering as the wine splashed out like blood.
"Bastards! This is simply going too far!"
The Daimyo stood up abruptly from the pool, water splashing everywhere, his finger pointing at the scroll trembling. "Disband the national armed forces? Outsource all defense rights? And hand over 40% of the annual tax revenue as a security fee?! This isn't a treaty; this is clearly asking me to sell the Land of Rivers to those Hidden Rain beggars as a colony!"
The musicians and dancers in the hall knelt on the ground in terror, shivering, not daring to make a sound.
"Someone! Summon the leader of Yugakure Village! And tell the Great General to bring all the Imperial Guards here!"
The Daimyo paced barefoot on the ground, his eyes full of ferocity. "The Hidden Rain Village just finished a war with the great nations and really thinks they're invincible? My Land of Rivers may be small, but relying on the natural defenses, even if the Hokage comes, don't think I'll lower my head easily!"
"Lord Daimyo... P-please reconsider..."
The Finance Minister, who had been kneeling in the corner, wiped his cold sweat and crawled out tremblingly. "This matter... I'm afraid we can't play hardball."
"What did you say?" The Daimyo turned his head sharply, his eyes as fierce as if he wanted to eat someone.
The Finance Minister swallowed hard, his voice carrying a sob. "If you expel the Hidden Rain forces now, in this country... we won't even be able to eat dinner."
"Absurd!" The Daimyo laughed in anger. "I, the sovereign of a nation, am afraid of having no one to farm the land? As long as there's money, what can't be bought?"
"That's the problem..." The minister looked up in despair. "Just last month, the country's largest grain merchant, the only deep-water port shipping company, and the trade associations responsible for supplying the palace with silk, spices, and this 'Drunken Immortal Brew' were all acquired by a consortium called 'Maeda'."
"So what? Merchants are just fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered!" The Daimyo was still stubborn.
"But... the actual controlling person behind that Maeda Trade Association..." The minister's voice was as low as a mosquito's, "...is the Hidden Rain Village!"
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