A few days later, Teizawa, Orochimaru, and the others passed through a dense forest and arrived at an abandoned shrine hidden deep within the mountains.
The shrine was small. Most of its wooden structure had already rotted away. The roof had collapsed, while moss and vines covered the walls.
The doors to the main hall stood slightly ajar. An icy presence seeped through the gap, like something had been lying dormant inside for far too long, waiting to be awakened.
Orochimaru stood in the clearing before the shrine and raised his head to study the weathered wooden doors.
His face betrayed no emotion, but something was clearly churning within those golden serpent eyes.
Kabuto stood behind him and adjusted his glasses. His gaze swept across the shrine before settling on Orochimaru's back.
Sasuke leaned against a tree with his arms folded, utterly expressionless.
The kid looked like he was here on a field trip.
Teizawa walked up to the shrine's entrance and pushed open the wooden doors.
The hinges released a piercing creak, like the groan of some ancient creature.
Light squeezed through the widening gap, illuminating the darkness within.
The main hall was completely empty except for a damaged altar covered in densely packed symbols that had faded beyond recognition.
A bronze mirror was embedded in the wall behind the altar. Its tarnished surface reflected the group as a collection of blurred silhouettes.
"This is the place."
Teizawa's voice echoed through the empty hall.
Orochimaru stepped inside. His gaze moved across the altar, the symbols carved into the walls, and finally the bronze mirror.
He gently ran his fingers over the faded markings, sensing the traces of chakra that still lingered within them.
This was a shrine belonging to the Uzumaki Clan.
It was where the Reaper Mask had been enshrined.
In the original story, Orochimaru had found the Reaper Mask here and used it to undo the Reaper Death Seal, restoring the use of his arms.
"This is where the seal can be undone?"
Orochimaru turned to Teizawa, an indecipherable gleam flickering in his golden serpent eyes.
He had searched for this place for years.
Ever since the day his arms had been sealed by the Reaper Death Seal, he had been searching.
He had studied ancient records, excavated ruins, and interrogated anyone who might know something.
Despite everything he had done, he had never found its exact location.
Then Teizawa appeared and gave him a precise destination.
Teizawa chuckled and pulled the sealing scroll from inside his robe.
"Yes. The method is simple."
He opened the scroll and removed the Reaper Mask.
The mask was white, with a hideous expression, hollow eyes, and a mouth stretched almost to its ears, as if it were mocking something.
An icy aura radiated from it, making everyone present shiver.
Teizawa handed the mask to Orochimaru.
"Put it on, form the hand seals, and recite this to summon the Reaper."
"Command it to release the sealed souls. The Reaper will cut open its own stomach, freeing every soul imprisoned by the Reaper Death Seal."
Orochimaru accepted the mask.
It was surprisingly light, almost as though it had been made from paper, yet it felt cold beneath his fingers.
It was like touching death itself.
His fingers trembled slightly as he stared at the mask for a long time.
"That's all it takes?" His voice sounded strained.
"That's all it takes." Teizawa nodded. "Of course, the price is that the Reaper will claim the wearer's soul. So..."
He left the rest unsaid.
Orochimaru already understood.
The Reaper Death Seal was a forbidden jutsu that summoned the Reaper. The caster sacrificed their own soul to imprison their enemy's soul inside the Reaper's stomach.
Undoing that seal demanded a price as well.
Whoever wore the Reaper Mask would have to exchange their own soul.
Orochimaru fell silent.
He stared at the mask in his hands, at its hideous face and hollow eyes.
His hands trembled faintly.
He had spent years searching for this opportunity, ever since the day his arms were sealed.
He had believed that he would put on the mask without hesitation, even if it cost him his life.
As long as he could restore his arms.
As long as he could continue his research.
As long as he could fulfill his ambitions.
But now that he was actually holding the mask, with the Reaper's presence dancing across his fingertips, he hesitated.
His body was already approaching its limit, deteriorating with each passing day.
He had switched from one body to another, and every reincarnation accelerated the decay.
If he put on the Reaper Mask now, there was a very real chance the Reaper would claim his soul.
Worse, he did not even have a suitable vessel waiting for his next reincarnation.
He might truly die.
Not another temporary death, but a real and permanent one.
"I need..." Orochimaru said in a low, hoarse voice. "I need to find a vessel for my reincarnation first."
Teizawa looked at him, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
He knew exactly what Orochimaru feared.
His body could barely hold together anymore, and the side effects of his reincarnation jutsu were growing worse.
He needed a perfect vessel.
A body capable of containing both his soul and his power.
One that would not rapidly decay like all his previous bodies.
Sasuke was his chosen target.
The young man possessed the Sharingan and the blood of the Uchiha Clan, making him the perfect vessel.
But Sasuke had not yet matured.
His body was not strong enough.
His Sharingan had not evolved into the Mangekyō.
His chakra reserves were still insufficient.
Orochimaru had been waiting.
Waiting for Sasuke to grow stronger.
Waiting for him to accumulate enough chakra.
Waiting for him to finally become a suitable vessel.
But now, time was running out.
"I can give you some time," Teizawa said quietly. "But you'd better hurry."
Orochimaru stared at him, complex emotions flashing through his golden serpent eyes.
At last, he nodded.
"I'll remember that."
Teizawa smiled, took back the Reaper Mask, and sealed it inside the scroll again.
"Then we'll leave it at that. Once you find a suitable vessel, come to me, and we'll use the mask."
He paused and winked at Orochimaru.
"One more thing. I'd advise you not to set your sights on Sasuke. That kid's life is stubborn as hell. You won't be able to swallow him."
Orochimaru's eyes flickered, but he said nothing.
Teizawa turned and headed out of the shrine.
Temari followed behind him. She had not spoken a single word throughout the entire exchange.
When he reached the entrance, Teizawa stopped without looking back.
"Oh, right, Orochimaru..."
"Yes?"
"You'd better find that vessel quickly. You don't have much time left."
Orochimaru watched his retreating back in silence.
Teizawa stepped out of the shrine.
Sunlight spilled over him, causing his dark golden robe to flicker between light and shadow like some sort of signal.
Temari followed at his side, and the two gradually disappeared into the distance.
After leaving the shrine, Teizawa raised his head and looked at the sky.
The sunlight was somewhat harsh.
He narrowed his eyes, quietly calculating his next move.
The mask was now in his possession. All he had to do next was wait.
Wait for Orochimaru to find a suitable vessel. Wait for him to undo the Reaper Death Seal. Wait for that half of the Nine-Tails to reappear in the world...
Then Teizawa would confirm something for himself.
Walking beside him, Temari noticed the faint smile tugging at his lips.
"What are you smiling about?"
"Nothing." Teizawa lowered his gaze and took her hand. "Come on. Let's find somewhere to stay for a while."
(End of Chapter)
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