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"Welcome."
Standing in a dimly lit passageway, Orochimaru smiled as he greeted Sasuke and Neji.
"Sasuke-kun, Neji-kun, welcome to my base."
"Orochimaru," Sasuke said directly, "is there something here you need us to do?"
"Hehehe…" Orochimaru chuckled in amusement.
"No need to rush, Sasuke-kun," he said, licking his lips with his tongue. "Since you're already here, let me show you around and help you get familiar with the place first."
"Fine," Sasuke nodded.
"Thank you, Orochimaru-sama," Neji replied, showing far more courtesy than Sasuke.
"Well then," Orochimaru turned and began walking deeper into the base, "follow me."
"Kabuto," he said suddenly, turning back again, "prepare rooms for Sasuke-kun and Neji-kun."
"Understood, Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto replied with a smile. "I'll take care of it. Sasuke-kun, Neji-kun, I'll see you later."
"Hmph." Sasuke nodded indifferently.
"Later," Neji replied, maintaining his formal demeanor.
Orochimaru's base was hidden underground, consisting primarily of a series of interconnected stone chambers.
A labyrinth of complex corridors and passages linked the chambers, making it feel like a massive underground maze.
Most of the rooms were vacant, with only a select few in use. These active chambers were either holding areas for "experiment subjects" or specialized labs, storage rooms for research materials, and archives for data.
Sasuke and Neji followed Orochimaru, quickly touring the base. Both of them wore grim expressions as they moved.
The modified, grotesque ninja experiments and the bizarre biological specimens Orochimaru had collected left the two young men feeling deeply unsettled.
"Hehehe…" Orochimaru glanced back at them with a smirk. "Sasuke-kun, Neji-kun, are you all right? It seems your tolerance is rather limited."
"Orochimaru!" Sasuke glared at him unflinchingly. "We're not like you!"
"Hmph, Sasuke-kun, you simply haven't come to appreciate the power of science."
Orochimaru dismissed the remark casually and led them into a large, pristine laboratory.
This lab was clean, brightly lit, and well-organized, offering some relief to the uneasy duo.
"Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru said, turning to face him, "from what I've heard, Kaito-sama often conducts experiments too. Are you really not used to it?"
"My uncle does conduct experiments," Sasuke admitted, nodding.
What?
Neji was taken aback. Could that person really do something so cruel?
"However," Sasuke added, "my uncle's experiments are nothing like this. He uses arrays and seals to verify his theories. There's no bloodshed involved."
I see.
Neji secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Is that so?" Orochimaru said, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. "Kaito-sama certainly has some fascinating abilities. I'm quite envious!"
"Oh, right," Sasuke said, pulling out a scroll from his ninja pouch and handing it to Orochimaru. "This is a gift from my uncle. He asked me to deliver it to you."
"Oh?"
Orochimaru's excitement was palpable as he accepted the scroll and eagerly unrolled it on the table.
"What's this?"
His eyes scanned the lines of text on the scroll's edge, and his excitement quickly reached a peak.
"Hehehehehe…" Orochimaru's tongue flicked across his lips faster and faster. "This is incredible. What an amazing gift! I'll have to thank Kaito-sama properly!"
Sasuke leaned in for a look. "It's that guy's tissue samples?"
"Mmhm!"
Orochimaru rolled the scroll back up, then tilted his head back and opened his mouth wide, swallowing the entire scroll in one gulp.
Gulp.
Sasuke and Neji couldn't help swallowing nervously themselves, their throats aching as if in sympathy.
"That guy?" Orochimaru said casually, continuing the conversation as if nothing had happened. "It seems Sasuke-kun is quite fortunate to have faced the Ōtsutsuki clan directly."
Sasuke frowned. "I was still too weak. I wasn't a match for him at all."
"Don't worry, you'll grow stronger," Orochimaru said in a tone that sounded almost encouraging. "You're already far ahead of others your age."
Why is he looking at me?
Neji frowned, feeling slightly offended by the comparison. He resolved to ask Sasuke later about the things he didn't understand, particularly about the Ōtsutsuki.
Aren't they supposed to be the final bosses? How has Sasuke already fought them?
Sasuke, however, didn't seem to mind. Unlike before, he was no longer as desperate to pursue power at all costs.
He explained further to Orochimaru, "That guy's body and soul were separated and sealed by my uncle. These tissue samples were likely left behind on the battlefield."
"I see," Orochimaru said, clearly satisfied. "This will be more than enough."
"By the way, my uncle did mention that Isshiki is different from Kaguya," Sasuke added.
"Oh? There might be some differences, but they shouldn't be too significant," Orochimaru said, his curiosity reignited. "What else did Kaito-sama say?"
"Hmm…" Sasuke thought for a moment. "He said it might be due to the effects of the God Tree's fruit. After absorbing the planet's energy, Kaguya was no longer a complete alien."
"I see!" Orochimaru exclaimed, his understanding deepening as his excitement surged again. "Kaito-sama is absolutely right!"
"I can't wait any longer!"
Clearly impatient, Orochimaru tilted his head back and opened his mouth again, retrieving the now saliva-covered scroll.
Ugh!
Both Sasuke and Neji averted their eyes in discomfort.
"Hmm?" Orochimaru frowned. "Where's Kabuto? Why isn't he here yet?"
"Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto said, pushing the lab door open at that moment. "You called?"
"Kabuto! Perfect timing! I need to begin a new experiment immediately!" Orochimaru said, his eagerness unmistakable. "Assist me at once!"
"Understood, Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto replied calmly, adjusting his glasses.
"However, I need to settle Sasuke-kun and Neji-kun in first."
"Hmm? Fine…"
Orochimaru glanced at Sasuke and Neji, then impatiently waved a hand. "Use a shadow clone to take care of them! I need you to assist me now!"
"Yes, I understand."
Kabuto complied without hesitation.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A clone appeared, while Kabuto's real body was dragged off by Orochimaru.
"Sasuke-kun, Neji-kun," the clone said with a friendly smile. "Please follow me."
As they left the lab, Sasuke glanced back to see Orochimaru and the real Kabuto already engrossed in their work.
The lab door closed behind him, and Sasuke fell into step behind the clone.
Is giving something like that to Orochimaru really okay?
What was Uncle Kaito thinking?
Sasuke recalled Kaito's expression at the time.
"I can't wait to see what happens!" Kaito had said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Orochimaru, the most unconventional ninja… What will he become in the end? I'm so curious, I'll be watching with great anticipation!"