As soon as Orochimaru saw Aizen's smile, a subconscious sense of foreboding washed over him.
But before he could dwell on it, Aizen's familiar, smooth voice filled the air once more.
"Orochimaru, the Sannin. You are goin to help me, so how could I treat you poorly?" Aizen said with a calm smile.
Hearing this, Orochimaru's mood instantly brightened. Aizen's overwhelming strength was something Orochimaru had personally experienced, and he had also heard of Aizen's unparalleled expertise in medical research.
Forming a partnership with someone of Aizen's caliber would undoubtedly benefit Orochimaru. Not only could he seek Aizen's help with any obstacles he faced, but he could also collaborate on scientific research projects with Aizen's support.
For Orochimaru, this was the perfect opportunity.
But just as Orochimaru began to feel a sense of satisfaction.
"Orochimaru!" Aizen's voice suddenly turned cold, his smile vanishing. "Did you really think you were in any position to negotiate terms with me? Do you truly believe you have the qualifications to make demands?"
Aizen's voice was sharp, sending a chill down Orochimaru's spine. Before Orochimaru could react, an overwhelming, crushing pressure descended upon his already wounded body.
Boom!
The force was suffocating, making Orochimaru feel as if he had been plunged into a bottomless abyss. Darkness engulfed him, and an icy coldness seeped into his bones. He felt as if he were submerged in freezing water, his body shivering uncontrollably as the cold and the weight of the oppressive energy bore down on him.
The sensation of suffocation overwhelmed him, and for a brief moment, Orochimaru thought he was going to die. The weight of Aizen's spiritual pressure was unbearable.
Just as Orochimaru was on the verge of collapsing under the pressure, Aizen calmly withdrew his oppressive aura.
"Hah... hah..."
Orochimaru gasped for breath, collapsing to the ground, his hands trembling as he clutched at the cold floor. His heart pounded in his chest, and he struggled to regain his composure.
It took several moments for Orochimaru to steady himself. When he finally managed to lift his head, his gaze met Aizen's, and for the first time in a long while, there was pure, unbridled fear in his eyes.
Terrifying.
The feeling was indescribable. Even in his injured state, the sheer force of Aizen's spiritual pressure had brought him to the brink of death. It reminded Orochimaru of the first time he had encountered a Jōnin's killing intent back when he was a young Genin—an overwhelming sense of dread that left him paralyzed.
As Orochimaru had grown stronger over the years, that sensation had become less frequent. It had been a long time since he had felt such fear, not since he had reached the level of a quasi-Kage.
Not even someone as powerful as Hatake Sakumo had ever made Orochimaru feel this level of pressure.
Now, standing before Aizen, Orochimaru's understanding of Aizen's power deepened. Aizen wasn't just strong—his power was monstrous.
Aizen might not yet be on the same level as the legendary First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, but he wasn't far off.
Aizen's voice cut through the tension, light and casual once again. "Hmm... after some thought, I believe you're right, Orochimaru. You made a valid point. After all, I'm not the kind of person who likes to make others work for free."
Aizen, with an almost imperceptible shift in his demeanor, suddenly wore a thoughtful expression as he nodded toward Orochimaru. A faint, unsettling smile crept across his face—one that hinted at his pleasure in manipulating the situation.
Orochimaru, who had been watching Aizen intently, found himself in a brief moment of silence. His instincts were screaming, and soon a cold sweat dripped down his face as a wave of unease settled over him.
His eyes met Aizen's once again, and the fear that had taken root earlier resurfaced, stronger now. Orochimaru understood that Aizen wasn't simply flexing his strength to intimidate him—there was something far more insidious at play.
From the moment Aizen had incapacitated him with a single blow, Orochimaru had been fully aware of Aizen's overwhelming power. There was no need for further demonstration.
Aizen clearly had plans to cooperate with him all along. Yet, after initially hinting at his willingness, Aizen had dragged him into a psychological abyss, manipulating his emotions with ease. Orochimaru's heart had been toyed with, and his mood had risen and fallen like a puppet on Aizen's strings.
Orochimaru, who prided himself on his understanding of human psychology, saw through Aizen's ploy. It was a game—a way for Aizen to amuse himself by watching Orochimaru's reactions.
What a twisted personality, Orochimaru thought to himself, silently condemning Aizen. He realized that Aizen's actions weren't necessary—they were done purely for Aizen's own enjoyment, to witness Orochimaru's struggle and confusion.
And Orochimaru wasn't wrong.
Many of those who had fallen at Aizen's hands had experienced similar torment. Aizen often had the power to defeat his opponents swiftly and decisively. But more often than not, he chose to draw it out, playing with his victims like a cat plays with its prey, only to discard them brutally once the game was over.
Aizen wasn't just intelligent, cunning, and ruthlessly efficient—his personality was warped. And when a person with such a vile nature possessed such immense power, it made them all the more dangerous.
Orochimaru thought to himself, If I'm smart, I'll keep my distance from Aizen in the future. If he ever feels like killing me for sport, I would die without a second thought.
Sensing the need to focus on the matter at hand, Aizen pulled another scroll from his clothes and tossed it to Orochimaru.
"Take a look at this," Aizen said, his tone indifferent.
Orochimaru snapped back to attention, hastily checking the contents of the scroll.
"This… this is a human secret technique about cell activation!" Orochimaru's eyes widened as he read, his voice filled with excitement.
"That's right," Aizen responded, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "It's the Regeneration Forbidden Technique. It should prove quite useful to you in your current state."
The technique was a remarkable find, something Aizen had acquired after carefully observing the ruins of the Land of the Sky, once led by Shennong. Aizen had pieced together that in the original timeline, Orochimaru must have pursued Senju Nawaki's real killer. It was likely the killer had traded the secret technique to Orochimaru in exchange for his life.
"Hmm… hmm… excellent," Orochimaru murmured, nodding eagerly as he studied the scroll.
Orochimaru had just been reveling in the possibilities offered by the Regeneration Forbidden Technique, envisioning how it could be fused with his own body modification technology. The excitement was real. He could see his soft-body transformation evolving into something truly unrivaled.
"This technique," Orochimaru had mused, "will elevate my work to levels beyond any secret technique known today."
Aizen had simply watched him, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "So, you're pleased with the transaction, then?" Aizen had asked, already knowing the answer.
Orochimaru, pulled back into reality, responded confidently, "Of course. Once I've perfected Impure World Reincarnation, I'll deliver the results to you right away."
Aizen nodded, fully trusting that Orochimaru, now understanding the depth of his power, wouldn't dare cross him. The deal had been struck, and Orochimaru was clearly eager to maintain this partnership.
But then Aizen's tone had shifted.
"There's one more thing I need from you," Aizen had said, his gaze sharpening as he added, "What has Zashi been up to lately?"
Orochimaru's face froze. The question had clearly caught him off guard.