UCHIHA KING OF THE SOULS

Ultimate Recognition (Seeking Further Reading)

"As long as you perform well and can learn it, the teacher will naturally not be stingy with ninjutsu."

"Find a place to rest and chat."

After saying that, Orochimaru turned and walked towards a secluded, shadowed area of Training Ground 44, commonly known as the Forest of Death, where the aftermath of battles had not disturbed the dense canopy. The thick foliage above ensured that sunlight barely reached the ground.

It was worth mentioning that, regardless of how much destruction or commotion occurred in the training grounds, unless it extended beyond its borders, no Konoha shinobi would interfere. The training grounds were designated spaces for battles, where ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu were practiced without outside scrutiny.

Uchiha Gen, an enigmatic shinobi from one of Konoha's most prestigious clans, nodded and followed his teacher. He sat beneath an aged oak tree, not far from Orochimaru, its massive roots coiling like serpents around the earth.

"Xuan, do you have a dream?"

Orochimaru leaned lazily against the tree trunk, his posture casual but deliberate. His golden slitted pupils, reminiscent of a serpent's, fixated on the overcast sky above. His hands rested behind his head, fingers interlaced in calculated ease.

Why do people in this world always ask about dreams?

Can't they ask something else?

Or… is Orochimaru trying to see if my ambitions align with his?

Uchiha Gen internally sighed but remained outwardly composed. "Of course. Everyone has a dream. Otherwise, what's the difference between us and a salted fish?"

"That's an interesting perspective," Orochimaru mused.

"Then what is your dream?"

The Sannin's tone was calm, but there was an unsettling amusement on his pale, almost ethereal face. His half-smile carried an eerie quality, as if dissecting Gen's very essence.

"I have two dreams," Uchiha Gen admitted, pausing before adding, "and perhaps more in the future."

"You're quite greedy. Tell me."

"My first dream is to live freely."

At this, Orochimaru's brows furrowed slightly. This disciple of his… seemed rebellious.

But rebellion could be useful. It was said that crows couldn't see their own darkness, yet Orochimaru was a natural-born heretic, one who had discarded conventional morality long ago.

"This dream of yours is very difficult."

"Everyone in this world is bound—by bloodlines, shinobi codes, the Will of Fire, Konoha's rules, the very system of the ninja world, and the limitations of mortality…"

"If even I cannot do as I please, then how can you?"

Uchiha Gen shook his head. "Orochimaru-sensei, freedom does not mean lawless indulgence. It means having the power to say no—to reject paths forced upon me."

"Oh?" Orochimaru's lips curled into a smirk. "Then the difficulty has been reduced."

"With my power and status, there is little anyone can compel me to do." His voice lowered slightly. "Even Hiruzen-sensei cannot control me."

Gen nodded in agreement.

Take the forbidden human experiments, for example. If Orochimaru had no interest in them, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Konoha Council could not have forced his hand. Likewise, Jiraiya and Tsunade roamed freely outside the village, answering to no one.

"What is your second dream?"

At this, Uchiha Gen hesitated, his expression momentarily stiff.

Orochimaru's curiosity intensified. "Speak."

After a long pause, Gen clenched his fists and said, "I want to pursue the ultimate strength—to hold absolute power, to take what I desire, to see all that the world has to offer, to indulge in the finest pleasures… to live forever."

Eternal life.

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed.

Immortality…

The one pursuit that set him apart from the fools in Konoha.

His own dream was to learn all ninjutsu, to uncover the secrets of existence itself. Compared to that, Gen's ambitions were simplistic, even crude.

Strength? Power? Women? Food?

Mere distractions.

Scenery was just lifeless matter. Women? Meaningless beyond reproduction. Food? Nothing more than fuel for continued existence.

Yet, despite this tackiness, the desire for eternal life was commendable.

They were the same kind of people.

The world dismissed immortality as folly, but they were not mere mortals. Orochimaru was destined to unravel the mysteries that had eluded every shinobi before him.

He studied Gen with a newfound intensity, his stare so unwavering that it sent chills down the boy's spine.

But Gen understood.

Orochimaru wasn't looking at him—he was seeing a reflection of himself.

A disciple who shared his ambition.

A true successor.

For someone as consumed by immortality as Orochimaru, finding another who understood the weight of his dream was monumental. Even the great Sannin had been alone in his pursuit.

His teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, rejected his philosophy. His teammates, Jiraiya and Tsunade, could never comprehend his thirst for forbidden knowledge.

Orochimaru needed an heir, a like-minded soul, a companion on the path to eternity.

Even though Uchiha Gen was a time traveler blessed with a bloodline limit and extraordinary talents, Orochimaru remained invaluable.

Gen wasn't lying—he truly desired immortality.

There was no greater temptation than eternal life. Immortality was the final frontier of all ambition.

Even now, in the world of shinobi, people desperately sought to extend their lifespans through medical ninjutsu, forbidden techniques, and scientific advancements. Death was the ultimate fear.

So why not conquer it?

"Ahem." Gen forced a cough. "My second dream may be unrealistic."

"What about you, sensei? What is your dream? To become Hokage?"

At this, Orochimaru's amusement returned. His expression softened into a cryptic smile as his husky voice answered,

"I am also a very greedy person."

"Becoming Hokage was once my dream. But compared to my true goal, it is insignificant."

"What is your true goal?" Gen asked, though he already knew the answer.

"I wish to master all ninjutsu… to unravel the secrets of existence itself…"

"To achieve this, a mortal lifespan is insufficient." His voice deepened, almost reverent.

"So, I seek eternal life."

For the first time, Orochimaru voiced his deepest ambition to another.

Gen feigned shock before saying, "Sensei… your dream is far greater than mine."

Orochimaru chuckled, pleased. "Don't be discouraged. Your ambition is lowly, but it aligns with mine."

"It is far beyond the meaningless honor most Uchiha seek."

Uchiha Gen's expression turned serious. "Thank you, Orochimaru-sensei, for your guidance. I am willing to follow you and dedicate myself to the path of eternity."

Orochimaru suddenly laughed, the sound deep, rich, and utterly delighted.

For the first time in years, he wasn't alone.

"I won't tolerate laziness," he finally said, his golden eyes gleaming.

"Meet me at my mansion at two o'clock tomorrow."

"You know the location?"

"I'll ask Anko."

"Good."

With that, Orochimaru's body sank into the earth, vanishing.

As he disappeared, Uchiha Gen smiled.

The path to eternity had begun.