NOVEL NEXT Chapter 42: 042 Orochimaru's Research
Hearing the condition proposed by Night Star, Orochimaru was momentarily stunned, then his slit pupils revealed an undisguised look of greed.
Since the death of his parents, he had been pondering a single question.
Why do people die?
No matter how powerful a ninja is, once they die and are buried, they are no different from ordinary weaklings, merely turning into a handful of yellow earth.
In other words,
if one cannot break free from the shackles of death, no matter how many ninjutsu techniques they master, how vast their chakra reserves, or how strong their abilities, in the face of death, they are ultimately powerless.
The sacrifice of Tsunade's younger brother and the various deaths he witnessed firsthand during the Second Shinobi World War further solidified Orochimaru's belief.
From that moment, he spent over a decade attempting to develop the ultimate ninjutsu that could allow the user to escape death.
His private collaboration with Danzo, involving experiments on the cells of the First Hokage, was for this very purpose.
Yet, even now, Orochimaru had failed to cross the threshold; it was like trying to grasp at flowers through a veil of mist he couldn't catch that critical thread of insight.
And now Night Star claimed to possess knowledge in this area?
Orochimaru chuckled, openly skeptical as he spoke.
"Night Star-kun, I won't ask how you know about my efforts to develop this kind of ninjutsu."
"However, not to boast, but in the entire Shinobi World, and even in history, only the Second Hokage could rival me in scientific research."
"How can I be certain that the knowledge you provide will truly help me?"
Night Star had anticipated this question from Orochimaru and responded with a calm smile.
"Have you ever considered that, instead of focusing on the yang attribute representing vitality, you might actually need to study yin chakra, which represents spirit and soul?"
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, Orochimaru froze, his face showing a thoughtful expression.
In his research on the First Hokage's cells, he had already realized he was heading down the wrong path.
The most powerful physical body in Shinobi World history undoubtedly belonged to the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, the so-called God of Shinobi.
Putting aside his tailed beast-level massive chakra reserves,
Senju Hashirama had an extraordinary regenerative ability, able to heal even from a kunai piercing his body within just a few breaths.
And yet, despite being such a physically unparalleled ninja, Hashirama still succumbed to death in the end, didn't he?
If even Hashirama couldn't escape the fate of death, how could studying his cells possibly yield the results Orochimaru envisioned?
Night Star's words just now made Orochimaru feel as if a veil had been lifted.
Indeed.
If the yang attribute, representing vitality, cannot achieve the desired results, why not shift focus to the yin attribute, symbolizing spirit and soul?
With just one sentence, Night Star had already made Orochimaru realize that, in terms of scientific knowledge, Night Star was no less informed than himself, the head of the research department.
With this in mind, Orochimaru's smile faded as he nodded solemnly.
"I admit, you do have the qualifications to negotiate with me. When do you want that item?"
"As soon as possible."
"Alright, I understand."
Seeing Orochimaru agree to his request so easily, Night Star couldn't help but note it down in his diary.
[It seems Orochimaru is already preparing to defect.]
[Otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed so readily to give me something as classified as the First Hokage's cells.]
[What kind of changes will a Kage-level ninja's defection bring to the dynamics of this war?]
[Still, the weakening of the village's strength is actually good news for the Uchiha clan.]
The kunoichi reading the diary each had different reactions upon seeing this entry.
Kurenai Yuhi and Yugao both felt deeply concerned.
After the Nine-Tails' attack, Konoha was at its weakest.
If an experienced veteran like Orochimaru were to defect, the consequences would be disastrous.
Meanwhile, Izumi Uchiha, who had just returned from school, rested her chin on her hands, her small legs swinging as she showed a carefree expression.
Since Lord Night Star said it was good news, there was no need to think further it had to be good news.
Lord Night Star could never be wrong.
Meanwhile, in Kumogakure,
a dark-skinned, white-haired girl with an elegant demeanor, dressed in a uniform skirt, pondered deeply over the diary entry.
"Orochimaru is going to defect?"
At first, Mabui, like Yugito, thought the best course of action after learning that Konoha's Night Star Uchiha possessed the power to contend with the Three-Tails was to withdraw Kumogakure's front-line forces.
But if Orochimaru defected from Konoha, the situation would change entirely.
Losing such an experienced and powerful ninja would not only diminish the village's overall strength but also deal a severe blow to the morale of Konoha's shinobi.
If this opportunity were leveraged well, it might allow Kumogakure to establish an unshakable advantage in this war!
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