In the Anbu, within Orochimaru's base, two amber stones suddenly appeared.
One was a White Zetsu. The other…
"Hmm?"
Orochimaru's gaze hardened, and he instantly became respectful.
Kakuzu! Good heavens! Kyohiko really did catch Kakuzu, and not just that, he caught him alive, directly packaging the two of them together. A living being and a dead one were two completely different matters.
A slight smile touched Orochimaru's lips.
"This is really good news!"
What fascinated him most about Kakuzu was naturally not his strength, but the secret to immortality and long life. From the time of the First Hokage until now, even the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara had aged, and the vast majority of their peers had passed away. But Kakuzu? Not only was he alive, but he even had the ability to single-handedly capture the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki. It showed how strong the Earth Grudge Fear secret technique was.
"Kyohiko-kun, you've really given me a great gift!"
Orochimaru was overcome with excitement.
Even the experimental materials had been prepared by Kyohiko! A living White Zetsu. If he could uncover the secret of White Zetsu's replication, he could continuously create similar life forms. At that time, he could use the hearts and life force of White Zetsu to extend his own life, achieving the effect of immortality and longevity.
Of course, in Orochimaru's view, the ability of the Earth Grudge Fear was imperfect. This kind of immortality could only be used as a backup plan, to be used for transition when his own body was failing one day. To truly achieve immortality and long life, he still had to research it himself.
Orochimaru's heart was calm, his will very firm.
He was about to have Kazuma carry them in, but he looked up and remembered—Kazuma had already gone to the Land of the Sea in the south!
"It seems I need to find a helper."
Orochimaru looked at the two of them, then pondered for a moment. He first sealed them with a sealing jutsu, then created a shadow clone and sent it to the Konoha Hospital.
***
At the Konoha Hospital.
Shizune was in front, leading Yakushi Kabuto around for a tour. Then she stopped, and after a pause, said.
"Is there anything you want to ask?"
"No."
Yakushi Kabuto answered instinctively.
Then, he paused, was slightly taken aback, and immediately realized something.
"I just forgot. I do have a question I'd like to ask for your guidance on."
Shizune smiled gently.
"I knew it. Medical ninjutsu is very difficult. It's not something you can master in a day or two. How could there be no questions?"
"Yes, senpai. Regarding the Mystical Palm Technique, I don't quite understand. Please enlighten me…"
Yakushi Kabuto answered respectfully.
Shizune answered very naturally. Then, her face became serious.
"If you have any questions, just ask. You must not pretend to understand what you don't! Understand?"
"Yes, I understand."
Yakushi Kabuto lowered his head.
Shizune nodded lightly, then gave him some guidance.
"In a few days, when Kurenai comes back, she should mentor you. She has more knowledge in genjutsu and psychology than I do. You can ask her for advice."
"Thank you, senpai!"
This time, Yakushi Kabuto was truly overjoyed.
He was very smart, and had a very deep foundation in medical ninjutsu from being taught by Nonō Yakushi before. So, he actually mastered these ninjutsu and treatment points in the hospital very quickly and didn't need to ask others. However, in areas like genjutsu and psychology, which were related to combat and alternative medicine, he was currently completely ignorant and was mostly self-studying. If he could get guidance from Yuhi Kurenai, that would naturally be for the best.
Shizune left with satisfaction to do her own things.
After she left.
"Getting along with ordinary people must be very frustrating for you, right?"
"Orochimaru-sama."
Yakushi Kabuto immediately reacted and called out the name of the voice.
A slight smile touched Orochimaru's lips. This child was truly incredibly smart. Just one meeting, and the other had remembered his voice. A very good memory. High comprehension as well. Such a child, if Danzo were still around, would surely have been recruited into the Root organization.
He chuckled lightly.
"I've been a bit busy recently, so I haven't really come to see you. I just mentioned it to Nonō. Did she talk to you?"
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama."
Yakushi Kabuto maintained a smile on his face.
A slight smile touched Orochimaru's lips.
"Well then, what is your answer? The answers to the two questions."
"Regarding medical ninjas, I believe that besides their main job, medical ninjas should also master skilled life-saving techniques and the ability to hide themselves…"
Yakushi Kabuto spoke of his own thoughts.
Then, he pushed up his glasses.
"For this reason, I did some research. I found in my study of the Transformation Jutsu that you can cover your whole body with chakra to have the ability to hide your presence."
"In addition, excellent facial features, appearance, and age can also easily attract the enemy's attention. I believe that an excellent medical ninja should disguise themselves to some extent during missions…"
He explained his ideas eloquently. At first, Orochimaru was just teasing, but later his face gradually became serious. Kabuto's views were not the random ramblings of a child, but were truly substantial.
After hearing the latter part, he couldn't help but smile.
"The content you're talking about, a lot of it is knowledge needed for ninja disguise and infiltration, right?"
"As a medical ninja, if there is a necessity to go to the battlefield, then one should indeed master the knowledge in this area."
Yakushi Kabuto answered.
"Hahahaha!"
Orochimaru laughed out loud. "Good, what a good Yakushi Kabuto! You are right. Have you written down your ideas?"
"Please have a look, sir."
Yakushi Kabuto presented his booklet with both hands.
Orochimaru opened it, and after looking at a few pages, he couldn't help but smile.
"You are very smart and have creative thinking. I will take this booklet to the Hokage."
"Ah?"
Yakushi Kabuto was stunned for a long while, then his face flushed red. "Then, can I get it back? I want to make a copy. This one is written rather sloppily."
"No need."
There were indeed traces of modifications and doodles on it. Even on the side, there were some mind maps. In this notebook, what could best reflect his powerful and mature creative thinking were precisely these processes of doodling and drawing. Nothing was more suitable than it!
Orochimaru put it away and smiled.
"Well then, what about the second question?"
"Please, please allow me to be impolite!"
Yakushi Kabuto instantly became nervous, but he still gritted his teeth and his attitude became firm.
"Speak."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, his tone not very friendly. He realized in his heart—the outcome might not be very good!
So, at the same time, he released a wisp of his aura, pressing down on Kabuto.
Yakushi Kabuto was terrified and nervous, but he still gritted his teeth.
"I want to research and study with you, but I want to become Kyohiko-sama's disciple even more!"
His answer… surprised Orochimaru, but it was not that surprising. Although Kyohiko was only thirteen, in all of Konoha, how many children didn't want to become his disciple? It was not at all shameful to lose to Kyohiko.
Orochimaru was silent for a few seconds. Then, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Greedy child. This is the first time you've shown your unrestrained side."
The previous Yakushi Kabuto was as mature as an adult. But at this moment, nervous, scared, and apprehensive, yet still speaking his inner thoughts… he was more like how a child of this age should be. Children are greedy!
Orochimaru smiled.
"I can, but can you make Kyohiko-kun accept you as a disciple?"
"I will work harder! Thank you, Orochimaru-sama!"
Yakushi Kabuto was overjoyed.
Orochimaru smiled, put away the notebook, and said.
"Want to hear my answer?"
"What?"
Yakushi Kabuto was stunned for a moment, not understanding.
Orochimaru said.
"As a medical ninja, to protect yourself on the battlefield, first you must have sufficient judgment to know who is a threat to you."
"After that…"
"Use your limited abilities to set up enough traps. Use the other party's personality and behavioral tendencies to guide them into your traps."
"Defeating the enemy is the best protection!"
Orochimaru slowly spoke of his own views.
Yakushi Kabuto was stunned. In just a second, he said.
"But there are many people… yes, I understand!"
He had wanted to say that many people did not have such an ability. But he quickly came to his senses and understood the flaw in his own plan. Too passive! Although he could protect himself, when his teammates fell one by one, as a medical ninja, he would surely have to step up and treat them. What then? So, just knowing how to hide and dodge was not enough. A medical ninja should not be detached from the battle, but should participate in it covertly and effectively.
"Understood?"
"Yes!"
Yakushi Kabuto nodded emphatically.
Orochimaru smiled.
"Well then, the next time we meet, I hope to see a new answer."
"Yes, I'll immediately… no, I still need one to three weeks."
Yakushi Kabuto had originally wanted to agree immediately, but he was really unfamiliar and knew very little about "combat." Rushing it might lead to errors. So, he wanted to wait for Yuhi Kurenai to come back.
Orochimaru saw through Yakushi Kabuto's thoughts at a glance, and in his heart, he admired and liked him even more. Cautious, and has self-awareness. Too suitable!
"Until we meet again."
Orochimaru nodded lightly and disappeared with a body flicker.
***
In the Hokage's Office.
When Tsunade saw Orochimaru, she was originally a little surprised. But when she heard the two pieces of news he brought, she immediately stood up in surprise.
"What? Really?"
"Of course. They are all at my research base."
Orochimaru nodded.
Tsunade was overjoyed.
"That's great! That's great!"
Although Takigakure was an ally of theirs, in the distant past, there had actually been disharmonious situations. In recent years, with the growth of Iwagakure and Kumogakure, Takigakure's attitude had become more and more ambiguous. But with Kakuzu captured, they could discuss the proposal Minato had submitted.
Tsunade smiled and looked at Orochimaru.
"This is Minato's idea. Take a look."
Orochimaru took it. After a glance, he put it back.
"Feasible. Facing one Iwagakure is better than facing two villages, Kumogakure and Kirigakure."
And this river could strengthen the connection between Konoha, the Land of Grass, and the Land of Waterfalls. It would be more convenient to control them in the future. Orochimaru didn't say this, but Tsunade was also well aware of it. The two just didn't point it out.
"Minato and Shikaku are both talents. Especially Minato. With a little more cultivation, he will also be a pillar in the future."
Orochimaru praised with a smile.
Minato was, after all, Jiraiya's disciple. Now, he looked at Minato as a junior. What's more, Namikaze Minato's talent was extremely high, and he often had many amazing creations in ninjutsu research. He, on the contrary, admired and liked him a little.
However, after the praise, he took out Kabuto's booklet.
"I came today for another matter, this one."
"Hmm?"
Tsunade took it and looked at Orochimaru strangely.
The handwriting on the cover of the notebook… although it looked neat, it was clearly not Orochimaru's handwriting. She opened it. Then, she scanned from top to bottom. Seeing the back, Tsunade couldn't help but smile.
"This is a child's handiwork!"
What was written in the booklet, much of it was wishful thinking and conjecture, not in line with the laws of the battlefield. And in the wording, deduction, and handwriting, she felt that the owner of the booklet should still be very young.
Tsunade thought for a moment and immediately thought of the possible owner of the booklet.
"Yakushi Kabuto?"
"As expected, not a single medical ninja in the village can escape your eyes."
Orochimaru said with a smile.
He didn't answer directly, but it was equivalent to a tacit admission.
Tsunade looked towards the back. After reading it carefully and thinking about it carefully… she stated her view.
"This child combined the techniques of intelligence work and medical ninjutsu. The reason should be that Nonō's side only has these two types of books and notes."
"To be able to come up with such a plan based on books and conjecture is indeed very talented!"
Tsunade praised repeatedly. Such a child, no wonder Kyohiko is full of praise.
She continued to look back, while saying.
"Orochimaru, you must be tempted, right?"
"Who wouldn't be tempted? Unfortunately, he doesn't think much of me."
Orochimaru chuckled.
Tsunade was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but smile.
"Kyohiko?"
"Yes. That brat is willing to research with me, but he wants to become Kyohiko-kun's disciple even more."
A slight smile touched Orochimaru's lips.
With his pride, if it were an ordinary person, like Yakushi Kabuto, he wouldn't deign to insist, making him seem like a backup. But if it were Yakushi Kabuto, it wasn't impossible.
Tsunade nodded repeatedly and patted the booklet. Everyone has their own limitations. For Kabuto to be able to use his limited knowledge and experience to summarize such a proposal… it could be seen that this child's talent and ability were both excellent. What kind of person he would become would depend on who educated and guided him.
Kyohiko. Tsunade pondered for a long time.
"Kabuto's side, I will arrange for Kurenai and Shizune to mentor him. After that, he can free up half a day every day to go to the research lab and help out. What do you think?"
"Alright."
Orochimaru nodded.
To let Kabuto go directly to his side, the promotion would be too fast. Kabuto wouldn't be able to adapt, and he wouldn't be able to adapt either—he was very busy now and had no time to mentor a newcomer.
After that, Tsunade talked about the situations in Amegakure and Kumogakure, as well as the battle Minato had encountered this time. Orochimaru smiled and didn't speak. He believed that Tsunade had her ideas long ago and didn't need his opinion, but just wanted to chat casually.
However, speaking of the Third Raikage… Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.
"I remember Kyohiko said that Obito took one of Shukaku's hands before?"
"Yes."
Tsunade nodded.
Orochimaru said.
"Then, on Madara's side, it's equivalent to having the power of eight Tailed Beasts. They're only missing our Nine-Tails."
"Hmm? Is there a problem?"
Tsunade frowned. She vaguely felt that there was some worry in Orochimaru's words.
Orochimaru frowned.
"Back then, the chakra that the Sage of Six Paths used to create the nine Tailed Beasts very likely all came from the Sage himself."
"Could it be that Madara has a way to reverse them and transform them back into chakra?"
Orochimaru voiced his doubts.
Tsunade was slightly taken aback. Reverse? No way! But she thought of the White Zetsu cloned by "Madara," and immediately fell into doubt again. According to the Uchiha's stone tablet, Madara had left Konoha and fought a great battle with the First Hokage back then. It was very likely not just a dispute of spirit, but also related to the text not displayed on the stone tablet. What if, after fusing with the First's cells, Madara really possessed an incredible power that could reverse the power of the Tailed Beasts?
The reversal and fusion of the nine Tailed Beasts, what a powerful force that would be?
"If that's the case, then we'd better watch over the Nine-Tails and Shukaku!"