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"Lord Orochimaru! Why would someone like you do such a thing!?" Beside Hiruzen Sarutobi, a figure wearing an ANBU mask looked at Orochimaru in disbelief, shock filling his exposed eyes. Before coming out with Hiruzen Sarutobi tonight, they hadn't known what their mission was. Unexpectedly. The target was actually the Cold Lord Orochimaru, one of the Sannin of Konoha!
"Fufufu, shall I kill you too?" Orochimaru looked with interest at the ANBU who had just spoken, a playful glint flashing in his eyes. However, a look of astonishment flashed across everyone's face.
"Orochimaru, was it really you? Speak quickly! What are you doing here!?" Hiruzen Sarutobi put on an expression of just finding out, even showing shock and disappointment on his face.
"Ah ha~ Since I've been discovered, pretending to be a good person is useless now, Teacher Hiruzen. I'm developing ninjutsu!" Orochimaru turned around, smiling cheerfully at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"You bastard! Using comrades for experiments for such things!"
"Is it really a forbidden jutsu? What exactly do you want?" Hiruzen Sarutobi stared intently into Orochimaru's eyes.
"Everything!"
"Everything?" As Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi conversed, the light bulb above Orochimaru's head seemed affected, flickering intermittently.
"I want to master all ninjutsu, understand all truths in this world. The first person who mixed blue and yellow together, named the new color green. I merely wish to do the same." Orochimaru spread his hands slightly, his yellow snake pupils filled with unconcealed excitement. For a scientist, this process was full of enjoyment.
"If blue is chakra, then yellow is the hand seal, and green is ninjutsu. Just like there are infinite kinds of colors, there must be thousands, tens of thousands of ninjutsu in this world."
"But to master all ninjutsu and truths, one needs vast amounts of time, long years. Only one who understands everything is qualified to be called the ultimate individual. For me, the lifespan of the physical body is too short."
"Too ephemeral. Even if called Hokage, once dead, everything ends," Orochimaru said with a chilling sneer, as if these experiments were insignificant in his eyes.
"Orochimaru, the ninjutsu you're experimenting with here... could it be..." Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke gravely.
"That's right, just as you guessed... the technique of immortality!" Orochimaru suddenly split his mouth into a wide grin, the bloodstains on his face making everything even more grotesque. As Orochimaru's words fell, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other two ANBU seemed utterly shocked.
Tap tap tap. Orochimaru's footsteps gradually approached Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Your eyes! The malice and ambition hidden in your eyes! I sensed that quality in you long ago. Although I sensed it, I pretended not to know..." Hiruzen Sarutobi said, sounding heartbroken, but his eyes had already become serious, and his hands began forming hand seals.
"Fufufu, Teacher Hiruzen, with that expression, are you going to kill me?" Orochimaru looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression, the smile on his face turning manic.
"Ninpō! Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Ninja Art: Summoning Technique)!" Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored Orochimaru's words, quickly summoning Enma.
"Fufufu, even summoning Enma. It seems... Teacher Hiruzen, some things, you've truly made up your mind about. Besides... these things, surely... you've known from Danzō for a long time! Teacher Hiruzen!"
"What do you mean?!" Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes, the coldness within them beginning to surface.
"Since last month, many rumors have appeared in the village, both openly and secretly. This situation... Teacher Hiruzen couldn't possibly be unaware, right?"
Orochimaru looked mockingly at Hiruzen Sarutobi. Ever since he wanted to run for Fourth Hokage, his political path had been continuously targeted by Hiruzen Sarutobi, and at the same time, unfavorable news about him began appearing in the village.
So, at that time, Orochimaru completely lost faith in his teacher, Hiruzen. But this wasn't without benefits; Orochimaru began his human experiments! It was precisely this opportunity that made Orochimaru realize immortality was what he needed to pursue. Hokage? Heh, it would only hinder the speed of his sword drawing!
"Hmph! How could I possibly have known this news before! Otherwise, I would have long..." Hiruzen Sarutobi snorted coldly, although he indeed knew about this matter long ago. And both openly and secretly, he had begun to take the lead in this storm of public opinion against Orochimaru. Only today did Hiruzen Sarutobi finally give the order to ambush Orochimaru!
As long as Orochimaru was captured, his own position would be further consolidated! Yes, previously Hiruzen Sarutobi had chosen Minato Namikaze, who was easier for him to control, while he himself pulled the strings from behind. But after Minato Namikaze's death, voices began to emerge in the village, both openly and secretly. The voice calling for Orochimaru to be reinstated as the Fifth Hokage! And at that time, Hiruzen Sarutobi could already feel that the master-disciple relationship with Orochimaru was over; both sides were in a state of alienation.
"Were you waiting for this day all along, Teacher Hiruzen?" Orochimaru looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, a trace of mockery appearing in his eyes.
"Orochimaru! In your heart, am I really like that..."
"Yes, Teacher Hiruzen. Some things... Danzō has taken the blame for you," Orochimaru licked his lips with his tongue.
"What did you say!?"
"For example... Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake, who could wear the Hokage's half-sleeve... And the Senju clan of the First and Second Hokage..."
"Katon! Gōen no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Flame Technique)!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart leaped wildly; he couldn't let Orochimaru continue speaking! Hiruzen Sarutobi spewed a fierce flame from his mouth; this was the secret Fire Release technique passed down through their Sarutobi clan!
"Fufufu, getting flustered already, Teacher Hiruzen~ Doton! Doryūheki (Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall)! Sen'ei Jashu (Hidden Shadow Snake Hands)!" Orochimaru watched the somewhat flustered Hiruzen Sarutobi, forming hand seals. An earth wall suddenly appeared, blocking Hiruzen Sarutobi's Great Flame Technique. At the same time, numerous snakes continuously surged from his hands, attacking Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Enma! Kongō Nyoi (Adamantine Staff)!" Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted to Enma. Soon, an Adamantine Staff appeared in his hand, striking down all the snakes attacking from all directions.
"Fufufu, Teacher Hiruzen, you've destroyed quite a few of my experimental specimens," Orochimaru glanced at the surrounding experimental specimens shattered by their attacks, a flicker of pity in his eyes.
"You two! Attack him together!" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Orochimaru. He was getting old, and could even feel his physical strength had significantly declined.
"Fufufu, Teacher Hiruzen, I don't plan on getting entangled with you for too long. Mandara no Jin (Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes)!" Orochimaru summoned a vast number of poisonous snakes, which continuously attacked Hiruzen Sarutobi and the two ANBU opposite him. At the same time, he used the Body Flicker Technique, instantly vanishing from behind Hiruzen Sarutobi and rapidly rushing towards the secret base exit.
"Stop him! Signal!" Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Orochimaru's rapidly retreating figure, his heart pounding wildly. How did he know these things? Sakumo Hatake? The Senju clan? Hiruzen Sarutobi began to panic slightly. He had done many things, but few could threaten his position as Hokage, and most of the blame had been shifted onto Danzō. Wait? Danzō? Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly felt a sense of clarity.
Only Danzō knew many of these things. Could it be... Danzō? Impossible, Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. Revealing these things wouldn't benefit Danzō.
Although damaging Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation was a decent option for Danzō. But Danzō was also involved in these matters, piece by piece. In fact, most of the orders came from Danzō. Meaning, Hiruzen Sarutobi, in the light, had the idea, while Danzō, in the darkness, was responsible for execution and taking the blame!
So! It shouldn't be Danzō! Then who could it be? Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind started racing, but there was no time for further thought now. Because they had already exited the secret passage! And after leaving this place, one of the ANBU immediately pulled the ring of a signal flare.
A huge red firework instantly appeared high in the sky! At this moment, the ANBU and other ninja ambushing outside saw the signal flare and immediately attacked Orochimaru, who had just emerged from the passage! Although they saw it was Orochimaru, the ANBU and other ninja only hesitated for a moment before attacking. After all, this was the highest-level signal flare, meaning regardless of who came out of this passage, these ninja needed to attack them.
"Fufufu, truly a big surprise for me, Teacher Hiruzen. To actually send so many people over," Orochimaru sneered coldly. He hadn't expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to gather so many people here. He had been experimenting in the lab for the past two days and hadn't paid attention to outside affairs, so he was unaware of today's ANBU assembly.
"Stay here! Orochimaru!" Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly rushed towards Orochimaru's back, the Adamantine Staff in his hand already swinging.
"Fufufu, Teacher Hiruzen, I don't plan on staying~" Orochimaru chuckled lightly, his chakra erupting. Various ninjutsu began blasting backward freely. For a time, scenes of various counter-attacks began to appear.
[Ding]
[Triggered Mission: Orochimaru's Contract]
[Mission 1: Fulfill the contract with Orochimaru. Reward: Zhongli Roleplay Progress +0.3%!]
[Mission 2: Become Orochimaru's partner. Reward: 1000 Points!]
Shinji, who was watching the situation, suddenly noticed the system had issued a mission.
"Looks like Orochimaru has escaped his secret base," Shinji, dressed casually, watched the light show created by the continuous ninjutsu attacks in the distance. This mission seemed quite rewarding, offering 0.3% Zhongli roleplay progress at once, plus an extra 1000 points. Although he didn't know what being Orochimaru's partner entailed, Shinji didn't need to think too much about it. The contract was already in place; the system's reward was just the icing on the cake.
[Begin Roleplay!]
[Host: Shinji]
[Roleplay Character List: Zhongli!]
[Roleplay Character Progress: 11.5%]
[Today's Roleplay Time: 1/30 minutes]
[Choose to project Zhongli's image?]
[Yes/No]
[No!]
Shinji directly chose not to project, instead roleplaying using his own image. Shinji's Zhongli roleplay had now reached 11.5%, meaning he possessed 11.5% of Zhongli's power. His hands moved slightly, and a large amount of Geo attribute appeared in his hands.
"Movement of Earth!" Golden light began to emerge from Shinji's hands. Yes, he had mastered the power of Geo, but it wasn't limited to just the Planet Befall skill. The current Shinji could use Geo elements locally to create some practical skills. For example... using Geo elements to surge underground, forming a skill similar to an earthquake core!
Instantly. Following Shinji's actions, waves like an earth dragon turning over began to appear.
"Earthquake?"
"Is this an earthquake?" For a moment, the ground behind Orochimaru began to experience huge energy fluctuations. And the most direct manifestation was the shaking of the earth! Meaning, Shinji's skill had an ability similar to an earthquake.
"No! This isn't an earthquake! Someone is helping Orochimaru!" Compared to the ANBU ninja, Hiruzen Sarutobi was much more experienced. The elements in the air were clearly vibrating, and looking into the distance, these fluctuations were only here, behind Orochimaru! So! Could it be Orochimaru's accomplice?
"Doton! Doryū Taiga (Earth Release: Earth Flow River)!" Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly formed hand seals, controlling the earth with his chakra, forming streams of mudslides. The mudslides quickly covered the entire area, calming the Geo power Shinji had created.
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> Check my: p@treon.com/ShixT9 for extra 60 Chapters
> Each 50 Spirit Stones I will release an extra chapter
> If a member joins my p@treon
> Tier 1 = 20 Advance Chapters +1 Extra Chapter + Shoutout
> Tier 2 = 40 Advance Chapters + 2 Extra Chapters + Shoutout
> Tier 3 = 60 Advance Chapters + 4 Extra Chapters + Shoutout
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