Land of Rice Fields, the underground base of Otogakure.
The air was perpetually filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant and some kind of chemical reagent, mixed with a cold, damp chill.
Pale white lights illuminated the cold metal instruments and massive glass cultivation tanks, within which twisted biological tissues floated slowly in emerald-green nutrient fluid.
A huge display on the wall streamed with cascades of data, emitting a faint hum.
Orochimaru stood with his back to the entrance, looming over a large experiment table.
On it lay complex instruments and several bizarrely colored tissue samples.
Dressed in a plain white kimono with black inner lining and a purple shimenawa rope tied around his waist, his golden snake pupils glinted with an inhuman coldness under the dim light as his pale fingers gently traced the edge of a petri dish.
The space twisted silently for a moment.
Orochimaru didn't pause in the slightest, as if he had long anticipated it.
"You've come." A hoarse yet distinctly feminine and magnetic voice rang out. He slowly turned around, his narrow golden vertical pupils locking onto the figure that had abruptly appeared in the center of the room.
Orochimaru looked at the black robe with the Uchiha Clan's crestand said, "Ku ku, that robe suits you quite well."
Menma didn't respond to the small talk. Behind his white three-eyed fox mask, his gaze swept across the unsettling surroundings before finally settling on Orochimaru.
He raised a hand and casually tossed a small, sealed glass container toward Orochimaru.
The container traced an arc through the air, containing a few small pieces of cell tissue submerged in a pale blue liquid.
The moment the container flew toward him, Orochimaru's golden pupils constricted sharply… like a venomous snake poised to strike!
His pale, slender right hand shot out like a snake, catching it steadily.
The cold sensation against his fingertips, along with the cold, potent life force emanating from the Uchiha Clan's unique cells within the container, sent an uncontrollable tremor through the very depths of the scientist's soul… one who pursued power and immortality.
"Mmm-" A satisfied, almost moan-like sigh escaped Orochimaru's throat.
He cradled the container delicately, lifting it to eye level. His golden vertical pupils nearly pressed against the glass as he greedily examined the precious tissue inside, as though admiring the most exquisite artwork in the world.
The corners of Orochimaru's lips curled uncontrollably into a bewitching, fanatical smile.
Joy… pure, unadulterated joy at obtaining something priceless!
The power of the Uchiha, the secrets of the Sharingan… He's now one step closer to them!
Though he had already succeeded in cloning One-Tomoe Sharingan, those eyes always felt as if they lacked a soul.
Only these natural Uchiha's cells contained such pure power!
Yet, this ecstasy lasted less than two seconds.
"I need information about Yakushi Kabuto. Danzo's Root's infiltration plan in the Land of Stars." Menma's cold voice was like freezing water dousing flames, instantly extinguishing the fervor on Orochimaru's face.
The smile on Orochimaru's lips instantly stiffened, then gradually faded.
He slowly raised his head, shifting his gaze from the container in his hand to Menma's masked face. His golden pupils narrowed slightly, his expression turning complex.
The joy receded like a tide, replaced by a cold, venomous displeasure… like a snake disturbed mid-feast.
Yakushi Kabuto, the prodigious child he had spotted back at the Konoha Orphanage, the one he had envisioned as his future right-hand man!
And now, Shura had gotten to him first?
Yet another of Orochimaru's chosen talents had been snatched away from him!
A surge of possessiveness, frustration, and indignation quietly stirred within him.
The seedlings he had painstakingly selected were like the precious specimens in his lab… not to be touched by others!
What sent an even deeper chill down his spine was the fact that Shura had specifically named Kabuto and demanded intel on Danzo's schemes.
What did that imply?
This means that this 'Ninja from the future' undoubtedly knew of Kabuto's future achievements!
'That seemingly frail boy… just how astonishingly far could he reach in the future?'
'For Shura, who came from the future, to personally come demanding his files-'
This alone proved that Kabuto's potential far exceeded Orochimaru's initial estimations!
This realization only deepened Orochimaru's displeasure, as though a rare treasure he had hoarded had been appraised and purchased before he could act.
"Ku ku ku…" Orochimaru let out a low, ambiguous chuckle, the sound echoing through the cold underground laboratory with a snake hiss at its tail end.
His fingers tightened slightly around the container with the Uchiha's cells, his knuckles whitening.
"My eye for talent truly is impeccable." The temperature in Orochimaru's voice dropped to freezing: "Kabuto-kun is indeed an... interesting child. As for Danzo, that old dog lurking in the gutters-"
He forcibly suppressed the surging emotions in his chest, his golden serspentine pupils glinting with calculation: "I will compile a detailed record of his little schemes for you."
For the sake of the Uchiha's cells in his hands, and for greater benefits yet to come, this bit of frustration and loss was something Orochimaru could endure. For now.
He carefully placed the cell container in the safest spot on the experiment table before leisurely continuing, "Speaking of experiments... Kimimaro, the boy you took last time. I assume you're already aware of his... condition?"
Orochimaru licked his thin lips, his eyes reigniting with that fanatical gleam for the unknown: "His 'disease' rooted in his bloodline... truly fascinating. And truly tragic. I've collected a few Kaguya Clan's children since then, but alas… none could withstand even the initial fusion stimuli. All failures."
He spread his pale hands in a deliberately exaggerated show of regret, but his gaze remained locked onto the white three-eyed fox mask.
"The joint laboratory that I asked Guren to build in the Star City should have quite complete equipment." Orochimaru's golden pupils gleamed with unmistakable anticipation.
"I'd like to go there. To conduct... deeper observations and research on Kimimaro. Perhaps, together, we could find a way to suppress, or even reverse, his pitiable fate?" His voice dripped with carefully crafted persuasion.
"After all... for such a precious Kekkei Genkai and physique to simply vanish... what a waste, don't you agree?"
Menma listened in silence, his mask revealing nothing.
Orochimaru's joy, displeasure, greed, and schemes were as clear as an open book to him.
As for Kimimaro… he did need Orochimaru's scientific expertise. Though the transplanted Byakugan had temporarily stabilized the imbalance of Yang Attribute Chakra within Kimimaro's body, with Orochimaru's involvement, they could likely find a better research direction.
Moreover, after obtaining the Chimera Technique, Menma wanted to see how it would interact with White Zetsu's cells and Hashirama's cells.
Orochimaru's participation would accelerate the research exponentially.
"Fine." Menma's voice remained devoid of inflection.
A gleam of light flashed in Orochimaru's eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled up again, "However, my shadow clone will oversee the entire process."
The white mask tilted slightly toward Orochimaru, its hollow eyeholes seeming to pierce through souls.
"Orochimaru, put away those inappropriate thoughts of yours. Kimimaro... is mine now."
The cold words, carrying a bone-chilling warning, swept through the entire laboratory like an arctic gust.
The smile on Orochimaru's face completely froze, and his golden pupils contracted into dangerous slits as he engaged in a silent standoff with the unseen eyes behind the mask.
The sterile scent of disinfectant hung thick in the air. The laboratory's pale lighting stretched their opposing silhouettes against the cold walls, casting elongated, warped shadows.