Very cunning!
He was even more cunning than the one with five hearts!
"Mr. Kakuzu, what do you think?"
Orochimaru smiled faintly, satisfied. This was exactly the effect he had intended. Placing the Flying Thunder God Technique formulas under multiple layers of protection may have been messy to prepare, but it had been worth the effort. Fortunately, everyone present was already on the inside, so whether they saw the layers or not didn't matter.
Given Kakuzu's personality, Orochimaru figured she would want to test his strength first—to make him frightening enough that she wouldn't dare act recklessly. If it escalated into a real fight, Kakuzu would need to gather the entire Iburi Clan to form an honest-to-goodness gang against him.
Kakuzu—a well-known black market bounty hunter—breaking into the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company to wreak havoc? Surely, they would break his legs for that.
Orochimaru had already considered all the potential reasons Kakuzu might be ganged up on. The company employees and nearby residents had been evacuated to shelters, so the only real danger was the Jiongu: Wind Release Mask. But since he had mastered Wind Release, Orochimaru felt confident he could handle it.
From the moment Kakuzu entered the company led by Qing He, Orochimaru had fully analyzed him. He was determined to make Kakuzu an employee of the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company. With Kakuzu's diligent and hardworking nature, he was like a Pixiu—taking in but not giving out—and exactly what Orochimaru needed.
Kakuzu was silent for a moment, then asked in a deep voice, "So you're inviting me to join the company. What exactly do you want me to do?"
"Are you interested in finance and goods transportation?" Orochimaru replied. "There are always nasty little thugs who covet my company's products. You'll know how to handle them."
The roles Orochimaru intended for Kakuzu included managing finances as well as transporting goods. With Kakuzu's skills, doing both simultaneously wasn't impossible.
"Finance and transportation of goods?" Kakuzu asked, incredulous. Was there really a direct connection between the two?
"Those with talent should work hard," Orochimaru explained. "Especially someone as capable as you, Mr. Kakuzu. While transporting goods, you can easily handle most people on the bounty list."
Orochimaru clapped his hands. "I think you'll be satisfied with the salary I'm offering."
Two men approached, carrying briefcases. They opened them to reveal stacks of money. Kakuzu's pupils narrowed slightly at the sight. Orochimaru's voice followed: "You're not loyal to me, and you don't work for me. You work for money. Our relationship is purely financial. You don't need to trust me—you should only trust money. Money can never deceive you."
"Alright, I'm ready to join the company and become an employee of the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company," Kakuzu said immediately. "It looks like I can earn and manage more money here."
Orochimaru hadn't expected such an instantaneous decision. Everything he had said previously, which took effort to convince Kakuzu, now seemed unnecessary. He thought wryly that it might have been more efficient to just show Kakuzu the money, stun him briefly, and offer the position directly.
Why did Lady Orochimaru care so much about this man?
Qing He observed Kakuzu and didn't notice anything unusual beyond his body modifications. But thinking about Lady Orochimaru's preferences, he suddenly understood why she insisted on Kakuzu joining the company. Since Kakuzu was already here, examining him whenever needed would be simple.
"As expected from Lady Orochimaru!" Qing He thought.
"Mr. Kakuzu, welcome to the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company," he said formally. "I am the company president, and from today, you will serve as vice president, overseeing finance and product transportation."
Orochimaru smiled inwardly, pleased. With Qing He and Kakuzu both present in the company, he could spend less time on daily management and focus on writing proposals based on market research.
"Vice President, huh..." Kakuzu muttered, feeling a rare sense of excitement. He hadn't felt this way in a long time but still had questions.
"I don't understand company management. Is it really wise to entrust such important responsibilities to me right away?"
Orochimaru's response was simple: "Mr. Kakuzu, I believe you are willing to learn how to manage a business for money."
In his mind, Orochimaru considered the business battles in this world trivial compared to those in other worlds. Hiring assassins and securing profits was often all it took.
"Qing He, I leave the rest to you," he said, disappearing with a wave.
"Rest assured, Lady Orochimaru!" Qing He replied respectfully.
Soon after, Kakuzu, dressed sharply in his suit, stood by the window watching people return from the shelters. He glanced at Qing He and asked, "Were you planning to fight me from the start?"
"Conflict?" Qing He asked, puzzled, as he processed paperwork at his desk. "Lady Orochimaru believed that to recruit you, money alone might not be enough. Power also had to be demonstrated."
Kakuzu muttered to himself, sensing familiarity. Had they met before? He didn't recall.
"I remember your Iburi Clan's Bloodline Limit had a fatal flaw," Qing He continued. "How did you overcome it?"
Kakuzu recalled the clan's struggle. "It was Lady Orochimaru! She cured our clan's Bloodline Limit disease and allowed us to leave the dark, damp caves and live a normal life. She's our savior!"
Qing He's voice filled with gratitude and respect for Lady Orochimaru.
Thinking further, Kakuzu considered the company's skincare products. Could they be connected?
"You're right," he said aloud. "These were developed by Lady Orochimaru."
Initially, Kakuzu had been motivated by money, but now he viewed Orochimaru as a god of wealth, capable of creating endless opportunities. Joining the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company seemed the right choice.
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Chapter 76: Master and Disciple's Martial Training
Training Field Three
Hiruzen Sarutobi crouched silently in the bushes, carefully observing the surroundings.
Buzz—!
A faint whistling sound cut through the air as a shuriken flew past. Hiruzen leapt from his hiding place, alert. The shuriken lodged itself into a tree trunk.
He quickly formed hand seals, leaving precise chakra marks behind.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
The shuriken multiplied into countless clones, converging toward Hiruzen. But steel wires suddenly wrapped around the shuriken, halting its advance. Unable to react in time, Hiruzen found himself caught mid-attack.
"Fire Release: Great Flame Technique!"
Orochimaru exhaled searing flames that traveled along the steel wires, engulfing Hiruzen.
"Ahhh!" Hiruzen fell to the ground, struggling within the flames.
"Hiruzen-sensei, are you enjoying this?" Orochimaru asked as he landed on a nearby tree trunk, observing below.
"You found me!" Hiruzen called, emerging from the ground. He had believed his clever tactics would deceive Orochimaru.
In an instant, Orochimaru disappeared beside him and threw a punch.
Too fast! Hiruzen realized immediately—it was the Flying Thunder God Technique!
He blocked the strike and moved away, forming new hand seals.
"Earth Release: World Stream River!"
Hiruzen manipulated the ground to create a river of mud. Orochimaru concentrated his Earth Release chakra, creating a rock slab beneath his feet, and surfed atop the mud flow.
"Ha?" Hiruzen's eyes widened. Orochimaru had surfed the mud flow with remarkable control—a mastery of nature transformation far beyond what he expected.
"Then how about this!" Hiruzen quickly formed hand seals. "Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
The mud flow rose, forming a dragon head, spitting mud bullets toward Orochimaru.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Orochimaru instantaneously formed a wall of water, blocking the Earth Dragon Bullet.
He then attempted to complete 44 hand seals for his next attack.
Who developed the Water Dragon Bullet? Why 44 seals? Hiruzen thought, half in disbelief.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Projectile Technique!"
The water wall transformed into a dragon, lunging at Hiruzen with a biting maw.
"Ah! The Water Dragon Projectile Technique!" Hiruzen exclaimed, recognizing the attack.
Lightning began swirling around the water dragon. Orochimaru's clone prepared a combined Lightning and Water Release technique: the Lightning Water Dragon Bullet.
If it hit, Hiruzen would be paralyzed. He leapt away like a nimble monkey, narrowly avoiding the attack.
"I won't fight anymore, Hiruzen-sensei. You're too good at dodging!" Orochimaru admitted breathlessly.
Hiruzen laughed heartily. "That Lightning Water Dragon Bullet was deadly. We just had a narrow escape!"
Orochimaru crossed his arms. "Do you enjoy tricking children, Hiruzen-sensei?"
Hiruzen smiled. "Your Ninjutsu and chakra control are impressive. Keep training, and one day you may surpass me."
Orochimaru reflected briefly. "I can travel with the Flying Thunder God Technique, but combat usage isn't perfect yet."
Hiruzen nodded, recalling that many had attempted to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique—Danzo, Homura Mitokado, Utatane Koharu—but none succeeded. Orochimaru's mastery, even partially, was unprecedented.
"Hiruzen-sensei, now you can relax. My research hasn't slowed my training," Orochimaru said proudly.
Hiruzen, satisfied, continued to observe Orochimaru's growth, knowing he was destined for greatness.
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