"Oh… oh…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged face flushed slightly, and he coughed. "I was just worried that you might get so caught up in your research that you'd forget to improve yourself!"
"Understood, Hiruzen-sensei. If you're done, I'll be heading back," Orochimaru replied calmly.
He turned and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to vanish. Konoha's higher-ups already knew of his mastery of the technique, so he had no reason to hide it. He only used it openly during travel.
---
Laboratory
"Mio, I'm going to try removing the Caged Bird Curse Mark from your forehead now," Orochimaru said, bringing Hyuga Mio to the Laboratory. "It may hurt a little, so you'll need to endure it."
"I understand," Mio replied, suppressing her excitement. She had longed to break free from the restrictions of the Caged Bird Curse Mark.
Orochimaru's hand rested lightly on her forehead. The curse mark seemed to come alive, burning slowly before turning to ash and vanishing.
Mio clenched her teeth and fists, unconsciously activating her Byakugan. The veins around her eyes bulged, her pale blue Byakugan emitting a faint glow as she felt the invisible restraint that had always bound her.
"Finished."
Orochimaru removed his hand. Mio collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily, one trembling hand touching her forehead as if seeking proof.
"Successful. The Caged Bird Curse Mark is removed."
Orochimaru extended his hand, and Imu respectfully handed over a scroll and brush. He quickly recorded the method for removing the curse mark and inscribed the enhanced Caged Bird Curse Mark he had developed.
This improved mark could not be activated by the Hyuga Main Family. Its purpose was to protect the weaker branch members, preventing the theft of their Byakugan.
"I suggest you memorize this and then destroy it," Orochimaru instructed, tying the scroll and tossing it to Mio. "If the Main Family discovers it, you'll be in serious trouble."
"Orochimaru… thank you," Mio whispered, holding the scroll.
"There's no need," he said. "I'm uninterested in the Hyuga Main and Branch Family system. I only care about the Caged Bird Curse Mark."
He briefly pondered the Sealing Technique of Grandma Mito, hoping that studying it when he turned twelve might inspire him to enhance his Seal Eye Curse Mark.
Most curse marks were designed to bind and restrict, similar to Sealing Techniques. The ones Orochimaru developed with Jugo's cursed power, however, functioned differently: they absorbed natural energy and helped recipients synthesize Sage Chakra. By stimulating the curse mark, one could enter Sage Mode, greatly increasing power.
Jugo's cursed power was essentially Sage Mode. His body absorbed natural energy automatically, and once a threshold was reached, he uncontrollably entered a cursed state—Sage Mode in effect. Orochimaru used Jugo's bodily fluids to create his power-granting curse marks, though the exact fluids were unknown.
Shaking his head, Orochimaru snapped out of these tangential thoughts. Writing adult novels hadn't made him abnormal… had it?
Jugo's power was potent. If properly harnessed, he could create human batteries to mass-produce Sage Chakra—a rare resource capable of harming the Otsutsuki Clan. A truly excellent weapon, yet Jugo wasn't even born yet.
Mio stared into the mirror, observing the enhanced curse mark on her forehead. The Main Family could no longer control her through the Caged Bird Curse Mark.
"Mio, I need to send you back now," Orochimaru said.
"Hmm," she nodded. Orochimaru placed his hand on her arm and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to Konoha.
Research on the Caged Bird Curse Mark was temporarily paused. Orochimaru now focused on cloning and genetic studies, liquid invisible contact lens research, Chakra Poison experiments, Kikaichu genetics, and breeding.
---
Chapter 77: What?! Orochimaru's House Collapsed?
Hyuga Mio returned to her cold, empty home. She stared at her parents' photos in the closet, remembering how they, like many young ninja, had died defending the Main Family during the First Shinobi World War.
After some time, she turned the photos over, unrolled the scroll from Orochimaru, and read it repeatedly until every word was etched in her memory. Later, she lit an oil lamp in the kitchen and burned the scroll, far from the prying eyes of the Main Family.
The flames flickered like a prairie fire.
"The Main Family's oppression ends here," she whispered.
Were there truly no strong ninja in the Hyuga Branch Family? The Caged Bird Curse Mark had forced them into submission, punishing any rebellious thought. The Main Family called it "punishment," but it was cruel and controlling.
Orochimaru had no idea what Mio planned. He was focused on research and cultivation, uninterested in the Hyuga Family's politics, and content to continue occasional manuscript writing.
---
Laboratory – Summer
The Laboratory maintained a comfortable temperature despite the scorching heat outside. Orochimaru had extensively studied the Kikaichu, even uncovering the secret of the Aburame Clan's control.
Chakra is a fusion of spiritual and physical energy. Kikaichu nourished with chakra could absorb physical energy for nutrition, while their remaining spiritual energy explained the Aburame Clan's symbiotic bond.
It was akin to a queen ant or queen bee. Each Kikaichu acted as an extension of its master. Aburame Clan members had to control their emotions perfectly; otherwise, symbiosis failed. Those who couldn't manage their emotions could never master the clan's secret techniques.
Beneath the research facility, Orochimaru cultivated Kikaichu eggs modified with insect genes. After repeated failures, he first transplanted Desert Ant genes, selectively breeding the strongest offspring. Then he incorporated Double-Tailed Scorpion and Giant Centipede genes.
These insects fed on chakra and hunted other creatures for sustenance.
"These aren't Kikaichu anymore," Orochimaru muttered, observing a massive insect with powerful jaws, scorpion-like tails, and a thick shell, yet capable of flight.
"These will be called Chimera Bugs."
The Chimera Bugs had intelligence, durability, self-healing abilities, and could serve as Summoning Beasts. Their numbers could multiply several times in a few years, although females were stronger and males smaller but aesthetically patterned.
Their reproduction resembled primitive human behavior: strong females chose mates, carrying males back to their nests, while males were eager to become partners.
Chimera Bugs secreted two fluids: a sticky mucus for nest construction and a cell-regeneration liquid with Yang Release Chakra, valuable for medical purposes. In short, these were Medical Ninjutsu-capable Summoning Beasts.
Orochimaru could not replicate Chimera Bugs for the Aburame Clan but could provide a few specimens.
---
He rode the strongest female Chimera Bug, the Chimera Bug Queen, pondering how to reveal his creations to Konoha. He planned to relocate them to suitable habitats, like the Mangrove Forest in the Land of Waves, and have subordinates manage them.
Finally, he selected two pairs to give to the Aburame Clan. Using the Flying Thunder God Technique, he transported four Chimera Bugs to his underground lab, visited the Iburi Clan territory, then returned home.
He gathered valuable items from his home, sealed them in a scroll, and prepared to relocate his possessions.
Suddenly, the ground shook violently. Residents watched in shock as Orochimaru's house sank and collapsed.
Dozens of shadowy figures charged toward the ruins. The Uchiha Military Police led the way, Sharingan activated, observing the destruction.
---
Iburi Clan District
"Does everyone understand your mission?" Chiriu asked his clan. They had rehearsed for over an hour, each eager to express concern for Orochimaru.
"Let's go, Chiriu Clan Leader!" one impatient member insisted.
"Patience. We must arrive after the Anbu," Chiriu replied. He transformed into smoke, and his clan followed suit, targeting Orochimaru's house.
---
Hokage Building
Hiruzen Sarutobi jumped to his feet at the commotion.
"What happened?" he demanded, glaring at the Anbu.
"Hokage-sama, Orochimaru's house has collapsed," an Anbu reported.
"What?!" Hiruzen's expression darkened. Without hesitation, he broke through the window and raced toward Orochimaru's house.
---
Root Base
Danzo Shimura sprang up abruptly, knocking over his desk, grabbing his subordinate by the collar, his eyes sharp with urgency.
The situation was escalating rapidly. Orochimaru's research, his Chimera Bugs, and now the sudden collapse of his residence were all converging into a storm of chaos across Konoha.
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