In the small woods behind the village.
This was where Orochimaru's team often trained.
As the smoke cleared, the intense battle finally came to an end.
"It seems you all haven't neglected your training lately," Orochimaru's pleased voice echoed across the training ground.
Uchiha Shisui, Anko, and Kagetsu stood opposite Orochimaru, looking a bit battered as they supported each other.
"Damn it! We can't even beat one of sensei's shadow clones!" Anko complained, glaring at the smoke dissipating from Orochimaru's clone, revealing the real Orochimaru standing at the edge of the field.
"We're still just Genin. We need to acknowledge the gap between us and Lord Orochimaru," Shisui said, feeling a bit helpless about Anko's casual comments. He couldn't just speak his mind like Anko did.
"Your performance has surprised me. Shisui, I see your talent. You're good at Body Flicker Technique, and I'll prepare a set of analytical principles related to it for you later," Orochimaru said.
Orochimaru was indeed impressed by Shisui's talent, but he didn't mention teaching ninjutsu.
"Kagetsu, have you started to incorporate shape and nature transformation into your Shadow Imitation Technique? It seems you've grasped what I taught you very well," Orochimaru said, his gaze settling on Kagetsu, clearly pleased with her progress.
"What about me? What about me?" Anko pouted, crossing her arms in dissatisfaction.
"You are the best at my Orochimaru's Style Taijutsu," Orochimaru praised her evenly, his kindergarten principal demeanor instantly bringing a bright smile to Anko's face.
Kagetsu and Shisui exchanged glances, agreeing that every team seems to need one carefree teammate. Let Anko be happy; her joy was simple enough.
During their break, a request from Orochimaru made Shisui's eyes widen in surprise.
"You want to visit the clan leader?" Shisui asked, a bit caught off guard.
"Yes," Orochimaru replied.
"The clan leader will surely be happy to see you," Shisui said, taking a deep breath and nodding. He knew he was just a messenger, but that didn't stop him from expressing his understanding of the clan leader.
At least in Shisui's view, this was the beginning of communication between the village's higher-ups and the clan, even if it was just Orochimaru for now.
"Let's do it tomorrow. I'll go tomorrow night," Orochimaru said, giving a timeline before dismissing the team.
He was busy, as the Technology Development Department was just a framework, filled with numerous matters that needed his attention. He was already planning to find a consultant from the Nara clan to handle daily affairs.
"The suggestion you made last time was interesting. Although Wood Release is a bloodline limit formed from the chakra of both Water and Earth attributes, its vigorous life force is like it's filled with Yang Release.
To suppress the devouring and expanding nature of the First Hokage's cells, we first need to find another power that can counter it and bring it into balance," Orochimaru explained as he walked with Kagetsu through the underground laboratory inherited from Root, which was currently serving as the Technology Development Department.
"I've gone through all the books in Konoha related to Wood Release, as well as the historical texts of the Senju clan. I believe this power is likely to be found within the Uchiha clan.
If we regard the power within the First Hokage's cells as a manifestation of Yang Release, then the Uchiha clan, which represents Yin, should be able to balance this power."
"Do you want to use the Uchiha as test subjects?" Kagetsu asked sensitively.
"Of course not. The current Uchiha clan doesn't have anyone capable of opposing the First Hokage's cells. I've heard that above the three-tomoe, the Uchiha clan has a legendary eye called the Mangekyō Sharingan. The most famous wielder is Uchiha Madara, who is said to be on par with the First Hokage."
"I think that to counter the power of the First Hokage's cells to devour and assimilate, an Uchiha, as an experimental subject, must at least possess the strength to unlock the Mangekyō Sharingan. Otherwise, I feel there's no difference between the Uchiha and other experimental subjects," Orochimaru shook his head.
He was not yet completely reckless in his experiments, especially when it came to the sensitive and tricky Uchiha clan.
"Is that why your attitude towards Shisui changed so quickly?" Kagetsu recalled Orochimaru's change in attitude towards Shisui.
"He is just a backup," Orochimaru licked his lips, "He still has a long way to go before he reaches a level I'm satisfied with."
"The Uchiha are a very paranoid clan! If they believe we are researching their bloodline limit, it's hard to predict what actions they might take," Kagetsu recalled the Uchiha clan's increasingly unstable emotional traits as their Sharingan activated, feeling worried.
"Are you worried that I might take some violent measures?" Orochimaru sensed something from Kagetsu's emotions and smiled, "What you said is quite good. Inheriting the position of Hokage would provide access to the resources of an entire village. While I'm not sure what my teacher really thinks, isn't it good to get more people on my side? As one of the prominent clans in Konoha, the Uchiha's wealth is only second to the Hyuga. Tomorrow, I just want to discuss some funding issues with Fugaku." Read full story at NoveIＦire.net
"Is this to help with the project on how to properly awaken the Uchiha's eyes?" Kagetsu was surprised that Orochimaru remembered their previous conversation.
"That's a good excuse," Orochimaru nodded. He believed that getting results from the ninja clans would be easier than from Danzo, as long as he could provide what they needed.
This is a matter of technical priority!
"I remember I asked you about your ideals. You said you wanted to research all bloodline limits and the origin of chakra," Orochimaru suddenly spoke up, "For now, let's set aside the origin of chakra, but Konoha has three major bloodline limit clans with a legacy of a thousand years!"
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