I'm in Konoha, and I started with Ashura Chakra.

Chapter 91 An Existence from Another Dimension! The disparity in strength is too great; don't court death.

In just a few blinks of an eye, Orochimaru, a Kage-level powerhouse, and Kabuto Yakushi, who was not afraid of Kakashi Hatake at all, had most of their chakra absorbed by the branches on their bodies.

Instead of absorbing all their chakra, Yagyu weakened them before stopping the absorption and releasing the Silent Binding Technique that had immobilized them.

Having broken free of their restraints, they did not choose to run away.

Because they all knew that they couldn't escape this state.

Orochimaru, who left soul fragments in the Heavenly Curse Seals of Uchiha Sasuke and Mitarashi Anko, wasn't actually that afraid of death.

Moreover, Orochimaru could tell from the conversation just now that Yagyu came here not for Uchiha Sasuke, but for him!

Orochimaru quickly calmed himself down, and a slightly hoarse laugh escaped his bandaged lips once more: "Such Wood Release and chakra are indeed incomparable to those clones implanted with Hashirama cells. It seems that the Senju of the Forest, which has been in decline for many years, is about to return to the top of the ninja world."

After the compliments, Orochimaru cut to the chase: "Since you didn't come here to take Sasuke Uchiha away, and you didn't kill us last time or this time, you must need my help with something!"

Orochimaru's tone was full of certainty in his last sentence.

"As expected of the legendary Sannin, they can still maintain such rationality in this situation."

Yagyu gave a thumbs-up, then walked up to Orochimaru, reached into the inner pocket of his black trench coat, and said with a smile, "I've come here today to make a deal with you, Lord Orochimaru."

After speaking, Yagyu took out a mask from inside his trench coat.

It was a white mask with a ferocious expression, resembling a demon.

"What is this?"

Orochimaru's eyes, the only part of them visible, were filled with doubt.

At this point, he clearly hadn't yet discovered the power of the Corpse Demon Seal or how to break it, and knew nothing about the mask.

However, what Yagyu said next shocked him.

Yagyu casually fiddled with the mask in his hand and chuckled, "This mask is called the Death God Mask, and it's the only way to break the Reaper Death Seal."

Orochimaru stood up instantly, his pupils constricted as he stared intently at the Shinigami mask in Yagyu's hand. His breathing suddenly became extremely rapid, and his body trembled slightly.

If reason hadn't been so strong that it suppressed his impulse, neither Yagyu nor Kabuto doubted that Orochimaru would have been unable to resist lunging at the Grim Reaper Mask at that moment.

Both Yagyu and Kabuto understood Orochimaru's feelings very well.

As a transmigrator, Yagyu, and as Orochimaru's most capable assistant, Kabuto Yakushi, both knew that Orochimaru's obsession with immortality and ninjutsu was beyond everyone's imagination.

In order to gain immortality and to learn all ninjutsu, Orochimaru was willing to give up everything.

That's why Hiruzen Sarutobi taking Orochimaru's hands, depriving him of the ability to form hand seals and use ninjutsu, was even more painful than killing Orochimaru.

Now, with the opportunity to reclaim his hands right in front of him, Orochimaru's ability to hold back is truly remarkable.

Seeing Orochimaru's rapid breathing, Yagyu didn't retreat with the Death God mask in his hand. Instead, he held the mask closer and observed Orochimaru's reaction through the window to the soul.

However, his action quickly calmed Orochimaru down.

What do you want?

Orochimaru stared into Yagyu's eyes and asked.

Without needing to test him, Orochimaru knew that the Grim Reaper mask and what Yagyu said must be true.

If nothing unexpected happens, the deal that Yagyu mentioned should require the use of his techniques.

Moreover, currently only he knows that technique.

Otherwise, Yagyu wouldn't have taken out the Grim Reaper mask, much less kindly helped him get his hands back.

"Big shots are really big shots, they have such a good attitude."

Seeing Orochimaru regain his senses so quickly and not lose control by trying to snatch the Shinigami mask, Yagyu couldn't help but praise him. He then casually tossed the Shinigami mask to Kabuto Yakushi, whose eyes were wide with disbelief, and slowly said, "The power of the Reaper Death Seal is to make a deal with the Shinigami by using one's own soul, allowing the Shinigami to sever and take away the enemy's soul. The power of the Shinigami mask is also to make a deal with the Shinigami, exchanging one's own soul for the soul devoured by the Shinigami."

"Lord Orochimaru, if you want to reclaim your hands, you must find a sacrifice willing to die for you and wear this mask."

"My deal is simple: the sacrifice will help Orochimaru regain his hands, and at the same time, it will free the soul of the previous Hokage."

"I see. So your purpose is to save the souls of your ancestors?"

Orochimaru stared intently at the Shinigami mask in Kabuto's hand, then glanced at Kabuto, whose expression changed slightly but whose eyes quickly hardened. A relieved smile appeared on Orochimaru's face beneath the bandages.

Orochimaru then nodded to Yagyu and said, "No problem, I agree."

"I haven't finished speaking yet, Lord Orochimaru."

Yagyu smiled and continued, "After releasing the souls of the previous Hokage, I want you to 'revive' them using the Impure World Reincarnation technique. I want to have a conversation with the previous Hokage."

Upon hearing this, Orochimaru's pupils contracted slightly, and he gave Yagyu a deep look.

Clearly, he had already guessed Yagyu's purpose.

The conversation was a pretense; what they really wanted was to obtain more advanced Wood Release ninjutsu from the First Hokage.

Could it be that the Wood Release scroll left by the First Hokage is missing from Konoha's forbidden technique library, or that it has been lost?

Thinking of this, Orochimaru was suddenly overjoyed, and his fear of Yagyu instantly dissipated by more than half.

However, on the surface, he readily nodded: "It's no big deal, I promise you."

"Let's begin then."

Yagyu raised his head and looked at Yakushi Kabuto, who was holding a Shinigami mask.

Orochimaru's gaze also fell upon Kabuto Yakushi.

Despite the two men's stares, Kabuto showed no fear. Instead, he took off his glasses and prepared to put on the Shinigami mask.

At that moment, Orochimaru suddenly spoke up: "Kabuto, go and call Guren over."

Kabuto Yakushi paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes, Lord Orochimaru."

After leaving the dimly lit room, Kabuto Yakushi returned shortly afterward with a woman with light purple hair.

Yagyu knew this woman; her name was written in his diary. She was Guren, one of the key figures in the Three-Tails Incident of Shippuden, who possessed the bloodline limit Crystal Release.

The other party is one of Orochimaru's reincarnation vessels. If Orochimaru hadn't been so eager to obtain Sasuke Uchiha's body and thought he could reincarnate in time, and hadn't had someone bring Guren to the base beforehand, then Orochimaru's body would now belong to this woman.

"Lord Orochimaru!"

As soon as Guren entered, she knelt down on one knee before Orochimaru, her eyes filled with fanaticism and worship as she gazed at him sitting on the throne.

At this time, Guren had not yet realized the truth. Her dream was the same as Kimimaro's: to become Orochimaru's vessel.

Therefore, she regretted not arriving in time, which forced Lord Orochimaru to choose Genyumaru as his reincarnation vessel. She was also very dissatisfied and disgusted with Sasuke Uchiha, who had already been confirmed as the reincarnation vessel three years later.

Looking at Guren kneeling on the ground, Orochimaru asked gently, "Guren, did Kabuto tell you?"

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru."

Guren said without fear, "I am willing to give my life as long as Lord Orochimaru can regain his ninjutsu."

"Don't you regret it?"

Orochimaru's voice remained gentle as he said, "If you are unwilling, I can choose someone else to do it."

"I'm willing, and I don't trust those guys either."

Guren stood up and snatched the Shinigami mask from Kabuto Yakushi, looking at Orochimaru with unwavering eyes: "My life was given to me by you, Lord Orochimaru. I am already very content to have lived this long. Since neither Kimimaro nor I were able to become your reincarnation vessel, Lord Orochimaru, let me do something for you, just like Kimimaro did."

After saying that, Honglian put on the Grim Reaper mask without hesitation.

Seeing this, Yagyu suddenly felt a sense of admiration for Orochimaru.

When it comes to manipulation skills, no one in the entire ninja world can compare to Orochimaru.

Even when facing brainwashed pawns, Madara Uchiha still had to leave a cursed seal as a precaution.

In contrast, Orochimaru relied entirely on his personal charisma to inspire his subordinates to risk their lives for him.

Even the reason why Mitarashi Anko turned against him was because Orochimaru didn't take her with him when he left Konoha, not because Orochimaru became a rogue ninja.

Besides Anko, there are also important characters such as Kimimaro, Guren, Kabuto Yakushi, and Mitsuki from Boruto.

Even excluding these important characters, there must be quite a few people in Otogakure who would be willing to die for Orochimaru.

Compared to Orochimaru, Yagyu's advantage of knowing the plot well, along with his gentle and manipulative abilities, is far too weak.

Only in front of Orochimaru did Yagyu dare not call himself a "Master of Nurturing".

Although there are many people in Otogakure who are willing to die for Orochimaru, Orochimaru clearly doesn't trust them much.

After Kimimaro's death, the only people he could trust were Kabuto Yakushi and Guren.

Even more fatally, Guren also distrusted those guys and was willing to risk her life to ensure that Lord Orochimaru could get his hands back.

Swah——

As Guren put on the Grim Reaper mask, a blue chakra aura surged from her body.

The moment these chakra appeared, they all converged into the Death Mask, as if attracted by a magnet.

Soon after, the chakra aura emanating from Honglian dissipated.

A spirit suddenly flew out from the Grim Reaper mask, floated behind Honglian and rapidly enlarged, forming a Grim Reaper with fluffy white hair, wearing a wide white robe, resembling a demon, and holding a small knife in his mouth.

Of course, only Guren can see this Grim Reaper, just like only those who use the Reaper Death Seal can see the Grim Reaper.

Even so, Orochimaru's body still felt a chilling coldness, and the image of his hands and soul being severed involuntarily replayed in his mind.

The excruciating pain of being unable to move my hands, which even affected my whole body, causing my body to collapse prematurely and forcing me to undergo reincarnation, seemed to have returned.

After entering the Ninja Academy, Orochimaru began to get used to the pain that comes with battle.

As a genin, he went out on missions and fought against enemies, becoming accustomed to all kinds of injuries, and even nearly meeting death many times.

But after actually seeing the Grim Reaper, Orochimaru realized that all the pain and injuries he had suffered were nothing compared to the Grim Reaper's blade.

Even the excruciating pain of having one's soul torn apart cannot compare to the slash of death.

Orochimaru, who possesses trump cards, is not afraid of Yagyu, nor is he afraid of Itachi Uchiha or Pain, who could defeat him in an instant.

Orochimaru is more like someone with an immortal body than Kakuzu and Hidan. If he had to choose one being he fears, it would be the invisible Grim Reaper.

Yagyu was unaware of Orochimaru's thoughts.

At this moment, he also felt the temperature in the room drop, then a red light flashed in his eyes, and his expression became solemn.

I can't see it!

Yagyu could not see the presence of the Grim Reaper.

Without a doubt, this Grim Reaper is on the same level as the Sage of Six Paths, whose soul can freely travel between the world of the dead and the world of the living even though his body has died—he belongs to another dimension.

I just don't know if the world where the Grim Reaper resides is the same place as the soul of the Sage of Six Paths and the souls of the dead.

If so, that would be good news.

The Grim Reaper can only appear in the world of the living by using the Reaper Death Seal or the Grim Reaper Mask, which requires considerable conditions.

This means that even if the Sage of Six Paths' soul returns to the world of the living and acts there, he will still have to pay an unknown price and cannot act recklessly.

Moreover, Yagyu had already revealed his Wood Release technique. If the Sage of Six Paths was truly powerful, he would have noticed him and perhaps even discovered that Yagyu possessed Ashura's chakra.

But the Sage of Six Paths didn't come knocking. It wasn't that he couldn't do it, or that he, like everyone else, had been fooled by Yagyu.

Either way, it's good news for Yagyu.

He only needs to maintain his virtuous persona until his strength reaches the Six Paths level, then he will no longer be afraid of the schemes and observations of these behind-the-scenes manipulators.

*Pfft*

At that moment, the sound of a sharp weapon entering the body rang out.

Honglian did nothing, but suddenly a huge knife wound appeared on her stomach, splattering blood.

"Ahhh..."

Honglian let out a heart-wrenching scream as her body collapsed to the ground, rolling and struggling.

Above her body, five blue spirits appeared out of thin air.

As soon as these blue spirits appeared, four of them disappeared.

The remaining spirit flew towards Orochimaru and quickly entered his body.

The next second, Orochimaru's hands began to flash with blue light.

"I'm...I'm back..."

Orochimaru stood up, looking at his hands, now free of bandages and with his fingers fully flexible and able to channel chakra again, his voice trembling slightly with excitement: "My ninjutsu... is all back!"

At the same time, Honglian, who was rolling on the ground, also fell silent.

A blue spirit also flew out from her corpse and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Clearly, her soul had been taken by Death.

Yagyu approached her corpse, retrieved the Grim Reaper mask, and then looked at Orochimaru, who was also watching him with a composed expression, and said with a faint smile, "Our strengths are vastly different. Don't seek your own death, Lord Orochimaru."

(End of this chapter)