Naruto entry.

Chapter 97 Orochimaru's Approval

Orochimaru stood up and picked up the glass box containing the shed snake skin.

The first time I saw the white snake's shed skin was when Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi went to visit their parents' memorial tablet.

Hiruzen Sarutobi told him that the white snake symbolized luck and rebirth.

Orochimaru then used this as a talisman.

Later, Orochimaru witnessed Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki, accidentally fall into an explosive tag trap and be blown up. A life suddenly vanished before his eyes.

Orochimaru suddenly realized how fragile life is.

Later, he witnessed the death of Dan Kato, who almost became Tsunade's lover.

Orochimaru still remembers what happened back then.

Kato's internal organs were blown out, and he was in critical condition.

At that time, Tsunade, Konoha's best and strongest medical ninja, desperately tried to save Dan Kato.

But even with her frantic use of medical ninjutsu, she couldn't regenerate Kato's severed internal organs.

"Legend has it that the White Snake, a spirit snake, possesses the power of regeneration and good fortune. Unfortunately, these are just boring legends. Whether it is the White Snake or a human, when they are about to die, they are also ugly beings."

Orochimaru put down the glass box in his hand. On the table, there were several specimens soaking in a solution.

The rare white snake is indeed very difficult to see.

But it's nothing to Orochimaru.

"Lord Orochimaru,"

Kiyoshi's voice was calm. "Do you know why the white snake sheds its skin?"

Orochimaru paused slightly, turned his head, and said:

"Melting is just a natural process that organisms undergo for growth; there's nothing special about it."

Kiyoshi smiled slightly, his gaze still fixed on the white snake, and said:

"Lord Orochimaru, I think molting is not just a biological or physical process."

"Oh?"

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow slightly, his voice hoarse.

"So what do you think shedding skin signifies?"

He wanted to see what kind of words Kiyoshi, a kid similar to himself, would say.

Standing to the side, Mitarashi Anko felt she couldn't understand the conversation between Kiyoshi and Orochimaru.

Orochimaru, who always values ​​science and a rigorous attitude, is actually discussing these legends and myths with Kiyoshi?

Mitarashi Anko wasn't interested in any of that.

All she wanted to know was whether Kiyoshi would compensate her for the three-colored dumplings later.

That's high-end stuff!

She spent almost all of her allowance to buy these three-colored dumplings.

"So-called regeneration is because the past capacity can no longer support itself, and then through shedding the skin, a new body is obtained. Each shedding is to discard the shackles of the past and prolong life."

Kiyoshi brought up the topic of "immortality" once again.

In Konoha, this is something that cannot even be discussed.

Other ninjas would only consider it a heinous act, a desecration of the natural laws of life and death.

But Orochimaru spent his entire life pursuing this goal, and all his actions were based on this.

Orochimaru frowned slightly, put down the glass case in his hand, and said in a hoarse voice:

"What are you trying to say? Even white snakes cannot truly escape the fate of death; they shed their skin, but they will still die eventually."

"Lord Orochimaru, you said that the white snake symbolizes luck and rebirth. Their death is only the end of their physical body, but their soul and their will can continue through shedding their skin. Just like the snake skin that Anko just asked about, the white snake has long since disappeared, but it can still be here after shedding its skin."

Orochimaru remained silent for a moment, then his gaze fell once again on the white snake specimens.

His fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a low sound, as if he were pondering something.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke: "The soul... the continuation of will... an interesting idea."

Kiyoshi's idea suddenly broke his old way of thinking.

It was like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

Even after shedding its skin, the white snake will still die; it cannot truly transcend the concept of life.

But ninjas are different.

The soul and will are not untouchable realms.

If ninjas could shed their aged bodies like a white snake shedding its skin and replace them with a young and powerful one, wouldn't that be a form of immortality?

The so-called soul depends on spiritual energy, and spiritual energy is closely related to physical energy.

If these spiritual energies are constantly nourished by young bodies, how long can the soul actually live?

Is it possible to achieve immortality?

Orochimaru, unaware of this, licked his lips; this technique indeed held great potential.

In fact, he had already found some clues about "regeneration".

By activating the body, a person becomes stronger and at the same time, their regenerative abilities are enhanced.

A physical revitalization technique called "Cursed Seal".

So, can he grasp the winds of "immortality"?

"Hehe, Kiyoshi-kun's insights are quite unique; he's destined for great things. Would you be interested in becoming my assistant?"

Orochimaru extended an invitation.

"Lord Orochimaru, I am a disciple of Teacher Nono."

Kiyoshi shook his head, feigning reluctance as he refused.

"Nonou's disciple...?"

Orochimaru was still smiling.

It's okay, he has time to wait.

Yakushi Nonou has already told Shimura Danzo about her idea of ​​leaving Konoha and retiring from the ninja world.

By then, what reason would Kiyoshi have not to join him?

"Since Kiyoshi-kun and I share the same affinity for snakes, then I will give this to you."

Orochimaru suddenly opened his mouth wide, opening and closing it at an exaggerated angle.

With a thud in his Adam's apple, he spat out a scroll.

He wiped the sticky residue off with his hand and handed it to Kiyoshi, saying:

"This is the 'Orochi-ryu Substitution Technique'."

Orochimaru handed the ninjutsu scroll to Kiyoshi.

He had been thinking about molting and regeneration before, but he hadn't associated it with things like the soul or will.

If you want someone to do things for you, appropriate benefits are essential.

Mitarashi Anko stared at Orochimaru and Kiyoshi in disbelief.

Surprisingly, he immediately gave Kiyoshi a ninjutsu upon arrival.

Are ninjutsu techniques now considered acceptable as souvenirs?

Mitarashi Anko suddenly felt uncomfortable; she hadn't even received Orochimaru's instruction yet!

"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru."

Kiyoshi accepted the scroll.

Orochimaru is still somewhat law-abiding now, and he doesn't act as arrogantly as he does later.

Even when recruiting subordinates and assistants, the methods became much gentler.

"Red Bean, take Kiyoshi back."

Orochimaru said to Mitarashi Anko, who had been waiting nearby.

He felt this talent was promising and was considering taking him on as an apprentice.

It's very likely that after Anko graduates, she will become the Jonin leading the team.

"Understood, Lord Orochimaru."

Even though she felt that Kiyoshi was not qualified to use that ninjutsu, Mitarashi Anko still lowered her head and obediently answered when she heard Orochimaru's order.

Then she led Kiyoshi out, and Kiyoshi packed up the scroll and followed her out.

"Remember to make me back with the three-colored dumplings, the three-colored dumplings."

Mitarashi Anko once again demanded compensation.

"OK."

Kiyoshi was in a good mood after receiving the new ninjutsu and promised to go to the street to buy a new three-colored dumpling as compensation to Mitarashi Anko.

(End of this chapter)