Orochimaru travels to Hogwarts

Chapter 117 Preparing to Face Albus Dumbledore (First Update)

Ceremony group?

Orochimaru was slightly taken aback when he heard the name.

Isn't this one of the three groups in Slytherin?

The Curse Group, the Poison Group, and the Ritual Group.

Although these three groups seem impressive and have extensive connections, they are ultimately just groups organized by students. How could they possibly record history or become backups for wizards who are knowledgeable in ancient magic and can touch upon the mystery of soul resurrection?

This is ridiculous.

This even gave Orochimaru the feeling that the legendary Sage of Six Paths' mother might be resurrected through ninjas.

That's absolutely impossible!

He smirked, about to change the subject, but Malfoy continued.

"The ritual group has a long history, dating back to Slytherin, to the time when Salazar Slytherin left Hogwarts."

Malfoy recalled the test that Group Three had put him through, and a hint of lingering fear crept onto his face.

"The Curse Group is obsessed with curses, and I've even heard that they secretly research the Unforgivable Curse, but I suspect that's just a rumor."

"And the Poison Group, naturally, likes to brew potions. But Orochimaru, think about it, what are the Ritual Group pursuing?"

""

What are we pursuing?

Often, the answer lies within the riddle itself.

Orochimaru instantly thought of a possibility.

"Is what they're pursuing ritual?"

"That's right, it's a ritual, a ritual that has been passed down since Salazar Slytherin left Hogwarts."

"Draco, don't go into the Ritual Group. It's not a proper organization; it's just a corpse that hasn't even decomposed yet."

Malfoy was very curious as to why his father would say such a thing.

Thus, the well-informed old Malfoy revealed the entire secrets of the ceremony team.

He spoke in such detail that Malfoy suspected his father had joined the ritual group back then.

"After Salazar Slytherin stormed out of Hogwarts, the Slytherin students began to hold a ceremony once a year."

"It is said to be to summon the spirit of Salazar Slytherin, who has already died. Although everyone knows that Salazar was a great wizard and should not have died so soon, he has been missing ever since."

Malfoy rambled on and on, sometimes even missing the point.

As Orochimaru listened, he even hallucinated the story of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju in his mind.

Unlike most young ninjas who grew up listening to stories of the Third Hokage dominating the ninja world, this generation of ninjas grew up listening to stories of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju joining forces to quell the chaos and establish Konoha.

Some members of the Uchiha clan would even pretend to be careless and spread the story that Hashirama Senju died from his injuries after a great battle at the Valley of the End, but that Madara Uchiha was resurrected by using his Sharingan.

But that's just a joke.

If Madara Uchiha were still alive, it would be an understatement for him not to completely eradicate Konoha.

Orochimaru shook his head self-deprecatingly, only to see Malfoy looking at him with a sullen expression.

"You think I'm talking nonsense, don't you? But that's what my dad told me."

Malfoy looked exasperated: "Do you want to keep listening?"

"certainly."

Orochimaru said with certainty.

"My father didn't tell me the specifics of the ceremony. But he did tell me that over time, the number of students participating in the ceremony has gradually decreased."

"Especially around a hundred years ago, it seems like exactly one hundred years ago." Malfoy paused, somewhat surprised by the coincidence of the number, "The rituals of the ritual group only allowed the group leader and the next group leader to participate."

"What exactly is the ritual?"

"I don't know. I wanted my dad to tell me, but he told me—"

Malfoy recalled the look on his father's face and sighed.

"He forgot. He can't remember anything at all, not even the slightest detail."

very funny.

It's really, really interesting.

Whether it's the timeline from a hundred years ago or the account in "Hogwarts: A History of the School," it all seems to be related to the rituals of the Slytherin Ritual Group.

Orochimaru immediately became interested and asked.

"So who are the current and next leaders of the ceremony team? And when will this ceremony be held?"

"The first one was easy. The team leader was Apollo, and his sister was the next team leader, Daphne, who visited you at the school hospital."

Oh?

Is that really such a coincidence?

Orochimaru was deeply impressed by Daphne. After all, a subordinate who appears respectful but always reveals his true colors will always draw people's attention.

As for when it will be held, it seems Malfoy knows the answer.

"At the end of the term, after the Hogwarts dinner. That was also the day Salazar Slytherin left Hogwarts."

"An ending is also a beginning, isn't it? That's the motto of the ceremonial group, something my dad told me."

Death is also a kind of rebirth, isn't it?

For some reason, Orochimaru actually sensed this strange flavor in the motto of the ritual group.

He didn't press the matter further, but prepared himself to find an opportunity to join the ritual group's ceremony.

He has a lot of intelligence, and he has a lot to do.

After the entire dormitory fell asleep that night, Orochimaru opened his eyes in the darkness, recalling what he was about to do.

Some things are very important and must be started immediately.

The first thing to be affected is brain occlusion surgery.

Only by fully mastering this magic of sealing one's own mind can one keep enough secrets to protect and use for one's own benefit.

Otherwise, when Dumbledore could no longer resist the urge to investigate, a curse awaited him.

The White Lord may not kill, but he can also use other methods to punish himself, ensuring that he will never touch immortality or resurrection.

Thinking of this, Orochimaru sat up and walked to the window.

The situation is complex and intertwined with conflicting interests.

He has countless tasks to complete, and he only has one chance; if he makes a mistake, he will be doomed.

Thinking of this, Orochimaru couldn't help but push open the window and look at the bright moon outside.

Now it seems like we've returned to the time when I first defected from Konoha.

Apart from his own ninjutsu, there was no one else standing by his side. Even his closest friends and most cherished disciples had turned against him.

Apart from Madara Uchiha, it's hard to find another Konoha rogue ninja in a worse situation than himself.

but----

There is still hope, isn't there?

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, recalling his conversation with Snape earlier that day, recalling this seemingly desperate wizard who still wanted to believe in miracles.

He pondered Snape's words over and over again, and understood the truth that Snape dared not say outright.

The Philosopher's Stone was originally intended as bait to lure Voldemort.

However, as he demonstrated his magnanimity, Dumbledore quietly shifted his focus, wanting to see if he could be tamed by it.

So, no matter how you explain it, it all comes back to the very beginning.

The starting point where I first met Snape.

A professor who learns he has magical talent and prepares to enter the magical world.

And a ninja who has just traveled from another world and wants to subdue the professor to demonstrate his own magnanimity.

"If, I mean if—"

Orochimaru muttered to himself, as if consulting a friend from another world.

"Can I demonstrate the power to rival Dumbledore? Even for a moment, can I solidify Snape's confidence and completely steer him towards me, making him my most useful pawn?"

"Like Kabuto Yakushi?"

No one answered Orochimaru, but when the bright moon shone on his fingertips and on the small white snake coiled around them, Orochimaru had already received his answer.

Those who lack awareness are not worthy of becoming ninjas.

In Jiraiya's view, a ninja is someone who can endure.

In his own view, the so-called ninja—

He is a person who is proficient in all ninjutsu.

But how can one be considered to have mastered ninjutsu?

Does it mean learning all ninjutsu?

No.

It is to defeat one's enemy using ninjutsu.

For example, defeating Albus Dumbledore.