This puppeteer is a bit... well...

Chapter 144 is about creating souls, not transferring them.

To jointly research the art of immortality...

This answer was both expected and unexpected.

It was expected because Orochimaru's long-cherished wish was to research the art of immortality; it was unexpected because he would say it directly.

After all, the art of immortality is obviously not a proper ninjutsu and requires a lot of human testing.

This kind of thing is openly forbidden in any ninja village.

Orochimaru speaking to Ryuji, a stranger from another village, truly showed great sincerity.

pity.

Cooperation is only possible when both parties are on equal footing; Orochimaru did not have the resources to cooperate with Ryuji.

Therefore, Ryuji refused without hesitation.

"This is a matter of absolute obedience, Lord Orochimaru must be joking!" Ryuji said jokingly, taking a sip of his tea.

However, Orochimaru did not understand Ryuji's intentions.

He sat up straight, staring intently at Ryuji, and said seriously, "Xuanqi-kun, I know you are the same kind of person as me, so you don't need to worry about what others consider taboos in front of me."

"Lord Orochimaru is joking, I..."

"Although I haven't been in Konoha, news of your deeds has kept reaching my ears." Orochimaru interrupted Ryuji's denial and continued, "You possess the technology to create puppets with independent consciousness, and to revive the dead..."

"Stop, stop, stop..." Ryuji gestured to pause, speechless. "Why are all of you Sannin like this?"

"Oh, did Tsunade come looking for you too?"

Orochimaru was somewhat surprised, but then smiled. "But it's not surprising. The two most important people in her life died in the war, so it's only natural that she would come looking for you."

"That's why I said you guys are sick in the head." Ryuji retorted without any politeness, "Whether in Sunagakure or to the outside world, I've explained that I have no ability to revive the dead. I just cured the Third Kazekage who was strategically feigning death."

"Oh, really?"

Orochimaru licked his lips with his long tongue, his cold snake eyes gleaming with interest. "I do believe you don't have the ability to revive the dead, but to say something like the Third Kazekage faking his death... even a layman wouldn't believe that, let alone someone like me who knows the stuff."

Yes, yes, no one in this world knows more about resurrecting the dead than you, alright!

Ryuji couldn't help but complain in his heart, but on the surface he put on a very angry look, "Believe it or not, I'm too lazy to waste my breath."

"Ayaki-kun, snakes don't discern things with their eyes, so pretending to be stupid won't fool them." Orochimaru was very kind to Ryuji, showing no anger whatsoever, and a smile played on his lips as he spoke. "Ayaki-kun must have used cloning or silver-making technology to create a new Third Kazekage!"

Sure enough, dealing with knowledgeable people isn't so easy to fool.

Long Er sighed inwardly, but his face grew even angrier. "If you've come here just to spout nonsense, then please leave."

"Don't be angry, Ayaki-kun." Orochimaru still had a smile on his face. "I didn't come here to expose your secrets, I just want to cooperate with you."

At this point, Orochimaru's eyes became somewhat fanatical.

"You were able to create the Third Kazekage without your comrades noticing anything amiss, and you could create Gin with independent consciousness. You must possess very sophisticated soul transfer technology. If your technology were to combine with mine, we could definitely develop a true art of immortality!"

Yes, in Orochimaru's eyes, Ryuji possessed soul transfer technology, not the technology to create souls.

Because he has a deep understanding of the soul, he is very clear about how complex the soul is.

That's something that the technology of this era simply can't measure. We can only conduct simplistic human experiments to find out the characteristics of the soul and then develop soul-related techniques.

In his view, creating souls is the domain of God, something that humans simply cannot do.

Whether it's the new third-generation Kazekage or Gin... their consciousness was transferred using the souls of other people.

In some ways, Orochimaru was right.

Whether it's the Third Kazekage, Gin, or any other puppet... although their souls are all newly created souls, their material comes from the original owner's chakra.

Therefore, it's not wrong to say it's a soul transfer.

However, the sentence is still the same.

Cooperation can only be carried out on the basis of equal status between the two parties. Ryuji not only has the technology of soul transfer, but also the technology of creating souls.

Why did he cooperate with Orochimaru?

"Lord Orochimaru, you're really getting these kinds of wild ideas, like soul transfer... How come..."

"Ayaki-kun, tell me your conditions!" Orochimaru interrupted Ryuji again.

The other party's repeated feigned ignorance made him somewhat impatient, so he directly asked the other party to state their terms.

Long Er paused for a moment, then laughed. "This isn't about conditions, it's about what's impossible. How can you expect me to cooperate with you?"

"Phew~"

Orochimaru took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

He calmly looked at Ryuji, thought for a moment, and continued, "Since Ayaki-kun isn't interested in cooperation, let's talk about a deal!"

"Oh, what are you trading?"

"Soul transfer technology!" Orochimaru said, "How about I exchange soul transfer technology with you using Hashirama cells?"

"puff!"

Ryuji couldn't help but sneer.

Using Hashirama cells to exchange for soul transfer technology, do you think I'd agree to that?

However, he also knew that Orochimaru was not without sincerity.

After all, interstitial cells are indeed a very valuable treasure.

Soul transfer technology... while rare, is not unique. Even in Konoha, there are ninjutsu that allow one to briefly separate their soul from their body and possess another.

Although it differs from a complete soul transfer, it's not impossible to study it if one really wants to.

However, the art of soul transfer is of little value to researchers like them.

Therefore, not many people studied it before, since ninjas mostly pursued ninjutsu with destructive power.

Orochimaru's proposal to use Hashirama's cells to exchange souls was absolutely sincere.

He simply didn't know the value of Hashirama's cells in Ryuji's eyes.

Therefore, Orochimaru frowned when he saw Ryuji sneer.

Even a clay figure has a temper, let alone this legendary Sannin.

If it were just a refusal, that would be one thing, but to adopt such a mocking attitude, don't you think that's going too far?

"Ayaki-kun, I have come with the utmost sincerity." Orochimaru's hoarse voice turned somewhat deep, and one could faintly sense his anger.

Ryuji quickly composed himself, his expression turning serious. "Of course I know that, but Lord Orochimaru keeps insisting that I have soul transfer technology and even seriously wants to make a deal with me. I just couldn't help it. Sorry, sorry."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but chuckle.

This wasn't an act; it's just that the reason for the laughter wasn't what I said.

Orochimaru, seeing Ryuji's appearance, also began to have doubts.

Could it be that my guess was wrong?

But he quickly put that doubt out of his mind.

Unlike Jiraiya, he only considers evidence when making decisions.

Whether the Third Kazekage truly didn't die, or whether Ryuji created a new Third Kazekage, remains to be seen.

But a puppet with a soul, capable of independent thought and action... that would be impossible without soul transfer technology.

Therefore, Ryuji must possess soul transfer technology; he just doesn't want to trade with me.

Orochimaru continued to ponder.

Is Long Er unwilling to make a deal, or does he feel that he hasn't offered enough bargaining chips?

After a moment of contemplation, Orochimaru decided it was the latter.

Everything in this world can be traded; if not, it's because you don't have enough bargaining chips.

But Hashirama cells were already the most valuable bargaining chip he could offer. If that wasn't enough, what else could he offer in a trade?

Sharingan?

Roll your eyes?

No, no, no, eye rolls cannot be used for trading.

Although he could be ruthless and still get the cold shoulder, doing so would definitely cause a sensation throughout the village.

It's uncertain whether I'll be able to clear myself of suspicion by then.

Moreover, the Byakugan's strategic value is too great; it would be incredibly foolish to use it as a bargaining chip to hand over to the Outer Ninja Village.

At least, that's how Orochimaru sees it.

A mere white eye is more valuable than this so-called soul transfer technology.

This is a losing proposition; we can't do it.

So, do you use the Sharingan?

Besides the Hashirama cells, all he had was a three-tomoe Sharingan that Danzo had given him for research.

But won't that be enough?

Although the Sharingan is touted as incredibly powerful by outsiders, it is not actually that strong.

Therefore, being invincible in one-on-one combat is only based on the condition that the opponent does not have powerful secret techniques or bloodline limits.

If the Sharingan were to face the Byakugan, or if someone possessed a bloodline limit of the same level, would you dare to say he was invincible in a one-on-one fight?

Have you forgotten how Uchiha Setsuna died?

"Lord Orochimaru..."

The voice on the other end snapped Orochimaru out of his reverie. He looked up at the person and asked, "What is it?"

"Actually, I don't have the technology to transfer my soul."

"..."

Orochimaru opened his mouth, but then obediently closed it.

He knew that unless he offered something that would appeal to the other party, nothing he said would make a difference.

The other party will not admit it.

"What I actually possess is the technology to create souls."

"oh!"

Orochimaru replied calmly, then picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

then……

"puff!"

As he put down his teacup, Orochimaru suddenly spat out all the tea he had just drunk.

Fortunately, Long Er had anticipated this and stood to the side beforehand, otherwise he would have been sprayed in the face by now.

Orochimaru, completely oblivious to his blunder, stared dumbfounded at Ryuji, his voice trembling as he asked, "What did you just say?"

(They've taken the bait.)

Long Er's lips curled slightly upward as he said calmly, "It's the technology for creating souls."

"The technology to create souls!?"

Orochimaru repeated the words in disbelief, trying to confirm that he was hallucinating.

But no matter how many times he repeated it, what reached my ears was the technique of creating souls, not the technique of transferring souls.

I'm sleepy. I'll correct the typos tomorrow morning.

Another piece of good news: this book already had an average of 3000 subscriptions five days ago, but it seems that it needs to reach 20 words before it can get the premium badge.

I only have 14 to 15 now.

I'm so upset, I really want a premium badge.

That way I can brag to others that I'm also an author with two excellent badges on Qidian.

(End of this chapter)