I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 558 Are you trying to bribe me with White Zetsu?!

In the cold and desolate secret laboratory, the sudden sound of a stranger's voice was enough to make an ordinary person's heart pound with fear.

But the slender figure merely stopped what he was doing, slowly turned around, and looked at Black Zetsu and White Zetsu.

Pale skin, eerie eyeshadow, slender snake tongue... who else could it be but Orochimaru?

"Hehe..."

Orochimaru gazed calmly at Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, appearing composed on the surface, but a slight ripple stirred within him.

This oddly-looking guy has once again broken through the defensive barrier he had carefully set up!

From the first time this strange guy came to our door, to today, 51 years into the history of Konoha.

No matter how many defensive and sensory barriers Orochimaru set up in his secret laboratory, he couldn't stop Black Zetsu and White Zetsu for even half a second!

It was as if this strange guy was born with a strong sense of restraint towards things like "barriers".

I really want to study their bodies more closely!

Orochimaru stuck out his snake tongue and gently licked the corners of his mouth a few times before speaking in a hoarse voice.

"Did you bring the materials I requested?"

"certainly!"

Black Zetsu responded with a sound.

A moment later.

Unable to bear the silence in the laboratory, Bai Jue Afei obediently raised his right hand, and a small bump suddenly appeared on his pale palm.

As Tobi, the White Zetsu, continuously poured chakra into the bulge, the bulge continued to expand and grow.

In the end, a completely independent White Zetsu grew directly from this bulge!

This scene is just like a plant spore flowering and bearing fruit.

The Art of Spores!

"Interesting ninjutsu."

Orochimaru casually commented.

He had previously witnessed Tobi, the White Zetsu, using the Spore Technique, and had even inquired about it before—because Orochimaru felt that the Spore Technique somehow resonated with him.

Speaking of which, Orochimaru's special cursed seal can achieve a similar effect, allowing a completely new Orochimaru to grow from a cursed seal symbol...

After specifically questioning Tobi, the White Zetsu, Orochimaru learned that the Spore Technique was a special ninjutsu that only White Zetsu could perform, and that the activation of this ninjutsu was extremely dependent on the White Zetsu's innate talent.

Those plant-like cellular tissues that are completely different from those of normal humans—or rather, normal animals!

After learning about this, Orochimaru gave up his idea of learning the Spore Technique.

Otherwise, given Orochimaru's own ideal pursuit of learning all the ninjutsu and forbidden techniques in the world, how could he easily let go of this ninjutsu with such a unique effect?

Forcibly ignoring the [Spore Technique], Orochimaru suddenly raised his hand, and venomous snakes emerged from his wide sleeves, flying through the air like ropes.

The newly born White Zetsu, which had just been "born" by Tobi, changed its expression drastically upon seeing the several slender venomous snakes rushing towards it, and tried to use the [Mayfly Technique] to burrow underground and escape.

But how could Orochimaru give it that chance?

The venomous snakes, already incredibly fast, increased their speed even further, baring their fangs, each long, thin tooth gleaming with a cold, cruel light.

Before White Zetsu could dodge further, the venomous snakes had already coiled around it, biting its body in unison and injecting "venom" into its wounds.

Starting with the fangs of a venomous snake, one complex and profound incantation after another appeared on the surface of White Zetsu's body. An immense power burst forth from the incantation symbols, forcibly controlling White Zetsu's body and rendering him unable to move.

【Binding Seal】!

Orochimaru dragged the venomous snake as if pulling on a rope, forcefully pulling the White Zetsu in front of him.

Immediately afterwards, a venomous snake suddenly raised its head, forcibly tore a piece of flesh from the White Zetsu's body, and then carried the piece of flesh to the testing table behind Orochimaru, quickly conducting various tests on the flesh.

While controlling the White Zetsu, Orochimaru turned around and focused his attention on the test experiment in front of him.

For a moment, Orochimaru ignored Black Zetsu and White Zetsu Tobi, who had just released White Zetsu.

Time slips away, bit by bit.

Orochimaru's performance testing experiment ended quickly.

He wanted to immediately focus his energy on the subsequent experiments, but considering that Black Zetsu and White Zetsu Tobi had not left, he reluctantly turned around and gave the gift-giver a "gentle smile".

"I am very satisfied with the quality of this White Zetsu."

Orochimaru smiled gently, his expression warm.

If you ignore the venomous snakes and corpses surrounding him, he does indeed look quite like a harmless biological scientist.

"If this can help Mr. Orochimaru, that would be great."

Black Zetsu responded politely.

Bai Jue A Fei, standing to the side, curled his lip in disapproval.

The reason it was unwilling to come to Orochimaru's secret laboratory was that every time it came, it would send away a "compatriot".

Although "White Zetsu" are creatures that have virtually no social organization and no empathy.

However, each time, Tobi had to personally deliver one or more White Zetsu to Orochimaru, and then watch helplessly as Orochimaru took them to his experimental table to participate in Orochimaru's experiments as "materials"...

White Zetsu Afei is just naturally optimistic; he's not truly heartless.

Letting a White Zetsu get killed is one thing.

Personally handing over a White Zetsu to someone else to kill is another matter!

Having visited Orochimaru's secret laboratory many times, he personally sent away large numbers of White Zetsu time and time again.

How could Bai Jue and A Fei not feel resistant to this secret laboratory?

Orochimaru ignored Black Zetsu's attitude.

However, the vividly expressive White Zetsu caused Orochimaru's gaze to flicker slightly for a moment.

He was well aware of the strangeness of Black Zetsu and White Zetsu Tobi, the "black and white people".

I vaguely know that Tobi, the White Zetsu, is superior to all other White Zetsu in terms of individual strength.

This made Orochimaru even more eager to study Tobi, the White Zetsu...

However, Orochimaru couldn't rush this; he could only proceed gradually.

To be fair...

Orochimaru had only known the "black and white people" for a few months.

After being driven out of Konoha by Nara Rinka and Tsunade, Orochimaru wandered for a long time.

It's almost fair to say that for as long as Nara Rinkei was Hokage, Orochimaru was a vagrant for just as long!

Out of concern for the Fourth Hokage's strength, and also for Konoha's spies, Orochimaru hid and wandered for a year and a half before finally managing to find a place to stay in the Land of Rice Fields.

Orochimaru originally intended to use the Land of Rice Fields as a starting point to gradually heal his physical disability, develop his own power, and then launch a revenge attack on Nara...

The legendary Sannin, a disciple of the Hokage, had their hands severed by a mere junior!

If it weren't for the fact that they simply couldn't beat Nara Rangsuke.

Orochimaru had already stormed into the Hokage Building in Konoha to seek revenge!

To Orochimaru's utter surprise, he hadn't even been in the Land of Rice Fields for a few days, and had only just built a simple framework for his underground base, when these inexplicable "black and white people" came knocking on his door.

Orochimaru had no idea how this strange guy had come to him!

But their strength has been confirmed.

Orochimaru, having lost both hands, was no match for the combined power of Black Zetsu and White Zetsu.

The cautious Orochimaru initially wanted to flee at the first sign of trouble.

Where there is life, there is hope.

then.

Black Zetsu then presented a bargaining chip that was enough to stop Orochimaru from advancing—

White Zetsu!

An endless stream of White Zetsu!

A continuous stream of living White Zetsu!

Orochimaru was no stranger to strange creatures like the "White Zetsu".

On the contrary, he had also seen many White Zetsu at Danzo Shimura's base.