Orochimaru's body was severely damaged—under normal circumstances, a person would have died at least 800 times over from such injuries. However, due to his body's modifications, it had long since transcended the realm of a human physique.
With Kei's medical ninjutsu treatment, Orochimaru's natural regenerative abilities were fully activated. Dense layers of white scales emerged across his skin.
As his wounds rapidly healed, his entire body astonishingly transformed into a massive white phosphorous serpent, several meters long. This change was not just an illusion like a Transformation Jutsu—it was... A complete shift in physical form?
Did this guy really turn himself into a snake?!
Kei recalled Orochimaru's [Child of the White Snake], furrowing his brows as he questioned him.
"Hiss~ A serpent that has lived for countless years… aren't you even a little curious?" Orochimaru's snake body still lay limp on the ground.
The constant cellular division and regeneration had consumed an immense amount of life energy. Barely recovering from the brink of death, even with his modified body, he would remain in a weakened state for quite some time.
Kei nodded slightly. A monster that had lived for countless years was indeed an enticing subject for someone like Orochimaru, who pursued immortality. But perhaps, on some subconscious level, Kei had already accepted such things as normal.
He had never seriously considered studying those ancient beings—at most, he was just interested in their Sage Mode.
Orochimaru could easily tell from Kei's dismissive tone that he had no real interest in this matter. A glint flashed through Orochimaru's snake-like pupils as he probed,
"How did you obtain Wood Release?"
"Rather than simply getting an answer, isn't the process of discovery and research also a rare experience?" Kei obviously couldn't just say it was a cheat from the system.
Brushing off the question, he casually buried his wood dragon and wood human back into the earth, then cleaned up the flowers from the Advent of a World of Flowering Trees.
Finally, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring Orochimaru back to the underground research base.
From the scroll pouch of his uniform, Kei pulled out a palm-sized scroll. He casually undid the first seal.
A White Zetsu appeared before Orochimaru, like a plant awakening from dormancy.
White Zetsu stretched its limbs, moving its body slightly before taking in its surroundings.
The moment it spotted Kei, it visibly shuddered.
Its first instinct was to escape underground.
However, before it could even act, vines of Wood Release shot up from the ground, restraining it in place.
"A species capable of surviving in a storage seal through hibernation..." Despite his weakened state, Orochimaru—now in his white snake form—forced himself to approach White Zetsu.
Ignoring its frantic babbling, his sharp snake fangs sank directly into White Zetsu's neck.
A strange green liquid, completely different from human blood, burst into Orochimaru's mouth. It was teeming with life energy, yet utterly inhuman.
His serpent eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Be careful. This thing can escape underground, and it can also use Wood Release. If you kill it, let me know—I can always get you another one."
Since this was only their first collaboration, Kei wasn't about to hand over too many White Zetsus to Orochimaru at once. After all, while they weren't particularly powerful, they were incredibly troublesome to deal with.
Who knew if Orochimaru might have a sudden burst of inspiration and create some sort of disaster using White Zetsu?
After some thought, he spoke again. "How's your research on Edo Tensei going?"
"It's still unable to fully retain the deceased's power from when they were alive. The control is also flawed. The records in the Scroll of Seals lack critical information—The Second Hokage didn't leave behind the complete jutsu."
Orochimaru withdrew his fangs from White Zetsu's neck, his gaze fixed on the wound, intently observing its regeneration.
"Keep researching. We'll bring a few people back with Edo Tensei later." Kei wasn't surprised that Tobirama hadn't left behind the complete version of Edo Tensei.
After all, with his intelligence, it was impossible that he wouldn't have left some fail-safes.
"Oh? Is this the 'correct path' you mentioned before?"
"Not exactly. But have you never considered summoning Hashirama, Tobirama, and Madara for research?"
Kei casually sat down in a chair. In his view, using Edo Tensei purely for combat was a waste.
Hashirama might not have been particularly known for research, but a man who developed Wood Release to its peak couldn't possibly be ignorant of ninjutsu. Tobirama was a research fanatic—many of Konoha's forbidden jutsu were his creations. And then there was Madara, who single-handedly cultivated and transplanted Hashirama's cells, ultimately awakening the Rinnegan.
Imagine these three doing research alongside Orochimaru.
Even the Ōtsutsuki clan would shed tears at the sight! And on top of that, with just a single White Zetsu as the price, you could get a worker that didn't eat, drink, sleep, or even demand a salary!
It only costed a tiny bit of chakra per hundred kilometers? Where else could you find such a great deal?!
"You're a complete lunatic." Orochimaru finally shifted his gaze away from White Zetsu.
Bringing back the most knowledgeable past Kage and that legendary man for research—was that even a thought a normal person could have?
But that scene... A bizarre existence leading the previous generations in research, the possibility of true immortality, and a relatively fair cooperative dynamic... Perhaps working with Kei wasn't as bad as he had initially thought?
[Major advancement in the destiny line of a key character.]
[Progress of worldline has accelerated.]
- 2 gifting opportunity
- 1 trait upgrading (blue, random)
The system's notification sounded abruptly.
Kei raised an eyebrow, a smirk appearing on his lips. He had been wondering whether his influence on Orochimaru counted as altering his fate. After all, in the original story, this guy was always conducting research in the end anyway.
At most, he had just skipped the middle steps.
But to think it still counted! And damn, Orochimaru was a goldmine!
No need to kill him, no need to completely change his path—just pushing his fate forward and accelerating his progress was enough to earn such rich rewards.
Hmm... The reward wasn't as valuable as killing Madara early, but it was significantly better than dealing with Danzō.
He should really bow down to me! I just saved him from taking a detour for twenty years! Kei muttered internally.
He glanced at Orochimaru, who was completely oblivious to his thoughts and immediately turned away in disgust.
In the time he had zoned out...
This freak, Orochimaru, had practically licked White Zetsu all over with his snake tongue.
The scene, even a pervert would call him a pervert!
And that White Zetsu was just as bizarre. It was actually directing Orochimaru—a little to the left, a little to the right, up, down... Judging by its blissful expression, it was clearly enjoying this weird sensation.
For god's sake! Have some self-awareness! You're a test subject right now!
Who knows when you'll end up dissected, chopped into pieces, and scattered everywhere?
What's there to enjoy?!
"How about you send me to Ryūchi Cave first? You can take your time researching."
Kei really didn't want to stay here any longer. The longer he watched this scene, the more he felt like he was going blind.