There was no dull expression or wandering gaze typical of other genjutsu victims.
Orochimaru, having fallen under 'Kotoamatsukami', showed no change in his facial expression. He still wore the look of surprise from hearing Shinji expose his secrets.
It was only the violent dilation and contraction of his pupils that indicated his mental instability.
Shinji, who was activating 'Kotoamatsukami', had a different kind of realization.
Because he wasn't sure if 'Kotoamatsukami' activated by a single eye could cause permanent influence on a ninja of Orochimaru's level, Shinji deliberately said those words before, trying to breach Orochimaru's mental defenses and shake his mind.
After all, Danzo's attempt to use 'Kotoamatsukami' on Mifune in the original timeline failed miserably.
And judging from the effect of 'Kotoamatsukami' activated by Danzo, it was also unsatisfactory, completely failing to match the title of 'Strongest Genjutsu' for 'Kotoamatsukami'.
But after personally activating 'Kotoamatsukami', Shinji discovered it wasn't that 'Kotoamatsukami' was weak, but entirely that Danzo, the user, was too incompetent.
Everything was unspoken. Using the power of 'Kotoamatsukami', Shinji directly modified Orochimaru's will, making him infinitely loyal to himself.
After completing the will modification, Shinji gently covered his eye, thinking: "Is this the pupil technique cooldown of 'Kotoamatsukami'..."
The pupil technique cooldown of 'Kotoamatsukami' was not due to insufficient pupil power, but a state of unresponsiveness.
It was like no matter how sufficient the pupil power was, one couldn't use 'Shinra Tensei' continuously without interval.
However, Shinji sensed it for a moment. The cooldown time of 'Kotoamatsukami' was not as long as ten-plus years. At least on him, it didn't need that long, roughly four or five years to complete cooldown and be used again.
Ending the sensing unhurriedly, Shinji looked at Orochimaru and asked in a casual tone: "Who instigated you to come to Konoha this time?"
Orochimaru smiled and said in a sarcastic tone: "That clown in the Akatsuki organization calling himself 'Madara Uchiha'!"
"Obito?" Muttering inwardly, Shinji asked again: "What is his purpose?"
Orochimaru replied: "To let me eliminate you! Probably your 'Takamagahara' made him feel threatened!"
"I see."
Shinji secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
What he worried about most was actually that Orochimaru was influenced by the Fear Hegemon's power infiltrated into the Ninja World and came to the village to test him.
Learning that the one instigating Orochimaru was not the Hegemon but Obito, he felt slightly relieved.
Retracting his thoughts, Shinji asked casually again: "How did you reach cooperation?"
The corner of Orochimaru's mouth raised, his expression returning to his usual wicked charm: "Because I found the real Madara Uchiha!"
"!?"
Shinji was stunned for a moment.
He really hadn't thought of this point, because in the original timeline, Yakushi Kabuto had enough time to collect corpses everywhere, but Orochimaru had barely escaped recently and was chased by the Ninja Village Alliance and the Akatsuki organization as soon as he escaped. Logically speaking, there shouldn't be time to find Madara Uchiha's corpse.
But on second thought, in the original timeline, Yakushi Kabuto found Madara Uchiha's corpse under Black Zetsu's guidance. Since Black Zetsu could guide Yakushi Kabuto, naturally he could also guide Orochimaru.
Thinking of this, Shinji couldn't help but sigh secretly: "It seems that to compete for the resurrected Ten-Tails, Black Zetsu has also started to lay out plans."
Seeing Shinji falling into thought, Orochimaru waited quietly for a while before reminding: "If the news of my failure spreads, that fake 'Madara Uchiha' should come looking. He masters a very tricky 'Space-Time Ninjutsu', need to handle carefully!"
"Mhm!"
Shinji nodded.
Between questions and answers, Shinji figured out Orochimaru's purpose in attacking Konoha this time and the instigator behind it.
The conversation between the two was very casual, like a superior and subordinate who had worked together for a long time and had a harmonious relationship.
Orochimaru even actively reminded Shinji to be careful of Obito's attack.
Shinji glanced at Orochimaru and saw no abnormality in his expression, as if the conversation just now was all matter-of-course.
"Is this 'Kotoamatsukami', directly modifying at the cognitive level, making people unable to detect even after falling under the genjutsu..."
He was secretly alarmed.
If he himself fell under 'Kotoamatsukami', he really wasn't sure if his pupil power could resist this kind of genjutsu that directly twisted cognition.
Shinji stood up and said: "I will give you a chance to escape. But after escaping, don't act rashly, wait for my order. Also, regarding Madara Uchiha, absolutely do not activate his 'Impure World Reincarnation' body without my order."
"Mhm!"
Orochimaru responded.
Shinji said no more and turned to leave the cell.
After confirming that Orochimaru's cognition had been twisted by 'Kotoamatsukami' and was completely loyal to him, Shinji decided to let Orochimaru leave.
Because Orochimaru in imprisonment meant nothing to him.
On the contrary, releasing Orochimaru might play an unexpected role in the future competition for the Ten-Tails.
Of course, Shinji wouldn't completely relax supervision over Orochimaru.
He not only linked Orochimaru with 'Magatama' himself, monitoring Orochimaru's every move, but also had Mumei mark Orochimaru with 'Yachihoko'.
As long as there was any abnormality with Orochimaru, he would discover it immediately.
Leaving the cell, Shinji summoned several teams of Anbu and ordered: "The interrogation of Orochimaru's group has made no progress. For safety reasons, you are responsible for escorting Orochimaru's group to the secret prison for strict guarding. No one is allowed to visit!"
"Yes!"
The Anbu nodded in unison.
Originally, heavy criminals like Orochimaru should be detained in the secret prison. Previously, it was only because Shinji was too assertive that they couldn't question it. Now that Shinji actively transferred Orochimaru's group, they naturally wouldn't have any objections.
Soon, Orochimaru, Yakushi Kabuto, Guren, Tayuya, and the heavily injured Jūgo were chained by chains inscribed with sealing formulas and left the Military Police Force Building under Anbu escort.
Standing in front of the building, Shinji watched the figures of Orochimaru's group gradually disappear into the night under Anbu escort.
Regarding controlling Orochimaru with 'Kotoamatsukami', Shinji was somewhat indecisive before.
Now it seemed indeed very necessary. Just the uncertain factor of Madara Uchiha was enough to consume one cooldown of 'Kotoamatsukami'.
Because Madara Uchiha was different from others, he possessed the ability to release the control of 'Impure World Reincarnation' himself. In the original timeline's Fourth Great Ninja War, rather than saying Yakushi Kabuto was controlling Madara Uchiha's 'Impure World Reincarnation' body to fight the Five Kage, it was more apt to say Madara Uchiha himself wanted to weigh the strength of this generation's Five Kage.
In addition, Orochimaru also mastered the 'Impure World Reincarnation' bodies of the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage, as well as several capable subordinates like Yakushi Kabuto.
It was equivalent to Shinji exchanging one cooldown of 'Kotoamatsukami' for at least five Kage-level combat forces...