Chapter 38 Orochimaru's Speculation
Feeling the power he had just absorbed, Yuto curled his lip. It was pathetically weak.
He lifted his hand and gave a casual wave toward the two stunned attackers, Dosu Kinuta and Zaku Abumi.
The Decapitating Airwave he had absorbed moments before was released again—this time amplified.
Boom!
A massive slash, tens of meters long, burst forth. It was less a wave and more a colossal blade strike.
The two Otogakure shinobi's eyes widened in terror. One thought came to both their minds: Run!
They turned and fled without hesitation.
A thunderous impact followed as the enormous strike carved a crater several meters deep into the spot where they had just stood.
Exchanging a glance, Dosu and Zaku felt their hearts tighten with fear.
But Yuto's expression never changed. He snapped his fingers lightly, and the sound-based jutsu he had absorbed was released as well.
Unlike the visible slash, the soundwave was imperceptible.
A sudden dizziness struck both shinobi. Blood spurted from their mouths before they collapsed unconscious, their bodies limp.
Yuto dropped lightly from the tree and strolled into Otogakure as though taking a leisurely walk.
His face carried a trace of mockery. He did not believe for a moment that such a commotion could go unheard.
—
In a dark underground chamber.
Orochimaru's serpent-like eyes stared at a fingernail-sized piece of flesh suspended in green liquid.
It was a remnant he had taken long ago, when Yuto was still dead—bitten off by one of his snakes.
Immortality.
For Orochimaru, those two words were an irresistible temptation.
He had witnessed it himself: Yuto, sealed away for decades, reviving even in the nothingness of another dimension.
The shock and ecstasy Orochimaru had felt in that moment were beyond description.
Compared to immortality, the Sharingan, even Senju Hashirama's cells, were worthless.
Even his vaunted Reanimation Jutsu was nothing but trash before the true kekkei genkai of eternal life.
So upon returning to Otogakure, Orochimaru had abandoned all other pursuits, devoting himself entirely to researching Yuto's cells.
In the study of cells, none could rival him. Even Hashirama's cells he had bent to his will—his confidence was unshakable.
Yet for the first time, doubt gnawed at him.
The more he probed, the more he found Yuto's cells indistinguishable from those of ordinary shinobi.
Impossible!
He could not accept such a conclusion.
"Am I pursuing the wrong path? Or are these cells simply too inert?"
His tongue slid across his lips, eyes narrowing with cold gleam.
After all, what he had obtained was taken when Yuto was still in death. They were dead cells.
Perhaps only living cells would yield the truth.
But the thought of confronting that legendary man made even Orochimaru's heart tremble slightly.
His gaze sharpened. Yuto had already been revived for some time, yet both the shinobi world and Kirigakure itself remained eerily calm, as though nothing had changed.
Such stillness could mean only two things.
Either Yuto's power had not yet returned—
Or he was planning something far greater.
If it was the latter, Orochimaru could only smile. The calmer the world, the smaller the space left for someone like him to thrive.
If it was the first case, Orochimaru licked his lips, a cold smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
A cautious voice sounded from behind him.
"Orochimaru-sama, that man has already entered Otogakure."
Remembering Yuto's terrifying aura, Tayuya trembled slightly as she spoke.
That was the man whose mere presence had once crushed the four of them so heavily they could not even raise their heads.
"I see. You four go meet him first… and bring Kimimaro to me."
Orochimaru let out a low laugh and turned his cold gaze on the four kneeling Sound Four.
Their hearts lurched, fear flashing in their eyes.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Orochimaru's smile lingered, but his tone was icy.
"No, Orochimaru-sama!"
A chill ran down their spines as they quickly responded.
Whether they lived or died against that man was uncertain. But if they disobeyed Orochimaru, death was immediate.
In the next instant, the Sound Four blurred into shadows and vanished.
Not long after, light footsteps approached from behind Orochimaru.
A boy with long, white hair tinged with black stepped forward. At the center of his forehead, two crimson markings gleamed.
"Orochimaru-sama!"
Kimimaro's eyes burned with fervent devotion as he looked at him.
"You're here. How is your body?"
The coldness on Orochimaru's face softened ever so slightly as he asked.
"My body is fine, Orochimaru-sama!"
Caught off guard by the question, Kimimaro hurriedly replied.
For Orochimaru, he was willing to give up everything—he who had already lost nearly everything else.
"Come. I'll take you to meet someone."
Orochimaru's tongue flicked over his lips, and he smiled faintly.
—
Outside.
Yuto walked into Otogakure, surveying his surroundings with a faint curl of his lip.
Compared to a great village like Kirigakure, Otogakure was beneath his notice.
"Orochimaru's labs are always underground. I wonder if one stomp of my foot would be enough to shake him out."
A light smile played across his lips as he muttered to himself.
"Oh? Since I'm already here, why bother hiding?"
Fixing his gaze on the ground before him, Yuto pressed his foot down.
Boom!
With a deafening roar, the earth ahead exploded.
Four figures shot up from the underground, looking disheveled.
Seeing their familiar faces, Yuto's smile widened. "Well now, you four again."
The Sound Four shuddered as one.
Among them, Sakon, faintly the leader, gritted his teeth. "Forgive us!"
As his words fell, dark, sinister chakra erupted from all four.
In an instant, they had entered Curse Mark Level Two.
(End of Chapter)
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