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"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Several ferocious venomous snakes suddenly shot out from Orochimaru's sleeves, carrying a foul, fishy stench, their mouths open as they lunged at the ninja on the eaves!
This was his most frequently used technique, swift and malicious.
However, that ninja did not dodge.
Just as the venomous snakes were about to bite him, another ninja appeared out of thin air, and both of them formed hand seals in unison.
Their movements were perfectly synchronized.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Boom!
A thick earth wall rose from the ground, precisely blocking the path of the snakes.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Several venomous snakes crashed into it fiercely, their heads splitting open, yet the earth wall showed no cracks.
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Jutsu!"
A third ninja followed closely, waving his hands, and several wind blades, solid as physical objects, shot through the air, slicing the stunned venomous snakes into a bloody pulp!
The entire process was fluid and seamless, their coordination flawless!
Orochimaru's heart sank!
This unit's tacit coordination meant they must have undergone incredibly rigorous training!
Failing in one strike, Orochimaru had no desire to linger in battle. His body twisted strangely, sliding along the ground toward the shadows on the west side!
"Soft Physique Modification!"
Once he entered the shadows, he had hundreds of ways to escape!
"Don't even think about it!"
Two dark figures erupted from the shadows in front of him, their short blades slashing out intersecting cold glints, sealing off all his escape routes!
Their movements were cold and precise, without unnecessary flourishes. Every strike aimed at a vital point!
Facing this attack, Orochimaru was forced to stop, his toes tapping the ground, his body rising as he attempted to breakthrough from the air.
However, as soon as he leaped, he felt a sudden tightening around his feet!
At some unknown point, several giant hands made of mud had burst from the earth, gripping his ankles tightly!
Underground, there was also an ambush!
A net of heaven and earth!
Orochimaru's expression finally changed completely!
From the moment he made his move until now, only a few short seconds had passed, and he had tried to breakthrough from different directions three times, but all had been intercepted!
These guards were like efficient killing machines. His every movement, every choice, seemed to be within their predictions!
Cornered, a hint of madness flashed in Orochimaru's eyes!
Since he couldn't escape, he would completely overturn this place!
"Summoning Jutsu!"
He bit his thumb, rapidly formed hand seals, preparing to summon his summoning beast!
Manda!
That tyrannical giant snake was enough to raze this magnificent daimyo manor to the ground!
He refused to believe that these guards could remain so composed in the face of a beast of that rank!
Just as his blood-stained hand was about to press onto the ground!
Shin, who had been observing from his original spot the entire time, finally frowned slightly.
"This won't do!" he said softly.
The next instant, he moved.
No one saw his movements clearly.
Only an afterimage flashed past.
Orochimaru's body suddenly stiffened!
A hand had stopped him.
The hand that stopped him didn't use much force, yet it instantly caused all his chakra to stagnate.
The summoning jutsu he was about to activate came to an abrupt halt.
His contractual link with Ryuchi Cave was forcibly severed by an incomprehensible, brutal force!
Orochimaru stiffly turned his head.
At some unknown point, Shin was already standing beside him, his face still bearing that smile.
"When you're a guest, behave yourself," Shin released his hand, his tone as calm as if he were lecturing an unruly child. "If you damage my courtyard, cleaning it up is quite troublesome."
Orochimaru staggered back, his face filled with disbelief!
It was as if Shin was a monster!
How was that possible?!
How did this man do it?
In a daze, a cold kunai once again pressed against his vital point, pulling him back to reality from his shock.
He had lost.
Looking at the unpredictable Orochimaru, Shin said with a smile, "Don't struggle!"
"You can't escape."
"You..." Orochimaru was about to speak.
Shin, however, gave him no chance to speak, continuing on his own.
"Let me guess why you're here."
"I killed Danzo, disbanded Root..."
"So, your funding chain is broken?"
"Perhaps also your research on the First Hokage's cells. Without Root's cover, you can't get your hands on them either?"
"And your immortality research, that can't proceed either, right?"
With each sentence Shin spoke, Orochimaru's pupils constricted a bit more.
By the end, Orochimaru's eyes held an unconcealed horror!
How could this man... know even such secrets that only he and Danzo knew?
"So, you set your sights on me," Shin spread his hands, his smile full of mockery. "You wanted to turn me into your puppet, to let you have whatever you desired?"
"Tsk tsk tsk!"
"Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin, reduced to using such despicable methods... truly unsightly!"
All his disguises and pride were stripped bare at this moment.
Orochimaru felt as if he had nowhere to hide in front of the other party.
For the first time, his sinister face showed a look of discomfiture. "What... what exactly do you want?"
"Very simple," Shin snapped his fingers. "I want you to work for me!"
Orochimaru paused, then sneered, his husky voice laced with sarcasm. "Work for you? What makes you think I'll submit?"
"Of course, it's what you need, and what I possess!"
Shin's smile remained unchanged.
"You want money, I can give it to you, wealth so vast you couldn't imagine it in a lifetime."
"You want experimental materials, including the First Hokage's cells, I can also give them to you, as much as you want, it's not a problem."
"Even... the immortality you dream of, I'm not unable to show you a path."
Shin looked directly at Orochimaru, his gaze deep, filled with the confidence of someone who saw through everything.
"As long as you obey!"
Orochimaru fell silent.
Money.
Experimental materials.
First Hokage's cells.
Immortality... every word this man spoke precisely targeted his deepest desires.
This made it impossible for him to refuse.
Nor did he have the right to refuse.
After a long while, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he spoke hoarsely. "What do you want me... to do?"
"Two things," Shin extended two fingers.
"First, develop a plague vaccine!"
Vaccine?
Orochimaru's mind went blank for a moment.
Shin ignored his astonishment and continued, "The southern plains suffered floods, submerging seven towns, with over a hundred thousand displaced."
"Now the floodwaters have receded, but a great plague always follows a great disaster. Signs of a plague have already appeared among the affected population."
"According to conventional medical methods, from isolation and diagnosis to developing an antidote, it's too slow."
"By the time the plague is controlled, at least thirty percent of the affected people will have died from it."
"I don't have that much time to wait, nor that many lives to waste."
Shin's gaze fell on Orochimaru, his eyes like he was scrutinizing a valuable tool.
"And you, Orochimaru, you are a genius in this field."
"I want you to resolve this matter in the shortest possible time."
Orochimaru understood.
Use his scientific research skills to solve an impending plague.
For him, it wasn't difficult.
However, he had never imagined that the forbidden jutsu he had spent his life researching would one day be used to save people.
It felt somewhat absurd.
"Alright," Orochimaru nodded, for him, this was a minor matter.
He was more concerned about the other thing.
"And the second?"
Shin's smile widened. "The second thing is, the current crop yields are too low."
"I need you, using your techniques, to increase the yield of all crops in the Land of Fire by at least double their current levels."
"..."
Orochimaru froze completely.
His golden slit pupils were now filled with bewilderment.
What had he heard?
Crops?
Yields?
He hadn't misheard, had he?
This man, having gone to such lengths, using absolute force to subdue him, promising him irresistible temptations.
The result... wasn't to have him assassinate foreign dignitaries.
It wasn't to have him overthrow some shinobi village.
Nor was it to have him develop some weapon of war.
Instead, it was to have him... farm?