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Orochimaru froze on the spot.
His brain had completely crashed.
Farming?
This matter had been completely stripped from his world the moment he became a shinobi.
That was for those civilians who faced the yellow earth with their backs to the sky, struggling to survive for a few mouthfuls of grain.
And he was one of the legendary Sannin.
His hands were used for forming hand seals, for dissection, and for exploring the mysteries of life.
Now, this man actually wanted him to research how to increase crop yields?
This was more absurd than killing him directly.
A sense of absurdity rose, making Orochimaru wonder if he had misheard.
Or had he fallen into a genjutsu?
"I can do... more valuable things than this."
Orochimaru's voice was hoarse, as he tried to suppress his inner confusion, attempting to make his words more forceful.
"Assassination, war, intelligence... or, I can develop forbidden ninjutsu weapons for you that are capable of destroying a shinobi village."
"These are my true value."
In his inherent perception, the desires of those in power were nothing more than those.
Stronger military might, more wealth, broader territory.
Asking him to research crops was nothing more than wanting to extract more taxes through increased food production to satisfy a more extravagant life.
Weren't all nobles like this?
Extravagant, debauched, and insatiably greedy.
Looking at Orochimaru's face, which was filled with 'I don't understand, but I'm deeply shocked'.
Shin smiled.
"Do you think that I'm asking you to do these things just to extract more money from the farmers, like other nobles, so I can live a more luxurious life?"
Orochimaru didn't speak.
But his heart was absolutely certain.
Shin shook his head slightly, with a hint of pity in his eyes, as if looking at a primitive man.
"Shinobi are shinobi, you always see things so simply, so pathetically."
These words were like a slap across Orochimaru's face.
Yet, he couldn't refute them.
Because he truly couldn't understand what other reason, besides this, could make a daimyo pay attention to those mud-stained peasants in the fields.
Shin had no intention of giving him any ideological education.
Explaining what primary productivity is, what the foundation of people's livelihood is, to a scientific fanatic from a primitive society, was too demeaning.
The use for Orochimaru would certainly not be limited to this, but that would be for later.
He didn't need Orochimaru to understand.
He just needed Orochimaru to do it.
Shin's thoughts drifted for a moment.
He thought of his previous life.
He thought of the education that had been ingrained in him since childhood.
He thought of the heavy words in history books, and that world-shattering first cry of 'Long Live the People!'
If he had been an ordinary person in his previous life, he might only have thought about how to make himself and his family live better.
Even if he had transmigrated here, if he hadn't had the system, he would have chosen to blend in with the world.
But now, he was the daimyo of the Land of Fire, he had the system to assist him, and he had power unrivaled in the world.
If he couldn't transform the world according to his own thoughts, then what was the point of transmigrating?
It's often said that one's position determines one's perspective.
He didn't mind giving some care to the people at the bottom, while ensuring his own interests.
Now, the fate of hundreds of millions of people in the Land of Fire rested in his hands alone.
Of course, he could ignore them, he could treat civilians as livestock providing taxes, just like previous daimyo.
But he couldn't do it.
A truly powerful country should not be built on endless exploitation of the lower classes.
If even the people at the bottom couldn't fill their stomachs, a ruler was undoubtedly a failure.
Of course, he didn't need to explain these grand blueprints to Orochimaru.
Keeping his enemies and subordinates guessing was, in itself, a declaration of power.
"Aono."
Shin spoke faintly.
As his voice fell, a figure appeared by Shin's side without warning, kneeling on one knee, as if he had always been merged with the air of the place.
Orochimaru's pupils contracted once again!
When did this person... appear?!
His perception ability, honed through countless trials, had not detected any anomaly!
He had originally thought that the Shadow Guard who had besieged him earlier were the daimyo's most elite forces.
But now, another powerful individual, whom he couldn't perceive at all, had emerged!
Just how much power was still hidden within this daimyo manor?
Even if he had successfully broken through earlier, outside... Thinking of this, Orochimaru felt even more horrified.
"My lord." Aono lowered his head, his voice steady.
Shin pointed at Orochimaru and said, "From today onwards, this Orochimaru will be our Land of Fire's specially appointed chief researcher."
"Whatever experimental materials he needs, whatever funds he requires, whatever kind of personnel he desires, you will be fully responsible for allocating and fulfilling his requests as much as possible."
"Yes!"
Aono respectfully accepted the order and stood up, moving to the side.
Shin turned back to Orochimaru. "Once you complete the two tasks I've given you."
"You will get what you want."
"Now, you can follow him to choose your new laboratory."
After speaking, he waved his hand.
"You may leave."
Orochimaru gave Shin a deep look.
From the strength displayed by the other party, and his promise, he no longer wanted to leave.
Perhaps following such a person would be very interesting.
Thinking of this, Orochimaru's face immediately broke into a smile, his eyes filled with intense excitement and curiosity.
"Heh heh, as you command, my lord."
Led by Aono, Orochimaru turned and departed...
Inside the bedchamber.
The sweet incense in the censer had long since burned out.
Mei Terumi knelt before the soft couch, seemingly motionless, but her muscles were tightly tensed.
Humiliation? Anger?
These emotions had been forcibly suppressed to the deepest part of her heart the moment Shin disappeared and the three Shadow Guard appeared.
She was a shinobi!
She was a top elite of Kirigakure!
In any desperate situation, the first thing to consider was never emotion, but how to survive!
Her brain raced.
The three guards, whose chakra fluctuations were all at the jonin rank, had locked onto her in a triangular formation, leaving no blind spots.
Forcing a breakthrough had a very low chance of success.
Countless escape ninjutsu were simulated in her mind, only to be rejected one by one.
Just then, there was a commotion outside the hall!
The explosive roar of clashing ninjutsu, the hiss of poisonous snakes, the dull thud of earth walls rising!
Battle!
Someone outside was fighting the daimyo's guards!
Immediately after, a hoarse voice came through, faint, but still keenly captured!
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Mei Terumi's eyes tightened.
It was Orochimaru!
One of the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru!
How could he be here?!
Mei Terumi's eyes were full of shock, then turned into ecstasy.
Once a strong individual of Orochimaru's rank made a move, it would inevitably cause great chaos.
The daimyo manor's defensive forces would certainly all be drawn away!
That would be her best chance to escape!
However, her joy didn't last long.
The anticipated scene of roaring giant snakes didn't appear.
That powerful summoning jutsu chakra fluctuation simply vanished.
Then, everything fell silent.
A deathly silence.
Even Orochimaru's presence had completely disappeared.
It's over?
That quickly?
How long had it been? One of the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru... was he resolved just like that?
Instantly, a chill deeper than the one she felt when she was humiliated earlier surged into her heart.
For the first time, she truly felt the power possessed by this daimyo of the Land of Fire.
Even Orochimaru couldn't shake him in the slightest... what was her own strength worth?
Escape?
Where to escape?
Just as Mei Terumi fell into distress.
Creak!
The hall door was pushed open.
Shin's figure reappeared at the doorway.
The three Shadow Guard immediately retreated into the shadows, disappearing.
Only he and she remained in the entire bedchamber.
Shin walked step by step to the soft couch and sat back in his original position.
He picked up the list of materials, glanced at it, then casually threw it into the charcoal brazier at his feet.
The scroll caught fire instantly.
Watching the list slowly burn to ashes, Shin spoke, his voice gentle, yet with a hint of playfulness.
"My beauty, have you been waiting long?"
"Come, let's continue!"
His face still held the same infatuated expression as before.