The thick fog before dawn became Hinata's best cover.
Hovering above the treetops, her silvery-grey eyes pierced the Chakra-laden mist, mapping the entire base's three-dimensional layout, energy flow, and even the traps at key nodes—every detail etched clearly in her mind.
A frontal assault? That would be the dullest option.
She hadn't come merely to kill, but to acquire resources and, incidentally, to satisfy her curiosity about certain "specialties" of this world.
Her gaze locked onto the rear side of the base, the spot least likely to draw attention.
With a slight shift of her body, she glided silently to the vicinity of that entrance and slipped inside in a flash.
Inside, the base was dim, damp, and cold, reeking of formalin, blood, and a pungent mix of strange medicinal herbs.
The passageways had been carved from rough stone; luminescent green fluorite embedded in the walls added to the eerie atmosphere.
Hinata's Divine Sense spread like invisible tendrils, scouting every corridor, fork, hidden compartment, trap, and the positions of patrolling Otogakure ninja for several hundred meters ahead.
Her steps fell on the wet ground without the slightest sound; the white robe brushed through the air as gently as a breeze.
She first headed for the area with the strongest and most chaotic energy signature—almost certainly the labs and storerooms.
Along the way she passed several cells holding numb-faced, hollow-eyed test subjects—humans and a few bizarre creatures.
Hinata glanced over them; Orochimaru's human experiments were nothing new—an inevitable course for any "scientist".
A must-have on every scientist's menu.
Soon she reached a massive laboratory sealed by a heavy metal door.
Complex Seals covered the door; it required a specific Chakra key to open.
That was no obstacle for Hinata. She pressed her palm lightly against the lock, let her spiritual power seep in, and executed a dimensional curb-stomp.
Click.
A soft sound, and the heavy metal door slid open.
The lab was vast, filled with gruesome instruments.
Organs floating in nutrient fluid, living bodies connected to tubing, scrolls recording twisted data… and along one side, rows of tall storage racks holding sorted scrolls, storage Seals, and special containers.
Hinata's goal was clear; she swept her gaze over the items.
"Human-experiment data… useless."
"Cursed-Seal development notes… also useless."
"Various poison formulas… tsk, too crude."
She rummaged freely, as though strolling through her own back garden.
At last her eyes fixed on a box at the lab's deepest point—made of gloomwood and shielded by an individual barrier.
The box emitted an odd energy signature: dense Earth-nature transformation, potent life force, and a wisp of netherworld stillness mixed with Soul resentment.
"This is it."
She broke the barrier effortlessly and opened the chest. Inside lay several neatly arranged items.
Small earthen jars sealed with special Talismanic Incantations.
The jars were ice-cold, marked with cinnabar characters: "First", "Second", and so on.
Her Divine Sense probed in, clearly sensing the bound cell tissue of Hashirama and Tobirama—the key medium for Edo Tensei.
There were also several perfectly sealed glass vessels.
Inside, chunks of flesh exuded vast vitality; their unique cellular activity and form could only be the legendary Hashirama cells!
Beneath them lay ancient scrolls detailing the complete Edo Tensei formula, its principles, and Orochimaru's improvements.
Extensive data and conjectures on Hashirama-cell transplants accompanied them.
"Now these are interesting."
As an exemplary Konoha Ninja, she followed the principle of not taking a single needle or thread from the masses.
But Orochimaru wasn't one of the masses—he was a Rogue Ninja, so Hinata gladly helped herself.
With a wave she stowed the entire chest and its contents away.
She didn't leave immediately.
"Since I'm here, I might as well look around."
Her Divine Sense reached deeper into the base and soon locked onto another area of unusual energy—Orochimaru's private library or Forbidden Jutsu vault.
Repeating her method, she bypassed several well-hidden traps and slipped inside.
The room was smaller than the lab but lined with scroll racks, many exuding an ancient, dangerous aura.
Hinata skimmed quickly.
"Spirit Transformation… interesting, but flawed."
"Eight Branches… no thanks, something Itachi sealed while half-dead."
"Double Snake Suicide… a jutsu for mutual fools."
"Various Wind Release and Earth Release secrets… mediocre."
She shopped like a customer in a supermarket, picky and precise.
In the end she took only a handful of forbidden scrolls dealing with Souls, space, and the essence of energy.
The rest, in her eyes, were dregs.
While she browsed, her Divine Sense suddenly caught a violent surge of Chakra and furious roars from another part of the base.
It was Sasuke's voice.
Her senses snapped to focus. In a broad training ground, Uchiha Sasuke, his body wrapped in cursed-Seal patterns, was sparring with several Otogakure Jonin.
His eyes blazed with rage, frustration, and an intense hunger for power.
In an observation room above, Orochimaru lounged lazily in a chair, watching the fight with relish, his long tongue flicking over his lips, eyes gleaming with greedy satisfaction at the sight of a perfect vessel.
"Tsk… the potential of the Uchiha truly astonishing. Still, a bit more tempering is needed—let the flames of hatred burn hotter, let this body's adaptability to power reach its peak… then I can claim it for maximum value."
Orochimaru murmured, voice dripping with chilling anticipation.
Hearing him, understanding flashed in Hinata's eyes.
"Planning to fatten him before the slaughter? Very like you, Orochimaru. Hope you don't end up raising your own doom again."
She prepared to slip away; lingering was pointless.
Decision made, she left without delay.
Retracing her steps, she exited silently through the same hidden opening, leaving the gloomy snake-pit behind.
Outside, dawn was breaking and the fog had thinned.
The trip had been worthwhile: key research Materials obtained, plus confirmation of Orochimaru's plans and movements.
Her figure blurred into a streak of light, speeding toward Konoha and leaving the mountain-hidden lair far behind.
[Successful infiltration of Orochimaru's southern base. Obtained Edo Tensei key Materials, Hashirama-cell samples, forbidden scrolls, and other valuable items. points gained: 15,000!]
[Discovered Orochimaru's cultivation plan for Uchiha Sasuke. points gained: 1,000.]
[Current point balance: 85,050!]
A satisfied curve tugged at Hinata's lips.
Zero-cost shopping feels absolutely fantastic.
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