Relying on his previous memory, Gento quickly found the location of Orochimaru's base.
That large boulder was still blocking the place just like last time.
As Gento was pondering how to get in, the stone suddenly moved on its own, slowly shifting aside to reveal the entrance to an underground passage.
He took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The passage still carried that strange smell.
Gento quickened his pace, passing through the stone chambers filled with glass containers soaking experimental subjects and piled high with equipment, heading straight for the innermost laboratory.
Orochimaru was indeed still there.
Wearing his white robe, he stood before the experiment table, fiddling with something in his hands.
"My place is quite lively today."
Without turning his head, Orochimaru spoke.
"Even you have come… Gento-kun."
Gento had no mind for small talk and spoke directly:
"Orochimaru, leave the Hidden Leaf immediately!"
"I just received intel, Hiruzen Sarutobi has decided to move against you tonight!"
Orochimaru's hands paused.
He slowly turned around, and for the first time, a change appeared on his previously calm face.
But within a few seconds, he regained his composure.
Without a word, he took out scroll after scroll of Sealing Scrolls and began packing at high speed:
Experimental data, reagent bottles, culture tanks–even the glass containers holding experimental subjects were not spared, all sealed one by one into the scrolls.
After finishing, Orochimaru called over his disciple, Anko.
Just as he was about to say something, his expression suddenly changed, and he sharply turned his head toward the exit.
"Not good!"
The moment his words fell, a thunderous explosion erupted from the other end of the passage.
Boom!
The shockwave of the explosion kicked up a massive cloud of dust.
Right after, Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice rang out through the dust:
"Orochimaru is inside! Follow me! Capture him alive!"
Hearing Hiruzen's voice from the other end, Gento's expression changed.
They came this fast!
He had no time to think. One hand grabbed Orochimaru, the other pulled Anko over, as he activated the Dojutsu of his left eye.
"Yomotsu!"
The space behind the three of them rippled in layers, and in the blink of an eye, their figures slowly sank into it and disappeared completely.
Almost at the same moment, Hiruzen led more than a dozen Anbu into the laboratory.
The torchlight illuminated the entire stone chamber brightly, yet it was empty; only a few cleared experiment tables and shattered glass scattered across the ground remained.
Hiruzen stood frozen, a trace of confusion flashing across his face.
"Where is Orochimaru?"
Just moments ago, he had still been hesitating whether, upon rushing in, he should strike to kill or spare his disciple's life.
Now, there was no need to choose at all.
Orochimaru had vanished into thin air!
Not only was he gone, but the experimental equipment, culture tanks, scrolls… almost everything that could be taken had been removed, leaving behind only a pile of useless junk.
What did that mean?
It meant Orochimaru had already known he was coming to capture him!
He had left with complete composure.
Hiruzen's expression darkened.
After a moment, biting down on his pipe, he ordered:
"The ninjutsu and experimental data in Orochimaru's possession are important assets of the Hidden Leaf. We absolutely cannot let him take them away!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping toward the passage.
"He can't have gone far yet! Pursue him immediately!
"And…"
He glanced at the messy laboratory.
"Bring everything that remains back to the Hidden Leaf."
...
Meanwhile, Gento, Orochimaru, and Anko had entered the Yomotsu space.
All around them was a gray haze, filled with floating, chaotic, and murky air.
The moment Orochimaru landed, his eyes sharpened.
He looked around at this strange space, his face full of excitement. He even reached out to grab the murky air drifting nearby, as if intending to grasp it and study it.
"This is… space-time ninjutsu!"
His voice carried undisguised excitement.
"And an independent space!"
As he spoke, he had already begun thinking about how to collect the "murky air" here, showing not the slightest fear after narrowly escaping death from the Third Hokage's encirclement.
Gento felt somewhat speechless watching this.
This dedication to research…
There really was no one else like him.
No wonder he could be a scientist.
"Orochimaru, we're not out of danger yet. Don't be careless."
After speaking, Gento once again activated the Dojutsu of his left eye, and the space rippled once more.
The three of them felt a blur before their eyes, and in the next instant, they had exited the Yomotsu space, landing beneath a large tree in the Forest of Death.
Orochimaru, who had been deeply engrossed in his research, was suddenly interrupted, and a trace of displeasure appeared on his face.
He turned his head, staring at Gento's eyes, his tone carrying a hint of probing curiosity:
"This should be the Dojutsu awakened from the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan, correct?"
Gento knew he couldn't hide it, so he nodded:
"That's right. But this Dojutsu can't transfer us very far; we're still within the Forest of Death."
Hearing this, Orochimaru did not rush to flee; he sighed in admiration:
"How marvelous… I've researched so many ninjutsu, yet in the end, I find that Kekkei Genkais are far more mysterious than any secret technique."
Gento did not follow up on that topic, instead speaking seriously:
"Orochimaru, from now on, I won't be providing you with Uchiha clan corpses anymore."
This was, of course, because the newly unlocked clan structure required the sacrifice of Sharingan.
Orochimaru, however, did not care in the slightest and waved his hand:
"It doesn't matter. The experimental subjects you provided before are already enough for me to uncover quite a few things."
He paused, then suddenly cast a meaningful glance at Gento:
"For example… overuse of the Sharingan leads to blindness."
Gento's heart skipped a beat, his pupils contracting slightly.
Orochimaru continued:
"My research shows that members of the Uchiha clan, whether their eyes are awakened or not, possess eyes that function somewhat like… containers, naturally storing a large amount of Yin-Attribute Chakra.
"And Yin-Attribute Chakra is closely tied to one's mental energy. Once an Uchiha experiences intense emotional stimulation, the brain secretes a special kind of energy that opens this container, awakening the Sharingan.
"The stronger the stimulation, the higher the level of awakening of the Sharingan."
After hearing this, Gento couldn't help but feel genuine admiration:
"Orochimaru, your research is quitecorrect."
It was exactly the same as what he had seen in the original story.
To reach this level with just a year of research was truly impressive.
Orochimaru continued:
"However, once the container is opened, it essentially begins to be consumed. Every time the Sharingan is used, the Yin-Attribute Chakra within the eyes is depleted a little.
"A normal Sharingan is manageable, but once the Mangekyo is awakened, those powerful Dojutsu consume it rapidly. When the Yin-Attribute Chakra within the eyes is exhausted, blindness naturally follows."
At this point, Orochimaru gave Gento's eyes a meaningful look.
Gento's heart trembled.
He suddenly thought of something and couldn't help but ask:
"There's a legend within the Uchiha clan: if a blind Mangekyo user replaces their eyes with those of their biological sibling, it can evolve into an Eternal Mangekyo that never goes blind. What's the principle behind that?"
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going! [Patreon.com/RedZTL]