Preparations Complete for Departure

Orochimaru's research base.

Jin tossed all three people killed in the attack onto the experiment table.

"Jin-kun, why did you bring these people back?"

Orochimaru watched Jin with great interest from the side.

"If you use them as experimental materials, Danzo won't let this go."

Although Root had now taken shape, not all the clans had approved of the way Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo had risen to power.

The effects of that still lingered to this day.

Only after Hiruzen Sarutobi had cultivated the three of them did he gradually win over the various clans. Danzo's Root, meanwhile, only had a handful of people. Those who joined were civilian ninja, along with clan ninja who lacked much talent.

Even these three counted as elites within Root.

Danzo would not allow them to be lost.

Still.

Orochimaru stroked his chin. Sending three Special Jonin after a single genin—Danzo truly was cautious.

He had once considered joining Root, but as his strength increased, that thought had gradually faded. Now that he had seen Root's elites, the idea was completely dead.

They were all weaklings he could crush beneath his feet whenever he wished.

Jin glanced at Orochimaru, unable to tell what the man was thinking.

Was he really the reckless type?

"The technique I created can absorb other people's Chakra, but I can't absorb the Chakra of these three at all. I want to see what's going on."

He had already used his Chakra-absorbing technique on the orange-haired man and the Aburame Clan member codenamed Ming.

The result had been the same for both. It had no effect whatsoever.

If that was the case, then not only would Steel Cutting Flash be crippled, but Six Paths Immortal Thief would lose more than half its usefulness as well.

But upon hearing Jin's words.

Orochimaru gave him a surprised look, as though he could not understand why Jin did not know.

Although Jin was puzzled by Orochimaru's reaction, the information within these bodies was more important.

Soon, as information about their physical condition was gathered.

Jin watched words gradually appear on the scroll in his hand.

He suddenly understood.

He finally knew what was going on.

"So it can be done like this."

No wonder Orochimaru had looked at him so strangely.

There were two seals within these three. One was the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal. Those it was placed upon could not reveal any secrets of the caster.

It did not affect Chakra absorption.

The one causing the problem.

Was the second seal.

All three had actually cultivated his Basic Inner Cultivation, and they were at the first level.

In theory, they should not have been able to use ninjutsu at this stage. After all, Chakra could not be expelled from the body, and that was why Jin could not absorb it.

Yet they should have been unable to use ninjutsu as well. Instead, these three used ninjutsu with ease, completely unaffected by that limitation.

That was why Jin had never considered Basic Inner Cultivation.

Now, looking at the contents on the scroll, he understood the situation.

"Imprint ninjutsu onto the surface of the body. When hand seals are formed and Chakra is mobilized, the imprint absorbs it and forcibly transforms it into ninjutsu."

That was how ninja tools were made in the ninja world.

"I really have nothing to say."

This was the only way to use ninjutsu at this stage.

But although this method did indeed allow one to use ninjutsu, every use would damage the body.

Many ninja tools were destroyed during use simply because their materials were not up to standard.

If it was done to a human body, the consequences would be even worse.

After enough uses, the entire person would be ruined.

"What a cruel method."

Trading away one's future for temporary access to ninjutsu was something he could never do.

Orochimaru seemed to have read Jin's thoughts.

"Those hidden beneath Konoha have no future to speak of."

A future?

As for Konoha's so-called Root, and Shimura Danzō, who could shoulder every bit of Konoha's darkness.

Jin snorted in disdain.

"Konoha's Root? More like parasites gnawing away at Konoha."

Orochimaru did not agree with Jin's description.

"Root has contributed greatly to the village's development."

After all, Root was made up of emotionless tools. Many of the village's most dangerous missions were carried out by Root's people.

The same went for all kinds of intelligence from outside the village. Root members risked their lives to send it back.

Although it was delivered to Shimura Danzō first.

It had also prevented dangers aimed at Konoha many times.

Besides.

Orochimaru knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi's glorious image existed only because Root had shouldered all of Hiruzen Sarutobi's darkness.

Even the Hashirama Cells experiments supposedly initiated by Hiruzen Sarutobi were carried out entirely by Root. The Anbu did not touch them at all.

Now all of Konoha believed that Danzo had bewitched Lord Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.

How laughable.

"Perhaps." Jin had no intention of continuing the discussion. He injected the people lying on the experiment table with a drug that would render them unconscious.

Only then did he ask Orochimaru.

"Lord Orochimaru, how should these people be dealt with?"

Orochimaru looked down at Jin's innocent smile. He looked just like a child who knew nothing of the world.

When he needed something, it was Lord Orochimaru. When he was upset or throwing a tantrum, it was simply Orochimaru.

How pragmatic.

A gentle smile appeared on his face.

He liked pragmatic children.

"From now on, call me Teacher Orochimaru."

He had already prepared strict training for Jin—at the very least, enough for him to survive on the battlefield.

That taijutsu Jin had displayed so brilliantly earlier might not have another opportunity to be used in the future.

"I'll handle them."

He would also take good care of Uchiha Jin.

Four months passed in the blink of an eye.

The snow on the ground had frozen into ice, becoming a plaything for many children. Naturally, there was no shortage of unlucky ones who slipped and fell on the slick surface.

As the temperature rose, the ice began to melt.

Many once-solid roads turned muddy.

Trees sprouting fresh buds gathered into a forest.

A youth dressed in black casual clothes stood in the woods. His shoulder-length hair obscured most of his ninja forehead protector, and a long blade hung at his waist.

He was naturally Uchiha Jin.

His expression was solemn. His eyes were closed, and his right hand rested on the hilt at his waist.

The next moment, countless Shuriken shot out from hidden corners of the forest.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The Shuriken collided in midair, changing direction once again.

They flew at Jin from every possible angle.

Jin swiftly leaped up, slipping through the gaps between the Shuriken.

But the incoming Shuriken collided in midair and changed direction again, rushing toward Jin.

Jin was still suspended in the air. The blade at his waist instantly left its sheath, and its gleam became an impenetrable web of steel that knocked every Shuriken away.

His body began to fall.

At that moment, countless Kunai flew at him from all directions, burning paper attached to their ends.

The faint crackling of burning paper told Jin what they were.

Explosive Tags.

Jin's mouth twitched.

Orochimaru really was rich.

He rapidly formed hand seals with one hand, took a deep breath, and forcefully exhaled.

"Wind Style! Great Breakthrough!"

A fierce gale blew away most of the Kunai, accompanied by a chain of "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"

But two Kunai approaching from tricky angles had already reached Jin. They were about to explode.

"Slash!"

A cold flash of steel swept out, instantly cutting the two Explosive Tags apart.

Only then did Jin land safely.

From beginning to end, he had never opened his eyes.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Orochimaru emerged from the forest, applauding.

"Jin-kun has become more and more outstanding. You can now be called a Special Jonin."

Only then did Jin open his eyes.

"Even so, I still can't be called a Jonin?"

The ninja world was accustomed to using rank to judge a ninja's strength. A Special Jonin merely meant one could fight a Jonin and hold them back, not that they had any chance of winning.

"Jin-kun, you underestimate Jonin too much."

Orochimaru smiled and shook his head.

"Every ninja rated as a Jonin has survived countless battles and possesses a technique they excel at. If you know the opponent's technique, then you may have a chance to win."

"For a ninja, intelligence is also an important part of strength. But under unknown circumstances, the strength a Jonin can unleash must not be underestimated."

What Uchiha Jin lacked compared to those Jonin was not raw strength. In terms of the ninjutsu he had mastered, many Jonin were not even his equal.

His taijutsu could also overwhelm them to a certain degree. As for Chakra, his age meant he could not compare at all.

But combat experience allowed those Jonin to use their strongest points against Uchiha Jin's weakest.

As long as the gap in raw strength was not too great, Uchiha Jin would inevitably lose against a Jonin.

"Looks like I still need to work harder."

Jin sheathed the blade in his hand.

Even now, he did not understand why this world liked to call blades swords.

The blade in his hand was Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword.

Jin rapidly formed hand seals, then pressed both hands against the ground.

Summoning Jutsu.

"Poof!"

A snow-white snake appeared. It looked somewhat dim-witted, and its beady eyes looked at Jin as it quickly slithered over, its tail wagging.

You're a cold-blooded animal! Don't act like a dog!

Orochimaru fell silent at the sight.

He had already had Jin sign a contract at Ryūchi Cave, but for some reason, Jin had chosen this most useless white snake.

Although he could summon other snakes as well, Orochimaru had never seen Jin summon any of them.

"Little White, the item."

Jin held out his hand.

Little White tilted its head and placed its own head on Jin's palm.

A vein visibly bulged on Jin's forehead.

"I mean the thing in your stomach!!"

Only then did Little White seem to understand. It opened its mouth wide and spat out a scroll.

Seeing such a foolish white snake, Orochimaru could not help but advise him.

"Jin-kun, how about changing to another one?"

"It's fine. I'll raise it properly."

Jin refused with an awkward but unfading smile. The main reason was that the others were all too ugly.

He truly did not want to use them.

"Teacher Orochimaru, this is a gift for you."

He handed the scroll in his hand to Orochimaru.

"Thank you for teaching me all this time."

"How thoughtful, Jin-kun."

Orochimaru took it, and a trace of his former warmth appeared in his smile.

"I just don't want to feel guilty when I take revenge on you later."

Jin replied with a smile.

These four months of torment! He would definitely!! Get revenge!!

"Heh heh." The corners of Orochimaru's mouth nearly curled up to his eyes.

What a strange person.

"Then I'll be waiting to see it."

Only then did he look at the scroll in his hand.

"Undying Seal Technique!"