Orochimaru Takes a Beating Early

"How do you like it? Are you satisfied with my gift?"

Natsume remained as casual as ever. He picked up his teacup and gulped it down.

After all, he was a Wood Clone. There was no reason for him to panic.

Orochimaru's gaze sharpened.

He was confident that no one had noticed him abducting Yamato last night.

At most, Shimura Danzō had only discovered Yamato's disappearance afterward.

But how had Natsume known that he had succeeded?

What if he had failed to find Yamato last night? Wouldn't he have made a wasted trip tonight?

Yet Natsume's certainty clearly showed that he already knew.

Orochimaru concluded that a Mysterious Person organization stood behind Natsume, one with extremely powerful intelligence-gathering capabilities.

"I'm indeed very satisfied."

He said coldly, "If not for you, I would still be kept in the dark by Shimura Danzō."

As a scientist, Yamato was extremely important to him.

Only after achieving a breakthrough could he continue his research.

He had already given up on Wood Style, but now that was impossible.

He even planned to suspend his research into Living Corpse Reincarnation for the time being.

"You don't need to thank me."

Natsume revealed a warm, sunny smile and said, "It looks like our transaction can proceed normally."

"How many Hashirama Cells do you want?"

After a brief silence, Orochimaru said, "Hashirama Cells are limited. If you want too many, they'll be difficult for me to obtain as well."

Natsume raised an eyebrow.

Don't think I don't know. You even robbed the graves of Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and the others.

"Nine people's worth of Hashirama Cells will do."

Natsume tapped the tabletop and said, "Besides that, I also want your experimental data."

Orochimaru nodded expressionlessly.

He wasn't surprised.

Since the other party wanted Hashirama Cells, he naturally intended to transplant them.

In the current Shinobi World, he was the undisputed authority on this technology.

"I want the data on perfectly transplanting Hashirama Cells."

Natsume added, "Not your current technology."

Orochimaru had used so many test subjects, but only Yamato had survived.

The mortality rate was frighteningly high.

As for Shimura Danzō, he had only transplanted them into an arm, which was completely different from Yamato's transplantation.

Orochimaru became vigilant again.

This Mysterious Person knew far too much about the Wood Style experiments.

How had he found out?

"No problem."

Orochimaru agreed.

The data was in his hands, so he could modify it however he pleased.

If he really wanted to cheat Natsume, it would be a simple matter.

Unless Natsume found a sufficiently outstanding Medical Ninja.

Someone on the level of Tsunade, for example.

But was that possible?

There was only one Tsunade in the entire Shinobi World.

And she would never associate herself with someone so mysterious.

"Can you tell me what the other secret is now?"

Orochimaru licked his lips, somewhat impatient.

Even Yamato had been called a minor secret. He was looking forward to learning what this so-called major secret was.

"Ordinarily, I should tell you after receiving the Hashirama Cells."

Natsume spoke calmly and unhurriedly. "But I'm not afraid that you'll go back on your word."

Orochimaru's expression turned solemn.

That powerful confidence surprised him somewhat.

But after thinking it over, this really was consistent with the Mysterious Person's style.

"What do you think of Hashirama Senju's strength?" Natsume asked.

"Extremely strong." Although puzzled, Orochimaru answered honestly.

He had read through the books Konoha had left behind. They contained a fairly detailed introduction to Hashirama Senju.

His strength could be seen between the lines.

Orochimaru believed that Hashirama Senju far surpassed the so-called Five Kage. Otherwise, he could not have ended the era of chaos, much less captured the Tailed Beasts.

He had seen the Nine-Tails.

Without special methods, defeating it was difficult enough, let alone capturing it.

"What about Madara Uchiha, who was as famous as Hashirama Senju?" Natsume asked again.

"He shouldn't be any weaker." Orochimaru thought for a moment before answering.

Although the books mentioned Madara Uchiha less often, everyone knew about his battle with Hashirama Senju at the Valley of the End.

Their battle had split the earth apart and created a valley in the flesh.

Even if Madara Uchiha was weaker, he could not have been much weaker than Hashirama Senju.

"What was the source of Madara Uchiha's strength?" Natsume asked.

"The Sharingan." Orochimaru grew increasingly puzzled.

What did this question have to do with the so-called secret?

"What do you think of Fugaku Uchiha's strength?"

"He's decent."

Orochimaru commented, "The Three Tomoe Sharingan is indeed impressive, but it only makes him stronger than an ordinary elite jōnin."

"Don't you think there's a problem?"

Natsume countered, "They both have the Sharingan, so why is Madara Uchiha so strong?"

Orochimaru suddenly froze.

That was right.

In terms of strength, Madara Uchiha could practically defeat ten Fugaku Uchihas at once.

Why?

He also thought of the Nine-Tails, which seemed to have been controlled by the Sharingan.

Could the Three Tomoe Sharingan really control a Tailed Beast?

"Are you saying that there's an even stronger Sharingan above the Three Tomoe Sharingan?"

Orochimaru was extremely intelligent, and he reacted quickly. He immediately thought of the correct answer.

"That's right."

Natsume nodded and said, "Above the Three Tomoe Sharingan, there is the Mangekyō Sharingan."

"The Mangekyō Sharingan?"

Orochimaru repeated the words several times.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō knew of the Mangekyō Sharingan's existence because of Tobirama Senju.

Only after Shisui Uchiha self-destructed did they understand just how terrifying it was.

In turn, Shimura Danzō ambushed Shisui Uchiha and obtained his Mangekyō Sharingan.

"How powerful is it?" Orochimaru asked.

From those few words alone, it was difficult for him to understand the Mangekyō Sharingan's power.

"Want to try it?" Natsume countered.

"Someone in the Uchiha Clan has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

Orochimaru's eyes lit up. He was already thinking about how to seize the eye.

Seeing his expression, as though he had never suffered a beating before, Natsume could not help but smile.

Clearly, Orochimaru believed that even if the Mangekyō Sharingan was powerful, it still had its limits.

"That's right. His name is Shisui Uchiha."

"It's him?"

Orochimaru's face filled with surprise.

Shisui Uchiha had distinguished himself during the Third Shinobi World War, so Orochimaru naturally knew of him.

He simply hadn't expected Shisui to have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Here's a piece of advice: make preparations to protect your life, or you might end up in trouble."

Natsume's words displeased Orochimaru.

Ever since he had earned the title of Sannin, few ninja had been able to make him take things seriously.

Natsume's meaning was that not only could he not defeat Shisui Uchiha, but he might also get himself killed if he wasn't careful.

He didn't believe it.

Natsume said nothing more.

With Orochimaru's methods of preserving his life, he probably wouldn't die.

Besides, if Shisui Uchiha knew that his attacker was Orochimaru, he wouldn't kill him outright.

As for Natsume himself, there was even less reason for him to worry.

The Mangekyō Sharingan was simply too outrageous. If Shisui Uchiha used Kotoamatsukami, Orochimaru probably had no means of resisting it.

"Then we'll meet again next time."

Natsume smiled and dispelled the Wood Clone. "I hope you'll have the Hashirama Cells ready by then."

Orochimaru watched him leave, then immediately sent people to investigate Shisui Uchiha's whereabouts.

The next day.

He tracked down Shisui Uchiha, and the two of them immediately engaged in a fierce battle.

Meanwhile.

Natsume was attending class at the Ninja Academy when he suddenly received a reminder from the Sacred Ring of Destiny.

Because of your actions, Orochimaru's fate has changed. You have obtained fifty-eight Destiny Points.

Because of your actions, Shisui Uchiha's fate has changed. You have obtained nineteen Destiny Points.