Talking Ideals with Orochimaru (Please Bookmark and Recommend)

Without waiting for Orochimaru to answer, Gengetsu continued on his own, "The Senju Clan and the Uzumaki Clan are blood-related allies. According to legend, both are descendants of the Sage of Six Paths and inherited the power of his Sage Body. That is why most members of the Senju Clan and Uzumaki Clan possess powerful constitutions."

"The Senju Clan and Uzumaki Clan are indeed blood relatives, and they do possess powerful constitutions. However, the Sage of Six Paths is merely a legend!"

Orochimaru spread his hands. He did not believe in such ethereal legends. In fact, aside from him, perhaps the only ones in the Shinobi World who took those legends seriously were Madara Uchiha and the Ōtsutsuki Clan on the Moon.

"No, sometimes legends are not false!"

Gengetsu smiled. His still-youthful face carried an air of mystery at that moment, making Orochimaru take him a little more seriously. He smiled and said, "It seems Gengetsu-kun knows quite a few secrets unknown to others!"

"Actually, I would be quite willing to share those secrets with you, Lord Orochimaru. After all, carrying them alone is rather stressful!"

He truly was not saying that just to show off. If he had not possessed the Uzumaki Clan's constitution, he most likely would not have risked his life coming to Konoha. Instead, he would have found somewhere to lie low for the rest of his life.

"However, before sharing those secrets, I want to confirm one thing. That is... just how great is Lord Orochimaru's ambition?"

"Hmm?"

A dangerous gleam appeared in Orochimaru's eyes as he gave a sinister smile. "Gengetsu-kun, you underestimate me!"

"People are mostly ignorant, and life is too brief and unpredictable. Danzo, who covets you, is obsessed with the position of Hokage. Drowned by his own ambition, he cannot see the broader world beyond it. Jiraiya wanders everywhere in search of the Child of Prophecy, yet he does not realize that he himself is already being controlled by this so-called fate. Your teacher, Tsunade, became cowardly and lost herself because of the deaths of her family and lover. Then there is the revered Third Hokage... Hehe, old age truly is a terrifying enemy. Obsessed with so-called peace, even a former hero of the Shinobi World cannot overcome it. Hatake Sakumo's suicide was the price of his weakness..."

Orochimaru spread his arms. "And I have seen what they cannot see. What they pursue is all emptiness. I pursue the meaning of life itself, the truth of this world."

"To learn every ninjutsu, become the ultimate individual, and grasp the eternity of immortality... that is the breadth of my ambition!"

At that moment, Orochimaru was fervent and almost sacred. Gengetsu could not help being affected as well, and silently sighed, There really was a reason Kimimaro was so loyal to Orochimaru in the original story. It seems Orochimaru's Talk no Jutsu is no weaker than Naruto's!

"Gengetsu-kun, what do you think of such ambition?"

Orochimaru stared at Gengetsu.

Looking at Orochimaru, Gengetsu immediately understood what he meant and felt a little awkward. Orochimaru is waiting for me to follow him, but I can't do that! If I refuse, will he turn against me?

After weighing it over and over, Gengetsu said seriously, "'To learn every ninjutsu, become the ultimate individual, and grasp the eternity of immortality...' That is indeed an extraordinary ambition, worthy of admiration. It seems we share the same goal. You could say we are kindred spirits!"

"Kindred spirits..."

Orochimaru smiled, inexplicably feeling a sense of joy at being understood.

"Yes, kindred spirits!"

Gengetsu emphasized it, then continued, "The reason I came to Konoha in the first place was to survive. After becoming a ninja, my goal became growing stronger, at the very least gaining the strength to beat Danzo to death!"

"You are very candid!"

Orochimaru flicked out his tongue.

"I never lie!"

Gengetsu spoke with utter seriousness, then continued, "During my last mission, I nearly got taken out by Mist Ninja. Brother Minato arrived in time and saved me. In that moment, I experienced the terror of death and felt the fragility of life."

"From that moment onward, I swore to pursue longevity and eternity. Yet even someone as powerful as Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, or even the Sage of Six Paths, the ancestor of all ninja, could not escape the fate of physical aging and death. Such a goal is truly despairing."

"Moreover, nothing in this world is more painful than watching someone you cherish die before your very eyes. Lord Orochimaru, you have experienced it before. I am sure you understand that kind of pain, one even the passage of time cannot erase!"

Orochimaru fell silent. Sorrow surfaced on his face, and though it vanished in an instant, Gengetsu still caught it.

"Then what do you intend to do, Gengetsu-kun?"

Orochimaru asked, opening his palm.

Gengetsu took a deep breath and smiled. "It is very simple. I will forge a path toward longevity and eternity, just as the Sage of Six Paths founded the Ninshu Sect, so that those you cherish may walk forward alongside you!"

"What?"

Orochimaru cried out in surprise, revealing shock for the first time.

Gengetsu was quite satisfied to see Orochimaru so stunned. It really was not easy to fool Orochimaru, so he immediately continued, "As descendants of the Sage of Six Paths, the Uzumaki Clan has preserved many secrets unknown to the world. Of course, people regard them all as false legends. But I no longer think so, especially after hearing that Lord Jiraiya is cultivating Sage Art!"

"Sage Art?"

Orochimaru came back to his senses.

"That is right!"

Gengetsu nodded. "The Sage of Six Paths was called a Sage because he too cultivated Sage Art. Furthermore, the Sage of Six Paths' Sage Art came from Mount Myōboku. If I am not mistaken, the Great Toad Sage from Lord Jiraiya's prophecy is Gamamaru, the very toad who taught Sage Art to the Sage of Six Paths!"

"The Great Toad Sage has already lived for over a thousand years. Lord Orochimaru, you can directly verify that with Lord Jiraiya!"

"So that is it. Is this the secret you were talking about, Gengetsu-kun? It truly is astonishing!"

Orochimaru revealed an excited expression, as though he had discovered a new continent.

"No!"

Gengetsu shook his head. "That is not the secret I wish to tell you. What I wish to tell you is a secret concerning the Sage of Six Paths, concerning an immortal existence!"

"Hmm, where should I begin? Let us start with the Sage of Six Paths!"

Without giving Orochimaru time to think, Gengetsu continued, "The Sage of Six Paths was named Hagoromo Otsutsuki. He possessed the legendary Sage Body and Sage Eyes. His two sons, Indra and Asura, inherited the Sage Eyes and Sage Body respectively. The Uzumaki Clan and Senju Clan both descended from Asura. As for Indra's line, which inherited the Sage Eyes, Lord Orochimaru should not be unfamiliar with it either!"

"The Sharingan!"

Orochimaru could not help extending his tongue.

Gengetsu nodded and continued, "The Sage of Six Paths founded the Ninshu Sect, and ninja were thus born. However, Chakra did not originate from him, but from the Sage of Six Paths' mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki—an immortal existence!"

"Kaguya Otsutsuki, an immortal existence... Hehe, what a captivating story!"

Orochimaru was only half-convinced.

Gengetsu did not mind and continued, "Kaguya Otsutsuki possessed incomparable power and was known as the Rabbit Goddess. She was the ancestor of Chakra and once gave birth to two children. Her eldest son was Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths, who inherited her Sharingan. Her younger son was Hamura Otsutsuki, who inherited her Byakugan!"

"The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan..."

Light flickered in Orochimaru's eyes.

"For some unknown reason, Kaguya Otsutsuki came to stand against her own two children. A great battle broke out, and in the end, the Sage of Six Paths, who had obtained the inheritance of Sage Art, and his younger brother Hamura Otsutsuki sealed away their own mother!"

As he spoke, Gengetsu could not help feeling a trace of mischievous delight. Looking at Orochimaru, he said, "Lord Orochimaru, perhaps the Sage of Six Paths' spirit is watching us right now!"

Orochimaru was not frightened in the slightest. Instead, he said, "Gengetsu-kun, what do you want from me?"