Even Worse, It Was Orochimaru

Late at night.

Orochimaru remained in his laboratory, sorting through recent research materials alone.

"The power the First Hokage used to pacify the chaotic era... it truly becomes more fascinating by the day."

There had still been no progress regarding the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, but the failed experimental subjects had piqued his intense interest. "Just a few residual cells possess such astonishing vitality. It is simply unimaginable how terrifying that First Hokage must have been."

Setting down the materials in his hand, Orochimaru sat in his chair and planned to close his eyes for a brief rest.

Just as drowsiness began to creep in, his mind suddenly buzzed.

Then, that familiar hazy Black Mist surged toward him like a tide. Having experienced it once before, he was still somewhat nervous, but not flustered.

However, this did not seem to be a "gathering." Deep within the churning Black Mist, a figure suddenly appeared, seemingly condensed from radiance itself. Six wings of light stretched from its back, and it emanated an immeasurably ancient aura. Its eyes, as deep as stars, quietly gazed at his spiritual body.

Not a gathering?

Orochimaru was slightly startled. He had thought he would be pulled into that Church of Bones again, just like last time.

He was no fool. After a brief moment of thought, he roughly guessed the reason. "What a rare guest, Father Adam. I never expected you to appear before me personally. May I ask what matter requires my service?"

"I came to tell you some good news, Orochimaru."

Using Ritual Magic, Uchiha Sōgetsu appeared in the form of a dream, his resounding voice echoing through the darkness.

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Orochimaru's eyes lit up as his curiosity was instantly stirred.

Sōgetsu did not beat around the bush and said directly, "A piece of information concerning [immortality]."

Immortality?

Orochimaru's pupils trembled slightly. It was as if something had lodged in his throat; it wriggled, yet no sound came out.

It was not that he suspected Adam of deceiving him. After all, he had witnessed the other man's methods before. The news was simply too shocking, leaving him unable to recover for a long while.

A moment later, Orochimaru realized he had been rude and hurriedly apologized. "My apologies, Mr. Adam. I have been researching immortality for a very long time, yet have made no progress whatsoever. Hearing such news so suddenly has truly shocked me. I hope you can forgive me!"

"Understandable," Sōgetsu said indifferently.

"May I ask, Mr. Adam, what price must I pay?"

Orochimaru's gaze shifted as he suppressed the wild joy in his heart and forced himself to calm down.

Everything came at a price. He had understood that principle long ago.

But this was immortality!

The dream he had pursued for so long was now within arm's reach.

No matter the price, he had to obtain it!

"The price will be told to you later."

Sōgetsu deliberately held something back, then said to Orochimaru, "Five kilometers east of Konoha, you will find the answer you seek. A creature from the Mythical Era that has lived from thousands of years ago until now should be able to satisfy your requirements."

That was right. The immortal he spoke of was Black Zetsu.

Heh heh, after offending him, did that bastard think he could just run away?

That bastard Black Zetsu really thought this place was an inn, able to come and go whenever he pleased!

Sōgetsu wanted to see just how many lives Black Zetsu had, daring to stir up trouble on his turf.

"The Mythical Era? Lived for thousands of years?"

If Orochimaru had merely been somewhat shocked before, then now a raging storm had erupted within his heart.

The information revealed by that single short sentence was so immense that it nearly caused his brain to shut down.

Did Adam mean that the myths passed down throughout the Shinobi World might actually be true?

Orochimaru did not dare think any further. A chill ran through his entire body, and his thoughts became a tangled mess.

"If you do not go now, he will escape." Sōgetsu spoke, snapping Orochimaru awake, then said with an enigmatic smile, "After all, your friend does not seem very reliable. He probably cannot hold him off for long."

His friend?

Orochimaru froze for a moment before realizing. "You mean... Jiraiya?"

In all of Konoha, there were basically only two people he could call friends, and the only unreliable one was Jiraiya.

"Go."

Leaving behind those words, the godlike, dazzling figure faded away along with the Black Mist.

Returning to reality, Orochimaru abruptly opened his eyes. Deep in his purple eyes flashed an intense killing intent. "Someone from the Mythical Era thousands of years ago? Heh heh... this is becoming more and more interesting. I never expected the Shinobi World to hide so many secrets I never knew about."

At the same time, Black Zetsu, trapped in the forest outside Konoha, was suffering a brutal beating.

If Uchiha Fugaku had only made him feel somewhat troublesome, then Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin, was making Black Zetsu wish he were dead.

He casually unleashed ninjutsu from every major school, especially Earth Release and Fire Release, which completely countered him.

Yet what made Black Zetsu even more desperate was that Jiraiya was Mount Myōboku's disciple. Back then, it was that damned toad that had bewitched the Hagoromo brothers, betrayed Mother Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, and sealed her away.

"No, I cannot waste any more time." Black Zetsu decided to use the same trick again, dispersing his body to escape. "That damned toad from Mount Myōboku has the power of prophecy. If I remain in contact with Jiraiya for too long, my identity might be exposed!"

Bang!

Black Zetsu's body burst apart like splashing water, transforming into countless black droplets that shot in every direction.

"Trying to run?" Jiraiya crouched low against the ground, his lion-like long hair roots standing on end. "Ninjutsu: Needle Jizo!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

His soft hair instantly hardened like steel needles, whistling like a torrential downpour as it shot toward the scattered droplets.

Many black droplets were pierced through, letting out anguished screams, but a small number still managed to escape.

"Such a ninjutsu... I have never seen anything like it." Seeing that he could not catch up, Jiraiya simply stopped and muttered with a frown, "That guy feels strange. Not only is his ninjutsu odd, but his body structure is strange too. Looks like I need to find time to visit Mount Myōboku and ask the Great Toad Sage."

The price Black Zetsu paid to escape was nothing short of devastating.

Strictly speaking, he was not a living creature at all, merely a mass of Yin Release Chakra separated from Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's body.

But one unexpected incident after another tonight had inflicted grievous losses upon Black Zetsu. He had lost a full two-thirds of his "mass" and would need at least half a year to recover completely.

"Damn Uchiha Sōgetsu, remember this!"

Black Zetsu gritted his teeth. His current misery was entirely thanks to that Uchiha brat. "Heh heh, regret it, Uchiha Sōgetsu. Once I return, I will make you taste the most painful thing in this world. I will make you lose everything and suffer endlessly!"

Hisss, hisss, hisss.

Suddenly, the nearby bushes rustled, and several snakes slithered out.

As though they possessed Spirituality, the venomous snakes raised their upper bodies, fixed their scarlet vertical pupils on him, and flicked their tongues with chilling hisses.

"Just a few beasts, and you dare try to scare me?" Black Zetsu jumped in fright, but once he saw they were merely snakes, he immediately flew into a rage out of humiliation and tore them to pieces with a wave of his hand.

But then he sensed that something was wrong. "Why... are there snakes here?"

"Heh heh heh heh."

A sinister laugh drifted over, and Black Zetsu's entire body turned ice-cold.

No... no way, right?

He could not possibly be this unlucky, could he?

Turning his stiff head, Black Zetsu looked toward the source of the voice. Under the bright moonlight stood a handsome man in a white kimono, with long black hair, narrow eyes, and a cold, serpentine aura. His hands were tucked into his sleeves before his chest, a smile at the corner of the lips as he walked toward him.

Damn... it was Orochimaru!

Black Zetsu felt that he had probably offended the god of luck.

Otherwise, how could he possibly encounter two of the Legendary Sannin in a single day?

December 8th, sunny.

Cold, and I was late too. I lost twenty on scratch-offs yesterday. Hope I win today. Asked the editor: "Do you think I can become popular?" Reply: "Write properly and stop dreaming."