Twilight Hermit Society

In an instant, Orochimaru was stunned.

The person holding a short blade to his neck was Hatake Sakumo, who had supposedly "committed suicide"!

"That's impossible!"

Orochimaru, known as the "Cold Lord," could no longer remain calm. A look of horror appeared on his face.

He had personally witnessed White Fang commit seppuku with a short blade in that room and had confirmed the body.

Yet someone who had supposedly "committed suicide" was now standing here, even threatening him with a short blade!

It was simply too absurd.

At that moment, Orochimaru would rather have believed he was dreaming.

"Anything is possible."

At that moment, Uchiha Sōgetsu spoke. His voice seemed to carry a certain magic that soothed Orochimaru's uneasy heart.

"No, you cannot be White Fang!" Orochimaru gritted his teeth, his pupils trembling slightly. "I saw White Fang kill himself with my own eyes and confirmed his body. I can also be certain that it was not genjutsu!"

"There are many definitions of death. Is the 'death' you are so certain of truly 'death'?"

Uchiha Sōgetsu gently raised a hand, signaling White Fang to release him. "White Fang truly is dead. However... it was only his physical body that died. What stands before you is his spiritual body."

"Could it... be a soul?!" A gleam burst from Orochimaru's eyes, his voice filled with excitement.

Though he had always conducted research into souls in secret, even after using hundreds of test subjects, he had never made even a bit of progress.

Yet now, a living example stood right before his eyes.

How could he not be tempted?

"A soul? Heh, that interpretation is not entirely correct, but it is not wrong either."

Uchiha Sōgetsu shook his head and did not explain further. "Now, I can answer your first question. I do not intend to interfere with your fate, nor do I intend to do anything to you. You appeared here solely because of the Master's choice, and you likewise have two choices."

Hearing this, Orochimaru immediately became wary. "What two choices?"

Deep within the heart, a faint voice told him that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. If he missed it... he would regret it for the rest of his life.

"The second choice is to become the Master's Agent."

Sōgetsu said calmly, "Then you will receive revelations of fate and gain that sliver of a chance to resist. You will no longer be a slave to fate."

"Didn't you just say that the enlightened are always happy?" Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, a teasing curve lifting at the corner of his mouth. "If I join you and become the Master's agent, I can resist my own fate?"

"Of course."

Beneath the Bone Cross, Uchiha Sōgetsu wore a devout expression. "When all things come to an end, The First Creator shall awaken from death. The kingdom envisioned by the Master shall descend upon the material world. The future proclaimed by the Master shall unfold and become reality."

"Interesting. I agree."

Orochimaru's eyes shifted as he smiled. "However, in exchange, I need you to teach me knowledge concerning souls."

He did not care in the slightest whether the so-called "Master" mentioned by the other party truly existed.

What truly mattered to him was the other party's research and knowledge regarding souls. That was the most precious thing.

"Well? My terms." Orochimaru stuck out his tongue and licked his lips like a cold, venomous snake, revealing a dangerous smile. "Of course, aside from joining you, I will also pay part of the price. For example... Konoha's Kekkei Genkai, the Scroll of Seals, the First Sage's cells. You should be interested in those, shouldn't you?"

Hiss... as expected of Orochimaru!

Hearing this, Uchiha Sōgetsu's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly concealed his stirred emotions with the "Soothing" skill.

It had to be said that Orochimaru's offer was indeed extremely tempting.

Leaving aside Konoha's Kekkei Genkai, the Scroll of Seals containing numerous forbidden techniques and the cells originating from the First Sage's Sage body were enough to make anyone drool.

But unfortunately... though those things were precious, they were not what he needed at present.

"The Master neither cares for nor needs them."

Uchiha Sōgetsu politely declined Orochimaru's proposal. Seemingly completely unconcerned by those enticing terms, he said calmly, "Orochimaru, perhaps in your eyes, those things are treasures. But in truth, they are worthless and meaningless. Put away your little schemes."

His heart hurt so much he could barely breathe.

But in order to maintain his lofty image, he had no choice but to refuse.

All Sōgetsu could do was comfort himself that there would be opportunities in the future. There was no need to obsess over every little thing right before him.

"Heh, fine." Orochimaru shrugged nonchalantly, not particularly bothered by the rejection. "Then can you tell me what kind of organization this is now?"

"The Twilight Hermit Society."

Sōgetsu's ethereal voice seemed to echo through the hall. "We have but one purpose: to intervene in history at critical [points in time], guide the Tide of the Era toward the direction we desire, and awaken The First Creator, who lies asleep in death."

White Fang, having lowered his short blade, silently moved to one side. He was quiet as a shadow.

"What a marvelous place. Is this where we will communicate from now on?"

Orochimaru surveyed the eerie Church of Bones, uncertain whether he was admiring its grand style or marveling at the piled-up bones. "I am starting to take an interest in you. Someone like you has no information whatsoever in the ninja world. Heh, how fascinating."

Those narrow, snake-like eyes stared fixedly at the figure beneath the Bone Cross, shrouded in mystery and mist.

Curious. He wanted to dissect him and take a look.

"Since you mentioned communication..."

A thought stirred in Sōgetsu's mind, and black mist surged through the entire Church of Bones like a tide.

Though he had never tried it before, since this place was constructed from dreams and the mind, he should be able to do it, right?

In an instant, a long bronze table appeared in the hall of the Church of Bones. Several high-backed chairs, all made of the same bronze material, were arranged along its sides and at either end.

White Fang and Orochimaru sat in the first row, facing one another near the upper seats closest to Sōgetsu.

"Sorry, Klein. I'm borrowing your idea." He felt somewhat guilty and defended himself inwardly. "We're both transmigrators. You should understand, right?"

"Such a real sensation..."

Reaching out to touch the bronze chair, Orochimaru felt the metal's distinctive chill, and his heart trembled slightly. "No doubt... this is not genjutsu."

As a master of ninjutsu, he naturally had studied genjutsu as well. Such realistic effects were absolutely not something genjutsu could achieve.

"Twilight Hermit Society, what secrets are you hiding?" Orochimaru pondered inwardly. The methods the mysterious man had displayed so far had already surpassed every kind of ninjutsu. "Perhaps this is my opportunity. I'll believe him for now... yes."