Twilight Hermit Society

In an instant, Orochimaru was stunned.

The person holding a short sword to his neck was none other than Hatake Sakumo, who had already 'committed suicide'!

"This is impossible!"

Even Orochimaru, known as the 'Cold Lord', couldn't maintain his composure, his expression filled with horror.

He had personally witnessed White Fang commit seppuku with a short sword in the room and had confirmed his corpse.

Yet, this very person, who had 'committed suicide', now appeared before him and was even holding him hostage with a short sword!

It was utterly absurd.

In that moment, Orochimaru wished he were dreaming.

"Anything is possible."

At this moment, Uchiha Sōgetsu spoke, his voice carrying a certain magic that soothed Orochimaru's restless heart.

"No, you can't be White Fang!" Orochimaru gritted his teeth, his pupils trembling slightly. "I saw White Fang commit suicide with my own eyes, confirmed his corpse, and I can be sure it wasn't Genjutsu!"

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

Uchiha Sōgetsu gently raised his hand, signaling White Fang to release him. "White Fang is indeed dead, but... it is his physical body that has died. What stands before you is his Mind."

"Could it be... a soul?!" A spark ignited in Orochimaru's eyes, his voice filled with excitement.

He had been secretly researching the soul level, but despite consuming hundreds of test subjects, he had made no progress.

Now, a living example was right before his eyes.

How could he not be tempted?

"Soul? Heh, while that understanding isn't entirely correct, it's not wrong either."

Uchiha Sōgetsu shook his head without further explanation. "Now, I can answer your first question. I have no intention of interfering with your fate or doing anything to you. The reason you are here is due to 'The Master's' choice, and you also have two choices."

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

"The first choice is to treat all of this as a dream. You can tell others after you wake up, or keep it buried in your heart. Either is fine." Sōgetsu slowly paced back to the foot of the bone cross.

"And the second choice?" Orochimaru asked.

Deep down, a voice whispered that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and missing it would lead to lifelong regret.

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

Sōgetsu said calmly, "If you do, you will receive revelations of fate, a sliver of a chance to resist, and no longer be a slave to destiny."

"Didn't you just say that those who are enlightened are always happy?" Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, a playful smirk on his lips. "By joining you, becoming The Master's Agent, I can resist my fate?"

"Naturally."

Uchiha Sōgetsu stood at the foot of the bone cross, his demeanor devout. "When all is concluded, The First Creator will awaken from death. The kingdom The Master has envisioned will descend upon the material world, and the future The Master has proclaimed will unfold and become reality."

"Interesting, I agree."

Orochimaru's eyes darted around, and he chuckled, "However, in exchange, I require you to teach me knowledge about souls."

Whether the so-called 'Master' the other party spoke of was real or not, he didn't care at all.

What truly mattered to him was the research and knowledge in the realm of souls; that was the most precious thing.

"How about it? My terms." Orochimaru stuck out his tongue, licking his lips like a venomous serpent, a dangerous smile appearing. "Of course, besides joining you, I will also pay a price. For example... Konoha's Kekkei Genkai, the Scroll of Seals, the First Hokage's cells. You should be interested, right?"

Hiss. As expected of Orochimaru!

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Sōgetsu's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly suppressed his fluctuating emotions with his 'Soothing' skill.

He had to admit, the terms Orochimaru offered were indeed quite tempting.

Let alone Konoha's Kekkei Genkai, even the Scroll of Seals, which contained numerous forbidden jutsu, or the cells originating from the First Sage's body, were enough to make one's mouth water.

But it was a pity. Although these things were precious, they were not what he needed at the moment.

"'The Master' does not care about them, nor does he need them."

Uchiha Sōgetsu politely declined Orochimaru's offer, seemingly unfazed by the tempting conditions. "Orochimaru, perhaps in your eyes, those things are considered treasures, but in reality, they are worthless and meaningless. So, put away your little schemes."

He felt heartbroken, unable to breathe.

But to maintain his image, he had to refuse.

Sōgetsu could only comfort himself, thinking there would be opportunities later, and there was no need to fixate on the immediate gains.

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

"The Twilight Hermit Society."

Sōgetsu's ethereal voice seemed to echo through the hall. "Our Master's purpose is singular: to interfere with history at critical [time points], guide the tide of the era, and steer it in the direction we anticipate, awakening the one who lies in the slumber of death... The First Creator."

White Fang, who had put down his short sword, silently moved to the side, as silent as a shadow.

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

Orochimaru surveyed the bizarre Church of Bones, unsure if he was marveling at its grand style or the piled-up corpses. "I'm starting to get interested in you. Someone like you has no information in the Ninja World. Heh, how interesting."

His eyes, narrow like a serpent's, stared intently at the figure shrouded in mystery and mist beneath the bone cross.

Curious, I want to dissect it.

"Since you mentioned communication."

Sōgetsu's thoughts stirred, and throughout the Church of Bones, black mist surged like a tide.

Although he hadn't tried it before, since this place was constructed from dreams and minds, he figured it should be possible, right?

In an instant, a bronze long table appeared in the main hall of the Church of Bones, with several high-backed chairs arranged to its left, right, front, and back, all made of the same bronze material.

White Fang and Orochimaru were in the first row, seated opposite each other, in the upper position close to Sōgetsu.

"Sorry about this, Klein, I'm borrowing your idea." He muttered to himself, defending his actions, "We're all transmigrators, you should understand."

"A real touch."

Reaching out to touch the bronze chair, the unique cold sensation of metal made Orochimaru's heart tremble: "Undoubtedly. This is not genjutsu."

As a master of ninjutsu, he naturally had research into genjutsu, and such a realistic effect was absolutely impossible to achieve with genjutsu.

"Twilight Hermit Society, what secrets are you hiding?" Orochimaru pondered in his heart. The methods currently displayed by the mysterious person surpassed any form of ninjutsu. "Perhaps, this is my chance. I'll trust you for now, hmm."