Orochimaru's Secrets

Zi Xu had been transported to this unfamiliar place and was just as bewildered. At a glance, he spotted the man staring at him. The man's skin was pale, his pupils were like a snake's, and a chilling aura surrounded him. He blended perfectly into this eerie, dark place, as if his presence here were the most fitting sight imaginable. For a moment, the scene was painfully awkward.

While the man watched him with a puzzled look, Zi Xu quickly surveyed his surroundings. The terrain here was typical karst, or perhaps more accurately, a cave. He seemed to be near the cave entrance, where stalactites and stalagmites of all shapes and sizes dotted the ground and ceiling.

Water still dripped from the stalactites above, pattering down and echoing through the cave. A number of snakes, their forms indistinct, slithered over the ground and stalagmites, making a rustling sound as they scraped against the stone. Their hissing tongues made Zi Xu's scalp tingle.

The man who had been observing Zi Xu finally moved. He folded his arms across his chest and spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.

"So my Summoning Technique isn't the problem. Then where did you come from? There are only so many ways to get to Ryūchi Cave. Once, some fool used that method to summon himself to Mount Myōboku. You must have used the Reverse Summoning Technique..." The man spoke unhurriedly, his voice cold and calm, like a researcher presenting a report.

The man had guessed how he'd gotten here in just a few words, making Zi Xu feel a little guilty. Still, he was ready to strike back at any moment. He had already dispelled his Shadow Clone, and his Chakra was now at one hundred percent. His Silent Fruit power had also returned to his main body. He was at full strength.

Even so, he didn't have a fifty percent chance of winning. No—a tenth, either. The man's mere presence exerted immense pressure on him. His gaze was like that of an ancient snake, and simply meeting his eyes made Zi Xu feel as though he were under tangible pressure.

"Red hair. Hmm, a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan. Your clothing style suggests you're from Konoha. There aren't many Uzumaki Clan members left in Konoha, so you were probably adopted by the village for one reason or another. You know the Summoning Technique, so you must have just graduated from the Ninja Academy..."

The man continued speaking unhurriedly, and his interest in Zi Xu grew. He stuck out his tongue, revealing a forked tip like a snake's.

He figured all that out with just a few glances...? His powers of observation are sharp. My chances in a head-on fight are slim. He's already pieced together quite a bit of information about me. At the very least, he knows I'm from the Uzumaki Clan, that I have a lot of Chakra, and that I learned Konoha's techniques. Though my strength doesn't lie in those things. I know nothing about him...

Zi Xu calmly analyzed the situation. He had to find a way to avoid a head-on fight. He already regretted giving in to the temptation to draw from the system and accept its mission, but now wasn't the time to dwell on that.

"That's right, I'm a Ninja from Konoha. I don't think killing me would be a wise decision. I wouldn't want to become the spark that sets off a war. The Third Hokage isn't someone you want to cross..."

"Oh? Trying to fish for information? That's rather interesting. It might help pass the time, at least. I don't mind telling you a few things..." The man seemed intrigued. He wanted to see this little fellow's faith crumble. Without further ado, he rested his chin on one hand and watched Zi Xu's expression with interest.

"Konoha won't stand up for an ordinary Genin. Even Hizashi Hyuga became a victim of internal politics back then. Think carefully: why would Konoha start a war for you? Hiruzen Sarutobi was younger then than he is now. Do you really think he couldn't have stopped it?"

"Hiruzen Sarutobi is a competent politician, and he's very good at scheming. Think about Konoha's history. The First and Second Hokage conquered the land and ended the Warring States era. The Fourth gave his life to save the village on the night of the Nine-Tails' attack. Which of those three Hokage didn't take part in a war? Which one didn't die protecting the village?"

"But Hiruzen Sarutobi never took part in a war during his time in office. He was there when the Fourth died, too, so why didn't he save him? Interesting, isn't it..." The man studied Zi Xu's face, and, as expected, saw disbelief and denial. Zi Xu played his part well, even responding in an indignant voice.

"Impossible! Hizashi Hyuga willingly gave his life to protect the village. It was his own decision. The Third Hokage is protecting Konoha in his own way. What would an outsider like you know!"

Zi Xu figured he deserved at least eighty out of a hundred for that performance. He'd almost convinced himself. He'd also managed to bait the man into revealing his identity.

The man didn't care about Zi Xu's little trick—or perhaps he simply didn't care about the tricks of someone he intended to turn into a test subject. He openly admitted who he was.

"Oh? I'm probably more familiar with Konoha than anyone else—at least, more familiar with it than Hiruzen Sarutobi. After all, I'm the student of the Third Hokage you so respect. Orochimaru..."

"Orochimaru? You're a Rogue Ninja who deserted the village. Why should I believe a word you say? How do I know you aren't lying to me?" Zi Xu stayed in character and went along with the question.

Orochimaru spread his hands. His voice remained calm, without the slightest hint of emotion.

"Believe what you like. I'm only stating the facts. What you make of them is up to you." He paused, recalled where he'd left off, then continued.

"I was indeed branded a Rogue Ninja. What reason did Konoha give for my defection? That I conducted inhumane experiments while researching forbidden techniques? That I envied Minato Namikaze for becoming the Fourth Hokage? Or that Hiruzen Sarutobi persecuted my parents to death? Heh. At least I respected the Fourth Hokage. He was worthy of the title. As for the human experiments I conducted while researching forbidden techniques..."

"Have you heard of the Root organization? It doesn't matter if you haven't. Back then, Danzo hinted, at Hiruzen Sarutobi's suggestion, that I should research forbidden techniques. When he saw that the results of my research were beyond his control, he promptly declared me a Rogue Ninja. One of those projects was a plan to transplant First Generation Cells, which Danzo and I researched together..." Orochimaru revealed one secret after another as if they cost him nothing. And he wasn't finished. After a short rest, he wore a reflective expression.

"Konoha once had four great clans: the Senju Clan, the Uchiha Clan, the Uzumaki Clan, and the Hyuga Clan. Now only the Hyuga Clan remains. You've probably heard that the Uchiha Clan was wiped out. But during Hiruzen Sarutobi's time in office, it wasn't just the Uchiha Clan that fell. Even the First Hokage's Senju Clan and the Uzumaki Clan, which the First Hokage's wife belonged to, were wiped out. Doesn't that strike you as odd? What do you think will happen to the Hyuga Clan next?"

Orochimaru's words were like those of the serpent that had tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. Each one lured Zi Xu toward the depths of depravity. If Zi Xu truly believed in Konoha's Will of Fire, he would have been devastated by now. Unfortunately, he didn't. He could only play along and look shocked. Much of that shock wasn't an act, though; he genuinely hadn't known some of the things Orochimaru had mentioned.

Orochimaru seemed satisfied when Zi Xu looked shocked and nodded. He enjoyed watching people who believed in the Will of Fire struggle when their faith crumbled.

"That's enough to keep us entertained for a while. The journey to Ryūchi Cave is rather long, so it's only natural to be a little tired. But because of your Reverse Summoning Technique, the Summoning Beast I meant to call seems to have gotten lost. Would you mind taking its place and scouting the area for me?"

Orochimaru spoke with perfect politeness. Even with a child, he showed none of an authority figure's arrogance. In his eyes, anyone could become a test subject, and who would feel much for a specimen? His politeness was the outward face of utter indifference.

Zi Xu thought, Here it comes. He tensed his muscles, ready to counterattack as soon as Orochimaru made a move.

"What do you want me to do? I won't do anything that amounts to a suicide mission. If that's what you have in mind, I'd rather fight you to the death. At least I could cause you some trouble and make you waste—"

Zi Xu seemed to notice something as he spoke. The muscles in his legs twitched, and the stone beneath his feet cracked under the force of his step. Chips of stone flew into the air as he appeared beside a stalactite in front of him, as if he'd teleported. This wasn't the Body Flicker Technique, but something more basic and purely physical: Taijutsu.

Orochimaru had attacked him while he was speaking. Zi Xu couldn't help thanking himself for the fights he'd had with those water snakes in his dream. They had made him highly sensitive to the movements of snakes. Several little snakes with exceptionally long bellies now occupied the spot where Zi Xu had just been standing. Looking closely, he could see that they had extended from beneath the hand Orochimaru had just used. It was deeply unsettling.

"Oh? Nice reflexes, and your physical abilities far surpass those of other Ninja your age. Interesting. You're a fascinating specimen, worth studying. The Uzumaki Clan and the Senju Clan are distantly related. Perhaps you could withstand the First Hokage's cells and master an even more complete Wood Release..." Orochimaru gave Zi Xu a dangerous smile. His tongue slipped out of his mouth as if he were sizing up a novel toy.

Zi Xu had caught a few key words from Orochimaru: First Generation Cells, Wood Release. It was hard not to think of Tenzo, but that could wait. He didn't want to be captured and dissected by the apparent research maniac before him. The priority was to take him down as quickly as possible.

Zi Xu struggled to dodge. Their combat experience was worlds apart. Orochimaru had been tested on the battlefield and mastered countless forbidden techniques. Zi Xu fought desperately to defend himself, but Orochimaru still found an opening.

When Orochimaru drew close, his neck suddenly stretched unnaturally. It shot toward Zi Xu, who couldn't react in time, like a boneless snake. Orochimaru opened his mouth, baring sharp fangs, and lunged for Zi Xu's neck...