Improved Cursed Mark

"Hehehe, Josuke-kun, you're almost making me emotional."

Orochimaru's snake-like eyes stared at Josuke, making him feel as if he'd fallen into an ice cave.

Josuke was gambling, gambling that Orochimaru would agree to his terms.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru was contemplating. It seemed Josuke, like Sasuke, was a suitable vessel for his future plans. Moreover, Josuke appeared even more talented than Sasuke. Thus, he could use the Body Replacement Technique.

After taking over Sasuke, he could then take over Josuke. Hehehe.

He felt like he was coming out ahead.

However, Josuke was still too young now. Perhaps when he was fifteen or sixteen, it might be possible.

Afterward...

Orochimaru chuckled.

"Alright, Josuke-kun, I've seen your sincerity, and I've decided to give you my sincerity as well."

With that said, Orochimaru's neck retracted and he bit down on Josuke's neck. A cursed mark, identical to Sasuke's cursed mark, appeared on Josuke's neck.

The speed was so fast that Josuke didn't see it coming. Damn it, Orochimaru, you're truly inhuman.

Josuke felt a surge of power, but it was accompanied by immense pain. The intense agony almost made him faint.

Orochimaru chuckled, looking at Josuke with satisfaction.

He muttered to himself, "It seems the improved cursed mark has been successfully developed."

However, after half a minute, the cursed mark on his neck disappeared. But Josuke could feel that the power of the cursed mark was still there.

Josuke said coldly, "What did you give me? Is it the same as Sasuke's?"

Orochimaru shook his head.

"Josuke-kun, you guessed wrong. I wouldn't give you something so low-grade. I've given you an improved cursed mark, which is far superior to the ordinary one, and its side effects are minimal.

It doesn't consume your life force like the regular cursed mark; it consumes your Blood Essence.

(Author's Note: Blood Essence is an invisible, intangible vital energy hidden within the human body. This vital energy is obtained through eating, growing, sleeping, exercising, etc. If it's depleted, one won't die, but they will feel weak. Blood Essence can also be replenished, and exercise is a method to increase one's Blood Essence capacity.)

It won't kill you. So, are you satisfied with this gift?"

Hearing Orochimaru's words, Josuke finally calmed down. So that's how it was. Josuke could now feel the powerful effect emanating from the hidden cursed mark on his neck.

"Then, does it have any other drawbacks or side effects?"

Josuke touched his neck, but found no trace of the cursed mark.

Orochimaru let out a cold laugh.

"You can't feel it. The improved cursed mark is hidden. As for side effects, your Blood Essence needs to be abundant. The drawback is that your Chakra reserves must reach the Chunin level by the age of twelve to be marked with the cursed mark.

So, I was actually gambling just now, gambling that Josuke-kun had reached the Chunin level. I didn't expect to win, hehehe.

Hearing this, Josuke broke out in a cold sweat. This mad scientist.

He was actually gambling. What if he didn't have the Chakra capacity of a Chunin? Wouldn't he have died then?

Damn it.

"I can't go with you right now," Josuke said.

Orochimaru stared at Josuke, as if asking, Since you've accepted my cursed mark, why aren't you coming with me?

Before Orochimaru could ask, Josuke explained, "It's not time yet. Give me three years. In three years, I will definitely go with you, okay?"

Three years?

Orochimaru pondered for a moment and then shook his head.

"Why?"

"During these three years, I still have some matters to attend to. I promised him." (He was actually bluffing.)

So that's how it is. There are still unbreakable bonds, just like myself. Konoha's gambling, women, and drugs... no, Konoha's Sannin.

Orochimaru nodded, seemingly accepting Josuke's explanation, and no longer lingered. He said, "Then it's three years. Come find me then."

Orochimaru threw out two scrolls.

One was a tracking scroll that could display Orochimaru's location, and the other was a Ninjutsu scroll containing two Fire Style Ninjutsu: Fire Style - Fire Dragon Bullet, and Fire Style - Great Dragon Fire Technique.

Holy crap, as expected of my Uncle Snake, he's generous with his gifts.

Orochimaru wasn't afraid that Josuke would hand this tracking scroll over to Konoha, because he was full of confidence now. If Konoha sent one, he'd kill one. If they sent a crowd, he'd kill them all.

If he couldn't defeat them, he could always use Impure World Reincarnation. He had nothing to fear.

After giving Josuke two scrolls, Orochimaru disappeared into the dense forest.

"Hoo."

Josuke let out a long sigh. He was a Rogue Ninja now.

He tidied his clothes slightly, ensuring the cursed mark was truly invisible, before Josuke left the area.

During the time Josuke was gone, just like in the original story.

The Sound Ninja trio saw that only Sakura from Team 7 had combat capability, so they got the idea of stealing Team 7's scroll.

And so, this incident occurred.

When Josuke arrived, Ino's Team Ten had come to provide support.

However, they were easily defeated by the Sound Ninja trio, and Choji was directly knocked to the ground, unable to move.

"Six Paths Dosu, pfft,"

Dosu sneered, "Looks like it's all falling into our laps! Kin, Zaku, let's take them down together!"

With that, he prepared to charge forward.

"I'd like to see who dares!"

The voice startled everyone present!

Shikamaru, Ino, and Sakura heard the familiar voice and rejoiced.

Josuke made a flashy entrance.

"Bang!"

As the smoke cleared, three shadow clones stood before the Sound Ninja.

Josuke, meanwhile, jumped down from a tree and walked to Ino's side.

"Sorry I'm late."

Ino's face flushed slightly. How could there be such a handsome person?

After confirming everyone present was unharmed, Josuke turned to face the trio.

"Did you hurt my friends?"

Six Paths Dosu hadn't yet realized the seriousness of the situation and said disdainfully, "So what if we did? What can you do to us?"

After speaking, he ran towards Josuke.

Josuke smiled, and three shuriken appeared in his hand, which he threw at Dosu.

Using the ground for leverage, he shot towards Dosu like a missile.

Dosu was shocked and quickly maneuvered to dodge the shuriken. When he looked back at Josuke, there was no sign of him.

"I'm behind you."

He spun around abruptly. Josuke had appeared behind him at some point. So fast!

Dosu didn't even have time to react before he was kicked flying by Josuke.

"Front Lotus!"

Green Chakra appeared on Josuke's body. He was most skilled at stomping on weaker opponents. He couldn't defeat Orochimaru, but these low-level opponents were a piece of cake, weren't they?

As Dosu flew away, he immediately used Water Style: Water Mist!

The surroundings were filled with mist, and his three waiting clones also moved at this time, using Fire Style: Flower Scattering Dance towards Kin and Zaku.

Although Kin and Zaku were in the mist, they couldn't miss the bright light of the fireballs. They quickly dodged in all directions, only to find that a wind wall had already been erected around them.

The two were shocked. When did this wind wall go up? Josuke had completed the ninjutsu release without them noticing.

This was precisely Wind Style: Wind Wall, which used high-pressure air to form a wall made of air. Once touched, the wind wall would scrape the body with strong airflow.

Facing the incoming Flower Scattering Dance, Kin and Zaku were in a panic