The Beginning of War

Minamoto Takuya quickly flipped through the hard-won stack of scrolls in his hands.

The cold edges of the pages brushed across his fingertips, and he could clearly feel the weight of the forbidden knowledge they carried.

"Pleasure doing business."

He knew full well that Orochimaru had had no chance to prepare false materials amid that sudden interception.

As for the authenticity of the information, he had his own judgment—it was a viable line of research.

And that severed Eight-Tails horn, gleaming with a peculiar luster, bore immense vitality and a unique lingering chakra signature—the most impossible markers to forge.

On the other end, Orochimaru extended his pale, nimble fingers and carefully stroked the container holding the cells.

His distinctive snake eyes gleamed with barely restrained fervor and hunger, as if he could not wait to begin his research.

"Pleasure doing business," he said in a hoarse voice tinged with satisfied delight, the corners of his lips lifting almost imperceptibly.

These Jugo cells were enough to bring his Cursed Seal research into an entirely new stage.

Though being half-forced into this transaction had stirred a trace of cold resentment within him.

Once his fingertips truly felt the cells' power, however, that dissatisfaction was quickly replaced by the sense of gain. Paying a small price for these cells was worth it.

Minamoto Takuya's gaze swept over the surroundings. The land looked as though it had been struck by a meteor, a horrifying sight. Shattered earth and deep ravines silently displayed the terror of his Monster Strength.

Yet what concerned him more were the huge, twisted snake corpses sprawled across the ground. The traces left behind by these summoned creatures were unmistakably suggestive evidence.

After thinking for a moment, he steadily pressed one palm against the loose soil and stone.

In an instant,