Orochimaru looked toward Fuma Ichiro, who was surrounded by a group of researchers conducting tests. The covetousness in his eyes was hard to conceal.
For a moment, he felt as if he were under a spell. Unless he absorbed the divine technique within Fuma Ichiro, he felt as though he would die.
It took all his willpower to barely suppress this inexplicable urge, keeping himself from showing anything unusual in front of everyone.
Just as he was about to look away, Fuma Ichiro seemed to sense his gaze and looked over at him.
Their eyes met.
As Orochimaru quietly wondered what the other man was thinking, Fuma Ichiro grinned and gave him a strange smile.
What's he up to?
Orochimaru's heart tightened, and he hurriedly looked away.
He felt a little guilty, but he was also curious about why the other man had smiled at him.
Before long, everyone left the Wind Country.
Now that he had mastered the divine technique Claw Mark, Orochimaru slipped away from the Research Institute after they returned and headed to his underground laboratory overseas.
Seeing Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi hurried over. "Lord Orochimaru!"
Orochimaru asked, "How are the preparations?"
Kabuto pushed up his glasses. "Everything's ready. We can begin the ritual tomorrow!"
"Excellent!"
Orochimaru nodded in satisfaction.
To prepare for his ritual, Orochimaru had used his position as a senior figure at the Research Institute to arrange an assignment for Kabuto, temporarily removing him from the Institute's elite squad so he could devote himself entirely to preparing the ritual.
Kabuto had not let him down. In a very short time, he had prepared a second ritual, following the one involving Genyumaru.
Noticing the doubt in Orochimaru's eyes, Kabuto asked, "Lord Orochimaru, has something happened at the Research Institute?"
"Mm!"
Orochimaru nodded and told him about