After a while, the laughter filled with mockery ceased.
Orochimaru said seriously, "Yuan, become my disciple."
Uchiha Yuan paused slightly at those words, then shook his head. "I'm sorry, Orochimaru, but I already have a teacher."
"Who?"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and said thoughtfully, "The one who taught you the Hatake Sword Style?"
"That's right. I didn't expect you to see through it."
"Although you have perfectly integrated the Hatake Sword Style into your Taijutsu—one could even say you have transcended its framework—I can still see traces of it in your every move."
Then, interest appeared in Orochimaru's eyes. "No one in the Hatake Clan seems to possess such sharp mastery of the blade. I'm very curious who your teacher is, Yuan. Can you tell me?"
"My teacher is Konoha's White Fang Hatake Sakumo."
Facing Orochimaru's question, Uchiha Yuan answered.
A flash of irritation crossed Orochimaru's eyes. He thought Uchiha Yuan was making a fool of him.
But when he saw Uchiha Yuan's eyes, the irritation that had just arisen swiftly faded.
He could tell from Uchiha Yuan's gaze that he was serious. He was not joking.
A faint glimmer shone in Orochimaru's snake-like eyes as he said, "Yuan, Sakumo died long ago. Can you tell me how a dead man became your teacher?"
"Because I can see the souls of the dead."
The moment Orochimaru heard Uchiha Yuan's words, his previously calm aura stirred for the first time.
For the first time, a stunned expression appeared on his face. After a moment of silence, interest returned to his eyes. "You can see the souls of the dead? Is that a special ability of your Sharingan?"
"I'm afraid I'll disappoint you, Orochimaru. My clan's bloodline limit has not awakened in me. I have not awakened the Sharingan."
Orochimaru frowned slightly.