They and the Profession of Genie Are at Odds

"An immortal? You mean the Shinigami."

After Orochimaru regained control of his body, his snake-like pupils locked onto the towering figure of the Shinigami.

Immortality was an alien concept in the ninja world. Aside from the tailed beasts, those creatures of pure chakra, he had never heard of any human or ninja achieving true immortality.

Yet, if what the Genie said was true, then it wasn't that the ninja world lacked immortals; it was simply that their form of existence was not what ordinary people imagined.

Orochimaru's emotions stirred. "Do you know the origins of the Shinigami?"

"I cannot be certain."

The Genie poked half his body out from behind Orochimaru's back. "Get closer to the Fourth, let me investigate further."

Hearing this, Orochimaru stopped hiding his tracks and leaped directly outside the crimson barrier, landing beside the onlookers, including Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Having faced a series of crises tonight, Hiruzen Sarutobi was on edge and barked, "Orochimaru, what are you doing here?"

Orochimaru had no heart to deal with his teacher at the moment. He pointed at the Fourth to signal his intent, then kept a cold face and remained silent, his attention entirely focused on the Genie.

The humanoid smoke on his back suddenly dissipated, morphing into a mass. A thin thread then extended from it, ignoring the obstruction of the barrier, and in the blink of an eye, it wrapped around the Shinigami's neck.

At the tip of the thread, a tiny, blurred face could vaguely be seen peeking about, yet the Shinigami remained completely unaware.

Orochimaru licked his lips, feeling a sense of wonder. What kind of existence is this Genie?

As the sealing of the Nine-Tails was completed, the Shinigami vanished from the spot, and the smoky thread formed by the Genie pierced into the void, extending toward an unknown dimension.

Orochimaru had expected this investigation to take a long time, but after only a few breaths, the smoky thread retracted and reformed into a humanoid shape on his back.

"Don't look at me like that." The Genie coughed lightly. "It was quick, but I learned what I needed to know on this trip."

Orochimaru was delighted. "You found the Shinigami's dwelling?"

"That's right, the Shinigami resides in the Land of Promised Spirits." The Genie arched a smoky brow and chuckled. "You shouldn't be a stranger to that place; it has another name: the Pure Land."

"Many great figures you wouldn't expect are still lingering in the Pure Land."

"If you can manage to master the Spirit Transformation Technique, you could also go to the Pure Land to explore. The environment there is highly beneficial to chakra-based soul bodies."

Hearing this, Orochimaru ignored the others present and turned to look at the Genie, who was chatting away on his back, his expression a mix of shock and suspicion.

The Pure Land—the destination of the dead and the resting place of spirits—was a consensus among all ninjas.

But from what the Genie expressed, it didn't seem to be that way at all. In his words, the Pure Land was more like a space with certain restrictions, but one that could be reached if one mastered the right methods.

Much like the three great holy lands of the summoning beasts.

Keeping the Spirit Transformation Technique and this matter in mind, Orochimaru asked about the Shinigami's origins again.

He was extremely curious about this immortal who resided in the Pure Land.

Even someone as powerful as the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, could not freely enter or exit the Pure Land after death without the vessel of the Impure World Reincarnation. Which era of powerhouse was this Shinigami from?

Facing Orochimaru's question, the Genie provided the answer: "The Shinigami has a unique bloodline; he is a descendant of the Otsutsuki clan."

Orochimaru frowned slightly. "The Otsutsuki clan?"

"Correct. Horns protruding from the head are the mark of this clan. They are visitors from beyond the heavens, and among them, the Sage of Six Paths founded the ninja sect, which led to the current ninja world."

The Genie figured that if he didn't explain it now, he would have to later, so he gave a rough summary of the history of aliens invading the ninja world.

"There are no pure-blooded Otsutsuki left in the ninja world now, but among their descendants, there are occasionally lucky individuals who experience 'atavism,' such as Kinkaku and Ginkaku, who caused the deaths of the Second Hokage and the Second Raikage."

"This Shinigami must also be an Otsutsuki who experienced atavism in some era, and his bloodline and strength are far greater than those of Kinkaku and Ginkaku."

Orochimaru smiled, his tone somewhat bitter. "So, the reason the Shinigami is the Shinigami is because of his bloodline? Just because he is a descendant of aliens?"

"That's right, the ninja world has always been this way." The Genie nodded. "But you need not belittle yourself; this is not something that can be overturned by individual effort alone."

In all fairness, the Otsutsuki clan represented a civilizational crushing blow to the ninja world—technology, power, bloodline... in every aspect. The ninja world had developed through war for a thousand years and still hadn't closed that gap.

Although many powerful individuals had emerged among ordinary ninjas, capable of rivaling descendants of the Otsutsuki like the Senju and Uchiha.

But rather than calling it the progress of the ninja world, it was more that these second-generation descendants were simply slacking off.

The future saviors, Sasuke and Naruto, would eventually sweep across the world once they reclaimed the power of their ancestors, leaving no rivals in the ninja world.

The Genie didn't like this story. The idea of being born destined or born noble went against the Genie's professional principles.

Orochimaru's expression shifted constantly. "So, you're telling me this because you want to suggest that instead of developing new ninjutsu, I should find a way to inherit the legacy the Otsutsuki left in the ninja world?"

"To be precise, seek development within that inheritance: take the essence, discard the dross, innovate, and develop new-generation ninjutsu with the unique characteristics of the ninja world."

The Genie gave a thumbs up. "I have high hopes for you."

While the two were chatting, the Fourth Hokage died completely, and the crimson barrier used to isolate the Nine-Tails shattered with a crash.

The Anbu ninjas, who had been waiting for a long time, hurried forward to check on the condition of the Fourth and his wife, confirming that both were dead.

In an instant, Hiruzen seemed to age many years.

"Waaah! Waaah!"

Little Naruto's crying continued, but not a single Anbu dared to step forward, as if they weren't facing a child, but some kind of unstable bomb with immense destructive power.

Hiruzen sighed and was about to step forward, but a figure was one step faster than him.

Orochimaru flashed forward, scooped the wailing baby Naruto into his arms in a football hold, and began to examine him with great interest.

In the story of the Genie, the Uzumaki Clan is the symbol of the Sage of Six Paths' Yang Release power; in other words, they possess a Sage Body similar to that of the Senju Clan.

Now, with the Yang half of the Nine-Tails sealed within the body of one of the few remaining members of the Uzumaki Clan in this ninja world, one cannot help but be curious about what changes the future will bring.

The Third Hokage's expression shifted, and he said coldly, "Orochimaru, what are you doing?"

The surrounding Anbu ninjas braced themselves as if facing a great enemy, cold sweat breaking out on their faces as their hands instinctively reached for the weapons at their waists.

"Old man, this child's parents are dead, and he has no one to rely on; it's quite pitiful."

Orochimaru's lips curled into a crooked smile, "I would like to raise this child, how about it?"

The moment the words left his mouth, the Third Hokage refused him flatly, "Orochimaru, you know that is absolutely impossible."

"Oh, then never mind."

Orochimaru did not press the issue; after soothing little Naruto as if petting a cat, he simply and cleanly handed him over to the Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage's expression softened, and the Anbu ninjas let out a sigh of relief.

"Old man, call Jiraiya back. Someone has their eyes on Konoha, and their eyes on the Jinchuriki."