You've picked a fight with death, Orochimaru

"Ahhhhhhh!"

After tormenting Orochimaru for several hours, Uchiha Chen removed the gag, and Orochimaru could finally speak.

"How much time has passed?"

Feeling as though he'd been cut to pieces countless times, Orochimaru looked up at the red moon and asked weakly.

Uchiha Chen plunged the long knife in his hand into Orochimaru's side. At his muffled groan, he raised an eyebrow and said:

"About four or five hours? Don't worry about that, Mr. Orochimaru. Less than a second has probably passed in the outside world, so I have plenty of time to set your personality straight."

A hint of surprise appeared on Orochimaru's numb face, and his eyes were full of fear.

This couldn't go on.

The injuries inflicted in the genjutsu wouldn't affect his physical body, but if his mind continued to be tormented like this, it might well break.

"Chen, I know I was wrong!"

Orochimaru gazed at Uchiha Chen, his eyes utterly sincere.

When you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head.

"What were you wrong about? You don't even know what you did wrong, Snake. That apology isn't sincere!"

Uchiha Chen stabbed Orochimaru in the chest again, then made as if to put the gag back on him.

"Combined Ninjutsu: Earth Dragon Flame Flow. A combined earth-and-fire technique. It uses Earth Dragon Bullet together with the Great Fireball Technique. The key is in the nature transformation..."

A glint flashed in Orochimaru's eyes as he immediately began reciting the method for mastering Earth Dragon Flame Flow.

Uchiha Chen's knife came to a stop.

Orochimaru let out a breath of relief and continued explaining various ninjutsu and secret techniques.

Time spent learning always passed so quickly. In the blink of an eye, seventy-two hours had gone by.

A flash of red crossed Uchiha Chen's eyes. He cast Tsukuyomi again, extending the time by another seventy-two hours.

Again.

Again.

Using Tsukuyomi to attack someone with genjutsu was such a waste.

The right way to use it was for studying. You could learn for three whole days without eating or sleeping in just one second. It was a godsend for workaholics!

After extending the time over and over for more than ten rounds, Uchiha Chen had squeezed hundreds of ninjutsu and secret techniques, along with a wealth of knowledge, out of Orochimaru. At last, he smiled with satisfaction.

He was starting to run out of steam, too.

Orochimaru still hadn't taught him everything he knew. He'd covered only ordinary ninjutsu and secret techniques, rarely mentioning the forbidden techniques he'd mastered.

Of course, Uchiha Chen didn't dare learn the forbidden techniques Orochimaru taught him.

He could still understand the principles behind ordinary ninjutsu, and Orochimaru wouldn't dare try to fool him. But if Orochimaru changed even one detail in a forbidden technique, it could lead him completely astray.

"Snake, after more than a month of repentance, I think you've realized your mistakes."

Uchiha Chen looked at Orochimaru's faint, listless spirit and decided to squeeze a little more out of him.

"But you've hurt my tender young heart so badly. Don't you think you owe me some compensation? Besides, you wouldn't want anyone else to find out about this, would you?"

"I'm a rogue ninja. What have I got to be afraid of?"

Orochimaru put on a tough front to keep Uchiha Chen from asking for too much, then softened his tone.

"But it's only right that I give you a little compensation, Chen."

Orochimaru's sharp fangs glinted in the sunlight filtering through the treetops. They were less than twenty centimeters from Uchiha Chen's shoulder, yet seemed to be a distance he could never cross.

After remaining motionless in a strange pose among the trees for more than ten seconds, Orochimaru suddenly cried out in pain and sat down on the ground, utterly forgetting to keep up appearances.

After taking a few breaths to recover, he turned pale and formed the hand seals for the Summoning Technique, bringing forth two glass specimen jars.

"This one contains the First's little finger, and this one contains a Chimera Bud used for the Chimera Technique. I'll give you the rest of the information about the technique later!"

Uchiha Chen took the two jars, put them in his Sealing Scroll, and gave him a polite smile.

"Snake, I hope this little misunderstanding won't affect our friendship. You know, I've always supported you becoming the Fifth Hokage!"

"Heh heh heh!"

For the first time, Orochimaru's face showed displeasure, his expression sour as if he'd eaten shit.

"If I have to become Hokage after being Jiraiya's disciple, you might as well kill me!"

"Then forget I said anything!"

Uchiha Chen turned to leave, but after a few steps he suddenly turned back. He gave Orochimaru the classic Kamen Rider Kuuga thumbs-up and looked at him sidelong.

"Thanks for the birthday present. I love it.

Snake, you've picked a fight with death!"

Picked a fight with death?

Orochimaru watched Uchiha Chen disappear into the forest, his face gloomy. A twisted smile spread across his pale, gaunt features as he staggered off in the opposite direction.

The true power of the Sharingan was so wonderful!

He had to obtain this power!

Hmm?

Orochimaru furrowed his brow and flicked out his tongue.

There was a third person's scent here?

Chen had awakened the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan? And defeated Lord Orochimaru with ease?

Our Uchiha clan really is the best!

Hidden nearby, Uchiha Inabi had watched everything unfold. At first, he'd been shocked and excited. Then his thoughts churned, leaving him with mixed feelings.

Chen had awakened the Mangekyō. Did that mean all his efforts to force himself into a "twin prodigy" rivalry with him had made him look like a complete fool?

Uchiha Inabi watched Orochimaru moving through the forest with a complicated expression. He glanced down at his empty right sleeve, then finally approached him.

Orochimaru had been utterly crushed by Chen. He could practically be called Chen's son.

But he was still a towering figure beyond Uchiha Inabi's reach, and the person most likely to restore his arm!

If I miss this chance, will I ever have another one this good?

"Lord Orochimaru!"

Uchiha Inabi knelt on one knee before Orochimaru, bowing his head. "I'm willing to give my life for you, Lord Orochimaru!"

"You're... Inabi!"

Orochimaru furrowed his brow as he recalled the young man's name. He ran his long tongue over his lips and chin, then gave a sinister smile, baring his white fangs.

He couldn't beat this UR, Uchiha Chen. Shisui and Itachi, those two SSRs, were still young. Maybe if he strengthened Inabi, an SR, he could make use of him?

"Good!"

Orochimaru stared at Inabi's severed arm for a long while, then turned and strode toward one of his laboratories.

"Come with me!"

Two hours later, Uchiha Inabi had taken a bath and emptied his bowels in Orochimaru's secret base.

"What..."

Inabi stepped into Orochimaru's laboratory and stared in shock at the jars and bottles inside.

A four-winged, six-legged crow with three eyes; a headless monster that was almost human; an ugly creature that looked like a cross between a wild boar and a tortoise...

"What are all these monsters?"

"These?" Orochimaru asked, washing his lab equipment, his golden eyes filled with curiosity.

"They're all Uchiha I cloned, but not one of them looks like a person—or like an Uchiha!"

Cloning?

Uchiha Inabi had no idea what the concept meant, and Orochimaru had no intention of explaining it to him.

After strapping Uchiha Inabi to the examination table, Orochimaru's earlier gloom vanished. His face lit up with madness and excitement.

"Let's see... Why? Why are the clones with Uchiha cell nuclei so bizarre?

"It's almost... almost as if they were a different species from normal humans!"