Danzo Steals a Person

The experimental subject codenamed "Kinoe" already possessed First Hokage Cells and had mastered the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai.

But compared to the First Hokage's Wood Release, the Wood Release he wielded was hardly worth mentioning.

For this reason, Danzo had continuously demanded that Orochimaru increase the purity of Kinoe's Wood Release bloodline.

This was Kinoe's third experiment.

Its purpose was to make his Wood Release Kekkei Genkai stronger.

At the same time, it was meant to lay the groundwork for Danzo's First Hokage Cell transplantation plan.

Orochimaru no longer had the slightest interest in it.

So he had turned it into a test for Uchiha Ao. Originally, he had not expected Uchiha Ao to complete the experiment.

Yet unexpectedly, it had been completed without a hitch.

After three days of adjustment, Kinoe had thoroughly adapted to the changes in his body. The First Hokage bloodline within him had fused further, greatly enhancing his physical capabilities. Even his chakra reserves had doubled.

The Wood Release he performed now looked fairly convincing as well, possessing a portion of its vitality.

Even Orochimaru found that talent somewhat difficult to let go of.

A thought of competing with Danzo for him arose in his heart.

But he quickly concealed it.

"Ao-kun, you're so gifted in experiments, and you aren't bad at ninjutsu either, are you!? Why hide yourself as a talentless piece of trash?"

Orochimaru flipped through Kinoe's physical examination report. After two days of testing, he had already reached a conclusion.

Kinoe, whose overall strength had originally only been at the peak of Genin level, had risen to Chunin level after a single experiment. His chakra reserves even faintly approached those of a Jonin.

Every aspect of his body had improved significantly.

After deciding to take Uchiha Ao in, Orochimaru had someone investigate him.

He discovered that Uchiha Ao's reputation in the village was mediocre. His Ninja Academy grades were in the lower-middle range, and among the Uchiha, he was called the family's disgrace.

His performance had not differed much from those findings.

He had not even mastered the Three Basic Jutsu, much less the Chakra Blade, which required extremely high chakra control for experiments. He simply had no talent for mastering such an ability.

From this perspective, he could at most become a theoretical researcher. If he wanted to conduct more advanced research, his talent would become his greatest shackle.

Uchiha Ao spread his hands, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his lips.

"Sensei, I wasn't hiding anything. My talent for ninjutsu is inherently poor. Bloodline talent is something our parents give us at birth, but the results of strength are earned through our own efforts."

"Bloodline talent only determines our lower limit. It cannot decide our upper limit."

"I know my talent is poor, so—I plan to change bodies!"

He lowered his head as if in shame, avoiding Orochimaru's burning gaze.

The instant he lowered his head, a smile curved across his lips.

The original Uchiha Ao's talent truly had been ordinary. Even with Uchiha blood, he had barely graduated from the Ninja Academy and had always ranked at the bottom in clan assessments.

"Change bodies?"

Orochimaru smacked his lips, a gleam flashing through his eyes.

Uchiha Ao's words had directly struck at Orochimaru's heart. Recently, he had been planning an entirely new line of research.

This was a milestone project in Orochimaru's forbidden jutsu research.

"Not a bad idea. Have you made any progress in that area?"

Orochimaru asked casually.

But Uchiha Ao saw through the excitement in his heart at a glance.

He immediately understood that the fish had taken the bait.

"The soul is a person's most fundamental imprint. As long as one changes their spiritual body, perhaps they can change bodies as well."

"I know the village possesses a secret technique called the Spirit Transformation Technique—perhaps through this technique, I can gain control of my own spiritual body. Then, with certain methods, I could wear away the original soul within the target body and turn it into a vessel for my soul, allowing me to change into an entirely new body."

Long before seeking out Orochimaru, Uchiha Ao had already carefully planned out the entire scheme.

"What a coincidence. I have a similar idea myself, and I'm currently in the planning stage."

Orochimaru took out a document from a drawer and handed it to Uchiha Ao for a look.

After deciding to take Uchiha Ao in, Orochimaru had stopped hiding anything from him.

He had told him about some of his research.

Uchiha Ao accepted the document and carefully read through it.

There were not many pages. Less than ten minutes later, he had finished reading the dozen or so sheets.

They contained a great deal of research and secret techniques related to the soul.

Among them was the Spirit Transformation Technique. It had once been the Kato Clan's exclusive secret technique, but after its inheritor, Dan Katō, died, it had been turned over to the village and recorded in the Scroll of Sealing.

Under the Third Hokage's authorization, Orochimaru had seen this technique in the Scroll of Sealing. Combining it with some of his own ideas, he proposed research into the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique.

The Spirit Transformation Technique was the source of inspiration for Orochimaru's reincarnation technique.

It had now become the main direction of Orochimaru's research.

Uchiha Ao closed the documents and handed them back to Orochimaru.

"Sensei, the research process for this technique... will probably be rather troublesome, won't it?"

Uchiha Ao reminded him.

His tone was fairly tactful.

This technique was very likely a trap Danzō had planted for Orochimaru.

Its research involved the human soul.

The research process required a large amount of material, and all of that material was living beings.

That led Orochimaru to set his sights on Konoha's villagers.

In the end, it resulted in his defection.

Ao did not warn Orochimaru directly.

Danzō was still Orochimaru's partner. If he exposed it now and Orochimaru did not believe him, he would very likely become the sacrifice.

Only after Danzō obtained what he wanted and inevitably discarded Orochimaru without hesitation would what he said now cause Orochimaru to recall it, increasing his trust in him.

"Don't worry. I've already drafted an initial plan. There shouldn't be any issues with the technical approach."

Orochimaru said confidently.

"Study it carefully, then give me a report later."

Just as Orochimaru finished speaking, A figure suddenly appeared at the door.

Danzō, clad in a fitted combat outfit, stood at the entrance with two uniformed subordinates beside him. The old man narrowed his eyes and calmly examined Uchiha Ao.

"Orochimaru—who is this?"

He noticed Ao's clothing. The Uchiha crest on it was revolting to behold, and he could not help frowning.

"He's the assistant I just took on..."

Orochimaru answered calmly. As he spoke, he discreetly moved in front of Uchiha Ao, shielding him somewhat from Danzō's scrutiny.

"An assistant?"

"If you need manpower, I can provide it... Why seek out an Uchiha clansman whose background you know nothing about?"

"Do you know that the current research is all being conducted within the village... If it gets leaked, neither you nor I will be able to remain in the village."

Shimura Danzō threatened coldly, deeply dissatisfied with Orochimaru's unilateral decision.

"Hand him over to me. I'll help you remove this hidden danger."

"As for some of the research to come, I can still leave it to you..."

As he spoke, Danzō pulled a glass bottle from his sleeve. It was half-filled with water, with a pair of scarlet eyes soaking inside.

It was a warning.

His other hand reached toward Uchiha Ao.

His attitude was obvious.

He had already fallen out completely with the Uchiha clan and become enemies locked in a fight to the death.

There was no way he would allow Orochimaru to employ an Uchiha clansman as his assistant.

He intended to deal with Uchiha Ao on the spot.

Seeing this, Uchiha Ao's pupils contracted. A trace of panic flashed across his face as he instinctively took a step back.

That was a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

By displaying them so openly, Danzō had already regarded Uchiha Ao as a dead man.

But Orochimaru stretched out a hand and blocked Danzō's reaching hand.

"Your hand is reaching too far. My people are not for you to meddle with. Remember, we are only partners, Danzō!"

Orochimaru's tone turned icy, carrying an air of dominance.

Once he had accepted Uchiha Ao, he would not allow anyone to harbor hostile intentions toward him.

He would not allow anyone to harbor hostile intentions toward him.

Even if that person was Shimura Danzō, his closest partner.

"If that is your decision, then do as you please!"

Danzō gave Uchiha Ao a deep look. With a twist of his wrist, he tucked the bottle containing the Sharingan back into his sleeve, then turned and left without looking back.