Perfect Vessel

Orochimaru did not sustain any serious injuries during his defection, so theoretically, he had ample time to prepare for his first reincarnation.

Ao had not expected him to have already made such plans so quickly.

He followed Orochimaru into his temporary residence.

He discovered that the place had been transformed; the items and books that were originally stored there temporarily had all vanished.

Nothing remained on the bookshelves.

The room had become empty.

It seemed they had moved out some time ago.

"Ao, I have already found a new residence. Will you be moving with me?"

Orochimaru inquired.

During his time at Ryūchi Cave, he had not been idle; he had already arranged for several trusted subordinates outside to scout for a new base.

Although his relationship with Ryūchi Cave was decent.

Orochimaru did not like staying on someone else's turf for long, especially since the master of this place, the White Snake Sage, was a collaborator with ulterior motives.

"When are we leaving?"

Ao asked, his gaze shifting to the two children not far away; Jugo's honest nature had already allowed him to grow quite close to Kimimaro.

Jugo held a roasted small potato in his hands, took a small bite himself, and then handed it to Kimimaro.

Considering the two children were still young, living in a dark, sunless place like Ryūchi Cave was not good for their development, as the damp and gloomy environment was detrimental to their growth.

Kimimaro, in particular, was extremely thin and frail.

On top of that, having been abused for two years, his body was severely depleted.

It was no wonder that the future Kimimaro would die at a young age from a Kekkei Genkai disease.

"Now."

Orochimaru followed Ao's gaze and noticed the two little ones.

"Are these the two children you brought back? Which one is the ninja from the clan with the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai?"

Ao shook his head and said, "Neither. The taller one is the younger brother, named Jugo; he was shoved over by the White Snake Sage. The other one is a member of the Kaguya clan, possessing the physical Kekkei Genkai known as Shikotsumyaku, whom you once mentioned to me, Teacher."

Orochimaru fell silent for a moment. Had this kid never performed a mission before?

How could he have forgotten everything he was told?

What he needed was a member of the Yuki Clan!

How did he end up bringing back two completely irrelevant people?

If this were a mission in Konoha, he would have had to commit seppuku on the spot!

Orochimaru had initially felt that Ao's mind was unconventional, making him suitable for analytical work, serving as a qualified generator of inspiration and a research assistant.

He was not suited for field missions.

But he had not expected Ao to deviate so far from the objective while on a mission.

"Then what about the Yuki Clan members?"

Orochimaru asked, subconsciously pinching his chin as his brows furrowed slightly.

"They are on their way. Those children are older, and I was worried they wouldn't be able to pass the White Snake Sage's test..."

Ao replied. Anyone entering Ryūchi Cave had to pass three trials, and he did not have the same level of influence as Orochimaru.

The reason Kimimaro was able to follow was that he was too young and posed no threat.

With Jugo as a distraction, the White Snake Sage ultimately did not mind.

If it had been the other few Yuki Clan members in their teens, it likely would not have been so easy to pass.

"Can they find us?"

Orochimaru looked at Ao with suspicion. The Yuki Clan had been targeted by Kirigakure; could those children really escape the pursuit of the Kirigakure Ninja?

"I left your Cursed Seal on one of the key individuals. It contains your soul signature, so no matter where she hides, we can easily find her," Ao replied.

"So that's why you asked me for a Cursed Seal jutsu before you left—to leave a coordinate!"

"Fine. Once I am settled, I will send someone to bring them to the new base."

Orochimaru nodded. He suddenly recalled that trip when Ao went to Kirigakure; after they had eaten together, Ao had specifically asked for a Cursed Seal scroll before leaving.

He rarely used that technique, mostly preserving the formulas in the form of living snakes.

Thus, Orochimaru had handed a summoning snake to Ao.

"What are these two children called?"

Orochimaru walked over to Kimimaro's side, examining his frail body. Judging by his bone age alone, he was at least two years old.

Yet, his physique was not even as developed as a one-year-old child.

His white hair lacked any luster, resembling strands of pale, withered grass—dry and coarse.

His face was covered in grime, making his features difficult to discern.

One could only vaguely make out two red circular markings above his eyes.

"The appearance of a Kaguya Clan member, no mistake..."

Orochimaru nodded, lost in thought.

The name Kimimaro felt inexplicably fitting.

"Su... Su-su... Snake... Su."

Kimimaro, who had always shown fear toward strangers, did not show any resistance when approaching Orochimaru. Instead, as if seeing a relative, he tremblingly reached out a small hand, grabbed the hem of Orochimaru's trousers, and called out softly.

Upon hearing this, the corners of Ao's mouth twitched.

Snake Uncle?

Kimimaro and Orochimaru really were destined to meet!

"Uncle?"

Orochimaru was stunned for a moment; this was the first time he had ever heard such a form of address.

His heart stirred slightly.

It felt rather nice.

He reached out and slowly patted Kimimaro's head, saying softly, "This child's body is too weak. If he is to become a qualified assistant for you in the future, he will need to be properly nurtured."

"Teacher, he is a natural awakener of the Shikotsumyaku and a child highly valued within the Kaguya Clan. If he grows up, he could be considered your most perfect vessel for reincarnation."

Ao introduced him, noting that Kimimaro's talent was beyond doubt. Without the bloodline disease, he would certainly grow into a Kage Level powerhouse.

The power of the Shikotsumyaku had maxed out his talent for taijutsu training.

"A natural Shikotsumyaku, eh! That is interesting."

Orochimaru nodded slightly, his hand pausing as a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.

"Is this... the handiwork of the White Snake Sage?"

As he spoke, he shifted his gaze toward the dazed Jugo standing to the side. The boy was looking at Kimimaro timidly, his face full of wariness and fear toward Orochimaru, not daring to come closer.

Yet, he did not leave, his eyes looking with concern at his newly acquainted friend, Kimimaro.

He was worried that Orochimaru might harm Kimimaro.

Although Jugo was only two years old, he already possessed a certain level of consciousness.

Jugo was a person who was sensitive and deeply loyal.

"Yes, Teacher. This guy has a natural Sage Body and can automatically absorb Natural Energy to condense Sage Art Chakra. If he can master the method of drawing in Natural Energy, his future growth curve will not be low."

Ao picked Jugo up from the ground and brought him before Orochimaru, saying.

"He has a natural affinity for it, and it's the most volatile Natural Energy closely linked to Ryūchi Cave. I suspect he is related to the White Snake Sage."

Seeing this, Orochimaru spoke directly:

"There is no need to suspect; he is a research product of the White Snake Sage, just a failed one."

"That clan gained an affinity for Natural Energy because of the White Snake Sage, but they did not acquire the snake genes. They cannot control this violent power, so once the Natural Energy in their bodies reaches a certain concentration, they go berserk, lose their reason, and unconsciously destroy everything around them."

It was clear he knew the origins of the Jugo Clan and had even specifically investigated them.

After receiving confirmation, He effectively sentenced that clan to death.

Because of the White Snake Sage, they could never become his vessels.

"Ao, in reality, my subordinates in the Land of Rice Fields have encountered a perfect vessel, which is why I was in such a hurry to go there, to avoid being discovered by the White Snake Sage."

Orochimaru also said in a low voice.

He had his own secret agenda.

He was not of one mind with the White Snake Sage. From the moment he refused to adopt Jugo and rejected him as a substitute vessel, he likely already knew some of the White Snake Sage's intentions.

"That child is about your age."

A perfect vessel...

Hearing this term, Ao was stunned for a moment, but a name quickly surfaced in his mind.

Itachi Uchiha!

But wasn't he still young? Besides, Orochimaru and Itachi Uchiha had no connection.

So, Itachi Uchiha was definitely ruled out.

Could it be him!?

Ao thought of another name.

Shin Uchiha!

One of the future minor villains.

As a test subject of Orochimaru, he had Sharingan transplanted all over his body without suffering any backlash.

A fool whose brain was filled with nothing but extremist ideologies.

He fanatically worshipped the clan-slaughtering degenerate Itachi Uchiha.

He even took him as his spiritual faith.

Utterly foolish.

Shin was likely taken under Orochimaru's wing around this period as well.

However, this guy was merely an ordinary person without any Kekkei Genkai, so he shouldn't have been valued by Orochimaru in the beginning.

Orochimaru merely treated Shin as an ordinary subordinate.

It was only later, when he voluntarily sacrificed his body and chose to become an experimental vessel for Orochimaru, that he gained Orochimaru's attention.

Originally, Uchiha Ao thought that the perfect vessel Orochimaru spoke of referred to Shin, but after he followed Orochimaru to the base, he discovered that it was actually someone else.