And there's also the little analyst I'm most interested in

"I see a pathetic wretch lost at the threshold of truth, piling up a throne for himself with the corpses of countless lives."

Hearing these words, Orochimaru's smile froze.

For the first time, an undisguised astonishment appeared in those inhuman golden snake-like pupils. The killing intent, substantial enough to make even a Kage-level powerhouse tremble, stalled for a split second before Ling Xuan's calm words.

"...A pathetic wretch?"

Orochimaru repeated the term slowly, enunciating each syllable. Then, he let out a low, hoarse laugh, filled with morbid pleasure.

"Heh... hehehehe... How many years has it been since anyone dared to describe me with such words? Especially coming from the mouth of a wet-behind-the-ears brat who hasn't even fully mastered his own chakra."

The killing intent that threatened to freeze one's soul receded like a tide, replaced by something even more dangerous and unsettling—a fanatical, inquisitive fervor, as if he had found the most interesting toy in the world.

"You are very interesting, little brat." Orochimaru's neck, capable of extending infinitely like a snake, leaned toward Ling Xuan with an eerie grace, his golden vertical pupils less than half a foot away.

"You are very special; it seems you see more than just the surface. Tell me." Orochimaru's voice was filled with temptation. "What else am I in your eyes?"

Standing to the side, Sasuke and Naruto were completely suppressed by this terrifying aura, unable to move a muscle. Watching Ling Xuan, who remained calm despite being inches away from that monster, they felt not only fear but a profound, incomprehensible bewilderment.

Ling Xuan knew he had successfully shifted Orochimaru's attention from a mere "prey" to a "research subject."

"What I see..." Ling Xuan met those snake eyes that could drive anyone to madness, speaking calmly, "is a seeker who has taken the wrong path."

"A seeker?" Orochimaru tilted his head with keen interest.

"Yes," Ling Xuan continued. "You yearn to know every jutsu in this world, to explore the end of truth. You are not wrong in that, but your methods are riddled with flaws."

"You are like a greedy hoarder, frantically collecting various ninjutsu and bloodlines, piling them onto yourself in a chaotic mess. You think that the more you possess, the closer you are to the truth, but you have never truly stopped to understand the logic behind these arts. All you have done is patch your own body, performing clumsy, crude stitching."

"You broke the rules of life and death, using the forbidden Living Corpse Reincarnation to extend your existence. But you have not attained immortality; instead, you have become enslaved by the very rules you broke. You must act like a parasite, constantly searching for younger vessels, forever living in fear of your soul's decay. You pursue eternity, but all you have gained is an endless, agonizing state of the undead."

Every word from Ling Xuan was like a precise scalpel, mercilessly dissecting the essence of Orochimaru's existence.

He was not guessing; he was using the Eye of Truth to see the raw data regarding Orochimaru's life form.

The smile on Orochimaru's face vanished completely.

In its place was a mixture of shock, anger, and a morbid excitement at having his inner thoughts laid bare.

"Wonderful... simply wonderful!" Orochimaru extended his long tongue to lick his lips, the possessiveness in his eyes nearly overflowing. "Your eyes, your brain, your perception of logic! This is the true truth I have been seeking! Sasuke-kun's body is merely a perfect vessel. But you... you yourself are the most precious, undiscovered treasure!"

Orochimaru had made his decision: he wanted Sasuke's body, but he wanted the soul and eyes of this black-haired boy even more!

"Then, let us leave a little gift for my Sasuke-kun first."

Orochimaru's target shifted back to Sasuke, who was struggling to move due to his injuries and terror.

He lunged forward, his neck extending with unnatural, lightning speed, preparing to leave the Cursed Seal of Heaven—a mark of power and corruption—on Sasuke's neck!

"Don't even think about it!"

Ling Xuan had anticipated this. The moment Orochimaru opened his mouth, he moved. Instead of attacking, he hurled a small crystal vial he had prepared—a custom creation from his scientific clone—from his ninja pouch!

He used chakra threads to precisely detonate the bottle in mid-air, and a cloud of pale green, odorless neurotoxic gas, refined from Ghost Lantern Grass, instantly enveloped Orochimaru.

A trace amount of toxin could not truly harm a ninja of Orochimaru's caliber, but the instantaneous nerve-paralyzing effect caused his movements to stutter for a fraction of a second!

That tiny delay was all it took!

Ling Xuan shot forward like a cannonball. He didn't attack Orochimaru; instead, he shoved the shocked and furious Sasuke violently to the side!

"Pfft!"

Orochimaru's fangs finally sank in, but because of Ling Xuan's interference, he missed Sasuke's carotid artery, biting into his left shoulder instead!

A wave of evil, cold, and ominous chakra was frantically injected into Sasuke's body!

"Aaaaaahhhhh!!!"

Sasuke let out a shrill scream. Three black, tomoe-shaped marks appeared on his left shoulder, spreading across his body like a living thing, bringing him endless agony.

"Hehehe... although the position is a bit off, the gift has finally been delivered." Orochimaru retracted his neck, watching with satisfaction as Sasuke writhed in pain on the ground.

He turned his head, his golden snake eyes locking onto Ling Xuan once more.

"Now then, it is your turn, my most precious..."

Before he could finish, several figures appeared silently around the forest.

It was the Konoha Anbu!

The leader was none other than Hatake Kakashi, who had arrived at full speed after receiving the emergency signal.

"Orochimaru!" Kakashi looked at the hellish scene before him, at one of the legendary Sannin, and at Sasuke rolling in pain on the ground. His Sharingan turned blood-red with rage!

"Oh? Reinforcements have arrived? You move quite fast." Orochimaru glanced at the surrounding Anbu and then at the guarded Kakashi. He knew that capturing Ling Xuan here was no longer realistic.

He licked his lips, a look of regret and anticipation on his face.

"Well, it seems our party must end early today."

"However, we will meet again very soon, Sasuke-kun..." His gaze shifted to Ling Xuan. "And... my most intriguing little analyst."

With that, Orochimaru's body sank slowly into the ground as if he had no bones, disappearing from sight.

The terrifying pressure that had shrouded the entire area finally dissipated.