Seeing the three of them wearing the same speechless expression, Orochimaru gave an awkward smile and added, "I'm a little busy right now and need to run some experiments. If you're interested, you can come to my lab and study."
"If you're not interested, you can train on your own. If Keigo runs into a problem he can't solve, come find me."
Still... it didn't feel right to just leave them to their own devices.
After all, back when he'd been a student, his teacher had given him everything he had.
Even while dealing with Konoha's affairs,
he'd never neglected their training.
Though his head had gradually gone bald...
"Hmph! Just as I thought. Even though Teacher Orochimaru is powerful, he doesn't care about us at all. I'd rather go train!"
Hyuga Ruri exclaimed indignantly.
She'd thought that once Orochimaru became her instructor, her strength would improve by leaps and bounds!
She hadn't expected that as soon as he became their teacher, he'd try to leave them to their own devices!
"I've heard Teacher Orochimaru is unmatched when it comes to research. And... he has ways to make people stronger. You could say no one in all of Konoha has better research skills than him."
Keigo Uchiha chuckled, his gaze shifting.
Orochimaru's research talent was unparalleled.
In the original story, the Fourth Shinobi World War happened because of Orochimaru's Impure World Reincarnation, and Uchiha Madara's revival also depended on that jutsu. Otherwise, Madara wouldn't have been able to use most of his strength.
And in Boruto, Orochimaru even developed Perfect Sage Mode!
That was just ridiculous!
In the unreasonable world of Naruto,
science was used to explain the truth!
"Really?!"
Hyuga Ruri's eyes lit up. She looked at Keigo Uchiha in disbelief. "Teacher Orochimaru really can do that? Make people stronger through research?!"
"Heh heh heh... In theory, yes."
Orochimaru laughed hoarsely.
His face was full of pride.
As a researcher, he loved having people recognize his work!
He couldn't help looking at Keigo Uchiha. He hadn't expected Keigo to know even about this. After all, only a few jonin knew that he liked this kind of research!
"If you're interested, you can come take a look."
Orochimaru invited them with a smile.
"Of course. We should see what our teacher has been working on."
Keigo Uchiha accepted without hesitation. He wanted to see how far Orochimaru's research had come.
Orochimaru was a true genius.
His talent for research was brilliant!
In Boruto, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that his research was nearly a hundred years ahead of the world!
Being able to meet someone like him was a stroke of luck in itself.
Soon,
the three of them followed Orochimaru to his laboratory.
The lab was an utter mess, yet somehow... it still felt orderly.
"This is the lab I'm using now. My current research topics include organ cloning, Sealing Jutsu, organ transplants, and how to suppress transplant rejection!"
A touch of fervor appeared in Orochimaru's usually calm amber eyes.
He looked like... a mad scientist!
But he hid it well. Neither Hyuga Ruri nor Inuzuka Mi noticed anything at all. Only Keigo Uchiha did.
Rustle!
With a sudden tug,
he yanked down the enormous curtain behind him, revealing more than a dozen cultivation tanks!
They were all filled with organs!
Animal organs!
"Ah!"
The two girls' faces instantly turned pale, stricken with panic and fear.
"W-what are those things? Are they... organs? Could they be... human organs?"
Inuzuka Mi's voice trembled as she stared at the scene in disbelief.
Hyuga Ruri swallowed hard, trying to keep her emotions under control.
Water dripped down the basement walls. The damp, chilly air seemed to seep into her body, leaving her icy and stiff. She could hardly move. Orochimaru's amber eyes looked like a snake's.
They gave her a chilling, heart-pounding feeling!
She instinctively looked at Keigo Uchiha, only to find him completely composed, without a hint of fear.
"That's it? Using animal organs for organ cloning isn't anything new. Teacher Orochimaru, your work is... so low-tech."
Keigo Uchiha sounded unimpressed.
Given the timeline, Orochimaru had probably already begun working on forbidden jutsu like Living Corpse Reincarnation and Impure World Reincarnation.
He just hadn't started experimenting on humans yet.
But that was only a matter of time.
"Low-tech?!"
Orochimaru's pale face stiffened, and his expression turned sour!
Of course, he couldn't reveal some of his current research topics.
For example, Living Corpse Reincarnation.
And Impure World Reincarnation!
Those two jutsu were the core of his research.
But he couldn't let anyone know about them, or he'd become a rogue ninja!
And now this brat, Keigo Uchiha, dared to mock him?
"Teacher, if you're going to do research, you should work on something impressive."
Keigo Uchiha grinned, a gleam in his dark eyes. His voice was persuasive, like a demon luring people into hell. "There are plenty of interesting things in Konoha."
If he told Orochimaru some of the theories from Naruto—
some secrets—
how far would Orochimaru take his research?
Keigo was curious!
Besides, he needed Orochimaru's research to make himself stronger!
"Heh heh, Keigo, you don't understand how difficult these topics are. No one in the world has gone further than I have in research!"
"Keigo, you don't yet know the truth of this world!"
Orochimaru looked proud.
This was his pride: when it came to research, even his teacher couldn't compare to him!
And one day, he would achieve immortality
and master the truth of this world!
"No, Teacher Orochimaru. You're the one who doesn't know the truth of this world. Do you know about... the Sage of Six Paths?"
Keigo Uchiha's eyes gleamed in the dim light. The corners of his mouth lifted as he looked like a devil opening Pandora's box.
His voice low, he spoke slowly. "Everything in this world can be traced back to them. All power, if traced to its source, comes from the lineage of the Sage of Six Paths!"
"The Sage of Six Paths?! Isn't he... someone from legend?"
Orochimaru's pupils narrowed.
He instinctively sensed that something was going on.
"Legend has it that the Sage of Six Paths created the world and gave life to everyone. But that's... just a legend, not reality."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
He stared intently at Keigo Uchiha,
his gaze brimming with anticipation and longing!
"Teacher Orochimaru, that's not how it happened."
Keigo Uchiha chuckled and picked up a rag, wiping away all of Orochimaru's research notes on the blackboard.
"The Sage of Six Paths... wasn't a legend."
His low voice echoed through the basement.
The three of them narrowed their eyes.
Their gazes filled with shock!
"The Sage of Six Paths... wasn't a legend?!"
Hyuga Ruri asked in disbelief. "How is that possible? If an immortal like that really existed in this world, why didn't he bring peace to it?"
Orochimaru was shocked, but he quickly regained his composure.
He looked at Hyuga Ruri and said hoarsely, "Strength can't solve everything. People's malice grows along with their power. No matter how powerful someone is, they can only maintain peace for a short time."
That had been made crystal clear by the First.
After the First died,
it wasn't long before the world fell into the Second Shinobi World War. That was only natural.
"That's right. Teacher is correct. Besides, even an immortal isn't immortal forever."
Keigo Uchiha spoke calmly, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "There's something you might find interesting, Teacher."
Looking into Keigo Uchiha's dark eyes, Orochimaru inexplicably felt as if... Keigo could see right through him. It was as if Keigo knew everything about him, including... all of his research!
"In the era of the Sage of Six Paths, he and his younger brother, Otsutsuki Hamura, brought peace to the world. The Sage of Six Paths, whose real name was Otsutsuki Hagoromo, married and had two children."
"The elder, Indra, was exceptionally gifted from birth and possessed a pair of powerful eyes. But he was cold and believed he could change everything on his own. The younger, Asura, was kind by nature and got along well with the people of Ninjushu. He believed that unity was the path to true peace."
"In the end, the brothers fought over their different ideals, and neither managed to convince the other."
"As time passed, their descendants formed the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan. The two clans remained enemies for thousands of years, never once ceasing their feud."
As Keigo Uchiha spoke,
the three of them grew more and more astonished, their eyes filled with disbelief!
Orochimaru's gaze burned with fervor. He was shocked and trembling. "Are you saying the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan... are both descendants of the Sage?!"
"Of course. Otherwise, why would the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan keep producing such outstanding powerhouses? It's because the Uchiha Clan inherited the Eyes of the Sage, while the Senju Clan inherited the Body of the Sage."
Keigo Uchiha spoke calmly, as if he were talking about something as simple as eating or drinking.
He glanced casually at Orochimaru.
As if in passing, he said, "If someone could thoroughly study these two clans, immortality probably wouldn't be out of reach, right?"
But Orochimaru was already too shocked to speak!
"T-this is a genuine secret! I can't believe the Sage of Six Paths really existed, and... the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan are both descendants of the Sage!"
Orochimaru's voice trembled as he exclaimed, "No wonder those two clans are so powerful. So that's the reason!"
"And I... it seems I've been researching in the wrong direction all these years!"
When he heard Keigo Uchiha's words,
his whole body shuddered!
His amber eyes were blazing with fervor!
If he wanted immortality, he should clearly be focusing on the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan!
He needed to uncover the true secrets the Sage had left behind!
"What about the Hyuga Clan? We have a dojutsu too!"
Hyuga Ruri was so stunned she could barely take it in. She hurriedly asked, "What's the history of the Hyuga Clan?"
She clenched her delicate hands.
The name Hyuga Tenjin
had a connection to the Sage in its very meaning!
Could it be... that the Hyuga Clan were also descendants of the Sage?
"The Sage of Six Paths had a younger brother named Otsutsuki Hamura, who possessed a power called the Tenseigan. Back then, his descendants also split into two branches. One became the Hyuga Clan we know today, while the other... lives on the moon!"
"The Hyuga Clan also carries the Sage's bloodline. It's just that Otsutsuki Hamura wasn't as powerful as his older brother, Otsutsuki Hagoromo."
Keigo Uchiha spoke calmly.
That might have had something to do with the fact that the Sage of Six Paths inherited more of the God Tree's power.
"I see!"
The flush on Hyuga Ruri's pretty face gradually faded, replaced by excitement and joy!
"So the Hyuga Clan are descendants of the Sage too! Keigo Uchiha, I'm just as special as you are. One day, I'll defeat you!"
She waved her small fist.
It was as if the day she defeated Keigo Uchiha were already within reach.
"Good girl, stop dreaming. It's not even nighttime yet."
Keigo Uchiha chuckled. "Even among descendants of the Sage, there are differences in strength."
Hyuga Ruri huffed in anger.
"Keigo, how do you know all this? And... why are you telling me?"
"These are all closely guarded secrets. Even in the Uchiha Clan... only the higher-ups and the heir to the clan head... would know about them, right?"
Orochimaru suddenly spoke, his snake-like eyes gleaming with an eerie light.
It was as if he were scrutinizing Keigo Uchiha, trying to figure out what he was thinking.
But what Keigo Uchiha had just said
filled his eyes with fervor!
"Though this is a secret, if it's only a secret, it serves no purpose. In my opinion, telling my teacher about it is far more valuable."
Keigo Uchiha chuckled.
Then he changed the subject, moving on to say, "Since the Sage of Six Paths' bloodline split into the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan..."
"Has it ever occurred to you, teacher, what might happen if the Senju Clan's genes and the Uchiha Clan's genes were combined again? Could... another immortal like the Sage of Six Paths appear?"
"Could we create such a prodigy artificially?"
A glint shone in Keigo Uchiha's dark eyes.
"The Sage of Six Paths... possessed the legendary Rinnegan! If we created one artificially... could we make eyes like that?"
"And besides... Ruri has the blood of both the Hyuga Clan and the Senju Clan! Maybe... she could awaken the Tenseigan!"
Keigo Uchiha's voice was enticing.
In Naruto, it had already been explained.
The conditions for awakening the Tenseigan were the eyes of the Hyuga Main Family on Earth, and the chakra of the Hyuga Clan on the moon!
Although Ruri didn't have the chakra of the Hyuga Clan on the moon,
the Senju Clan's blood had made up for part of the bloodline Hyuga Ruri lacked!
In other words, Hyuga Ruri might be able to awaken the Tenseigan!
The Senju Clan's blood had played a crucial role!
"And these eyes of mine..."
Keigo Uchiha chuckled, and the Three-Tomoe Sharingan appeared in his eyes.
They glimmered with an eerie light in the darkness.
"Combined with the Senju Clan's bloodline, they can awaken the Sage of Six Paths' Rinnegan. In just these few minutes, teacher, I've already given you three research topics."
Keigo Uchiha gave him a faintly amused look.
"Isn't that a hell of a lot better than all those random things you've been researching?"
They were all stunned!
Hyuga Ruri and Inuzuka Mi could only understand part of what he'd said, but they knew that what Keigo Uchiha had just told them was a genuine secret. Few people in the entire Shinobi World could possibly know it!
Orochimaru's pupils contracted. His Adam's apple bobbed, and fervor filled his pale face.
The door to a whole new world had swung wide open!
Like a beginner, he had stepped into that new world, unable to stop himself from thinking back on all the things he'd researched before.
Damn... that had all been garbage!
"So... this is the real secret of this world. The things I researched before... really were low-level! Neither Living Corpse Reincarnation nor Impure World Reincarnation did more than temporarily change myself."
"Only by researching the secrets of immortals can I... glimpse the true mysteries of this world!"
Orochimaru's hoarse voice brimmed with fervor!
His whole body trembled, and he couldn't contain himself!
This was what he'd pursued for more than ten years!
"Thank you, Keigo. You've helped me find what I truly need to research. This is the right path!"
Orochimaru drew a deep breath and said something like this!
"To everyone else, what you told us today is just a secret, something shocking. But to me, it's a beacon that can guide the course of my entire life!"
"Thank you, Keigo. You've played a crucial role in my research!"
Orochimaru looked at Keigo Uchiha with eager anticipation. "Your talent is even more frightening than I imagined. I hope you'll help me with my research from now on. I can share my results and methods, but I'll need you to point me in the right direction!"
"When our ideas collide, they'll create the brightest spark of this era!"
As he spoke,
Orochimaru held out his hand.
His amber eyes were full of anticipation.
He was driven by a thirst for knowledge.
Like a scholar who wanted to learn everything in the world, he extended his hand to invite Keigo Uchiha to become his partner. It was a sign of respect!
"Then, I look forward to working with you, teacher Orochimaru."
Keigo Uchiha chuckled and reached out to take his hand. "I'll provide you with Uchiha blood and share what I experience during the experiments."
Now that they were partners,
it was only natural for them to provide each other with the materials their experiments required.
Giving him the eyes and corpses of Uchiha Clan members was out of the question, of course, but sharing some blood wouldn't be a problem.
Excitement and approval gleamed in Orochimaru's amber eyes!
Keigo Uchiha's talent far surpassed his expectations. With his help... perhaps he really could unravel the secrets of this world—the secrets of immortals!
"So... this is the secret of our Hyuga Clan? No wonder Grandfather was always talking about the glory of the Hyuga Clan. He would sit in the courtyard at night, silently gazing at the moon..."
Hyuga Ruri's beautiful eyes were filled with shock!
Her mouth fell open!
A trace of confusion showed in her eyes. "When I was little, I heard Grandfather say those things, but I never understood what he meant. Even my father and the other clan members didn't know."
"But now I understand!"
Hyuga Ruri looked at Keigo Uchiha, her gaze filled with confusion, shock, and admiration!
Even the Hyuga Main Family didn't know this secret!
Yet Keigo Uchiha knew it all by heart!
This guy... how much knowledge like this had he acquired over the years?
It seemed... there was nothing Keigo Uchiha didn't know!
Back at the Ninja Academy, Keigo Uchiha had single-handedly guided the other eleven of them, offering sound advice and pointing them toward their future paths!
And these past two years
had proved that not a single thing Keigo Uchiha had said was false!
Even the Hokage couldn't do that, could he?
"Keigo... hearing the secrets you just shared made me realize how narrow-minded the Hyuga Clan is now. We've cast aside our most important asset, our eyes, to focus on training in the Gentle Fist. We've got it completely backward!"
Hyuga Ruri drew a deep breath, overcome by helplessness.
When had the Hyuga Clan started training in the Gentle Fist?
When had they abandoned the Byakugan, the thing that truly mattered?
It was utterly foolish!
Yet the entire Hyuga Clan was foolish enough not to know how to use their own eyes, or that those eyes were the Hyuga Clan's path forward!
They were the treasure the Hyuga Clan should truly be proud of!
Once counted alongside the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan as one of Konoha's three great clans, the Hyuga Clan had become a mere foil to the other two. It was humiliating!
"Keigo... please help me. I want to change the Hyuga Clan. This shouldn't be the Hyuga Clan's fate!"
A pleading look appeared in Hyuga Ruri's pure white eyes.
The Hyuga Clan... should reclaim the glory it had known in ancient times!
Hyuga Tenjin should return to the Hyuga Clan!
"That's not something I can change."
Keigo Uchiha shook his head calmly. A crimson gleam shone in his dark eyes as he spoke in an even tone. "There's only one way to change yourself: save yourself."
"And if your Hyuga Clan wants to change its fate, you'll have to truly look inward. Or... one person will have to be strong enough to change the entire Hyuga Clan's structure."
He looked at Orochimaru and said meaningfully, "Once you reach a certain level of strength, whether you change things or not is just a matter of choice."
"The only thing you need to do now is try your hardest to awaken the Tenseigan and become a true Kage Level shinobi. That's all you need to focus on."
If you were strong enough,
then doing whatever you wanted was just a matter of choice.
But if you were weak, every path was blocked. That was the consequence of a lack of absolute strength.
"Awaken... the Tenseigan and become a Kage Level shinobi?"
A trace of hesitation appeared in Hyuga Ruri's beautiful eyes. "Can I really do something like that? I'm only a special jonin. I haven't even become a jonin yet."
"And the Tenseigan... isn't easy to awaken."
"Every time I use my chakra to strike my eyes, the pain is unbearable. It feels like my eyes are about to go blind."
She knew her own talent.
And she knew she could become strong!
But could she really reach Kage Level?
Orochimaru looked calmly at the three of them.
The corner of his mouth curled into an odd smile.
Of the three of them, Keigo Uchiha was the most remarkable. He already had the heart of a strong shinobi. He never hesitated in the face of anything, and he knew exactly where he wanted his future path to lead!
Before you continue