In the Darkness, the Eye of Life and Death Reincarnation

Kaminazuki's grip on his blade loosened slightly.

The Sharingan told him that the Orochimaru before him was the real deal, not an enemy's transformation jutsu.

"When did you arrive?"

A month ago, Orochimaru had received a dispatch from the front lines and left; Kaminazuki was somewhat surprised by his appearance.

Green light shimmered in Orochimaru's palms as he temporarily suppressed the toxins within Sakumo's body.

To completely neutralize the poison, more complex procedures would be required.

"It seems my stealth capabilities are quite decent, as even Kaminazuki-kun failed to notice me..."

"I never left."

Shikaku's brows tightened as he spoke up: "You were here the whole time? Then why..."

Before he could finish, Orochimaru said indifferently: "There was no opportunity to intervene."

Supporting Sakumo as he sat down, Orochimaru walked toward Kaminazuki.

Kaminazuki was developing rapidly; at ten years old, he was nearly 1.6 meters tall, yet he was still a head shorter than Orochimaru.

Pale golden vertical pupils lowered slightly.

"I wanted to strike several times, but I always felt it would ruin your fun."

"As for just now..."

Orochimaru looked in the direction where Chiyo and the others had retreated, speaking slowly: "There was no possibility of us keeping Chiyo, and the price would have been at least Sakumo's death; it wouldn't have been worth it."

Turning his head back, Orochimaru's lips curled upward.

"Kaminazuki... you truly did it!"

"Breaking through your own limits to create a new 'jutsu'!"

"Merging physical energy and spiritual energy outside the body—a genius concept!"

Everyone considered Orochimaru a once-in-a-decade genius, but in his own eyes, his talent was not worth mentioning compared to Kaminazuki's.

Kaminazuki suppressed a smile, his mouth turning downward.

"Hmph, this was expected long ago."

Orochimaru naturally took the dying Earth Grudge Fear: "I will go find that guy to recharge you."

As he spoke, a flicker of brilliance moved through his eyes.

"Earth Grudge Fear still has its limitations; as the opponents you face grow stronger, its utility will diminish."

"If we could make it automatically replenish Chakra and possess a certain degree of regenerative ability..."

"Similar to a Tailed Beast?" Kaminazuki raised an eyebrow.

Orochimaru pondered for a few seconds before speaking slowly: "Better not think that far ahead; the existence of Tailed Beasts spans over a thousand years—they are natural disasters evolved by the world."

"Perhaps we could modify Earth Grudge Fear into..."

"The concept of a living puppet, what do you think?"

A fully automatic human puppet, huh...

Having watched the entire battle, it seemed Orochimaru had also found inspiration from Chiyo's fighting style.

If Earth Grudge Fear could provide Chakra while fighting autonomously, it would indeed be a massive upgrade.

The group found a shaded spot to sit, and Orochimaru helped Sakumo cut open his wounds to drain the poison.

Sakumo frowned in pain, gritting his teeth: "Isn't there a gentler way to detoxify?"

"I am not a professional medical ninja; if you need that, I can take you to find Tsunade."

Sakumo thought about it—that woman was even less gentle than Orochimaru—and quickly shook his head.

"Forget it... sigh, I really thought I was going to die this time."

"First it was an S-rank rogue ninja from Takigakure, and now I actually run into Sunagakure's Chiyo. Little brother Kaminazuki, do you have some special fate with the older generation? Or is your luck just that bad?"

Before Kaminazuki could speak, Orochimaru took the initiative to defend his disciple.

"For a genius like Kaminazuki who surpasses his peers, encountering renowned powerhouses is perfectly normal; it has nothing to do with luck."

He turned to look at Kaminazuki, his voice deepening: "This is the price of achieving fame at a young age. This time it was Chiyo; next time, you will enter the sights of even more powerful figures—perhaps even the Kage!"

"During this gap while you lack Earth Grudge Fear, I suggest you return to base to recuperate."

Kaminazuki thought for a moment and nodded.

"I have an idea that I need time to organize."

He could not rely solely on Earth Grudge Fear as his primary long-range attack method; after this battle, the vague ideas in his mind had been confirmed.

Orochimaru's eyes lowered, as if he had seen through what Kaminazuki was thinking: "Blood?"

"Hmm."

Kaminazuki raised his hand, a drop of blood seeping from his fingertip and morphing into the shape of a steel needle.

Swish—

The blood needle shot out, striking a withered tree not far away and shattering it, snapping the trunk clean in two.

The power was not bad.

"Using my Pupil Power as a medium, I can control the morphological changes of my own blood. Perhaps I can develop this into a technique usable at all ranges."

Orochimaru frowned slightly, quickly identifying the flaw in this mode: "Even if your body's hematopoiesis exceeds that of an ordinary person, a technique that consumes blood at such high speeds will carry the risk of dizziness from blood loss once you exceed your limit."

"To be honest, given your personality, I'm certain you'll overdo it."

"Ha~ am I really such an impulsive person?"

"...Are you not?"

Orochimaru, Sakumo, and even Shikaku all looked at Kaminazuki with strange expressions.

Anyone who knew you even slightly would never equate you with the word "calm," would they?

Suddenly, Shikaku spoke up.

"Lord Orochimaru is right; using blood as a disposable weapon causes too much depletion."

"However..."

Shikaku pressed his fingers to the ground, and his black shadow surged like a slithering snake.

"If you use it like my shadow, the depletion issue could be mitigated."

The group fell silent for a moment.

Sakumo was the first to speak: "I don't know much about the secret techniques of ninja clans, but even regarding the sword arts of the Hatake clan, my father strictly forbade me from passing them on to outsiders..."

"Shikaku, if you do this, the Nara clan..."

Orochimaru shook his head: "This is a taboo in Konoha. Even if you, Shikaku, are willing to teach it, others won't see it that way. It wouldn't be good for either you or Kaminazuki."

"What a load of bull-headed taboos."

Kaminazuki curled his lips, exchanging a smile with Shikaku.

"You didn't teach me; I copied it using my Sharingan, right?"

Shikaku nodded with a smile: "Besides, those old fossils in my clan certainly wouldn't dare to cause trouble for the Uchiha."

"As for others... Lord Orochimaru, don't underestimate your own weight."

Orochimaru was slightly stunned, then shook his head with a wry smile: "Have I become an old fossil myself..."

Sakumo let out a long breath, his gaze darkening as if he had made an important decision.

"I suddenly have a premonition that I might end up with a daughter who doesn't like sword arts. In that case..."

"Kaminazuki-kun, are you interested in learning?"

Unparalleled talent, a resilient disposition, and a charisma that makes people willing to impart everything they know.

Even I cannot help but want to add a stroke to this great undertaking...

Orochimaru lowered his eyes, looking deeply at Kaminazuki.

Just how far can you grow...

It is truly... enough to make one tremble with anticipation!

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An unknown land, a dark and deep palace.

The rocky ground rippled, and strange white creatures surged forth.

"Lord Madara, we have found someone capable of bearing your eyes. They are in the Land of Rain."

In the darkness, a pair of pale purple eyes, containing the mysteries of life and death, slowly opened.

"As for the Uchiha clansman to act as your proxy... I have a suitable candidate here as well."