The Silver Tongue

Hōzuki Mangetsu understood Orochimaru quite well.

Compared to conquering the ninja world, Orochimaru preferred conducting research; he was undoubtedly the number one mad scientist in the Naruto World.

A cold glint flashed in Orochimaru's eyes as he smiled mockingly. "You are being so cooperative that it actually makes me feel a bit embarrassed."

Although he said this, he did not lower his guard in the slightest. After all, the other party was a genius youth of the Hozuki Clan, and even for one of the Sannin, dealing with Mangetsu would require some effort.

Hōzuki Mangetsu thought for a moment, reached out, and tossed a scroll to Orochimaru's feet.

"The secret Hydrification Technique of our Hozuki Clan is recorded right there. You are free to take it."

Orochimaru did not move, his cold, sinister gaze fixed firmly on him. Only after a long while did he extend his tongue to pick up the scroll.

After confirming it was not a trap, he opened it to take a look with peace of mind.

It was indeed the Hozuki Clan's secret Hydrification Technique.

Orochimaru could tell at a glance whether it was genuine or fake.

Putting the scroll away, Orochimaru smiled with satisfaction and said, "Those who know the times are heroes. Hōzuki Mangetsu, you truly are a smart man."

The reason he had tracked Mangetsu was specifically for the Hozuki Clan's Hydrification Technique. Now that he had obtained it, he had no reason to continue hunting Mangetsu.

As for the ninja swords in Mangetsu's possession, Orochimaru, who owned the Kusanagi Sword—one of the three legendary artifacts—did not care for them at all.

Sheathing the Kusanagi Sword, Orochimaru slowly turned and left.

Saved!

Hōzuki Mangetsu plopped onto the ground, unable to help but wipe the cold sweat from his face. He was worthy of being a major boss in the early stages of Naruto; his strength was truly monstrous.

Kirigakure likely had no one who could rival him; even the Fourth Mizukage, the Three-Tails Jinchuriki Yagura, was no match for Orochimaru.

At this moment, Yagura was likely still being controlled by Obito, who went by the alias Tobi. Kirigakure had been torn apart by him, and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were already in name only.

Many bloodline clans were about to be purged by the village, including the Hozuki Clan, the Kaguya Clan, and the Yuki Clan—a self-destructive path.

However, since Hōzuki Suigetsu had transmigrated here, he would certainly change this situation and not let such a tragedy occur.

"Mr. Orochimaru, please wait a moment!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu suddenly chased after him.

What is it?

Orochimaru sneered and said, "Are you not reconciled?"

No, no!

Hōzuki Mangetsu hurriedly shook his head.

In the Naruto World, Orochimaru was one of the few powerhouses capable of swaying the plot's development. He himself was an existence at the Super Kage level, and his strength could not be ignored.

If Hōzuki Mangetsu wanted to accomplish something, Orochimaru would be a very good ally.

"Mr. Orochimaru, I would like to cooperate with you."

Cooperate!

Orochimaru laughed out loud several times.

"I don't think you can offer anything of value."

Smart people do not engage in losing deals, and Orochimaru was no exception.

What interested him about Hōzuki Mangetsu was the Hydrification Technique. Now that the technique was in his hands, Mangetsu naturally had no further value to be exploited.

Is that so?

Hōzuki Mangetsu also smiled and said, "Actually, I believe we still have many areas for cooperation. For example, the Sharingan, for example, the secret of immortality, for example, the secrets of the Senju Clan, for example, the Akatsuki..."

Orochimaru swiftly drew the Kusanagi Sword and slashed Hōzuki Mangetsu in half with one strike.

Splash!

Mangetsu's body instantly turned into a puddle of water.

Another Water Clone!

Orochimaru snorted, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

The earlier Exploding Water Colliding Wave had left this place filled with water, which made it even easier for Mangetsu to use Water Release ninjutsu.

Mangetsu's figure emerged from the water surface once again.

"What exactly do you know?"

Orochimaru's cold, sinister gaze locked onto Mangetsu.

A smile appeared on the corner of Hōzuki Mangetsu's mouth. As a transmigrator, he was naturally intimately familiar with the plot. Excluding the Sage of Six Paths, he was the person in this world who understood the Naruto story best.

"I am a Jonin of Kirigakure and a descendant of the Hozuki Clan; naturally, I have access to intelligence that others cannot reach."

The Hozuki Clan!

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. Although he did not hold Mangetsu in high regard, he dared not underestimate the Hozuki Clan.

This was because the Hozuki Clan was once the strongest clan in Kirigakure and had produced top-tier powerhouses like the Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu.

Very well!

Orochimaru slowly sheathed his Kusanagi Sword: "What is it that you want?"

Having confirmed that he could not effectively deal with Hōzuki Mangetsu, he chose a different strategy; besides, what Hōzuki Mangetsu was saying piqued his interest.

It's simple!

Hōzuki Mangetsu said: "I need power."

In the original story, Hōzuki Mangetsu was merely a quasi-Kage level ninja, and the Second Mizukage's bloodline limit, the Liquefaction Technique, had not been passed down. It was difficult enough to survive in the turbulent Kirigakure, let alone endure the events of the Fourth Great Ninja War.

Therefore, he had to become stronger.

In the Naruto World, there are two types of strong individuals: one possesses innate advantages, such as Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama. The other achieves success through acquired effort, such as Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Namikaze Minato.

Facts have proven that no matter how hard a commoner works, they can never reach the heights of those with innate advantages. For example, no matter how hard Haruno Sakura tries, she will never be a match for Sasuke or Naruto.

However, Hōzuki Mangetsu knew there was another possibility: Orochimaru's modification experiments.

Snake-Uncle is definitely a major bug in the Naruto plot; he has always been striving for the commoner to counter-attack the elite.

He used his own methods to transform those without innate advantages into elite existences.

Hōzuki Mangetsu knew that to obtain power, cooperating with Snake-Uncle was the only path.

Power?

Orochimaru suddenly laughed out loud a few times and said: "It seems you and I are of the same mind. Not bad, only power can allow you to survive in this world."

He suddenly restrained his smile and said: "The acquisition of power comes with a price. Hōzuki Mangetsu, what kind of price can you pay?"

If Hōzuki Mangetsu did not have a sufficient price to offer, he wouldn't bother wasting his breath on him.

"With your status, obtaining a pair of Sharingan is not a difficult task. But you haven't transplanted them; you want the Mangekyou Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan, don't you?"

Hōzuki Mangetsu said indifferently.

According to plot analysis, in the early stages, Orochimaru constantly coveted the bodies of the Uchiha brothers, wanting to seize them as containers for his own soul, but he failed miserably every time. First, he was no match for Itachi's Tsukuyomi, then three years later his physical body was destroyed by Sasuke, and finally, he was sealed by the Impure World Reincarnation of Itachi.

Snake-Uncle could be described as tragic; from this, it is certain that he did not understand the secrets of the Sharingan.

Orochimaru's expression shifted uncertainly. He had read the records of the First Hokage and knew that the strongest ocular technique of the Uchiha Clan was the Mangekyou Sharingan. The Mangekyou Sharingan not only possessed the ability to control Tailed Beasts but also possessed the super-powerful Susanoo. Uchiha Madara once used this technique to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama. But for some reason, the Uchiha Clan in Konoha had not awakened it to this day?