New Dual Cultivation Target

The following month, Xuandou spent his time quite leisurely.

Regarding administrative affairs, he handed the Konoha Police Force entirely over to Fugaku.

Even though the crime rate in Konoha was currently sky-high, what did it matter to Xuandou if Fugaku was busy running around like a headless chicken?

He would either find Kurenai for "in-depth exchanges" on genjutsu, often lasting late into the night.

Or he would be busy training Pakura, slowly turning her into a qualified secretary.

Yes, the kind that was qualified in every aspect.

Occasionally, he would also check on the construction progress of Goumu Ganweng.

The empty plot of land in the clan compound was now fenced off, with clanging and banging sounds echoing throughout the day.

Uchiha clansmen would crane their necks to peek as they passed by, curious about what was being built inside.

But the craftsmen were tight-lipped; no matter who asked, they just shook their heads.

This only made everyone even more curious.

Xuandou didn't explain either, only smiling and saying:

"Once it's finished, I guarantee it will give you all a big surprise."

That day, Xuandou had just finished inspecting the construction site with Pakura.

Goumu Ganweng had already indicated that the first building would be completed in a few days.

The others would take a few more days.

Xuandou immediately felt a sense of anticipation.

Just as Xuandou was planning to go home and continue "training" Pakura, someone suddenly appeared before him.

It was a female ninja, looking about the same age as Shisui, around twelve or thirteen years old.

She wore a black bodysuit with a fishnet bra underneath, wrapping her budding figure in a curvaceous silhouette.

Beneath her short skirt were a pair of fair, slender legs, and she wore ninja boots on her feet.

Her deep purple hair was tied into a high ponytail, with bangs covering half her face, and the visible eye held a hint of roguishness.

With her hands on her hips and her chin tilted up, she said:

"Xuandou, my teacher requests your presence!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the system's voice rang in Xuandou's mind:

[Ding! Suitable dual-cultivation female ninja detected.]

[Name: Anko Mitarashi

Kekkei Genkai: Heaven Curse Mark

Strength: Chunin

Overall Rating: A-rank]

Xuandou was stunned for a moment.

Anko Mitarashi?

Of course he knew this girl; she was the student of Orochimaru and an older sister type who loved dango in the original story.

But now... she was way too young!

He looked at the little girl in front of him who hadn't fully grown yet and shook his head inwardly.

Twelve years old—back on Blue Star, she would still be in middle school.

Although in this ninja world, twelve-year-olds going to the battlefield or getting married and having children was not uncommon.

But he still possessed memories from Blue Star, and he had to have his bottom line.

Wait two years, let her grow up first.

"Your teacher... is Lord Orochimaru, one of the Sannin?"

Anko nodded.

Xuandou narrowed his eyes.

Orochimaru was looking for him?

What was he planning?

He thought about it; he now possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan, so even if Orochimaru had any crooked ideas, he wouldn't necessarily be able to do anything to him.

"Fine, lead the way."

He also wanted to see what exactly Orochimaru was up to.

Anko led Xuandou and Pakura toward the outskirts of the village.

The three of them traveled through the woods for half an hour until they arrived at a familiar place—the Forest of Death.

Anko didn't stop, leading them deep into the forest until they finally halted in front of a giant, moss-covered boulder.

She reached out and pressed against the stone, causing the ground to suddenly crack open and reveal a set of stairs leading downward.

"Please."

Xuandou glanced at the pitch-black entrance before lifting his foot and walking inside.

The stairs were long, and the air grew colder the further down he went.

Dim oil lamps were lit at intervals along both sides of the passage, their flickering flames stretching shadows out to great lengths.

The air was permeated with an indescribable scent, reminiscent of medicinal potions mixed with the stench of something rotting.

After rounding a corner, the view suddenly opened up.

It was a massive underground space with niches chiseled into the four walls, each filled with glass jars of various sizes.

The dim, yellowish light shone upon the jars, revealing the contents soaking within:

Human arms, eyeballs, and organs that could not be named, all floating up and down in pale green liquid.

A few iron beds stood in the corner, their surfaces stained with dark, brownish residue.

Various tools hung on the walls—hooks, tweezers, and saws—all glinting coldly under the light.

Xuandou's eyelids twitched, but he did not stop his pace.

Passing through this area and walking down another corridor, he finally arrived at the innermost room.

The room was brighter than the outside, with more lamps lit on all four walls.

A man stood in the center.

He wore a grayish-white kimono tied with a purple sash, the collar wide open to reveal a pale chest.

His long black hair fell to his waist, and his skin was white to the point of being sickly.

His face was exceptionally handsome, with slender, elongated eyes and thin lips curled into a faint, enigmatic smile.

The most striking feature was his eyes: golden, slit pupils, like those of a snake, making one's back turn cold when stared at.

"Xuandou-kun, you really did come."

Orochimaru's voice was low and hoarse, carrying an indescribable, sinister softness.

Xuandou stood still before him, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings.

"Lord Orochimaru, I saw quite a few things on my way here. These experiments... they are strictly forbidden in Konoha."

Orochimaru chuckled softly, the sound cold and devoid of any warmth.

"Common rules are meaningless in my eyes. Xuandou-kun is a smart man; I believe you can understand."

Xuandou did not respond.

He truly admired Orochimaru.

The man had a brilliant mind and was a master of research; many of his concepts were far ahead of this era.

Furthermore, he wasn't strictly "evil" in the traditional sense; it was just that many of his philosophies were not permitted in this age.

However, when dealing with a person like this, one had to be constantly wary of being bitten back.

He couldn't be bothered to beat around the bush and asked directly:

"I wonder what business Lord Orochimaru has with me?"

Orochimaru stared at him, his golden slit pupils unmoving.

"I am very interested in the Uchiha Sharingan. I wish to study it."

Xuandou raised an eyebrow:

"Are you unaware that I am the Uchiha clan head? Aren't you afraid I'll turn hostile saying that to my face?"

The smile at the corners of Orochimaru's mouth deepened.

"If someone as rigid as Fugaku were the clan head, I would have secretly snatched a few Uchiha clansmen to study at my leisure. But since it is you, I am willing to attempt a dialogue, and I believe you have your own methods."

Xuandou neither confirmed nor denied it.

Seeing this, Orochimaru extended his tongue and licked his lips.

The tongue was thin and long, like a snake's flicking organ.

"Experiments can help us uncover the secrets of the Kekkei Genkai. My research findings can also be shared with you."

"How do I contact you?"

Orochimaru's eyes brightened.

He pulled a scroll from his sleeve and tossed it to Xuandou.

Xuandou caught it, unfolded it, and saw it was a Summoning Formula.

He nodded and tucked the scroll away.

"Fine, I'll be going then."

Having said that, he turned and left with Pakura.

Anko stood in the corner, watching Xuandou's back disappear at the end of the corridor.

She bit her lip, walked over to Orochimaru, and whispered:

"Teacher... I... I don't want to participate in these experiments anymore..."

Orochimaru turned his head, his golden slit pupils landing on her.

That gaze was icy, devoid of any emotion.

Anko's back went numb, and every hair on her body stood on end.

Before she could react, her neck suddenly grew hot.

Immediately following, that heat spread rapidly, like a searing branding iron pressed against her skin, or like countless needles stabbing into her veins.

"Ah--!"

Anko's legs went weak, and she collapsed directly onto the floor.

She clutched her neck with both hands, her body arching like a shrimp, trembling all over.

Sweat broke out instantly, streaming down her cheeks.

"No... don't... it hurts..."

She curled up on the ground, her teeth chattering, wanting to scream but unable to make a sound, only broken syllables squeezing out of her throat.

"Hot... so hot... Teacher... I was wrong..."

Orochimaru looked down at her from above, his face showing not a ripple of emotion.

Only when Anko's struggling gradually weakened did he speak slowly:

"You are my most perfect experiment. Therefore..."

He paused, bent down, and leaned close to Anko's ear.

"I do not wish to hear those words again."

On the other side, it was already late at night when Xuandou returned to the Uchiha Clan Grounds with Pakura.

Moonlight spilled onto the stone path, and the surroundings were deathly quiet.

Xuandou's hand had just rested on Pakura's waist, and before he could do anything, a voice suddenly came from behind:

"Lord Xuandou."

Shisui stepped out from the shadows and knelt on one knee.

On the ground beside him lay two people, their hands and feet bound, faces pressed against the floor, motionless.

"These two were trying to kidnap a member of the Uchiha clan just now, so I captured them."