"Clap, clap, clap!"
Fei Shi couldn't help applauding Orochimaru.
As expected of a clever man.
Even someone who treated human life as worthless could be hard to dislike in certain respects.
"Want to keep guessing?"
Fei Shi couldn't help asking.
Orochimaru answered without a moment's thought:
"All I can say is that Konoha has gained an extraordinary genius. That leaves only the Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave, doesn't it? But... why would you think I'd tell you how to get there?"
Orochimaru knew he wasn't Fei Shi's match, but if he wanted to escape—or if he couldn't—he could use his Cursed Seal to take over one of his subordinates' bodies.
He was quite satisfied with those bodies, too.
"Because I can give you a body you'll be satisfied with. I know you're researching immortality. You want a new body now, and I can find you one. Besides, I admire you."
Fei Shi smiled and laid his cards on the table.
Orochimaru wondered if this was a trap. Fei Shi had a close relationship with his former teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi. And since Orochimaru was an S-rank missing-nin from Konoha, he had reason to suspect Fei Shi had come to capture him.
Given Fei Shi's relationships with Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, it wasn't impossible that he'd heard things about Orochimaru from them and learned how to prevent his escape.
"Why should I trust you? We've never had anything to do with each other."
"There are no eternal friends, only eternal interests. And you can offer me something valuable. Your exploration and research into life will one day bring the Ninja World immense wealth—wealth beyond measure."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow.
He hadn't expected Fei Shi to say something like that, but he liked the sound of it.
"There are no eternal friends, only eternal interests. Heh. Hehehehehe."
Orochimaru let out a sinister laugh.
"I like that. I'll take you there, but first, show me you're serious."
"Sure."
Fei Shi took White Zetsu out of the System Space and tossed it in front of Orochimaru.
"This is White Zetsu. The Akatsuki you joined has over a hundred thousand of them. Though I doubt Pain knows the exact number."
Pain?!
How did he know about Pain?
And how did he know the Akatsuki had all those White Zetsu when even Pain didn't know?
Orochimaru kept a perfectly calm face, but his thoughts churned.
As for his membership in the Akatsuki, Konoha could uncover that if they investigated.
Orochimaru placed the controlled White Zetsu on the operating table. Before long, he made a discovery that shocked him.
White Zetsu's body contained a huge amount of Hashirama Cells!
But at a closer look, they seemed somehow different.
Their stability was many times greater than that of the Hashirama Cells he'd obtained himself.
If he could perfect the technique he'd been researching... he would gain a perfect body.
"I accept."
Orochimaru licked his lips.
"Good. Then let's work well together. I'll come to you for more collaborations in the future, and you'll be satisfied with what you gain."
"Hehehehe. It's an honor for me, too, to work with the grandson of the Asura of the Ninja World, the famous Uchiha Hise."
Fei Shi didn't know if Orochimaru meant it, and he didn't care.
Even if Orochimaru tried to take what he could and run, Fei Shi had ways to find him. The Ninja World was only so big, after all.
If he wanted to kill someone in the Ninja World as it stood, no one could protect them—not even if his elders, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, came back to life.
Konoha.
Fei Shi's estate was still lively.
Uzuki Yugao had gone on a mission, while the few clones Fei Shi had left behind were training Naruto and the others.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Neji were practicing Bajiquan, while Hinata was learning Wing Chun.
With Naruto's personality and physique, as well as the Uzumaki Clan's astonishing chakra reserves and recovery, learning the powerful, unyielding Bajiquan was undoubtedly the best choice for him.
Sasuke had the Sharingan, and after several weeks of training under Fei Shi, he could use it without difficulty.
The heightened perception his Sharingan gave him made him well suited to close-quarters combat. As long as he trained seriously, he could become a ninja skilled in both close-range and long-range attacks.
Any kind of martial art suited him.
The same was true of Neji. He was a close-combat ninja, and Bajiquan, Taijiquan, or Wing Chun would all suit him—except for leg techniques.
Hinata's physique was a little weaker than the other three's, and Wing Chun was undoubtedly the best choice for a girl.
Hinata had tried Bajiquan before. Now she was learning Wing Chun, and once she combined the Hyuga Gentle Fist with Taijiquan and Wing Chun, her strength would multiply. Even a ninja stronger and more powerful than her could be caught off guard and brought down.
More important to her was that she could now talk normally with the others, except that she still blushed a little around Naruto.
Of the four, Naruto had learned the least, but he was also the most exhausted.
Fei Shi had given Kurama a boost. Now, like the Symbiote, Kurama could use its own chakra and Naruto's to form an upper body behind Naruto.
Its strength depended on Naruto.
In this state, Naruto had an extra head and two arms.
But the extra head and arms belonged to Kurama, and Naruto couldn't control them. So they spent most of their time sparring with Fei Shi's clones to improve their coordination.
Kurama could also envelop Naruto like the Symbiote. Since Kurama's body was formed from a large amount of its own chakra and some of Naruto's, Kurama's chakra would hurt Naruto without Naruto's own chakra.
In this state, Naruto looked like Kurama standing upright. Under Kurama's direction, he fought like a Beast, and was much stronger than before.
Kurama, however, was thoroughly dissatisfied because this cut into its time for watching anime, binge-watching shows, and beating video games.
Fei Shi didn't know what to make of it. He'd taken the right approach to building a relationship between Naruto and Kurama early, but he'd spoiled Kurama. All Kurama did every day was eat snacks, play games, and watch anime and shows.
By using the Art of Differentiation to form two extra claws just for eating, Kurama could keep snacking even while playing games with both hands.
Since the clones returned to the main body after a certain period, Kurama's weight kept going up. It had gotten a little fatter, too.
"Ah! I can't take it anymore! Hah, hah, hah. I'm exhausted. I can't go on. I really can't."
Naruto collapsed to the ground, too tired to get back up.
Hinata, who was resting, brought Naruto a bowl of water.
Neji and Sasuke had just finished drinking the water she'd brought them, but suddenly it didn't taste so good anymore.
Neji especially was clenching his teeth so hard they nearly cracked.
His little cousin had been led away when she was so young. No—her would-be kidnapper hadn't even meant to take her, but Hinata had followed him anyway. He felt heartsick and miserable, and wanted to cry.
Sasuke, on the other hand, was simply competing with Naruto. In every other way, they were evenly matched.
But he'd never received that kind of treatment. He wanted to surpass Naruto in every way. Every single way.
Should I find someone, too?
Before you continue