Learning to Push His Luck

For Kei's shamelessness, Orochimaru accepted it but did not approve.

"Kei-kun, you shouldn't take shortcuts. The curse mark is only a weakened Sage Mode, and it falls far short of true Sage Mode. Its abilities merely amplified the power of ninjutsu. Without enough chakra to support it, it was ultimately only a temporary choice and couldn't play a decisive role."

Orochimaru meant well, and Kei knew that. But what choice did he have? If he could be sure that learning Sage Mode would succeed with absolute certainty, then Kei would definitely choose Sage Mode.

When there was a better choice and no risk, who would choose the worse one?

Kei couldn't explain this to Orochimaru. But since Orochimaru was being so polite and thinking so much about him, couldn't he push things a little further and make a few more demands?

People had to learn to push their luck.

"So, Mr. Orochimaru, is there any chance I could get Hiruho's research?"

Hiruho was a rogue ninja from Konoha, and a friend of Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru. His talent was inferior to theirs, so he had no renowned master to teach him.

Dissatisfied with his lot, he secretly studied the fusion technique Chimera to make up for his innate shortcomings. But the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, discovered it, judged it a forbidden technique that went against humanity, and sent the Sannin to hunt Hiruho down. Unfortunately, Hiruho escaped.

But Kei believed Orochimaru should have the results of that man's research. Their relationship wasn't ordinary.

Orochimaru was a little surprised; this matter was highly secret. After all, Hiruho had fused the cells of Iwa ninja Hiru, Suna ninja Pakura, Kiri ninja Nakayoshi, and Kumo ninja Troy. He hadn't harmed a single person from Konoha, yet he was still branded a rogue ninja.

The reason was worth pondering. At the time, Orochimaru had thought Hiruho's method was just an evolved version of the Sarutobi clan's secret technique!

Was that really enough reason to kill him?

That was why Orochimaru had deliberately gone easy on him during the pursuit, letting Hiruho escape.

"You actually know about him?" Orochimaru was surprised that Kei knew such a secret.

"There's little in the shinobi world that I don't know." Kei put on an air of mystery.

Orochimaru didn't press him and instead praised him.

"Kei-kun's intelligence network is so powerful that it's no surprise he isn't worried about Teacher Sarutobi's methods. But does Kei-kun also intend to follow Hiruho's path?"

Orochimaru didn't think much of Kei's choice.

He had fought Hiruho himself; that technique was nothing special. A copy could never be as good as the original.

So Orochimaru wanted to remind Kei that, with his status as Uchiha Kei, he had better options. There was no need to settle for an imitation.

But then Kei suddenly became serious, as if conducting this kind of imitation research were something truly great. Once again, Orochimaru heard the same speech Kei had given back then to avoid going to the battlefield.

"Orochimaru-kun, people like us are different from talented people like you! We have to work harder to achieve what comes easily to you."

Kei pushed open the window and let the breeze into the elegant courtyard. A warm current washed over them, and Kei spoke slowly, unusually serious.

"Since the day Konoha was founded, the common people here have been like stagnant water, never changing. Konoha's leaders control every avenue of advancement, and even the only ninja academy is little more than an institution for producing cannon fodder and disposable labor.

"The rare ripples are all caused by people as extraordinarily gifted as you, Mr. Orochimaru.

"But even your success depended on being a prominent figure's disciple, which gave you a path to advancement."

Kei strolled to the doorway and raised his eyes to the blazing sun. No matter how the world changed, the sun would always rise as usual.

"Mr. Orochimaru, the powerful have grown used to controlling other people's fates. They're too arrogant, so arrogant that they've forgotten there are at least two things they can't control: the talent of people like you, and the determination of untalented people like me to seek change."

A white cloud drifted past, blocking the glaring sunlight. In the shade, Uchiha Kei looked solemn and grave.

"They think they've found ways to control both kinds of people. They do everything they can to win over people like you, using master-disciple bonds, political marriages, and the ties of schoolmates to assimilate you into their ranks.

"If they can't win you over, they cut off your resources, leaving your talents with no stage on which to shine.

"As for people like me, who lack talent but still seek greater strength and a higher standing, they brand every path they can't control as heretical, mocking it and calling it a forbidden technique.

"They proudly judge those who grow stronger by using forbidden techniques, people like Hiruho."

Kei suddenly turned and stared into Orochimaru's eyes.

"They call it justice. They make everyone despise those who try to gain power through hard work, determination, and paths they haven't laid out for us, branding them evil."

"Are they arrogant? No, they're afraid."

"They're afraid of people like us rising from the dirt by methods they can't control and standing shoulder to shoulder with them. They're afraid my strength will reveal that, apart from being born into good circumstances, they're worthless. They're afraid we'll tear open their magnificent robes and reveal their festering sores."

"They won't allow us to do this. But we have to do it anyway. That is the resolve of an ordinary person like me."

The more seriously Kei spoke, the less Orochimaru believed him.

If Hiruho had said this, Orochimaru would have believed him. But Uchiha Kei, you're one of those powerful people you're talking about.

A person's position shaped their thinking. You weren't in the position of someone who could say such things, so there was no way you'd speak up for a cause like this.

And how many people had you already assigned a fate to? Yet you shamelessly lumped yourself in with the majority of ordinary people.

Even I, the mighty Orochimaru, had accepted your arrangements, hadn't I?

Since Uchiha Kei had deliberately opened the door and spoken so passionately, he certainly wasn't saying it for my benefit.

"Kei-kun, aren't all those powerful subordinates enough? They're a force capable of tipping the balance on a country's battlefield!"

Orochimaru dropped a subtle hint, implying that Kei's status and position didn't entitle him to say such things.

If you really had such a noble heart, you'd be fighting with your clan on Konoha's front lines right now, not building a base at Konoha's doorstep and preparing to wage civil war against it.

Kei shook his head, as if to say, I don't understand what you mean, Orochimaru. I'm just claiming the moral high ground.

"Not nearly enough."

"Then what exactly are you planning to do, Kei-kun?"

When someone's words didn't match their true intentions, there was always something suspicious. Orochimaru had already guessed that Uchiha Kei had grand ambitions.

Uchiha Kei walked out of the elegant courtyard and into the hall. Facing the crowd below, he looked upon them with compassion.

轻柔地话语从他的口中扩散到了整个南贺神社.

"I want the heavens to never again be able to cover my eyes, the earth to never again be able to bury my heart, all living beings to understand my will, and all the gods and Buddhas to vanish into nothing!"