Orochimaru's Recruitment

"Kid, do you know who I am?"

Just as Yun Xi was wondering how to escape, Orochimaru, who had been watching him from nearby, suddenly spoke.

Then, without waiting for Yun Xi to explain, he slowly walked toward him.

It looked like he was getting ready to...

Make a move!

"Even if I know, I can't say!"

Seeing this, Yun Xi silently grumbled to himself as he kept backing away.

He tried to find an opportunity to get out of the narrow alley.

But...

It was obvious.

Orochimaru had no intention of giving Yun Xi a chance to escape.

The moment Yun Xi stepped back, Orochimaru used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind him.

At the same time, a sharp sword pressed against Yun Xi's neck.

He gave Yun Xi no chance to escape.

"Kid, I believe you're a clever one. I like geniuses like you."

"But..."

"I don't like people who are too clever, either..."

Orochimaru paused, and a trace of icy killing intent appeared in his eyes...

"What exactly is Orochimaru trying to do...?"

Now that Orochimaru had made the first move, Yun Xi was filled with confusion.

When it came to Orochimaru, more than anything, Yun Xi didn't want to provoke him.

At least, not right now.

If Yun Xi had dared to take the initiative against Hyuga Hiashi earlier, it was because he was confident in his own strength.

But in this situation...

Not fighting was the wisest choice.

Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Flame-Flame Fruit.

Unusual Fire Release Ninjutsu.

These might have counted as trump cards against ordinary ninja.

But Orochimaru was different.

If Yun Xi showed him all those abilities one by one...

It would only make Orochimaru even more interested in him.

That was the last thing Yun Xi wanted.

After considering the worst possible outcome, Yun Xi stopped playing dumb and decided to take the initiative.

"Lord Orochimaru," Yun Xi suddenly said.

"What an interesting little brat..."

Hearing Yun Xi say his name, a flash of delight crossed Orochimaru's usually calm face.

"So you do know who I am..."

"I know the name of Lord Orochimaru, one of the Konoha Sannin."

Facing Orochimaru, Yun Xi showed little fear. With a serious expression, he delivered the words he had prepared.

Orochimaru, however, looked surprised.

"Kid, you're too calm. So calm that I can hardly believe it."

After a few moments of silence, Orochimaru spoke again. He lowered the sword from Yun Xi's neck, then patted him on the shoulder and said slowly, "Kid, do you want to become stronger?"

"What the heck?!"

Hearing the very line Orochimaru used to lure children in the original Naruto story, Yun Xi couldn't help looking taken aback.

"Surprised?"

Orochimaru seemed curious at his reaction. He walked right up to Yun Xi with a smile and said, "At first, I came here just to see who Danzo's potential Wood Style experiment subject was."

"But when I got to your house, I found that besides Danzo's men, the Hokage and people from the Hyuga Clan were also nearby..."

"So I took care of all of them for you."

"Come with me. I can make you stronger, so you won't be watched anymore or have to compromise in this illusory Ninja World..."

"You could even gain something beyond your wildest imagination..."

"Immortality!"

When Orochimaru finished speaking, Yun Xi didn't know what to say. He could only look at Orochimaru with helplessness written all over his face...

"Like hell I believe you!"

If Yun Xi weren't a transmigrator, and didn't know the story of Naruto...

Perhaps Orochimaru could have talked him into it.

After all, the most important thing in the Ninja World was probably becoming stronger.

And Orochimaru himself was a veteran Kage Level shinobi.

It was a promise almost no one could resist.

But Yun Xi was different...

Whenever he thought of the fate of the boys Orochimaru had lured in the original story, he felt sick.

Kimimaro...

Sakon and Ukon.

And the others...

None of them had a happy ending.

"Have you made up your mind?"

When Yun Xi still didn't answer, Orochimaru pressed him again.

At the same time...

The Kusanagi Sword he had put away appeared in his hand once more.

The killing intent radiating from Orochimaru...

It seemed to tell Yun Xi that if he didn't agree, death was his only fate.

"Orochimaru, what if I refuse?"

Though Orochimaru's killing intent filled the air, Yun Xi didn't agree just to buy time.

Instead, he asked tentatively what would happen if he refused.

"You'll die."

Orochimaru answered bluntly, then murmured, "Power and immortality are right in front of you, yet you don't treasure them. You really are an interesting little brat..."

Orochimaru smiled and pointed the Kusanagi Sword in his hand straight at Yun Xi!

"Is he going to attack?"

Feeling the aura coming from Orochimaru, Yun Xi understood what he meant.

Obviously...

He was about to make his move.

"I can't believe Orochimaru has set his sights on me. What went wrong...?"

As he searched for the best place to defend himself, Yun Xi wondered what had drawn Orochimaru's attention.

But that was a problem for later.

Facing Orochimaru, whose intentions were unclear, Yun Xi stopped thinking about it.

He focused entirely on the Orochimaru before him.

In terms of raw strength...

Even two Yun Xis wouldn't be a match for Orochimaru right now.

But if he didn't try...

His fate would be no better than death!

"Kid, are you going to fight?"

As expected of a veteran Kage Level shinobi. The moment Yun Xi moved...

Orochimaru had already seen through his intentions.

But Orochimaru didn't attack right away.

Instead, he studied Yun Xi with an intrigued look. Once Yun Xi had put some distance between them, Orochimaru smiled and said, "Let me see what you're really capable of..."

"This guy Orochimaru is a freak!"

Yun Xi had no time to pay attention to Orochimaru's words. As he prepared for battle, he tried to figure out how he could temporarily escape Orochimaru's grasp!

"The Hokage Office Building..."

Suddenly, Yun Xi looked toward the towering Hokage Office Building. As he gazed at Konoha's most magnificent structure, a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes.

After all, apart from Uchiha Itachi, the only person in Konoha who could stop Orochimaru right now...

Was the Third Hokage, stationed inside the Hokage Office Building...