This Shinobi World Is So Cold / Seven Years

I've already deployed the Hidden Mist Village Line, how can you activate the Sound Village Line? What are you thinking?

"Lord Orochimaru, as fellow disciples of Ryūchi Cave, I think we should have other topics to discuss."

I don't think so.

We're both descendants of Ryūchi Cave? Why didn't you think of this when you stopped me last time?

I noticed you seemed quite happy about stopping them back then!

"Lord Orochimaru, your vision is too narrow..." Uchiha Shingen sighed.

Orochimaru remained unmoved.

Uchiha Shingen would sigh while chatting with someone and then start causing trouble.

Even if he's no longer in Leaf Village, he still knows.

"Lord Orochimaru, are you short on funds?"

"That's how research is," Orochimaru said, his eyes lighting up. "You want to invest money?"

Although the conditions here are simple, with no projector or PowerPoint, he is prepared to use his silver tongue.

After Danzo and then Daimyo, he was extremely professional about how to deceive... no, how to secure funding.

"How could that be? Have you forgotten that you're missing-nin?"

"Well, if there's nothing else, goodbye. I'm quite busy."

"Don't rush me." Uchiha Shingen looked around at the equipment. "This isn't from the Land of Fire. Speaking of smuggling, you know Lord Orochimaru, we have a little bit of a personal relationship."

"Price range," Orochimaru said clearly and concisely.

"We'll offer 20% off the original price," Uchiha Shingen said. "This is already cost price; we still need to bribe the middlemen."

"No problem." Orochimaru was very satisfied; this was indeed a fair price.

Getting your money doubled is normal when it comes to this kind of thing.

"Can you guarantee the quantity?" Orochimaru asked. "I have more than this scale, and I'll need to modify the equipment myself, which will cause wear and tear."

"Quantity is not a problem." Uchiha Shingen wanted to light a cigarette at this moment, as it would give him a more black market vibe.

But he has already quit smoking this week.

"That's good. Tell me, what kind of technology do you want?" Orochimaru's attitude had improved considerably. "If there's no readily available technology, I can start a project specifically for it."

"Cursed Seal," Uchiha Shingen said. "I know you're researching the Cursed Seal based on the principles of Senjutsu Mode, and I want that technology."

Chapter 43 This Ninja World is Truly Cold

The power of Senjutsu is a blind spot in the Uchiha Clan Ninjutsu system.

The Cursed Seal is a shortcut created by Orochimaru by taking a different approach.

Even for Uchiha Shingen, who had already mastered Senjutsu, this technique was very helpful.

This Cursed Seal greatly contributed to Orochimaru's immortality in the original timeline.

Orochimaru was indeed a genius, in every sense of the word.

"Cursed Seal?" Orochimaru didn't answer immediately. He first went through the entire process of how he created it in his mind. "How did you know?"

"We do have some intelligence capabilities," Uchiha Shingen said. "Otherwise, we would have been killed long ago."

I'm ashamed to say, but the Uchiha Clan in the original timeline really had an asymmetry when it came to intelligence.

Outside of Leaf Village, they've built a ton of safe houses, and their intelligence gathering is truly impressive.

Once inside Leaf Village, they're practically mentally challenged.

Orochimaru thought about it. Although he had some doubts, it didn't seem entirely unreasonable for such a prestigious old ninja clan as the Uchiha Clan to have such intelligence capabilities.

Perhaps they were hiding their true abilities before; that's probably it.

Otherwise, the situation wouldn't have suddenly turned around just because of Uchiha Shingen. During this process, the entire Uchiha Clan cooperated with Uchiha Shingen to exert their strength.

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became, and he decided to increase security measures in the future to prevent intelligence leaks.

"Since you all know, that's fine." Orochimaru said generously. "Since the Uchiha Clan is interested, I'm naturally willing to share. However, this technology is not yet complete, and the equipment alone may not be enough."

He once again felt a pang of regret that he couldn't use a PowerPoint presentation here.

"I'm not greedy, but I lack experimental materials. I hope to obtain them through the Uchiha Clan's channels."

What kind of goods?

"Of course, it's medicine," Orochimaru said. "I don't need the finished product, I just need the raw materials."

"That's easy," Uchiha Shingen readily agreed. "Very easy."

"Then it's a pleasure to work with you," Orochimaru said. "Next time you come, I'll give you a list. Don't worry, I won't shortchange you a single penny, but the research efficiency depends on how quickly the supplies arrive."

"The goods are not a problem, but I'll check on the progress once a month, how about that?"

"No problem, I'm right here, you can come anytime."

Orochimaru readily agreed.

He acknowledged that Uchiha Shingen was very strong, but he didn't think Shingen could understand the experiments.

However, he didn't seem to mind; that's just how the funding is.

Those who invest money love to see the progress, but they don't actually understand it at all.

That's how Shimura Danzō; he started quite a few projects back then, and he really enjoyed himself.

Although judging from Uchiha Shingen's attitude, there's no way to solve the shortage of live materials, and he won't directly invest money in him, it would be helpful to improve his equipment and the supply of medicinal materials to reduce his costs.

In any case, human transplantation will not be needed in the early or middle stages of this project.

Later on, the task can also be undertaken by volunteers among the subordinates.

The Land of Rice Fields is still quite remote, making many things difficult and costly to manage.

But compared to other places, establishing his organization here is the most suitable option.

Orochimaru has already devised a plan to first incorporate the various small ninja organizations within the Land of Land of Rice Fields, thus giving Sound Village a certain size and making it resemble a ninja village.

Then we need to figure out how to create a Ninjutsu system that looks distinctive, so that the Sound Village will look more like a legitimate entity.

He had a very pleasant conversation with Uchiha Shingen, and decided to leave his beloved laboratory for a short while to personally escort Uchiha Shingen to the exit.

As for the fact that Uchiha Shingen had helped Namikaze Minato stop him before, he no longer cared.

He, Orochimaru, is magnanimous!

As the two walked out of the laboratory, Uchiha Shingen Orochimaru personally escorted him.

Orochimaru is truly quite pure; his unpredictability stems entirely from his interest when he's the boss.

As for using people for experiments, he probably sees it as a normal academic practice.

This is a typical "technique-based" way of thinking.

"Lord Orochimaru, if you become too engrossed in 'techniques,' you might end up putting the cart before the horse," Uchiha Shingen said to Orochimaru as they walked down the corridor.

"To achieve my goal, a complete set of techniques is essential." Orochimaru looked at Uchiha Shingen. "Shingen- kun, you seem very confident that I can complete the Cursed Seal. Is this the confidence of Senjutsu practitioner?"

No, I just read the comic.

"I trust Lord Orochimaru's abilities," said Uchiha Shingen. "I don't believe a word you say about other things, but when it comes to research, I believe you're the most dedicated."

Anyway, the experimental data will tell you whether you're lying or not.

"Haha, Shingen, you're really something." Orochimaru chuckled.

This was the first time someone had trusted him in this way.

Okay, considering this trust, he'll provide a complete set of technologies later.

"We should keep in touch more often in the future," Orochimaru said with a smile. "If the Uchiha Clan ever needs any help outside, they can also ask Sound Village for assistance. By the way, I will also send someone to represent Sound Village in forming an alliance with Leaf Village."

"Of course," Uchiha Shingen said. "It's just placing an order, so it doesn't matter who you place the order with."

Black Zetsu has disappeared, so Orochimaru will be his main focus from now on. That guy is truly a source of endless surprises.

From a certain perspective, the Fourth Shinobi World War in the original timeline, excluding the main characters and bosses, was essentially a duel between Senju Tobirama, representing the old era, and Orochimaru, representing the new era.

The most eye-catching techniques were all invented by the two of them.

Orochimaru gave a bunch of reasons for participating in the war, Uchiha Shingen only believed one of them—that destroying the world would affect his research.

Reaching the exit, Uchiha Shingen Orochimaru.

Orochimaru glanced at his gesture.

"Shingen, you should know that everyone knows you Flying Thunder God Technique, right?"

"Lord Orochimaru, we're friends now." Uchiha Shingen frowned. "Shouldn't we shake hands to wish each other a pleasant collaboration?"

"If you can't use the Flying Thunder God, I'd even be happy to hug you."

This Ninja World is so cold; trust between people is so fragile!

Uchiha Shingen regretfully and secretly dissipated the Chakra within his body.

"That's a real shame, but there's plenty of time. One day you'll realize I'm actually a good person."

"I also feel very sorry, Shingen- kun," Orochimaru said with a smile, "But you really are a dangerous fellow."

He had actually already developed the initial version of the Cursed Seal, and the first living test subject was himself.

At such close range, he could sense when someone activated their Chakra.

"Well then, Lord Orochimaru, I shall take my leave."

"No need to see me off."

Chapter Forty-Four Seven Years

The remaining days of Leaf Village's fifty-fourth year passed peacefully.

Within Konoha, perhaps the grandest event is the birthday banquet of Hinata Hyuga, the youngest princess of the Main Family Hyuga Clan's Hinata Hyuga.

But in this timeline, without the troublesome Cloud Ninja, many people still came to attend the banquet.

Leaving aside the three allied clans of the Uchiha Clan, Inuzuka Clan, and Aburame Clan, Sarutobi Clan, Nara Clan, Yamanaka Clan, and Akimichi Clan also sent people to offer their congratulations.

Namikaze Minato was working overtime and didn't come, but his wife did, along with several survivors of the Uzumaki Clan.

Hinata Hyuga had a very happy birthday party. In her eyes, who was still a child, many kind adults came to congratulate her on her birthday and gave her many gifts, which made her extremely happy.

Hinata Hyuga saw the adults as kind and friendly, and they seemed to be very close to each other.

Outside the village, the Joint Chunin Exams, hosted by Kirigakure, were also held as scheduled, Jonin by the Sarutobi Clan.

Uchiha Itachi passed the exam without any doubt, becoming the most outstanding student in this Chunin Ninja Exams.

Although he hasn't awakened his Sharingan yet, he still manages to live a relatively easy life thanks to his family's Fire Release Manipulated Shuriken Technique.

Then he collected a bunch of love letters in Kirigakure.

Of course, this is meaningless. If he wanted to stay and develop in Kirigakure, Uchiha Fugaku could drive his Susanoo to Kirigakure and commit domestic violence.

Oh, right, there's one more very, very important thing.

Uchiha Sasuke discovered that Uchiha Mikoto from his father.

The Fugaku residence that day was quite tragic.

According to Sakurako and Haku's recollections, the current Kage of Hidden Leaf Village went out the next day with panda eyes and covered his face whenever he saw someone.

Sasuke's butt seems to have gotten a little chubby. That day, he unusually didn't wrestle with Naruto Uzumaki, mainly because his butt can't be touched; if it is, he'll scream.

The controversy surrounding the Fugaku- style calligraphy that briefly arose in the black market also disappeared as a result.

Uchiha Tekka was the only one who regretted this, while Uchiha Shingen felt that he really hadn't been beaten enough.

Days passed by like Tenten.

Uchiha Shingen has officially begun his quiet life.

Every day is the routine of training and drills with the kids. I go out for a few days each month, and of course, I'm regularly taken to the Hokage Building for meetings in the middle of the month.