"Oh?"
"Then tell me, how do you want to become stronger with my help?"
"What do you want to learn?"
Orochimaru looked at Second Pillar with great interest. Sasuke's words had piqued his curiosity, and a teasing smile played across his face.
Originally,
after refusing Sasuke, he had intended to return straight to his experiments. But now, he wanted to hear exactly what Sasuke had to say.
And besides,
what could he possibly do for him?
"I want to learn Sage Mode!"
Second Pillar looked at Orochimaru, enunciating each word. His eyes burned with a desire for power.
Of course,
this was the conclusion he had reached after the last great battle.
"Hehe. You want to learn Sage Mode? It isn't easy to master, and it's dangerous besides," Orochimaru said with a smile. He looked at Sasuke and spoke calmly, though there was a trace of interest in his tone.
After all,
there were not many people in Konoha who came to him seeking to become his student. No, it wasn't that there were few—there were none. Yet today, Second Pillar, the Uchiha Clan's Genius, had come to ask him for instruction.
It left him somewhat stunned.
"If becoming stronger were that easy, there would be no weak people in the Shinobi World. I can endure the danger!" Second Pillar said seriously. His tone was calm, and his expression incomparably resolute.
"Then why did you come to me? Jiraiya and Tsunade are both excellent mentors. They could make you stronger too," Orochimaru said, still looking at Sasuke with curiosity and confusion.
"Because deep down, only you can make me stronger!" Sasuke met Orochimaru's eyes, his words utterly earnest and certain.
This was what Sasuke truly believed.
Actually,
he had interacted with both Jiraiya and Tsunade, but he had always felt