What truly made Orochimaru take it seriously was when Orochimaru habitually sought out sources of familiarity.
Ninjas have amazing memories, especially Orochimaru, who is one of the best.
Kotoamatsukami was fully aware of the changes Orochimaru had caused Orochimaru, including his previous memories.
Given the stark difference between Orochimaru now and before, doesn't Orochimaru himself feel awkward about it?
No, there really isn't!
Everything felt so natural, as if I had suddenly realized some profound truth about life.
Orochimaru also felt that he suddenly understood many things, so naturally, as if he believed it from the bottom of his heart.
I keep recalling my past experiences, again and again.
Orochimaru confirmed two things.
Firstly, I've never seen that Sound Ninja before!
Secondly, Orochimaru discovered that he had problems with his memories!
Several distinct timeframes have been identified, namely the days following the battle between the First Hokage and Pain.
Orochimaru completely lost that memory, as if he had fallen into a coma.
I have absolutely no recollection of what happened during that period!
Just a few days later, Orochimaru discovered fragments of his memory again; Orochimaru didn't know what he was doing during the days his memory was missing.
What is certain is that I will most likely remain in the laboratory.
Considering his subsequent weakened state, Orochimaru began to have some guesses.
After carefully checking several times, Orochimaru discovered that he did not possess any seal, increasing the likelihood that his guess was true by several times.
Could that familiar Otogakure ninja be a clone I created?
It's true that Orochimaru's will has been altered by Kotoamatsukami, but it hasn't made Orochimaru stupid; he's still the incredibly shrewd Orochimaru.
It's highly likely to be true, but it's still just speculation, so Orochimaru decided to verify it.
Orochimaru didn't tell anyone about this, since it seemed to have nothing to do with Ren and wouldn't threaten Konoha.
Orochimaru remains the same Ren, loyal to Konoha Orochimaru.
As Orochimaru left his residence, he recalled the look in the eyes of the Sound Ninja he had encountered.
Now it seems there's another meaning behind it.
Arriving at the spot where the two had met, Orochimaru glanced around at the surroundings.
If it were me, what would I do?
After navigating through a maze of twists and turns, Orochimaru arrived at an open space and used his Summoning Technique to summon a small snake.
The scene as seen from the little snake's perspective was learned through questioning.
Orochimaru obtained an address.
Familiar tactics!
Orochimaru walked toward the address he had obtained, sighing with emotion.
This is a slightly sloping earthen slope, not far from Konoha's largest cemetery.
This place used to be a dense forest.
As a child, Orochimaru would always quietly contemplate in this grove after paying respects to his parents.
For example, questions like the meaning of life will never have an answer.
Now, due to planning, the trees have long been uprooted, and the land has been simply leveled.
Orochimaru walked to the spot where he used to hang out as a child and stood there.
A few seconds later, a figure slowly emerged; it was another Orochimaru (Yun Chi).
(PS: To distinguish them, the new Orochimaru will use a new name when the two meet, and the same applies below)
Unlike all of Orochimaru's other bodies, he has a head of smooth, flowing hair.
Yun Chi's spiky black hair made him stand out from the crowd, resembling someone from a certain family.
Orochimaru knew from the problems in his own memories that he was the one who had been abandoned.
However, Orochimaru didn't show much emotion. Instead, he opened his mouth wide and spat out a head dripping with slime—a human head with a snake's body.
The boy opposite, Yun Chi, showed no disgust at the sight.
It opened its mouth as well, stretching it to a point where no human could open it, and swallowed the body, which was still dripping with mucus, into its own belly.
They were the same person; exchanging information was that simple.
"Now that the important business is done, it's time for some casual conversation, "Orochimaru said first.
"Seeing you makes me feel like I've succeeded. The memories that were separated must be related to the Uchiha Clan, right? And the person I value so much, could it be that important figure?"
Orochimaru guessed most of the details the moment he saw Yun Chi.
After Yun Chi finished processing the information Orochimaru had given him, he looked at Orochimaru as if he were looking at a dead man.
Yun Chi didn't know how to define a person, but what he was certain of was that after free will was forcibly modified, the original person was no different from a dead person.
Yun Chi knew his own situation; he was ultimately just a fragment of a soul pieced together from the souls of others.
It possesses all of Orochimaru's memories and thoughts, but as time goes on, the influence of other souls on it will become increasingly significant.
I am not Orochimaru after all.
In Yun Chi's eyes, the real Orochimaru was already dead.
I feel a strange sadness. All that preparation, is it all destined to vanish?
That being named Orochimaru.
Taking a deep breath, Yun Chi asked Orochimaru.
Is there any possibility of recovery?