Amid the soft clinks of test tubes, Orochimaru skillfully mixed a potion while Fei Yun relaxed and allowed him to treat his wounds.
Such trust was a luxury in the Shinobi World, but he knew Orochimaru would not tamper with anything at a time like this. Their partnership was founded on mutual need, and for now, they were both still useful to each other.
"Moye, how is it over there?"
Orochimaru asked while working, his breath almost brushing Fei Yun's ear. Fei Yun gave a scornful laugh. "Tsunade wants to negotiate with me?"
Before he could finish speaking, a sharp pain suddenly tore through his heart.
"Hehe, that was even easier than I expected!"
Fei Yun's pupils contracted sharply. His Sharingan activated instantly, but Orochimaru's face melted like wax, revealing Uchiha Sasuke's cold features beneath.
Those eyes were no longer the black ones from his memories. They had become the vertical golden pupils unique to serpents, yet three tomoe flickered deep within them.
"You—"
The Kusanagi Sword pierced through his chest from behind, striking a vital point.
Fei Yun coughed up blood and lowered his head in disbelief, seeing strange purple chakra coiling around the blade's tip.
It was Orochimaru's Cursed Seal power, but it was mixed with an unfamiliar chakra.
Sasuke leaned close to his ear, his voice cold enough to sound inhuman.
"Fei Yun, you were far too careless."
The laboratory lights suddenly went out, leaving only two pairs of glowing eyes facing each other in the darkness.
One pair was Fei Yun's violently trembling Sharingan, while the other was Sasuke's bizarre pupils, fused with Orochimaru's power.
Fei Yun's fingers twitched, but he discovered that some force was sealing the chakra throughout his body.
He finally understood and forced out a few difficult words. "The Reincarnation Ritual... did