First Meeting with Orochimaru

"Orochimaru, I really didn't expect you to appear here..." Uchiha Shunichi put away the Ninja Sword in his hand without any guard.

Orochimaru watched Uchiha Shunichi's actions, and a barely perceptible flash of disappointment passed through his eyes. However, it vanished in an instant.

"Shunichi-kun, this is the first time I've met such an interesting child as you." A faint smile appeared on Orochimaru's face, making him look somewhat gloomy.

Perhaps because of his snake-based ninjutsu, or perhaps because of his own personality, Orochimaru always seemed sinister, even though his tone remained very gentle.

"Come to think of it, I'm practically half your disciple. Since you've come here this time, would you be interested in teaching me something else?" Uchiha Shunichi completely ignored Orochimaru's presence and leaned over the cage holding his experimental mice, watching them intently.

Orochimaru studied Uchiha Shunichi with interest, feeling that his previous judgment might not have been rigorous enough.

"Using mice as experimental subjects is quite an innovative idea, but its usefulness is rather limited," Orochimaru said slowly as he watched Uchiha Shunichi.

Hearing that, Uchiha Shunichi explained, "There's no helping it. Human experimentation is still far too distant from me."

The current Uchiha Shunichi was not worried that Orochimaru would covet his body, nor did he care what Orochimaru might do to him.

After all, compared with his somewhat talented body, the secrets he knew were far more important.

Upon hearing Uchiha Shunichi's words, Orochimaru involuntarily licked his lips, and delighted fervor rose in his eyes.

Even someone like Orochimaru hoped for someone who could understand him. In the Shinobi World, things like friends were rare.

Especially friends who shared the same ideals.

"I truly didn't expect that a few most basic manuscripts would allow you to grow to this point." Orochimaru sighed, then asked seriously:

"However... Shunichi-kun, could you tell me what exactly you mean by true resurrection?"

As someone who aspired to immortality, Orochimaru was naturally full of curiosity toward life, death, and resurrection. Yet according to what he knew, once humans died... they completely dissipated.

"As thanks for those manuscripts from before, I can tell you this." Uchiha Shunichi hesitated briefly before speaking.

"Methods of resurrection are divided into false resurrection, partial resurrection, and complete resurrection. There is only one method of complete resurrection: the Rinnegan! As the Sage's Eyes, it can summon a human soul from the underworld and restore it to life."

"As for partial resurrection, I know of two methods. Both can only revive someone who has died recently. If they have completely entered the underworld after death, or if their body no longer exists, then it probably cannot succeed."

"The first is called One's Own Life Reincarnation. By expending all of one's life force, it can revive someone who has not been dead for long. It is a ninjutsu developed by Chiyo of the Sand Shinobi."

"The second is called Dragon Life Reincarnation. It is a Bloodline Limit."

"Both methods require one's own life force as the price. As for whether they can succeed when used to control others, I do not know."

"Then there are methods of false resurrection. There are many of those. For example, my clan's Izanagi, the Impure World Reincarnation developed by the Second Hokage, and your Living Corpse Reincarnation..."

Uchiha Shunichi introduced them in an endless stream. Orochimaru listened seriously like an obedient student, becoming even more curious about Uchiha Shunichi.

After all, the person before him was still a student who had only recently graduated from the Ninja Academy. How had he learned so many secrets of the Shinobi World?

Orochimaru could not be completely certain whether Uchiha Shunichi's words were true, but there were some things he could confirm.

The matters that could be verified were probably known by fewer than five people in the entire Shinobi World.

"Shunichi-kun, how did you learn... these things?" Orochimaru finally asked the question.

"It's simple. My eyes can see many things. The Mangekyō Sharingan's abilities are extremely powerful!" Uchiha Shunichi directly attributed all the information to his eyes.

As he looked at Uchiha Shunichi's eyes, a trace of greed flashed through Orochimaru's gaze. His failure against Uchiha Itachi not long ago had made him crave the Sharingan greatly.

"Shunichi-kun, now that you know so much, aren't you afraid I'll act against you directly? I've coveted this body of yours for a long time." Greed flashed through Orochimaru's eyes, as if he would strike the next moment.

"If you want to do it, then do it!" A faint smile appeared on Uchiha Shunichi's face. He spread his arms as if inviting an embrace, completely unconcerned by Orochimaru's threat.

"Hehehe, you're becoming more and more interesting. Shunichi-kun, I truly look forward to seeing you grow. How about leaving this decayed Konoha with me?"

Orochimaru laughed sinisterly, suddenly extending his neck as his fangs viciously sank into Uchiha Shunichi's neck.

Sinister and violent chakra poured into Uchiha Shunichi's body, then formed a special pattern.

"Just an ordinary Cursed Seal? I thought it would be the Cursed Seal of Heaven." Uchiha Shunichi raised a hand to touch his neck and spoke slowly.

"When facing someone like you, Shunichi-kun, I wouldn't dare use that kind of thing." Orochimaru smiled sinisterly and continued, "Consider this power a gift from me to you."

"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru. Of course, if you could continue guiding my research, I would be very grateful." Uchiha Shunichi casually placed a seal on his neck, then spoke to Orochimaru as though nothing had happened.

Orochimaru found Uchiha Shunichi's attitude quite interesting, but he did not continue recruiting him. Instead, he refused, saying, "What a pity. I have many matters to attend to in Konoha this time."

"Then I won't see you out." Seeing that he could not obtain any further benefits from Orochimaru, Uchiha Shunichi immediately showed him out.

"We will meet again. I hope you will change your mind by then, Shunichi-kun." Orochimaru did not linger either, transforming into a puff of green smoke and disappearing from Uchiha Shunichi's laboratory.

After watching Orochimaru leave, Uchiha Shunichi first checked the items in the laboratory, then quickly activated the sensory array he had set up inside.

Only after doing all this did Uchiha Shunichi take out his experimental equipment and begin investigating the Cursed Seal within his body.