"Impure World Reincarnation!"
Orochimaru's hand stopped. Water still ran, splashing over his pale fingers.
He slowly turned off the faucet, then turned around, his golden snake-like eyes staring straight at Tianyi.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, his smile carrying both amusement and a hint of probing.
"Oh? Why is Tianyi-kun interested in this ninjutsu? And how are you so sure I have it?"
Tianyi's voice was as calm as still water. "Just trying my luck. What if you do?"
Orochimaru chuckled, the sound echoing through the empty operating room with an indescribable undertone.
He walked up to Tianyi. Less than three paces separated them as those snake-like eyes swept across Tianyi's face, as if searching for a weakness.
"You're not afraid I'll tell Tsunade? This technique is forbidden, a forbidden jutsu personally sealed away by the Second Hokage.
If she finds out you're researching this, what do you think she'll think?"
The corners of Tianyi's mouth rose slightly.
"I'll trade genetic programming for Impure World Reincarnation."
Orochimaru's smile froze. He had already made a breakthrough in his previous cloning technique using the White Zetsu Tianyi had captured alive, and the theory had been fully developed.
Using White Zetsu's cells, he had successfully cloned an embryo. Given enough time, that embryo would become the vessel most compatible with him.
His goal of immortality was already more than halfway complete.
And now, Tianyi had once again offered knowledge he could not refuse—genetic programming.
Orochimaru's fingers trembled slightly.
It was excitement. This research subject was more alluring than any experiment he had ever conducted.
It meant he could freely create whatever body he wanted. He could directly alter his own genes and turn himself into a perfect being.
He stared fixedly at Tianyi, his gaze filled with an almost mad longing.