The Importance of Intelligence, Even for Ninja

"As expected, a little trick like mine couldn't fool you, Mr. Ensei."

"It looks like I'll have to die here once today."

Orochimaru crawled out of the snake's mouth, his body terribly weak. The chakra within him had dwindled to almost nothing.

Right now, he probably couldn't even beat an ordinary Jonin.

"Carving Heaven's Cursed Seal into your own body. That's quite an idea."

"But splitting your soul like this must come with serious drawbacks."

As Uchiha Ensei spoke, the first Orochimaru suddenly regained the ability to move. Without a word, he spat the Kusanagi Sword from his mouth and thrust it at the Orochimaru who had emerged behind him.

"That's enough. Don't kill him. I still have a use for him..."

The sword would have killed Orochimaru, but Uchiha Ensei stopped it.

"Yes, Master!"

The first Orochimaru withdrew his sword and stood beside Uchiha Ensei, clearly still under Kotoamatsukami's control.

The other Orochimaru, meanwhile, grew paler by the moment. The chakra within him weakened further, and he looked as though he might die at any second.

After a moment's thought, Uchiha Ensei gave another order. "Give him half your chakra. And tell me how you feel now."

Obeying Uchiha Ensei, the Orochimaru beside him transferred nearly half the chakra in his body to the other one.

"It feels strange. Living Corpse Reincarnation splits the soul, but the pieces can still sense each other. They can even share memories."

"In theory, the soul split by Living Corpse Reincarnation doesn't lose all connection. It enters a very unusual state."

"But now that connection is gone. Our souls must have separated completely."

"It's as if the one standing before me is a rather disobedient shadow clone."

The Orochimaru who had just received chakra watched his other self reveal everything and couldn't help