Orochimaru's Method

The underground base of the Hidden Sound Village was colder and gloomier than Neji had imagined.

Water droplets clung to the stone walls. Oil lamps along both sides of the corridor cast wavering shadows, while the air reeked of medicine, blood, and an indescribable scent of decay. Neji and Sasuke had gone their separate ways after arriving at the Sound Ninja Village. This time, Orochimaru had summoned him. Following behind the ninja leading the way, every step he took landed on damp stone slabs and produced a faint echo.

His injuries had already received basic treatment—some kind of secret medicine had stopped the bleeding and dulled the pain, but its effects were strange. He could feel chakra flowing abnormally through the wounds. Neji did not dare think too deeply about what ingredients the medicine contained.

"Orochimaru-sama is in the innermost laboratory," the guide said.

"Thank you," Neji replied, maintaining a respectful manner.

At the end of the corridor stood a heavy stone door. The instant the guide pushed it open, blinding white light poured out, mixed with the smell of formaldehyde and something even more complex.

The laboratory was enormous, too enormous to seem like an underground space. Rows of incubation tanks stretched along the walls, containing all sorts of organs, limbs, and even complete bodies. At the central operating table stood a figure with long white hair, his back turned to them as he focused on whatever he was doing.

"Orochimaru-sama." The guide dropped to one knee. "Hyuga Neji has arrived."

The figure turned around.

Golden vertical pupils, pale skin, and a faint smile at the corners of his mouth. Orochimaru's long tongue habitually swept over his lips as his gaze settled on Neji.

"Hyuga Neji..." His voice was hoarse yet magnetic. "We have finally met properly."

Neji forced himself to look directly into those serpent eyes. "Orochimaru-sama."

"You may leave." Orochimaru glanced at the guide. "I would like to speak with this guest from the Hyuga Clan alone."

The guide bowed and withdrew, and the stone door slowly closed.

Now, only two people remained in the laboratory.

"Sit." Orochimaru pointed at a chair beside the operating table—a chair that appeared to have been assembled from bones.

Neji did not sit. He remained where he was, adjusted his breathing, and prepared for the most dangerous performance of his life.

"Kabuto has already told me about your performance at the Valley of the End." Orochimaru slowly approached, curiosity glinting in his golden pupils. "You killed Kidomaru, were gravely wounded to the point of death, yet still managed to track them all the way to the Valley of the End... Interesting."

Neji's heart tightened. Kabuto Yakushi had indeed seen it, and his report had been this detailed.

"What interests me even more..." Orochimaru stopped less than a meter away from Neji. "You clearly knew Kabuto was watching, yet you still put on that little act of being seriously injured. Why?"

Here it came.

Neji took a deep breath and raised his head. "Because I wanted to see you, Orochimaru-sama. And to see you, I needed a suitable reason—a reason that left me with nowhere to go but you."

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"Kidomaru was my offering of allegiance." Neji spoke steadily, carefully weighing every word. "I knew he was your subordinate, and that killing him would anger you. But I also knew that you only cared about value. If I could prove that my value exceeded Kidomaru's, you would accept me."

"You understand me well." Orochimaru smiled. "But why do you wish to rely on me? A Konoha genius, the most promising young member of the Hyuga Branch Family... Do you have no future in Konoha?"

"No." Neji's answer was absolute. "As long as this remains, I have no future."

He raised a hand and pointed to the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead.

Orochimaru's eyes lit up. It was the look of a researcher who had found a rare specimen—fervent and greedy.

"The Caged Bird... The binding curse seal passed down by the Hyuga Clan for a thousand years." He extended a hand as though he wanted to touch the mark, but stopped himself. "Did you know I have been researching it?"

"I could guess," Neji said. "You are interested in every forbidden technique, curse seal, and Kekkei Genkai."

"So you came to have the curse seal removed?"

"Yes, and no." Neji met Orochimaru's gaze. "I came for freedom. The Caged Bird is only the surface. The true restraints are Konoha's system and those rotten elders."

That genuinely caught Orochimaru's interest. He stepped back, leaned against the operating table, and folded his arms. "Tell me in detail."

Neji knew the critical moment had arrived. He had to say something shocking enough, real enough, and convincing enough to move Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru-sama, you have been away from Konoha for many years. Perhaps you do not know what Konoha is like now." Neji began speaking, deliberately threading a trace of suppressed anger into his tone. Of course Orochimaru knew Konoha's situation, otherwise he would not have devoted so much effort to the Konoha Crush Plan, but Neji had to say it this way. "On the surface, the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, has taken office and brought reform. But in truth, the Third Hokage's influence runs deep. Those old men still control everything."

"For example?"

"For example, the medical-nin system," Neji said. "From the Third Hokage's era until now, Lady Tsunade has repeatedly proposed assigning a medical ninja to every squad. But the higher-ups have always opposed it, claiming there are 'insufficient resources' and that it 'does not conform to tradition.' But what is the real reason? Medical ninja are expensive to train, and they would rather spend those resources raising more expendable cannon fodder."

Orochimaru appeared thoughtful. "That does sound like something those old men would do."

"And that is not all." Neji continued, "During the three Shinobi World Wars, how many children did Konoha send onto the battlefield? Kakashi graduated at six and became a Jonin at twelve. Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara died at Kannabi Bridge when they were barely in their teens. My father, Hizashi Hyuga, was forced to die in place of the Main House for the village's so-called diplomacy..."

His voice began to tremble, and this time it was not an act. As those names left his mouth, Neji truly felt the pain contained in the original owner's memories.

"Children are sent to war. If they die, it is 'dying for the village.' If they survive, they are 'heroes.' But who ever asked whether they wanted to be heroes?" Neji clenched his fists. "The Third Hokage is dead, but his ideals remain. Lady Tsunade wants to change things? It is too difficult. Those higher-ups will never allow it."

Orochimaru listened in silence. The amusement in his golden pupils gradually faded, replaced by a complicated emotion—agreement? Mockery? Or something else?

"So you came to me because you believe I can give you what Konoha cannot?" Orochimaru asked.

"At least you are not hypocritical." Neji stared directly at him. "You say what you want. When you make a deal, you make it fairly. But in Konoha, they wrap everything in the 'Will of Fire' and make you die for the village while expecting you to be grateful."

The laboratory fell into a brief silence.

The oil lamp flames danced across Orochimaru's face, making his expression seem even more unpredictable. After a long while, he slowly spoke. "You speak well. But Neji... why should I believe you? You are, after all, a ninja of Konoha and a member of the Hyuga Clan."

Neji had expected that question.

"Because I have no choice." He unfastened his Chunin vest, revealing the bandages underneath—the wounds left behind during the Sasuke Retrieval Mission. "I killed Kidomaru and helped Sasuke Uchiha defect. Once word of those things returns to Konoha, I will already be a rogue ninja."

"And besides," he said, pointing to his forehead, "as long as this is here, I will forever be controlled by the Hyuga Main House. Orochimaru-sama, if you can help me remove it, then my loyalty is yours. If you cannot... then at least let me die with understanding on the road to seeking power."

Candor—almost reckless candor.

This was the strategy Neji had settled on after much thought. Against an old monster like Orochimaru, any elaborate lie could be seen through. Barefaced honesty, coupled with genuine motives, was more likely to earn his trust.

Of course, Neji had concealed the most important point—his god's-eye view. That secret had to be taken to the grave.

Orochimaru was silent for a long time again. Long enough for Neji to begin wondering whether he had made the wrong gamble.

"Stay," Orochimaru finally said. "But not as a subordinate. As a... research subject."

He walked to an incubation tank. Inside floated a brain, its nerve endings still twitching faintly.

"I have researched the Caged Bird Seal for more than ten years. The Hyuga Clan's history is even older than Konoha's. Their curse seal system combines Yin-Yang Release, sealing techniques, and even restraints involving the soul itself." Orochimaru's voice carried a scholar's fervor. "To remove it, I must first understand it completely."

He turned toward Neji. "Are you willing to cooperate with my research? The process may be painful. It may even endanger your life."

"As long as there is even a sliver of hope," Neji answered.

"Very good." Orochimaru smiled, a genuine and delighted smile. "From today onward, you will be my special test subject. I will arrange accommodations for you and provide training resources. In exchange, you will cooperate with all of my research."

"Deal."

In the days that followed, Neji lived a regular yet bizarre life.

During the day, he trained at the training grounds on the third underground level of the Hidden Sound Village. Orochimaru had given him permission to use most of the facilities—except for several of the most important laboratories.

Neji began practicing the Eight Gates again. Though the Hidden Sound Village was gloomy, its training facilities were complete, and there were even instruments specifically designed to measure chakra output. He discovered that under the pressure of life and death, he improved far faster than he ever had in Konoha.

He could already open the second gate, the Gate of Rest, and the third gate, the Gate of Life, showed signs of a breakthrough as well.

At night came "research time."

Orochimaru would summon him to the laboratory for all kinds of tests. Sometimes blood samples were taken. Sometimes his chakra pathways were scanned. Sometimes he was asked to activate his Byakugan so Orochimaru could observe the chakra flow through the Caged Bird Seal.

The process truly was painful.

The worst time was when Orochimaru applied a special medicinal solution to Neji's forehead, claiming it was meant to "activate the curse seal's deeper structure." For the entire night, Neji felt as if countless needles were stirring inside his brain. The pain nearly made him pass out. Yet Orochimaru merely recorded the data calmly, with no emotion in his golden eyes.

"Endure it," he said. "Pain is part of the data."

Neji gritted his teeth and held on. He knew this was the price he had to pay.

One late night a month later, Orochimaru summoned Neji to the main laboratory. His expression was grave, giving Neji a bad feeling.

"Sit." Orochimaru pointed to the bone chair.

Neji sat down and waited for the verdict.

"For the past month, I have used every resource at my disposal to study the Caged Bird." Orochimaru came straight to the point. "That includes reviewing forbidden technique scrolls I brought from Konoha, analyzing the blood and tissue samples you provided, and even... dissecting the corpse of a member of the Hyuga Branch Family."

Neji's heart went cold. A corpse? Where had Orochimaru gotten one?

But he did not ask. Some things were better left unknown.

"The conclusion is not optimistic." Orochimaru walked to a large instrument. A complex three-dimensional image was displayed on its screen—it was a scan of Neji's head, with the curse seal on his forehead highlighted.

"Look here." Orochimaru pointed at the core area of the seal. "The Caged Bird is not a simple mark branded into the skin. Its curse seal runes are directly engraved into the brain's neurons and deeply bound to spiritual energy."

He brought up another image, a brain section from that Branch House corpse. Under the microscope, faint rune marks could clearly be seen on the surfaces of the nerve cells.

"These runes serve two purposes," Orochimaru continued. "First, on the physical level. Once the Main House activates the curse seal, the preset chakra program within the runes activates and directly destroys the brain. Second, on the spiritual level. It carves a foundational consciousness of 'obedience to the Main House' deep into your soul. Even if someone could remove the curse seal on the physical level, the spiritual imprint would remain forever."

A chill ran through Neji. "So... there is no solution?"

"At present, yes." For once, Orochimaru showed a trace of frustration. "Unless the caster—Hiashi Hyuga himself—voluntarily removes it. Otherwise, any external intervention will trigger the curse seal's self-destruction program."

The laboratory became completely silent.

Neji stared at the glowing curse seal on the screen, feeling as though it were a vicious eye watching him forever. All the planning since he had crossed over, all the risks he had taken, all the pain he had endured... had it all been for nothing?

"But." Orochimaru suddenly spoke.

Neji jerked his head up.

"In this world, there is no absolute 'unsolvable problem.'" Orochimaru turned around, his golden pupils glinting beneath the lights. "It only requires sufficient power—power beyond ordinary understanding."

"Such as?"

"The Six Paths Sage Realm," Orochimaru said, enunciating each word.

Neji froze.

"You mean... if I become an existence like the Sage of Six Paths, I can remove the Caged Bird?"

"Theoretically, it is possible." Orochimaru walked to the operating table and spread out an ancient scroll. "According to the documents I have collected, the Sage of Six Paths mastered Yin-Yang Release to its utmost, allowing him to create life and alter souls. If he were willing, rewriting the spiritual imprint of a curse seal should not be difficult."

He looked up at Neji. "But the question is, how does one reach that realm?"

Neji's mind raced. The Six Paths Sage Realm... In the original story, only Naruto and Sasuke had reached it after receiving the Sage of Six Paths' gift, along with the Otsutsuki Clan members who had eaten the God Tree Fruit.

It was an almost impossible task.

"Are you joking?" Neji could not help asking.

"I never joke." Orochimaru's expression was utterly serious. "In fact, I am researching this very direction. Sasuke Uchiha's Sharingan and your Byakugan are both manifestations of the Otsutsuki Clan's bloodline. If we can trace them back to their source and find a way to make the bloodline return to its ancestors or evolve..."

He did not finish, but the meaning was already clear.

Neji fell silent. The Six Paths Sage Realm sounded even more illusory than removing the Caged Bird Seal. But on second thought, perhaps it was his only path.

"What do I need to do?" he finally asked.

"Continue becoming stronger," Orochimaru said. "I will create a specialized training plan for you and research your Byakugan's potential. At the same time, you will assist me with other experiments—on Kekkei Genkai fusion, soul transfer, and immortality."

He showed that signature smile, dangerous and captivating. "This is a gamble, Hyuga Neji. The stakes are your life and soul. The prize is true freedom. Do you dare take the gamble?"

Neji stood up. He looked at Orochimaru, then at the glowing curse seal on the screen.

He remembered his life in the real world, everything he had experienced since crossing over, and the suffocating feeling the Caged Bird had brought him.

"I'll gamble," he said.

"Very good." Orochimaru nodded in satisfaction. "Starting tomorrow, your training intensity will double. Also... Sasuke Uchiha has already awakened and begun receiving my guidance. The two of you will have many opportunities to meet."

He gave Neji a meaningful look. "I hope you can get along well."

Neji bowed and withdrew. As he walked out of the laboratory, his feelings were indescribably complicated.

The Six Paths Sage Realm... the goal was distant enough to inspire despair. But at least he had a direction now.

And being able to train with Sasuke meant he could observe the growth of this original protagonist up close and perhaps even benefit from it.

Back in the crude room assigned to him, Neji lay on the bed and stared at the stone ceiling.

The road ahead was long, and far more difficult than he had imagined. But since he had made his choice, he could only keep walking.

He closed his eyes and began planning the next day's training.

Meanwhile, in the deepest part of the underground laboratory, Orochimaru watched Neji's departing figure, a thoughtful glint flashing through his golden pupils.

Kabuto Yakushi stepped out of the shadows. "My lord, do you truly believe him?"

"Whether I believe him is unimportant," Orochimaru said. "What matters is that he can provide the data I need. The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan... If I can find the key to fusing the two..."

He turned toward the other side of the laboratory. There, Sasuke Uchiha slept within a specially made incubation tank, black curse marks spreading across his skin.

"The era is about to change, Kabuto." Orochimaru's long tongue slid across his lips. "And we will stand at the forefront of that change."

Kabuto adjusted his glasses, their lenses reflecting an eerie light.

What he did not know was that Neji, in his room, had opened his eyes at that very moment.

His Byakugan glimmered faintly in the darkness.

"Orochimaru... what exactly are you planning..." Neji murmured.

But no matter what, he could no longer withdraw from this dangerous game.

The only way out was to win in the end.