Drinking Poison to Quench Thirst, Utterly Foolish

Orochimaru fell silent for a moment, then slowly set down the test tube.

For that brief instant, he had indeed felt an overwhelming urge to study it.

It was an instinct forged over countless years.

Whenever he encountered an unknown Kekkei Genkai, technique, or life form, he wanted to uncover its principles, strip away its surface, and find the deepest answer within.

But the person before him was Lumen.

A powerhouse who had defeated Hashirama head-on and could make the entire Shinobi World bow its head.

The Uchiha were no longer the ninja clan of the past, restricted by the Konoha Leadership and confined to their clan grounds.

"Rest assured, Clan Head."

Orochimaru smiled faintly.

"It was merely my research instinct at work."

"I am now nothing more than a prisoner stripped of freedom. I am not arrogant enough to set my sights on the Uchiha Bloodline in front of you."

"It had better be."

Lumen did not pursue the matter further and directly stated his decision.

"Officially join the Uchiha."

The smile on Orochimaru's face faded slightly.

"The Uchiha would accept an outsider?"

"Not in the past."

Lumen said, "But you are an exception."

"You cannot freely study the bloodlines of Uchiha clansmen, but you can study your remade self."

Orochimaru's hand holding the test tube froze again.

"My remade self?"

"I have already arranged for a genetic infant of Tobirama Senju to be cultivated."

Lumen did not hide it.

"Once the new body reaches a suitable stage of development, we will combine the Spirit Transformation Technique and the Soul Binding Technique to separate Tobirama's soul from his Impure World Body and place it into that body."

"His soul will gradually merge with the new body, ultimately breaking free from the Impure World Reincarnation and achieving true resurrection."

Orochimaru