Star Luo Empire.
An underground laboratory.
Lighting soul tools illuminated the laboratory as brightly as daylight. A pale-skinned man with loose black hair was tinkering with something at a workbench, his eyes brimming with obsession and fascination, his movements swift yet elegant.
He was none other than White Snake Douluo, Orochimaru.
Outside the laboratory door behind Orochimaru, Mitsuki and Sasuke waited quietly.
"Hehehe... truly perfect!" Fascination flashed through Orochimaru's golden, serpentine eyes as he let out an excited chuckle.
"Orochimaru, what exactly have you developed?" The laboratory door opened, and Sasuke and Mitsuki walked in. Sasuke posed his question in confusion.
For some unknown reason, Orochimaru had become fanatically obsessed with domains. Even Sasuke and Mitsuki had no idea what exactly he was researching.
Orochimaru smiled. "Hehehe, Sasuke-kun, who says a clone must remain a clone forever? If we wish to keep pace with the original, we naturally need a glimpse of his power."
As he spoke, Orochimaru's neck suddenly stretched, bringing his head from the workbench to right in front of Sasuke in an instant.
"What are you doing?" Sasuke recoiled a step in fright, but he did not instinctively draw his sword. After all, surely a fellow clone would not harm him.
One of Orochimaru's arms stretched as well, a syringe clutched in his hand. The needle pierced Sasuke's neck, and a warm current flowed into his body.
After that initial warmth, a wave of excruciating pain followed.
"Aaaaaargh!"
Sasuke dropped heavily to his knees with a thud, clutching the spot on his neck where the needle had pierced him, his eyes filled with pain.
A mark consisting of three black tomoe slowly formed on his neck.
"What is this?" Sasuke rose with a bewildered expression, touching his neck.
Mitsuki kindly handed him a mirror from beside him