"Hmm..." Yui rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought, wondering whether to agree to Orochimaru's deal.
But Hatake Sakumo had told her that the secret technique was never to be passed on. Would giving it to Orochimaru be wrong?
After much deliberation, she ultimately failed to resist the allure of the Kusanagi Sword and nodded solemnly. "All right. I'll agree to the trade."
"But I have one condition. I hope you'll honor it."
"What condition? I can agree to it," Orochimaru said excitedly.
"I don't want you to teach this secret technique to anyone else," Yui explained.
Hearing her request, Orochimaru immediately nodded. "Of course. This is Sakumo's family secret technique, after all. I won't teach it to another soul."
"All right!" Reluctantly, Yui took the scroll from her waist and handed it to Orochimaru. "Remember to give it back once you've learned it. I haven't mastered it yet!"
"Of course. I'll return it the next time we meet..." Orochimaru eagerly took the scroll and immersed himself in studying it.
After a long while, his eyes lit up, as though he had spotted something thrilling. He hurriedly rolled up the scroll and tucked it into his ninja tool pouch.
Orochimaru looked at Yui. "Well, now that the trade is complete, I won't linger. I'm going back to practice this secret technique."
With that, Orochimaru leaped away, his feet touching down on the muddy ground as he headed out of the woods.
"Seriously..." Watching Orochimaru's figure grow more distant, Yui helplessly pressed a hand to her forehead. Then she remembered something and called after him, "Orochimaru, don't forget we still have to go find the Kusanagi Sword!"
Orochimaru gave no reply, or perhaps Yui simply failed to hear it. The rain was pouring too hard, its rushing patter drowning