Orochimaru's hideout was even closer than Cangyue had imagined.
Not long after entering the forest, the two stopped in front of a cave.
Cangyue looked at the gloomy entrance, feeling a little reflective.
As the saying went, a cunning rabbit had three burrows.
But Orochimaru probably had a hundred.
He had hideouts all over the Shinobi World.
Standing at the entrance, Orochimaru raised a hand with a smile.
"We're here, Cangyue. Please, go ahead."
Without giving it much thought, Cangyue rode the Purple Flame Sword into the cave.
Just as he reached the entrance, Orochimaru's sinister voice came from behind him.
"Aren't you afraid I might have set some traps inside, Cangyue?"
Shk!
The Thunder Sword abruptly flew backward, piercing Orochimaru's chest in an instant.
The smile froze on Orochimaru's face.
He looked down at his chest, then back up at Cangyue.
"Cangyue, what are you doing?"
Only then did Cangyue turn around with a frown.
"I scare easily. If you frighten me like that, I might lash out."
"Don't suddenly say weird things for no reason."
[Valor Points +30]
Orochimaru fell silent for a moment.
"I was only joking."
"Don't do it again."
Cangyue recalled the Thunder Sword and continued flying into the cave.
"I might not be able to control myself."
Orochimaru glanced at the wound in his chest and silently followed.
A puncture wound like this was nothing to him.
The real problem was that Cangyue attacked without any warning whatsoever.
The hideout's interior was completely different from its cold, gloomy entrance.
Various vessels and tools were neatly arranged, and a strange smell hung in the air.
Cangyue found a sofa, put away the Flame Sword, and lay straight down.
"Well? What did you want with me?"
Orochimaru stood across from him, his gaze burning with eagerness.
"As far as I know, you were just an ordinary Ninja Academy student not long ago, Cangyue."
"Yet in such a short time, you gained the power to defeat Hidan and Kakuzu, and even face Pain head-on."
Cangyue glanced at him.
"You really did your homework."
"What, do you want some biological samples from me?"
Orochimaru smiled.
"If possible, that would be ideal."
Shk!
Without warning, the Thunder Sword shot out again and pierced Orochimaru's body.
The immense force sent him staggering backward, blood slowly trickling from the wound.
Orochimaru looked down at his chest, somewhat dazed.
Cangyue crossed his legs and reminded him unhurriedly:
"You'd better think carefully before setting your sights on me."
Orochimaru was silent for a while.
"My apologies. That was careless of me."
Cangyue crooked a finger, pulling the Thunder Sword out of Orochimaru's chest to hover beside the sofa again.
"All right, stop testing me."
"Just tell me what you want. I'm in a hurry."
Orochimaru finally grew serious.
"In that case, I'll get straight to the point."
"I hear you possess a secret technique that allows you to train in your sleep, Cangyue. Would you let me experience it firsthand?"
"I'll offer you a generous reward."
Orochimaru had spent years researching Ninjutsu and had encountered countless secret techniques.
But training while asleep was something he had never heard of.
The more unfamiliar something was, the more he wanted to study it himself.
Cangyue, however, seemed a little surprised.
"That's all?"
"If you're willing, the reward won't disappoint you."
"Easy enough."
Cangyue immediately grinned and beckoned.
"Come here."
He had thought Orochimaru had stopped him so mysteriously because he was planning something big.
As it turned out, he just wanted to get in on Eternal Dream.
The more widely it spread, and the more people acknowledged and practiced it, the faster it would level up.
With Orochimaru volunteering himself, Cangyue certainly wouldn't refuse.
But Orochimaru didn't move.
Cangyue had agreed too quickly.
That instinctively made him feel there might be some kind of trap.
"You're not joking, are you, Cangyue?"
Shk!
The Thunder Sword tore through the air and pierced Orochimaru once again.
[Valor Points +10]
The corner of Orochimaru's mouth twitched.
"What was that for this time?"
Cangyue recalled the Thunder Sword, his tone displeased.
"You said you wanted it, and I agreed to give it to you."
"Now I'm telling you to come here, and you won't move."
"Isn't that messing with me?"
Orochimaru stared at the fresh wound in his chest and fell silent.
For the first time, he realized just how hard his habitual probing could be on his body.
But his desire for an unknown secret technique ultimately overcame his wariness.
Orochimaru walked up to Cangyue.
What greeted him, however, was yet another blade piercing his body.
Orochimaru looked down in disbelief at the Thunder Sword embedded in his chest.
"Cangyue, you..."
Cangyue clicked his tongue.
"I thought you were messing with me, but then you weren't. Isn't that messing with me?"
Orochimaru was utterly speechless.
What the fuck was wrong with this guy?
Cangyue raised a finger and touched it to Orochimaru's forehead.
"But I can give you what you want. Consider yourself lucky."
"You're the first person to experience Blue Eternal Dream."
The trait's power was shared.
A strange understanding appeared out of nowhere in Orochimaru's mind.
As long as he fell asleep, his body and mind would train on their own, with half the effectiveness of Cangyue's own training.
Even his Ninjutsu experience and progress in certain other related secret techniques that could be trained would increase.
It was remarkably comprehensive.
There were no hand seals.
There was no formula.
There wasn't even any noticeable chakra fluctuation.
Yet this power genuinely existed within him now.
Orochimaru's slit pupils suddenly lit up.
"So this is Dream Training?"
[Valor Points +30]
He had thought obtaining this secret technique would inevitably involve bargaining and scheming.
He hadn't expected it to be so easy.
Orochimaru turned his head, a strange glint flashing in his eyes.
Now that I have it, perhaps I could...
Shk!
The Thunder Sword pierced his body again.
Orochimaru's expression turned utterly grim.
"Cangyue."
Cangyue stared at him suspiciously.
"I get the feeling you were just thinking about something bad."
"Like welching on the deal."
"I suggest you don't."
Orochimaru barely managed to maintain his smile.
"Why would I do that?"
Cangyue recalled the Thunder Sword and held out his hand.
"Then take it out. Let's see what you're offering me."
Orochimaru tipped his head back and opened his mouth.
A small snake crawled out.
The little snake also opened its mouth, slowly spitting out a sharp sword that gleamed coldly.
It was none other than the Kusanagi Sword, famous throughout the Shinobi World.
"As a swordsman, Cangyue, you should find this sword quite suitable."
But Cangyue didn't take it.
He stared at the sticky fluid coating the blade, his face full of disgust.
"Come on, man."
"Could you wash it before giving it to me?"
"It's covered in spit. That's disgusting."
Orochimaru was silent for a moment.
"The strong shouldn't concern themselves with such trivialities."
"Wash it first."
In the end, Orochimaru left with the Kusanagi Sword.
A short while later, he returned.
The blade had been washed clean and gleamed like new.
Only then did Cangyue accept the Kusanagi Sword and examine it closely for a moment.
It was a fine sword.
But compared to the Flame and Thunder Swords enhanced by the Flame and Thunder Swordmaster, it still fell well short.
"It's nowhere near as good as my two swords."
"It'll do for Sasuke, though."
Orochimaru's gaze shifted slightly.
"It seems you're quite close to Sasuke, Cangyue."
"He's sort of my disciple."
Cangyue nodded, and the Thunder Sword beside him turned, its point once again aimed at Orochimaru.
"If you have any plans for him, I suggest you drop them right now."
Orochimaru looked down at himself.
Five thrusts straight through him had left exactly ten bloody holes, front and back.
Was this guy using me for drilling practice?
Ever since his defeat at Uchiha Itachi's hands, Orochimaru had coveted the power of the Sharingan.
Sasuke was indeed a target he had set his sights on long ago.
But now, he needed to reconsider.
Going after Sasuke meant facing Cangyue.
"Since Sasuke is so close to you, Cangyue, naturally, he's my friend too."
Orochimaru spoke with a smile.
Cangyue nodded in satisfaction and put away the Kusanagi Sword.
"I've got what I came for, so I'll skip the meal."
"I'll be off, then."
Orochimaru felt a little relieved.
This dangerous guest was finally leaving.
He certainly didn't want another two bloody holes in his body.
"Take care. I won't see you out."
Yet just as Cangyue stepped onto the Purple Flame Sword, he suddenly stopped.
The Sword Intent Domain had picked up every subtle shift in Orochimaru's emotions with perfect clarity.
Want me gone that badly?
Then I'll stick around a little longer just to spite you.
Cangyue turned back to Orochimaru as an idea suddenly came to him.
After Eternal Dream had upgraded to blue, it had gained the ability to manipulate dreams.
But he had yet to properly test its effects.
The Shinobi World's most relentless researcher standing before him seemed just right.
Before you continue