Over all these years, none of his research subjects had come anywhere close to the divine level.
But Imu was a living, complete, immortal god with two divine-level trump cards!
Countless experimental plans, dissection approaches, and avenues of research had already surfaced in Orochimaru's mind.
He wanted to decipher the principles behind Divine Reversal Dominion, dissect the Wish Stone's Evil God essence, glimpse the ultimate secret of immortality, and replicate the power bestowed by a god!
"If I could capture Imu alive... if I could extract Imu's blood..."
"I could truly reach immortality!"
Orochimaru's tongue flicked wildly, licking the corners of his mouth over and over. His expression was crazed and feverish, his heart filled with an overwhelming hunger for discovery and greed.
Outside the screen, the people of the Shinobi World dreaded Imu, feared Imu, and recoiled from Imu's destructive power.
Only Orochimaru feared neither that oppressive presence, nor gods, nor a fearsome reputation. All that remained in his heart was a pure desire for research.
Light and shadow shifted across the Sky Screen, and the image settled on the ancient green mountain after the god's departure.
With that supreme being no longer present, the entire mountain forest seemed much colder and lonelier. Wind rustled through the sea of trees, but the warm, vast aura of divine might from before was gone.
After the god shattered the void and departed beyond the heavens, Imu stayed in the deep mountains where they had once traveled together, never leaving for even a moment.
Day and night, Imu did only one thing: devotedly studied the ancient, weighty Divine Reversal Dominion Secret Tome.
Imu kept the god's instructions firmly in mind, harboring nothing but a single thought-cultivate diligently, protect the world, and await the god's return.
Back then, Imu's devotion was pure and