Uchiha Makoto froze.
"Join you?"
"Yes." Orochimaru nodded. "You're very gifted, Makoto. Your ideas about developing ninjutsu are unique and valuable. The jutsu you've created, for example, and your understanding of chakra nature transformation... all of that would be very helpful to my research."
He paused, lowering his voice a little.
"Of course, if you're unwilling, or find this unacceptable, you can leave right now. However..."
Orochimaru's gaze turned dangerous.
"The secrets here cannot be allowed to reach outsiders. If you choose to leave, I'll have to take certain... necessary measures."
Killing intent.
Utterly undisguised killing intent.
It coiled around Uchiha Makoto's neck like an icy snake.
Only someone who had lived through a shinobi world war and stained his hands with blood could possess killing intent like this-pure, piercing, and steeped in death.
Uchiha Makoto found it a little difficult to breathe.
He knew Orochimaru wasn't joking.
If he dared say no today, he would never make it out of this underground laboratory.
But he hadn't intended to refuse to join Orochimaru's experiments anyway.
This was fantastic!
I'd just been worrying about not having a chance to milk Orochimaru for all he was worth!
All that forbidden jutsu knowledge, those research findings, those explorations into souls, life, and the very nature of chakra... they were priceless treasures!
As for moral qualms?
As far as Uchiha Makoto was concerned, if he still insisted on morality after transmigrating into the world of Naruto, he might as well go home and become a farmer.
He was merely considering how to answer in a way that seemed reasonable while earning as much of Orochimaru's trust as possible.
"Why did you choose me, Teacher?" Uchiha Makoto raised his head and looked at Orochimaru. "I'm just a seven-year-old kid."
"Age doesn't matter." Orochimaru shook his