"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
In the forest late at night, Xue Ge formed hand seals with one hand and unleashed the jutsu, spewing a barrier of wind from his mouth.
But the wind barrier traveled only two or three meters before immediately dissipating.
"Still not working. I need to increase the chakra used to compress the wind barrier. At this stage, I need to guide the chakra toward..."
Frowning, Xue Ge took out his notebook and revised the steps, then sat cross-legged on the ground to begin molding chakra.
His chakra reserves were fairly good for his age, but nowhere near enough to let him use ninjutsu without restraint. The four or five attempts just now had drained more than half his chakra. Fortunately, he had Soldier Pills with him, so replenishing it wasn't too slow.
"Hey." A raspy voice rang out, and Xue Ge's eyes snapped open.
Looking back, he saw a familiar figure standing on a tree branch, looking down at him.
Far away, in a concealed thicket, the ANBU assigned to watch Xue Ge had already been knocked unconscious.
Pale skin, sleek black hair, narrow features... and a cold, sinister air like a snake's.
"...Lord Orochimaru?" Xue Ge tilted his head.
"It's been a few days, Xue Ge." Orochimaru leaped down from the treetop and landed beside him. "How have you been lately?"
Xue Ge stared at him for a moment before saying, "Everything's fine. Thank you for your concern."
"I thought you might have trouble adjusting. Heh heh heh. I don't know whether to be happy or sad."
As Orochimaru spoke, he flicked out his tongue like a snake. "Have time for a chat?"
Of everyone Xue Ge currently knew, his instincts had always placed Orochimaru in the highest danger category. He couldn't fathom Orochimaru at all; he didn't even know what the man liked or disliked.
It seemed he had something to discuss with him.
Xue Ge nodded.
"Then let's go somewhere else. This place is a little oppressive. I don't imagine you'd like it, Xue Ge."
Orochimaru smiled with narrowed eyes, then jumped onto a branch and moved lightly through the trees. Xue Ge hurried after him.
They reached the top of Hokage Rock and found a large stone to sit on.
"This is a nice spot." Orochimaru raised a hand toward the full moon. "Bright moonlight puts one in a good mood."
"Lord Orochimaru, what did you want to see me about?" Xue Ge was equally direct. He didn't want to exchange too many pleasantries with Orochimaru, lest the man lead him into a trap and sell him out before he even realized it.
"Straight to the point, aren't you, Xue Ge?" Orochimaru brought his hands together, repeatedly stretching his fingers and tapping them against one another. "Here's the situation. I need more samples of your body tissue for my experiments. Don't worry. This will benefit you, too."
Whether it benefits me or not... I can't refuse anyway, can I?
Xue Ge nodded his agreement, his face expressionless.
"You really are very understanding, Xue Ge." Orochimaru's smile grew brighter. "There's one more favor I'd like to ask. Hmm, I hope you can visit my laboratory every so often. There's no fixed schedule. Whenever you're free will do."
"What for?"
"Your soul seems a little unusual, Xue Ge..." Orochimaru's eyes narrowed as he said this. "For certain special reasons, I hope to study souls in depth. You would make an excellent subject..."
"..."
Xue Ge's hair stood on end, and his body instantly went rigid.
An unusual soul... No kidding. How could a transmigrator's soul not be unusual? It has to have some abnormal qualities. If I let Orochimaru study it... who knows whether he'll discover something he shouldn't.
...Just as I thought. This brat knows his soul is unusual...
Watching every detail of Xue Ge's behavior, Orochimaru noticed the instantaneous change in his demeanor and immediately confirmed his suspicions.
Orochimaru had never encountered someone compatible with ocular power but incompatible with the kekkei genkai itself. Before this, he hadn't even imagined such a condition could exist. Xue Ge's grit, so at odds with his age, also intrigued him. He had come up with many possible explanations, one of which concerned the soul.
He had deliberately brought it up to observe Xue Ge's reaction. Now it seemed he'd hit the jackpot.
Heh heh heh... Danzo, oh, Danzo. You've found yourself quite a fine test subject. Not only can he serve your experiments, he can help me as well.
Seeing that Xue Ge seemed somewhat resistant, Orochimaru immediately switched to an exceedingly gentle tone to reassure him.
"Of course, I know anything involving the soul is bound to put you in a difficult position, Xue Ge. So... I'll offer you appropriate compensation. This is a deal."
Hearing Orochimaru's words gave Xue Ge a little comfort.
In truth, he understood that he didn't have much choice in front of Orochimaru right now.
Even if he refused, he couldn't stop Orochimaru if the man insisted. Even if he told Danzo, Danzo couldn't help him every moment of the day.
More to the point, Danzo would never antagonize Orochimaru too much on his account.
Since Orochimaru had proposed a deal, at least he could get something out of him... He could consider it a little compensation.
He could only pray that Orochimaru's research wouldn't touch on things like other worlds.
"What compensation?" Xue Ge tried to keep his voice as calm as possible.
Orochimaru smiled and held up a finger. "I can teach you some of my exclusive ninjutsu. How does that sound?"
Xue Ge narrowed his eyes. He knew the reputation of the Sannin, and he also knew that, as Hiruzen's student, Orochimaru was exceptionally accomplished in ninjutsu.
Learning some of his exclusive ninjutsu would undoubtedly be a great help in improving his strength.
After pondering for a moment, he asked, "What kind of ninjutsu?"
"Some ninjutsu you might find interesting." Orochimaru kept him guessing. "For example, ninjutsu that can strengthen your wind release ninjutsu, or... ninjutsu that can help you better control the chakra inside your body."
Orochimaru had spent four years with Xue Ge and had studied him for those same four years. He might understand the condition of Xue Ge's body better than Xue Ge himself did.
"And... if you need it, I can also serve as an adviser for your ninjutsu training." He offered an even more tempting condition.
Xue Ge was indeed tempted.
The biggest problem in his training right now was his lack of experience developing ninjutsu. Danzo was busy and his whereabouts were elusive, Hiruzen was even busier, and Minato wasn't in the village.
Under these circumstances, Orochimaru's offer couldn't have come at a better time.
Still, he didn't agree immediately. Orochimaru was deeply calculating and cautious. When dealing with
him, although Xue Ge couldn't resist him entirely, he couldn't appear too easy to manipulate either.
"I need to think it over," Xue Ge said.
"Of course." Orochimaru nodded. "Take your time, Xue Ge. But I should remind you that my patience has limits. If you take too long, I might change my mind."
With that, Orochimaru said no more and turned to leave Hokage Rock, leaving Xue Ge sitting there alone in thought.