"I'm delighted that you can assist with my research, Xue Ge."
After the two reached an agreement, Xue Ge returned to his seat and picked up the cup of tea Orochimaru had prepared.
He had no intention of asking Orochimaru for a written agreement. He knew there was no real difference between a written agreement and a verbal one when it came to Orochimaru, so he might as well make things easier for both of them.
Orochimaru was quite pleased with Xue Ge's attitude, and his voice was cheerful. "Since we've reached an agreement tonight, I won't ask you to begin the experiments immediately. As a show of good faith, feel free to ask me any questions you have this evening."
How very generous of him.
Xue Ge shook his head inwardly, but he was happy to take the offer. He took a notebook from inside his clothes. "Lord Orochimaru, you must know the difficulties I've encountered in my training. The Storage Technique, the Body Flicker Technique, one-handed hand seals, and these Wind Release and Lightning Release techniques-I'd like you to modify them."
Orochimaru took the notebook from Xue Ge and opened it, rapidly scanning the pages. Just over half a minute later, he casually laid it facedown on the desk.
"Then let's start with the Storage Technique."
Modifying ninjutsu was hardly difficult for Orochimaru. If he claimed to be second best in ninjutsu research in the current Konoha... only Hiruzen Sarutobi could claim first place.
Of the techniques listed, the Storage Technique would take the least time, making it a good way to demonstrate his ability to Xue Ge.
"The so-called Storage Technique is actually used in conjunction with the Summoning Technique." Orochimaru took a scroll from a drawer, spread it out, and began explaining.
"The Storage Technique seals important things, such as ninja tools and intelligence, inside a scroll. Essentially, it's a type of Sealing Jutsu. The corresponding Summoning Technique is used to summon whatever has been sealed inside the scroll."
"To put it another way, you can think of the scroll as a special space. The Storage Technique puts things into that space, while the Summoning Technique brings them out. Both are the most basic forms of Space-Time Ninjutsu, and their hand seals can even be reduced to just one-if you're proficient enough."
"Sealing Jutsu and the Summoning Technique..." Xue Ge frowned. "The Summoning Technique has other uses, and so does Sealing Jutsu, right?"
Their names sounded impressive. If all they did was serve as a storage ring... that felt a little strange.
"Of course. Besides storing objects, Sealing Jutsu can also seal ninjutsu, chakra, and even... people," Orochimaru said. "As for the Summoning Technique, its best-known use is actually summoning contracted creatures."
"That snake from earlier?" Xue Ge asked immediately.
"You're perceptive indeed, Xue Ge. That's right. That little one is one of my summons." At that point, something occurred to Orochimaru. "Why don't you learn the Summoning Technique first? Then I can have that little one sign a contract with you. You'll be able to summon it yourself, which will make it easier for us to stay in touch."
"All right." Xue Ge nodded. According to Orochimaru, learning the Storage Technique alone would only let him put things in, not take them out, so he would have to learn the Summoning Technique as well.
"Boar, dog, bird, monkey, ram. Those are the hand seals for the Summoning Technique. Hmm, let me make a few adjustments." With that, Orochimaru began writing and sketching in Xue Ge's notebook.
"Look at the earlier pages. There are notes from Lord Third," Xue Ge helpfully reminded him. He had previously copied down the guidance Hiruzen had given him.
Orochimaru nodded and fell silent, devoting himself to the research. Xue Ge closed his eyes and rested.
Some unknown amount of time later, Orochimaru shook Xue Ge awake.
"Take a look and see whether you can understand it." Orochimaru pushed the notebook toward Xue Ge, then got up to find some tea leaves. Lin Yi was already asleep at this hour, but he still had to stay awake a while longer.
Xue Ge looked it over. Orochimaru had added quite a few seals to the Summoning Technique, along with numerous annotations and explanations of one-handed hand seals. After getting a basic grasp of the principles, Xue Ge began forming the seals one by one.
"Boar... dog... monkey..." he recited silently as he formed the seals. "...Ram."
As he completed the final seal, a cloud of smoke rose around Xue Ge. When it cleared, he was gone.
A few minutes later, Orochimaru returned to his desk and saw the notebook lying on the floor beside an empty chair. He froze for a moment, then the tea in his hand dropped to the floor with a clatter. His heart instantly sank.
Oh no. I forgot to tell that brat...
You can't use the Summoning Technique without a target. It could get you killed!
Thud! Xue Ge crashed onto a hard surface, knocking the wind out of himself. It took him a long while to recover.
"Cough, cough, cough..." He struggled to prop himself up and looked around.
Stone walls surrounded him. It seemed he was inside a cave. Xue Ge still had no idea what had happened. The instant he finished the Summoning Technique, everything had spun around him, and by the time he came to his senses, he had slammed hard into the ground.
What is this place?
The unfamiliar surroundings made him nervous, but fortunately, the cave wasn't pitch-black. There was faint candlelight nearby... So someone lived here?
"Are you... the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path?"
While Xue Ge was still dazed, a hoarse voice suddenly sounded behind him, filled with uncertainty and surprise.
He immediately turned to look. A middle-aged man stood with his arms folded on a higher rock ledge, looking down at him from a distance.
The middle-aged man had long, spiky black hair in a decidedly unconventional style, and wore what looked like old red armor... Honestly, his appearance seemed a little familiar to Xue Ge.
When Xue Ge failed to respond for a long time, the middle-aged man frowned and demanded coldly, "Answer me. Are you the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path?"
"...The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path?" Xue Ge had no idea what he was talking about.
The moment he spoke, Xue Ge felt the middle-aged man's presence swell into something immense and terrifying.
Alarm surged through him. Xue Ge instinctively tried to stand, only to discover that his body wouldn't move. It was as though an enormous, invisible hand had gripped him tight and could crush him to death at any moment!
I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die!!!
Xue Ge had never felt anyone was this dangerous. The middle-aged man's presence and killing intent far surpassed Danzo's and Orochimaru's!
Who the hell was he!?
The instant the middle-aged man took a step, Xue Ge burst into motion with unprecedented speed, fleeing in the opposite direction. He had no idea where the cave's exit was, but at that moment, he had only one thought-get away from that man!
Seeing Xue Ge dart away in an instant, even weaving from side to side to throw off pursuit, the middle-aged man paused. Then he gave a cold snort and lowered his body.
An instant
later, the middle-aged man appeared in front of Xue Ge.
"!!!"
Xue Ge's stiff expression turned to horror.
Xue Ge's heart pounded wildly, each beat feeling as though it would burst out of his chest. His eyes widened as the savage killing intent and crushing pressure battered him mercilessly. For the first time, fear took hold in his heart.
The middle-aged man stared coldly at Xue Ge.
"Interesting... Hey, brat. Do you want to dance?"