Anko froze at his words, disbelief spreading across her face.
Orochimaru let out a low chuckle, sounding amused:
"Hehehe... Xuandou, has my student's beauty caught your eye?"
He tilted his head, his golden, slit-pupiled eyes moving between Xuandou and Anko as he teased:
"I never expected a ninja like you to be just like Jiraiya, obsessed with venting your desires on women."
Xuandou said nothing, simply watching him in silence.
Orochimaru withdrew his gaze and continued:
"This girl was once one of my proudest creations. Unfortunately... she lacked the ambition I wanted, and her hunger for power wasn't strong enough."
He paused, turning his gaze toward an adjoining laboratory.
Through the glass window, a boy could be seen inside.
The boy was about eight, with orange hair and delicate features.
Orochimaru looked away and turned to Xuandou:
"Now I have superior experimental material. There's no harm in giving her up."
As he spoke, he took a scroll from inside his clothes and casually tossed it to Xuandou.
Xuandou reached out and caught it.
Orochimaru licked his lips and added:
"My student has a rebellious streak. She's not very obedient."
"Sealed within this scroll is the method for controlling the power of her Cursed Seal. Since you like her, Xuandou, I'll give you this as well."
Holding the scroll, Xuandou hadn't expected Orochimaru to be so accommodating.
Since that was the case, he wasted no time and spoke directly:
"Kakuzu's immortality comes from Takigakure's forbidden technique, Earth Grudge Fear."
"It's a body-modification technique that merges the user's blood vessels and cells with a black, tendril-like substance, completely altering their physiology."
"This forbidden technique allows him to steal other ninja's hearts and acquire their chakra natures. As long as one heart remains alive, he can restore his life by replacing his hearts."