"Orochimaru-senpai, what conditions would you like to set?" Aomi said softly.
Orochimaru chuckled with a sinister smile, raising his pale finger: "I only need you to help me practice a jutsu after the war is over..."
"It's a forbidden jutsu developed personally by me, so I hope Aomi-kun can keep it a secret and come to the experimental base with me alone. In return, I will do my best to support Aomi-kun's plans."
"The flight technology of the Hidden Sky Village, artificial human technology, I can share the related knowledge with Aomi-kun..."
Aomi smiled gently and reached out his hand towards Orochimaru: "Pleasure working with you, Orochimaru-senpai. With your addition, the village will surely handle future wars more smoothly..."
Orochimaru laughed softly and shook Aomi's hand.
Feeling the strength of Aomi's grip, Orochimaru was inwardly thrilled, unable to suppress the glimmer of greed in his eyes.
This will be his future vessel, the key to embarking on the path to eternal life!
The reason Orochimaru joined Root was mainly to observe Aomi's growth closely. How far would this perfect body, created from Senju Tobirama's lifetime forbidden jutsu, grow?
As long as he acquired firsthand information on Aomi, Orochimaru could specifically improve the Immortal Rebirth Jutsu, suppressing Aomi's advantages during possession.
Despite his many efforts, Orochimaru found he couldn't replicate the miracle that was Aomi...
It wasn't as simple as replicating the First Hokage's Wood Release, which only required extracting genetic material and cells. Aomi clearly carried Senju Tobirama's chakra, along with the chakra of many Warring States Era's powerful ninjas!
The more Orochimaru researched, the more he admired Senju Tobirama. How did he achieve it?
Fusing the chakra and genetic information of so many powerful ninjas while maintaining dominance for decades without dispersing until finding the perfect vessel in Uchiha Aomi...
But while creating such a miracle is difficult, seizing it is relatively easier.
As long as Orochimaru lured Aomi into his formation, he felt confident in defeating Senju Tobirama by setting up an ambush and planning an attack.
"Orochimaru-senpai, I've heard you're interested in the Second Hokage's forbidden jutsus and research tomes?"
Aomi blinked: "There are some unique copies in Root. I'll grant you the appropriate access."
Orochimaru smirked: "You're such a helpful child, Aomi-kun..."
Senju Tobirama watched Orochimaru's departing back and said in a deep voice: "Aomi, I think he's got an agenda. He always gives off a strange vibe..."
"Tobirama, to be honest, no one in Konoha is as peculiar as you are; they're just your adorable juniors..."
Aomi patted Senju Tobirama's shoulder: "Don't worry; even if he has ill intentions towards me, don't I still have you?"
Senju Tobirama snorted coldly: "That's not called being peculiar; it's just the Will of Fire burning too fiercely!"
Senju Tobirama keenly noticed a hint of greed Orochimaru had for Aomi when he spoke of his demands, wanting Aomi to assist in secretive experiments. Based on Orochimaru's history with human experiments and his obsession with immortality, Tobirama guessed what he intended to do...
Either he aims to subdue Aomi as research material or intends to possess Aomi!
Now lurking by Aomi's side, he's just observing Aomi's weaknesses and waiting for his growth...
Yet Senju Tobirama chose not to say much to Aomi.
In his view, it doesn't matter if Orochimaru ambushes Aomi; he wouldn't succeed.
Even if Orochimaru entered Aomi's spiritual space, I would be waiting for him there!
Senju Tobirama even considered, if Orochimaru really invaded Aomi's spirit, he would call upon Uchiha Izuna, and together they would take down this rebellious disciple of the Sarutobi's!
If he and Uchiha Izuna joined forces, Senju Tobirama casually thought, there are nine ways to crush Orochimaru...
A full nine ways!
No, at least nine ways!
After Orochimaru left, Hiruko lingered around, finding Aomi.
Aomi looked at Hiruko, who seemed to have a hidden concern, and smiled gently: "Hiruko-senpai, if you need any help from Root, just apply directly..."
"Leader Aomi, please don't call me senpai!"
Hiruko, flattered, waved his hand: "I just find it hard to believe you would accept my forbidden jutsu..."
Aomi shook his head: "Hiruko, you might think you're being secretive, but in front of the new Root, village intel is transparent..."
"I'm curious, where did you get the inspiration for your Chimera Jutsu?"
Aomi smiled, patting his shoulder: "I once read some of the Second Hokage's research notes and noticed he seemed to have had similar thoughts, though not fully developed."
"It seems you share the same understanding as the Second Hokage, worthy of being a Konoha Ninja."
Hiruko, seeing Aomi's genuine, warm smile, felt his tense heart gradually settle.
He had thought Aomi was just paying lip service in the meeting.
"As you said, Leader Aomi, I stumbled upon it by chance..."
Seeing Aomi's probing gaze, Hiruko sighed:
"I'll be honest with you; I stole the Second Hokage's research tomes and found he, like me, was somewhat resigned to the limits of his abilities, feeling powerless against Kekkeigenkai ninjas."
"The Second Hokage once proposed a similar concept, but left it aside. I inherited his line of thought to develop the Chimera Jutsu, but it hasn't succeeded yet."
Aomi smirked, raising his eyebrows at Senju Tobirama, whose face was flushed inside.
In Konoha, if you find a Kinjutsu, just pin it on Senju Tobirama!
Things like Artificial Tailed Beasts and Possession Jutsu were all gold-certified by Uzumaki Mito and Sarutobi Hiruzen as being related to him…
Aomi had just curiously made a joke, but unexpectedly hit the mark, and it truly was one of Senju Tobirama's legacies!
"This, this, this is slander, how could this be related to me!"
Senju Tobirama feebly defended himself, "Since Mito sister-in-law, the people in this village have had such deep misunderstandings about me, only Monkey still believes in me…"
Aomi lightly coughed; from the inexplicable conversation between Senju Tobirama and Sarutobi Hiruzen that day, he really didn't think Sarutobi Hiruzen misunderstood him…
Although they both seemed to be on the same page, Sarutobi Hiruzen might have been thinking along the lines of Uzumaki Mito.
"Forget it, Tobirama, you seem to have forgotten that he gave you a zero on the Will of Fire test paper…"
Senju Tobirama took a deep breath, alright, Monkey really wasn't anything good!
That day, he was busy dealing with Shimura Danzo and forgot to settle matters with Monkey…
Senju Tobirama wouldn't forget this grudge, at least making Sarutobi Hiruzen copy Inada Kojiro's paper ten thousand times!
"You may not know it, but my connection with the Second Hokage is very deep…"
Aomi raised his hand, and in Hiruko's shocked gaze, entangled his arm with adamantine chains.
The dark gold chains shimmered, and Hiruko's eyes gradually widened!
"Do you think I learned this Kekkeigenkai, or did I obtain it using the Second Hokage's Secret Technique?"
Aomi said with emotion:
"Ninjas like us, born with average talents, if we don't strive desperately to raise our limits, we'll only fall further behind those geniuses. As long as there is ambition in our hearts, how can we resign ourselves to mediocrity?"
"So, I understand you very well. Let the bygones be bygones; I hope you can develop this Jutsu well to win new hope for the future of the Konoha Ninja, and for your own future."
Hiruko, trembling, looked at Aomi: "Lord Aomi, so you too, you too…!"
"I just want you to know, on this path of fighting against destiny, you are not alone."
Aomi looked straight at Hiruko, and said softly, "Dare to be extraordinary, and you are the true genius, Hiruko."
Hiruko took a deep breath; he never expected that Aomi would reveal this secret to him just to encourage him!
How great a trust is this?
Believing no one understood his lonely heart, Hiruko felt it melt with warmth at this moment, and his eyes grew moist.
[In response to facing mission target Hiruko, you have gained Hiruko's affection!]
[Hiruko's Affection]: Your bloodline will begin preliminary fusion.
Begin fusion?
Aomi's lips curled into a smile, looking at Hiruko with genuine appreciation in his eyes.
Even lacking Six Paths-level Chakra as a primer, even just a preliminary fusion, Aomi having gathered Senju, Uzumaki, Uchiha, Hyuga, and Kaguya, was a presence seemingly waiting to be revealed in the eyes of some!
"Go ahead, Hiruko, be bold, just don't forget the Will of Fire in your heart."
"Lord Aomi, I understand!"
Hiruko took a deep breath; the Will of Fire he once heard so much it made him sick, coming from Aomi's mouth, made his heart warm…
He had already decided, even if it meant stopping his own progress, to first complete the task Aomi had entrusted to him!
Aomi beckoned and instructed Uchiha Hachida, who had rushed over:
"Notify Kakuzu and Hatake Sakumo to capture a few Explosion Release Ninjas from the Hidden Rock Village, and keep it discreet."
Uchiha Hachida grinned: "Understood, Lord Aomi!"
#
Land of Iron.
In this self-proclaimed permanently neutral country, countless powerful individuals were secretly gathering today.
The Hidden Rock Village's Onoki and Kitsuchi.
The Hidden Cloud Village's Third Raikage and the newly named Fourth, A.
The Hidden Sand's Third Kazekage, Rasa, and Pakura.
The Hidden Mist's Third Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, and Terumi Mei.
Salamander Hanzo of the Hidden Rain.
At this moment, except for the Konoha Ninjas, all the powerful figures in the Ninja World had secretly arrived here for a meeting!
The topic of the meeting, naturally, was the increasingly assertive Konoha…