chapter 202 part 1
Chapter 202: Mass-Producing Ghouls of the Uchiha, Orochimaru Reaps a Great Reward
In the secret laboratory buried deep underground, the dim light flickered erratically, threatening to extinguish at any moment and adding a touch of gloom to the eerie space.
Various strange and ancient experimental instruments were placed around the room. Green liquid shimmered faintly in glass containers, swaying gently and emitting subtle sounds.
Orochimaru wore a white lab coat, the front of which was stained with mottled bloodstains.
At this moment, he was intently dissecting a corpse, his eyes revealing an almost maniacal obsession, as if the entire world consisted of only him and the cold corpse before him.
Just then, the laboratory door was gently pushed open, and a gaunt researcher walked in carefully.
He held a small black notebook densely filled with data and experiment reports. His eyes were full of reverence and tension; he dared not look Orochimaru directly in the eye, simply lowering his head slightly and softly saying, "Lord Orochimaru, should we seal those from the Uchiha clan into jars?"
Orochimaru's movements paused slightly, the scalpel in his hand stopping mid-air.
He slowly raised his head, a barely perceptible flicker of emotion passing through his eyes. Sarutobi Hiruzen's death had stirred a ripple in his heart; for him, it was a form of salvation and liberation.
Over the years, the master-disciple entanglement between him and Hiruzen, as well as the various constraints he suffered in Konoha, had all vanished like smoke with Hiruzen's departure.
Thinking again of Uchiha Ren's words—the revelations about Konoha's dark side and the indignation regarding the Uchiha clan's plight—Orochimaru had different ideas in his mind.
He was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head, his voice low and calm as he said, "Find a place in the village and build them houses."
Hearing these words, the researcher was stunned for a moment, as if he couldn't believe his ears.
In his perception, Orochimaru had always been interested only in experiments and power and was notoriously cold and ruthless toward his test subjects. For him to suddenly make such a decision was truly difficult to comprehend.
But he dared not ask more, simply bowing his head and respectfully replying, "Yes!"
In a secluded corner of the Hidden Sound Village, the overcast sky seemed like a heavy lead plate, pressing down on people and making it hard to breathe.
A group of Uchiha clan members was busily transporting building materials. Their faces were full of sorrow and exhaustion, each step they took heavy and difficult.
Who could have imagined that the Uchiha clan, once basking in limitless glory in Konoha, was now seeking a chance to survive under Orochimaru's protection?
The thought of the village's attempt to exterminate them sparked endless indignation and sorrow in their hearts.
That irrecoverable past was like a sharp blade, cruelly carving through their hearts.
Behind the crowd, a young woman with a delicate face stood silently. She was Izumi Uchiha, who was in a relationship with Itachi.
Her eyes were hollow, staring blankly into the distance, as if her soul had long departed. The simple dress she wore fluttered slightly in the wind, highlighting her frail and helpless figure.
The attack that night was like an incurable wound, deeply seared into the depths of her heart.
Whenever the night was deep and quiet, the bloody scene would appear like a nightmare, making her toss and turn, unable to sleep.
She couldn't understand why her lover, Itachi Uchiha, who had once sworn eternal love to her, would brutally turn on his own clan, and on her.
If it weren't for the Earth Grudge Fear monster that suddenly appeared on the path, drawing Itachi's attention away, Izumi Uchiha, who had already fallen under his Tsukuyomi, would have died in agony.
Itachi, you have no heart!
In truth, Izumi was being delusional. Itachi could even kill his own parents, so what was a lover but a feather to be plucked?
"Izumi Uchiha, don't dwell in pain anymore. Life has to go on." An old, gentle voice broke Izumi's contemplation.
Izumi nodded slightly, softly responding, "Yes." Her voice was weak and hoarse, as if she had used all her strength.
She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself, then dragged her heavy steps towards the pile of building materials, reaching out and grabbing a brick. Even though the pain in her heart surged like a torrent, she knew that to survive, for the remaining hope of the Uchiha clan, she had to be strong.
In the slightly remote Uchiha settlement in the Hidden Sound Village, a few rays of sunlight struggled to penetrate the thick clouds, casting light upon this weather-beaten land.
However, for the past few days, a repressive and dangerous aura shrouded the place like a dark fog.
Within the clan, six members had unfortunately contracted a wasting sickness.
As time passed, their condition worsened. Their faces grew pale, their eye sockets sank, and their bodies became so thin they looked like skin stretched over bone, as if a gust of wind could blow them over.
Even more worrisome was the craving for blood that lay dormant in their veins. Like an awakened beast, it roared madly in their consciousness, gradually eroding what little sanity they had left.
Today, the situation finally reached a tipping point.
The bodies of the six clan members began to tremble uncontrollably, their eyes turning an eerie crimson. Sharp fangs protruded from the corners of their mouths, and they emitted low growls, on the verge of plunging into a frantic killing spree at any moment.
The surrounding clan members watched them in horror but dared not approach, afraid of provoking their companions who were about to lose control.
Just then, a figure flashed by like a ghost.
Kimimaro appeared before the crowd!
He held several packs of coffee and threw them forcefully in front of the six clan members who were about to lose control.
The aroma of coffee instantly filled the air. The six clan members froze as if struck by a paralyzing spell. Immediately after, their noses began to twitch frantically, greedily inhaling the fragrance.
They looked like old smokers who had been deprived for half a month and had suddenly spotted a cigarette, their eyes full of madness and desire. They disregarded everything and pounced on the coffee packs, grabbing the beans and trying to shove them into their mouths.
Kimimaro's figure flashed, instantly appearing in the middle of the crowd. His hands swung like a whirlwind, knocking away the clan members who rushed at him one by one.
Kimimaro stood still, his gaze cold as he surveyed the crowd, then shouted loudly, "Izumi Uchiha!"
Before long, Izumi rushed over.
Kimimaro pointed at the coffee packs on the ground and said to Izumi, "Grind coffee for them."
Izumi was slightly taken aback but quickly understood Kimimaro's intention.
After a while, cups of steaming, fragrant coffee were placed before the six clan members.
They eagerly took the coffee, their hands trembling as they poured it into their mouths.
The scalding coffee flowed down their throats, warming their cold bodies and gradually dispelling the frantic craving for blood in their hearts.
Under the effect of the coffee, these six Uchiha clan members suffering from the wasting sickness finally stabilized.
Their eyes gradually regained clarity, and a hint of color returned to their pale faces. Seeing this, the surrounding clan members all breathed a sigh of relief.