'It's just that the Yin attribute is a bit troublesome to handle.'
Sora returned to his room, his thoughts wandering. He realized that other clones were easy to deal with, but Yin Release was difficult.
In Sora's view, the strongest Yin Release in the ninja world was nothing more than the Rinnegan of the Uchiha clan, and then there was Kurama Yakumo. However, when comparing Kurama Yakumo to Senju Hashirama, Sora did not believe the two could achieve Yin-Yang balance.
'It seems the Rinnegan cannot be avoided.'
Sora frowned. Unlike the other five Kekkei Genkai clones, where he only needed to obtain some cells from the original owner, the Rinnegan was much more difficult.
This involved many aspects and required arranging a pair of Uchiha. As his thoughts flowed, an idea that had lain dormant in Sora's heart for many years surfaced. Uchiha Takumi and Uchiha Ryota.
But immediately, Sora dismissed this thought. Although he was not a particularly good person, he was not a pure villain either.
Forcing two Uchiha to awaken their Sharingan through various underhanded means and then merging their Mangekyō to evolve into his own Rinnegan contradicted his personal principles.
'Forget it. Take one step at a time. At worst, I can just reduce Senju Hashirama's power a bit.'
Sora did not dwell on it further, sinking the thought back into his heart, and began studying Contract Seals.
....
Two days later.
At the border of the Land of Fire, near the front line facing Iwagakure.
Deep within a remote, uninhabited forest, Sora's figure quietly appeared.
He was still dressed as an inconspicuous rogue ninja, his face smeared with mud and ash, concealing his original appearance.
After confirming the surroundings were safe, he slowly raised his right hand, then pressed it firmly to the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu."
With a faint puff of white smoke, a poisonous snake about the thickness of an arm, its body a grayish-brown color, appeared within the summoning array.
This snake was exactly the communication tool Orochimaru had "gifted" him on the Kikyōyama battlefield.
At the time, Orochimaru had said it was for conveying orders and emergency communication, but Sora knew very well it was more like a means of surveillance and tethering.
After all, mastering the summoning snake meant, in a sense, establishing a connection with Orochimaru's lineage of summoning creatures, making it harder to completely conceal one's whereabouts.
Orochimaru's recruitment was never empty promises. It always came with small gifts that seemed "practical" but actually carried deeper implications.
Although Sora was wary, he had no reason to refuse under the circumstances at the time. He could only accept it openly and use it with caution ever since.
The grayish-brown poisonous snake flicked its tongue, its cold, vertical pupils looking at Sora as if awaiting instructions.
Sora took out a small, prepared scroll from his ninja tool pouch and placed it into the snake's mouth, saying quietly,
"Deliver this to Lord Orochimaru."
The snake nodded almost humanly, then, with a "poof," turned into white smoke and disappeared.
'Next, it's time to wait.'
Sora suppressed his chakra and leaned against a tree in the shadows.
...
Meanwhile, at a temporary base dozens of miles away from Sora's location.
Orochimaru was bent over, observing a twisted corpse on the experimental table, his golden vertical pupils flickering with the light of probing into the mysteries of life.
Suddenly, the space beside him rippled slightly. A puff of white smoke appeared, and the grayish-brown snake emerged, spitting out the small scroll from its mouth.
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow slightly, picked up the scroll, and quickly broke its simple encryption.
When he saw the contents of the scroll, Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly. The corners of his mouth uncontrollably curled upward into a smile full of interest and pleasure.
"Hehehe... Finally taking the initiative to seek me out. Sora-kun..."
Orochimaru licked his lips, a hint of greed flashing in his eyes.
He was very curious about why Sora had actively sought him out this time.
Had he finally come to his senses and decided to join his ranks to explore the ultimate mysteries of life?
Or... did he have another scheme?
...
About a quarter of an hour later, Sora keenly sensed a cold, sinister chakra aura approaching silently at a speed far exceeding that of an ordinary ninja.
Sora's heart tightened. He knew the main event had arrived.
He adjusted his breathing and revealed himself from the canopy, landing in a small clearing within the forest.
Almost the moment he landed, in a clearing not far ahead, a blurry black shadow slowly rose, gradually coalescing into Orochimaru's slender, pale figure.
He was still wearing that loose kimono. His golden serpentine eyes held undisguised scrutiny and amusement. The corners of his mouth were drawn into that trademark, unsettling smile.
"Hehehe... Sora-kun, it's been a long time."
Sora walked out from the tree shadows, his face expressionless, only giving a slight nod.
"Lord Orochimaru."
Sora's gaze quickly swept over Orochimaru while simultaneously extending his perception to its fullest, scouting the surrounding six-mile radius.
Orochimaru looked at Sora with great interest, saying lightly,
"Truly surprising. After just a few short months apart, Sora-kun's aura seems more refined... It seems the trials of war have helped you grow considerably."
"Thanks to you," Sora responded, neither humble nor arrogant.
"So, what important matter brings you to seek me out specifically with the summoning snake?" Orochimaru got straight to the point, his narrow eyes narrowing slightly. "As I recall, you didn't seem very interested in my 'invitation' before."
Sora inwardly sneered, knowing Orochimaru was testing his attitude. He decided to be direct.
"I came this time to propose a transaction with you, Lord Orochimaru."
"A transaction?" A flicker of surprise passed through Orochimaru's eyes, followed by heightened interest. "What kind of transaction is worth you seeking me out actively?"
"I hope to obtain from you, sir, all the technical data related to 'artificial tailed beasts'," Sora stated his purpose calmly.
The air seemed to freeze for an instant.
The playfulness in Orochimaru's eyes receded slightly, replaced by a trace of genuine surprise and scrutiny.
"Artificial tailed beasts?" He repeated the term, his voice dropping a few notes. "Sora-kun, your appetite... is truly not small. Such a thing, even within Konoha, is considered one of the highest-level secrets."
Orochimaru stared intently at Sora, trying to discern something from his face.
But Sora's expression remained as calm as water. He knew his guess was correct. Konoha indeed possessed "artificial tailed beast" technology.
"Precisely because I know its value, I have come to seek you out. I believe that with your capabilities and status, Lord, obtaining such information is not a difficult matter."
"Hehehe..." Orochimaru let out a low chuckle. "Interesting. So then, Sora-kun, what can you offer in exchange for this 'highest-level secret'?"
His body leaned forward slightly, carrying an intangible sense of pressure.
"I have heard that you, Lord, have been dedicated to the research of 'Wood Release'."
Sora spoke unhurriedly, while carefully observing Orochimaru's reaction.
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