Hearing Anko's apology, Rengoku glanced at Orochimaru, who was busily occupied beside them.
Orochimaru, however, remained completely indifferent, as if he hadn't heard a word.
Rengoku pointed at Orochimaru, "Your teacher doesn't need something like an apology."
Anko froze for a second, then finally came to her senses and obediently stood behind Orochimaru.
Orochimaru, seeing that Rengoku had captured two more White Zetsu, looked rather satisfied.
After all, he had already experimented on them and found that White Zetsu was basically the ultimate all-purpose material.
Not only did they possess all attributes, but they were also essentially vegetative in nature.
Perfect both as sacrificial offerings and as experimental subjects.
"Kabuto, take these two materials down for me."
At Rengoku's instruction, Kabuto immediately stepped forward and took the White Zetsu away.
He knew very well, Orochimaru particularly liked using this material for experiments.
Two of the ones Rengoku had sent over earlier had already been used up.
At this point, Orochimaru finally turned his head and looked at Anko.
"I'll give you two choices," he said, "First: I remove your Cursed Seal right now, and you'll never suffer from its pain again."
"Second: I improve your current Cursed Seal so that you can learn Sage Techniques, but if you don't train long enough each day, you'll experience bouts of intense pain."
Orochimaru's tongue curled out in a slow circle, and the gleam in his eyes as he looked at Anko carried a hint of mockery.
Countless memories of studying under Orochimaru flashed through Anko's mind.
She knew this would once again be a crucial crossroads in her life.
And perhaps, it was also her teacher's final chance for her.
Anko didn't hesitate for long before replying firmly, "I choose the second one. I want to learn Sage Techniques!"
She wasn't stupid, not even counting the entire shinobi world, those who could use Sage Techniques could be counted on one hand.
She had heard the story of Rengoku entering Sage Mode and instantly forcing back Hiruzen more times than she could remember.
Orochimaru's lips curled slightly. Finally, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Anko, come with me. Rengoku, we're going to ask the Shinigami for someone."
Rengoku, curious to see the god of death being deceived, followed with some amusement.
They descended together into the underground chamber.
Down below were several people Rengoku recognized, though he had never met them personally.
"Lord Orochimaru."
The Sound Four, Jugo, Suigetsu, and Guren, stood in a row and bowed to Orochimaru.
Officially, these people were here to assist Konoha, but only Rengoku knew the truth, Orochimaru was preparing for a new experiment and had specifically called them over.
Orochimaru didn't stop walking. He simply cast them a glance and said, "No need for formalities."
At this stage, Orochimaru's outlook had changed greatly. Many things he used to care about, he had long let go of.
Formalities like these were a waste of time, especially in his own laboratory.
Rengoku glanced at Jugo, 'That one is usually stationed in the Sound Village… who is controlling him now? Guren, maybe?'
As Orochimaru passed by Jugo, he slapped him lightly on the shoulder and instantly pulled off a lump of tissue, soft and rubbery like clay.
Then, taking Anko and Rengoku, he continued deeper inside.
Kushina was sitting beside a table, studying the mask that she and Orochimaru had recovered earlier. Not the Shinigami's mask, but the other ones.
"How is it? Are these masks useful?"
The masks had been sitting there for some time, and Rengoku had handed them to Nagato and Kushina to study.
Compared to Kushina, Nagato hadn't learned much about the Uzumaki clan's sealing arts.
Kushina, however, had studied a bit when she was young.
And she had actually managed to discover something about them, "These masks can be used as magical tools, or as amplifiers for the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques."
Rengoku raised an eyebrow. It seemed bringing them all back hadn't been a waste.
Orochimaru didn't let Kushina and Rengoku continue chatting. He gave her an order instead, "Go and retrieve Minato's memories for me."
"Ah!", Kushina gasped in surprise and looked toward Rengoku.
Rengoku smiled and nodded, confirming that this was genuine.
"That's great. I'll go right now."
With a happy cry, Kushina immediately used Shadow Slip and vanished, heading toward Naruto.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru directed Kabuto to bring over two more White Zetsu.
Then he walked up to Anko, pulling down her collar to reveal that enticing… Heaven Cursed Seal.
Orochimaru formed hand signs, then pressed that lump of living tissue he had taken from Jugo directly onto Anko's neck.
"Release!"
With a hoarse, low shout, countless black tendrils spread out from the Heaven Cursed Seal, snaking rapidly across Anko's body.
Anko immediately felt her strength drain away, her body trembling before collapsing weakly to the ground.
Orochimaru didn't seem to care. He reached out, and from within Anko's body, a massive serpent's head emerged.
The snake's mouth opened, and from within it, another Orochimaru crawled out.
After the tearing pain subsided, Anko was completely stunned, why was her teacher inside her Cursed Seal?
The Orochimaru within the Heaven Cursed Seal slowly opened his eyes, gazing at the one outside.
"Never thought it would come to this… resurrecting myself."
"Looks like you've found a better path."
The Orochimaru within Anko's body looked darker and more sinister, while the one outside appeared calmer and more composed.
"Yes, I have found a better path."
"Good."
The Orochimaru that emerged from Anko spoke, then instantly transformed into a snake, and slithered straight into the open mouth of the outer Orochimaru.
The scene was grotesque, enough to drive a normal person insane just by witnessing it.
When the two Orochimarus became one, the look in Orochimaru's eyes softened slightly as he turned toward Anko.
And then, the real ritual began.
Orochimaru lifted the Shinigami mask and placed it on his face. A dark, freezing chakra instantly enveloped him.
Even for someone like Orochimaru, the tearing sensation was so agonizing that his body contorted and writhed uncontrollably.
After several seconds, his left hand stretched wide, and behind him appeared the image of the Shinigami.
Although no one could actually see this death god, everyone could feel the overwhelming dread radiating from it.
Under Orochimaru's control, the Shinigami drew the short blade from its mouth, and then slashed open its own abdomen.
At the same time, Orochimaru's own stomach was split open as well.
A hazy soul floated up into the air.
Removing the mask, Orochimaru slapped his palm against the ground.
"Edo Tensei!"
The sealing papers swirled violently, wrapping around the White Zetsu. Amid its gut-wrenching screams, its form completely changed, becoming someone else.
Sweat covering his face, Orochimaru waved Rengoku over.
Rengoku nodded, and from the shadow beside him, another figure rose, one of his clones that had been absorbing external energy.
Orochimaru opened his mouth, and a snake shot out toward Rengoku's clone.
But it didn't merge in, instead, it struck the clone's body like hitting a solid wall.
The snake's body dropped lifelessly to the floor, but its soul immediately merged into the clone.
The clone's features shifted, transforming into Orochimaru's likeness.
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