Orochimaru stood up and picked up the glass case containing the discarded snake skin.
The first time Orochimaru saw the shed skin of a white snake was when he and Hiruzen visited his parents' memorial stone.
Hiruzen told him that the white snake symbolized fortune and regeneration.
Thus, Orochimaru kept it as an amulet.
Later, Orochimaru witnessed Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki, stumble into an explosive tag trap and be killed instantly—a life suddenly vanishing before his eyes.
Orochimaru was abruptly struck by the fragility of life.
Later still, he witnessed the death of Dan Katō, who had been close to becoming Tsunade's lover.
Orochimaru still remembered the scene that unfolded.
Dan Katō's internal organs were ruptured, and he was gravely wounded.
Tsunade, the best and strongest medical ninja in the Hidden Leaf at the time, desperately tried to save Dan Katō.
But even as she furiously used medical ninjutsu, she could not regenerate Dan Katō's organs.
"Legend says that spiritual snakes like the white snake possess the power of regeneration and fortune, but ultimately, these are just boring myths. Whether it's a white snake or a human, at the moment of death, they are nothing but ugly creatures."
Orochimaru set down the glass case. On the table, there were several specimens preserved in solution.
Rare white snakes were indeed difficult to find.
But for Orochimaru, they were of little consequence.
"Lord Orochimaru," Kiyoshi's voice was calm. "Do you know why a white snake sheds its skin?"
Orochimaru's movement paused slightly. He turned his head and said:
"Shedding skin is merely a natural process for creatures to grow. There is nothing special about it."
Kiyoshi smiled faintly, his gaze still fixed on the white snake, and said:
"Lord Orochimaru, I think shedding skin is more than just a biological or physical process."
"Oh?" Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, his voice raspy.
"Then what do you think shedding skin signifies?"
He wanted to see what kind of words this boy, who seemed similar to himself, would utter.
Anko Mitarashi, standing nearby, felt she couldn't understand the conversation between Kiyoshi and Lord Orochimaru.
Lord Orochimaru, who was always focused on science and rigorous investigation, was actually discussing legends and myths with Kiyoshi?
Anko Mitarashi was not interested in any of this.
She just wanted to know if Kiyoshi would pay for her three-color dango later.
That was a high-grade item!
She had spent almost all her allowance to buy that three-color dango.
"The so-called regeneration is because the vessels of the past can no longer contain one's being. Through shedding the skin, one obtains a new body. Each shedding is a relinquishing of past restraints, extending life."
Kiyoshi once again touched upon the topic of Immortality.
In the Hidden Leaf, this was a taboo subject.
Other ninjas would simply find it blasphemous, an affront to the natural laws of life and death.
But Orochimaru had pursued this goal his entire life; all his actions were built upon this foundation.
Orochimaru frowned slightly, setting down the glass case in his hand. His voice was hoarse as he said:
"What are you trying to say? Even a white snake cannot truly escape the fate of death. They shed their skin, but they still eventually die."
"Lord Orochimaru, you said that the white snake symbolizes fortune and regeneration. Their death is merely the end of the flesh, but their soul, their will, can be continued through the shedding of skin. Just as Anko asked about the snake skin earlier, the white snake itself is long gone, yet its shed skin remains here."
Orochimaru was silent for a moment, his gaze once again falling upon the white snake specimens.
His finger gently tapped the table, producing a low sound, as if he were deep in thought.
After a long pause, he slowly spoke, "The soul… the continuation of will… An interesting idea."
Kiyoshi's idea had abruptly broken him out of an old line of thinking.
It was like a sudden clap of thunder out of the blue.
The white snake shedding its skin still died because it could not truly transcend the concept of life.
But a ninja was different.
The soul and the will were not untouchable domains.
If a ninja could shed their aging body like a white snake and replace it with a new, youthful, and powerful one, wouldn't that be a form of immortality?
The so-called soul was dependent on spiritual energy, and spiritual energy was closely related to physical energy.
If a young body constantly nurtured this spiritual energy, how long could the soul truly live?
Could one truly achieve immortality?
Orochimaru did not know. He licked his lips. This technique was definitely promising.
In fact, he had already grasped some clues regarding Regeneration.
Activating the body would make a person stronger, and at the same time, it would enhance their regenerative abilities.
A technique called the Cursed Seal... was a type of body activation technique.
Could he grasp the wind of Immortality?
"Heh heh, Kiyoshi-kun's insights are quite unique. You are bound to achieve great things in the future. Would you be interested in becoming my assistant?" Orochimaru extended an invitation.
"Lord Orochimaru," Kiyoshi shook his head, feigning reluctance in his refusal. "I am Nonō-sensei's student."
"Nonō's student, is it…" Orochimaru continued to smile.
It didn't matter; he had time to wait.
Nonō Yakushi had already told Danzō Shimura of her intention to leave the Hidden Leaf and retire from the ninja world.
At that time, what reason would Kiyoshi have not to join him?
"Since Kiyoshi-kun has such a profound connection with snakes, I shall give you this."
Orochimaru suddenly opened his mouth wide, his jaws unhinging at an exaggerated angle.
Accompanied by the bobbing of his Adam's apple, he spat out a scroll.
He wiped the sticky residue off it with his hand and handed it to Kiyoshi, saying:
"This is the Great Snake Escape Technique."
Orochimaru handed the Ninjutsu scroll to Kiyoshi.
He had been contemplating shedding and regeneration before, but he hadn't linked it with the concepts of soul and will.
To get someone to work for him, a suitable incentive was necessary.
Anko Mitarashi looked at Orochimaru and Kiyoshi in disbelief.
He actually gave Kiyoshi a Ninjutsu scroll right away.
Had Ninjutsu become acceptable as a gift these days?
Anko Mitarashi suddenly felt uneasy. She hadn't even been taught a Jutsu by Orochimaru yet!
"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru." Kiyoshi accepted the scroll.
The current Orochimaru, who was still relatively restrained, was not as wild as his future self.
Even his methods for recruiting subordinates and assistants were much gentler.
"Anko, see Kiyoshi back." Orochimaru said to Anko Mitarashi, who had been waiting nearby.
He felt that she was a promising prospect and considered taking her as an apprentice.
It was very likely that he would be her Jonin squad leader after she graduated.
"Understood, Lord Orochimaru."
Although she felt Kiyoshi was undeserving of the Ninjutsu, Anko Mitarashi lowered her head and responded obediently upon hearing Orochimaru's command.
She then led Kiyoshi out. Kiyoshi secured the scroll and followed her out.
"Remember to pay for my three-color dango, three-color dango!" Anko Mitarashi once again brought up the demand for compensation.
"Fine." Kiyoshi was in a good mood after receiving a new Ninjutsu and agreed to go to the street to buy Anko Mitarashi a new three-color dango as compensation.
***
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