From Kabuto's perspective, this Yamanaka Clan heiress probably had nothing better to do than casually chat and show off information she'd read in some book. These words seemed absurd at first listen, but upon closer thought, they held some truth—a truth inaccessible to ordinary people, which is why it became something akin to a folk legend.
Ordinary Ninja considered the Six Paths Sage a folk legend, a myth, but Kabuto knew he was a real, existing figure.
Myths have an exaggerated side, but also a real one.
Kabuto felt he couldn't get answers from Ino, so he decided to ask his mentor.
Two days later, Kabuto secretly arrived at Otogakure and met Orochimaru, who was once ranked among "Konoha's Sannin" alongside Jiraiya and Tsunade.
During the Shinobi World War, Orochimaru served as a battlefield commander for a long time, leading a large army against Iwagakure and Hidden Cloud Village, achieving great military successes for Konoha Village in resisting powerful enemies. However, due to conflicting ideologies, Orochimaru defected from Konoha Village, becoming a Rogue Ninja.
As a spy dispatched by Orochimaru to Konoha Village, Kabuto occasionally sent back intelligence. The Third Hokage was growing increasingly old, and with the Chunin Exams approaching, the Konoha Crush, which Orochimaru had always been planning, had entered its countdown.
After reporting the intelligence, Kabuto should have left, but today he hesitated for a few seconds. Under Orochimaru's strange gaze, he asked, "Orochimaru-sama, where do we go after we die? Can we still meet those who have passed away after we die?"
Orochimaru was quite puzzled, not knowing why such a strange question was asked out of the blue. He valued Kabuto's abilities greatly, so after careful consideration, he gave his answer: "I believe we won't see those people. To die is to be dead, to disappear, to no longer exist in this world, Kabuto. Don't harbor illusions."
Kabuto had pondered this philosophical question of "where do people go after death" for two days. The smarter one is, the more one tends to overthink, and he was one of the smartest people of his time.
Ino's true 'underworld theory' didn't open doors or windows for him, but it made him think about many things.
"Orochimaru-sama, I heard there were legends of a King of Hell in ancient times. I heard that after people die..." He recounted the information he heard from Ino, combined with the scattered historical records he possessed, like a student asking a teacher: "Does our world really have a King of Hell?"
Orochimaru gave a gloomy, chilling smile: "What would you do if I said yes?"
Kabuto stared at him, pressing further: "If we found the King of Hell, then could our world become normal? Children wouldn't lose their parents at a young age, mothers and sons wouldn't draw blades against each other due to misunderstandings, everyone would find their purpose in existence..."
His voice grew softer and softer, and Orochimaru, who had lost both his parents at a young age, was also slightly moved.
He had never seen the King of Hell, but he knew about the Rinnegan and had seen Pain's Rinnegan. According to some ancient records, the Rinnegan was the Sages Eye, and the Sages Eye was an eye that could control life and death.
The King of Hell, the Rinnegan, reincarnation, the crazy characteristics within Natural Energy—some things he had previously overlooked now seemed to connect when Kabuto mentioned them.
Was it because the King of Hell was enslaved by that eye that the entire world turned into this hellish state?
For a moment, he actually wanted to go back to the Akatsuki Organization, stir up some trouble, and then get the Rinnegan to study. However, this thought was cut off as soon as it appeared. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but that he couldn't. Pain was too strong! He was no match at all, with no hope of winning.
He said coldly, "Kabuto, I can only tell you that your considerations have some merit, but your level is too low, and your strength is too weak. This world is far more terrifying than you imagine. To contend with someone who controls life and death, you can only make yourself immortal. I've said enough. You may leave."
Kabuto lowered his head, the thoughts in his eyes flashing and then gone: "...Is it because my strength is too weak? I understand, Orochimaru-sama."
Two days later, when Ino saw Kabuto again at Konoha Hospital, she noticed that besides reviewing records of difficult cases, he was also looking through myths and legends.
Ino asked, "Senior Kabuto, why are you reading these myths and legends? They're just for fooling children."
Kabuto sighed softly: "My Ninja talent isn't enough. My Ninjutsu is lacking, my Taijutsu is lacking, my Genjutsu is even worse, and I have no talent for Medical Ninjutsu either. But I still want to live by my Ninja Way, Ino. What is your Ninja Way?"
What is my Ninja Way? Is my girlfriend my Ninja Way? No! Is my Ninja Way my girlfriend? That's not right either! Ino didn't have a Ninja Way to speak of; causing trouble was her Ninja Way!
She stammered, unable to articulate it clearly, and Kabuto didn't expect her to answer.
"I hope everyone can be safe and happy, which is why I studied Medical Ninjutsu. When I realized I had no talent in that area, I turned to studying the theory of Medical Ninjutsu, hoping that the theories I developed could help Medical Ninja. Unfortunately, I have no talent at all. I just thought, since people are so miserable now, were ancient people happier? Maybe they had a panacea in their time? I want to find this medicine and cure everyone!"
Ino nodded repeatedly beside him, but inwardly she was scoffing, 'Are you trying to fool a child? Every one of those ten sentences is a lie. I don't believe a word of it!'
Kabuto scratched his head with a particularly sunny expression: "Haha, no need to hide it. I know my idea is a bit childish, but I still want to try."
Ino encouraged him: "Mhm, Senior Kabuto, I support you."
Kabuto used a tone like he was establishing a "Junior Detective League" to persuade Ino to join him in researching a panacea that could solve all the world's difficult diseases.
He would be responsible for the theoretical part, while Ino would be responsible for finding ancient myths and legends for him.
With his strength, he could perfectly well go to various Ninja clans to find books. In the dead of night, without anyone knowing, doing these things was no problem at all. The problem was that there were too many such books! Hundreds, even thousands of them, scattered among the various Ninja clans. Was he supposed to sneak in every night like a thief and flip through them one by one? He'd die of exhaustion!
In his view, Ino was merely a tool to help him find information.
To increase Ino's sense of mission, he named the panacea "King of Hell," and this study group would follow an ancient name, calling itself "Baroque Works"!
He appointed himself president and then named Ino vice president.
He specifically cautioned Ino not to attract too much attention, fearing that if they failed to develop it, people would mock them.
Ino also didn't want to be affected when this guy inevitably went Rogue Ninja a few days later. The two hit it off immediately, and an extremely secretive organization was thus formed, as if in child's play.
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