The moonlight was cold, spilling over the dense forest deep within the Land of Rain.
Leaves rustled softly as the night breeze stirred them.
Shiroishi stood quietly on the forest path, his footsteps nearly blending into the night.
A snake shadow slithered silently, winding out from beneath tree roots and transforming into a tall figure.
"Mr. Orochimaru." Shiroishi spoke, his tone calm as if he had long anticipated his arrival.
Moonlight slanted through the treetops, illuminating that pale face.
"Hehe, Shiroishi-kun's sensory abilities remain as terrifying as ever."
Orochimaru's lips curved slightly upward, revealing that playful yet dangerous smile.
His golden vertical pupils shimmered in the darkness, like a snake ready to strike at any moment.
His voice was low and smooth, carrying a magnetic quality that chilled one to the core.
"I must admit, your research is truly fascinating. The overall structure of that egg... it's practically identical to a Tailed Beast."
Shiroishi took a few steps closer, holding Bulbasaur, the moonlight reflecting off his face, his expression still calm and unreadable.
"It seems you've studied it quite thoroughly."
"Oh, no," Orochimaru chuckled lightly, shaking his head, "Far from enough."
He extended his slender fingers, their tips glinting in the moonlight.
"That egg is now nearing hatching. Its Chakra flow and cellular structure completely surpass my understanding of life... it's practically another form of Tailed Beast Mode."
As he spoke, his eyes grew increasingly fervent.
That mad desire to control and explore the unknown was almost impossible to conceal on his face.
However, just as he took a step forward!
"Crack!"
Eevee quietly appeared at Shiroishi's feet, fur bristling, tail swishing and stirring up a current of air.
It positioned itself in front of Shiroishi, eyes glowing with a faint pink light, emitting low warning sounds.
Orochimaru paused slightly, but his smile didn't fade, instead growing more intrigued.
"Quite fierce."
He waved his hand gently, indicating he meant no harm.
Shiroishi remained calm, merely responding flatly:
"It's just instinct. After all, your Chakra aura is too dangerous."
The two stared at each other for a moment, the atmospheric pressure seeming to freeze for an instant.
Until Orochimaru broke the silence first, his tone carrying a hint of probing:
"Shiroishi-kun, your Bloodline Ability is what intrigues me most."
Shiroishi narrowed his eyes, neither denying nor nodding.
He only said slowly: "The essence of Tailed Beasts is the combination of Chakra and consciousness. The Ninja Beasts I create are the recombination of Chakra and life. If they're similar, perhaps it's only because they share the same origin. This is also my Bloodline Ability talent."
"Origin?"
Orochimaru murmured the word, a cold glint flashing in his vertical pupils.
He was clearly pondering the meaning behind this term.
In the moonlight, Shiroishi's expression grew increasingly indistinct.
He suddenly spoke, his voice so calm it was almost emotionless: "Mr. Orochimaru, I need a large quantity of corpses."
"Oh?"
Orochimaru's smile stiffened slightly before returning to that familiar, dangerous expression.
"Corpses?"
Shiroishi raised his head, a faint light shimmering in his eyes.
"The Second Great Ninja War has just ended, and the battlefield is littered with abandoned ninja corpses. My innate Bloodline Ability requires a large quantity of these remains... If you have a means to collect them, I am willing to exchange them for Ninja Beast Eggs of equivalent value."
Orochimaru remained silent for two seconds.
"What a delightful idea."
He licked the corner of his mouth with a faint trace of mockery.
"Shiroishi-kun, your way of thinking is quite similar to mine—essentially a cold-hearted individual."
Shiroishi remained expressionless, responding indifferently, "I have no desire to be like you."
This remark drew a slight smile from Orochimaru.
With a flick of his fingers, he produced a scroll from his robes.
"In that case, consider this a token of gratitude for our previous collaboration."
He tossed the scroll, which spun several times in mid-air before being caught steadily by Shiroishi.
The Sealing Runes on the scroll still carried a faint scent of blood.
"Inside are the remains of some useless ninjas."
Orochimaru licked his lips again. "Though they are dead, their cellular structures remain relatively intact."
Shiroishi glanced down at the scroll without further inquiry or any additional reaction.
He simply gave a slight nod.
"The deal is settled."
He turned to leave, the moonlight elongating his silhouette.
The night breeze brushed past, gently lifting the hem of his clothes.
Orochimaru watched the figure gradually vanish into the shadows of the trees,
His smile slowly widened at the corners of his mouth, eventually forming a playful curve.
"Corpses, life, Bloodline Abilities, hatching new life... Heh, Shiroishi-kun."
Are these things needed as nourishment?
Within the Different dimension, deathly stillness and silence intertwined into an abyssal tranquility.
Shiroishi stepped into the dim expanse, cradling Bulbasaur in his arms, his footsteps echoing in the void.
The World Tree stood at the center, so immense it seemed to hold up the entire sky.
Its roots coiled like dragons and serpents, delving deep into the void, each movement causing the earth to tremble.
The tree's surface shimmered with flowing patterns of light, at times crimson as blood, at others eerie green like souls.
It was the lingering echo of countless Chakra and lives.
Shiroishi whispered softly, "Don't be afraid."
The Bulbasaur in his arms trembled slightly, its round eyes reflecting the colossal tree that dominated the sky and earth.
It could sense the dense life energy in the air, as well as an overwhelming pressure.
Shiroishi set Bulbasaur down on the ground, crouching to pat its head.
"This is your place of belonging. Go, absorb the power that is rightfully yours."
Bulbasaur timidly looked up at the towering tree that pierced the clouds.
It let out a soft cry: "Bulba... saur..."
The sound was as faint as a breeze, yet it resonated through the space.
Shiroishi took a deep breath and untied the scroll at his waist.
"Release."
As the technique runes glowed, the air abruptly solidified.
With a dull "thud"!
Hundreds of dismembered limbs and corpses poured out from the scroll.
Decaying flesh mixed with the scent of rust created a hellish scene.
Broken arms, broken legs, and bodies clad in shattered ninja armor lay scattered across the ground, most of them headless.
[Analyzing human composition...]
A cold, mechanical voice echoed through the space, emanating from the eyepiece device on Shiroishi.
[16 Rock Ninjas, 23 Leaf Ninjas, 9 Rain Ninjas, 18 Sand Ninjas, 34 unidentifiable ninja village affiliations...]
Shiroishi narrowed his eyes. These individuals were excellent nourishment, unlike ordinary people, as they were all ninjas imbued with Chakra.
"Excellent."
As the words faded, the World Tree emitted a low rumble.
Countless roots burst through the soil, spreading, tangling, and probing the ground like living creatures.
In the next moment, the severed limbs and broken remains were swept into the roots.
"Gurgle~"
A sound resembling flesh being drained could almost be heard.
The remnants turned into ash-like dust, flowing along the roots into the tree's body, absorbed by countless shimmering veins.
Vibrant rays of light appeared in the air—life energy transformed from Chakra.
The entire space brightened slightly, the gloomy tones replaced by a soft golden radiance.
The once cold giant tree now exuded a gentle aura.
Shiroishi gently nudged Bulbasaur: "Go ahead."
Bulbasaur hesitated, glancing back at him.
That glance held both fear and trust.
It took its first step onto the staircase woven from roots.
Its voice echoed through the space, trembling slightly, yet carrying the courage of growth.
As it gradually approached the main trunk of the World Tree, the tree bloomed with a soft light.
This radiance differed from the earlier bloody hue—it carried the essence of spring...
Warm, pure, and full of vitality.
Shiroishi stood in place, quietly watching.
He could see the Chakra within Bulbasaur resonating with that light.
A faint glow shimmered on its bud, the seed patterns slowly changing.
Its life pulse gradually synchronized with the World Tree, forming a peculiar energy circuit.
"Go and evolve..."
A pillar of light shot straight into the sky from the top of the World Tree.
The entire space was illuminated, even the shadows tinged with gold.
Bathed in the light, Bulbasaur closed its eyes. The seed slowly opened, and petal-shaped energy halos emerged.
Its figure was gradually engulfed by the light, transforming from a tender seed form into a more mature state.
Shiroishi looked up, his face softened by the glow.
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