Moriah snapped back to reality, staring intently at Orochimaru's Shadow Clone, his voice growing sharp: "You... how do you know Kaido, someone who hasn't even stepped into the New World yet?! Not only that, but you even know about events from twenty-three years ago! Who exactly are you?"
Orochimaru's clone sighed helplessly, thinking, 'Do people in this Pirate World have no brains?' He couldn't be bothered to argue with Moriah and simply pulled a newspaper from his pocket (from the System) and tossed it over.
"Don't you know there's something called a newspaper in this world?" Orochimaru said indifferently.
Moriah looked at the newspaper from 23 years ago, his eyes dark, even tinged with a hint of sadness, but these thoughts quickly dissipated. A sneer appeared on his lips, and his gaze became increasingly wanton, openly scrutinizing the person on his shoulder.
"Hehehehe... It's fine if you don't show me this newspaper, but don't you know that this kind of newspaper is only sold in the New World?" Moriah carefully observed Orochimaru, suddenly recalling his first bounty poster, and with a meaningful smile, said, "Ninja? Wano Country... Noble!!!"
Orochimaru's clone looked at the middle-aged, overweight shut-in before him with a headache, sighing inwardly. Sure enough, knowing too much wasn't good; one lie required countless others to cover it up. However, he ignored Moriah's erratic behavior and simply watched him quietly.
Seeing that he was being ignored, Moriah felt bored and began to ramble on again: "What, do you want to get your Captain's shadow back? Let me tell you, with this shadow, I'll have the strongest zombie. Then, as long as I can defeat Kaido! I'll quickly become the Pirate King! Hehehehe..."
Orochimaru's clone listened to Moriah's confident words about Luffy's shadow and couldn't help but feel speechless. If Kaido saw Luffy now, Orochimaru was afraid Luffy would be pulverized by Kaido's club, the kind of shattered remains that Orochimaru feared he couldn't even save.
As for Moriah's claim of using Luffy's shadow to create the strongest zombie, that was even more of a fantasy.
Orochimaru's clone, somewhat mockingly, said, "I don't intend to save him; do as you please. I just want to see your so-called great masterpiece. After all, it's an honor that you think so highly of my Captain. But I don't think your wish will come true. With your bloated physique, let alone Kaido, you can't even beat Luffy."
The three people inside Kumashi watched Orochimaru and Moriah chat, so anxious they almost ran out, all thinking, "Hey... clone... don't forget you're with us... are you some kind of chatty clone (they say every Shadow Clone has a different personality)... don't talk so much, hurry up and cover us! And where did your Main Body run off to play again! He's not in the box!"
--- Dividing Line --- Orochimaru's Main Body ---
Meanwhile, Orochimaru's Main Body, during Moriah's conversation, suddenly thought of a very serious problem: with Luffy's current strength, even if he was a bit stronger than before, it was far from enough. He frowned, his eyes sharpening as he pondered.
He carefully recalled the memories of that Blue Star person, and images of Kuma on Thriller Bark and the two-year training period surfaced in his mind.
He realized that Kuma also clearly knew that the current Luffy was not yet strong enough to contend with the powerhouses of the New World. So... was a destined separation inevitable? This question lingered in his mind, plunging him into deep thought.
Orochimaru couldn't help but remember his past self, who had also gone through countless partings and challenges to reach this point. Perhaps, this was the necessary path to growth. However, for Luffy, was such a choice too cruel?
Orochimaru's heart was filled with contradiction and worry. He didn't know how to face it, nor how to explain it to Luffy, and he certainly couldn't pretend not to know and watch Luffy fall into despair... At this moment, Orochimaru felt an invisible pressure enveloping him. He needed to seriously consider the path ahead. After all, he knew that Luffy and his Crewmates' goal was not just to survive and find Raftel, but also to become the Pirate King and achieve their dreams. And in this process, battles and trials were inevitable.
Orochimaru frowned, intending to go ask Benn, since he and Kuma still knew each other. He recalled the memories in his mind; it seemed Kuma had made some kind of agreement with the World Government, but what exactly was it? This gave him a headache.
Although Luffy didn't know that Dragon occasionally returned to the East Blue with the Revolutionary Army to handle matters, due to Dragon's need for secrecy to prevent others from knowing his relationship with Luffy, Luffy had never met Dragon.
However, Orochimaru didn't need to worry about such things. Back when Sabo was rescued, many in the Revolutionary Army had seen Orochimaru, and most of those people were now key figures in the Revolutionary Army.
Orochimaru met with Dragon under the guise of being Sabo's brother, so no one suspected him. Kuma was one of the few who knew the relationship between Luffy and Dragon.
According to the Blue Star person's memory, Kuma should already be at Thriller Bark by now, likely near the coast. Orochimaru flew through the sky, searching.
Sure enough, in a corner of Thriller Bark, Orochimaru found that tall figure. Kuma was holding a transponder snail, listening intently to the voice on the other end. When Kuma saw Orochimaru, he hung up the phone.
"Gorosei?" Orochimaru looked at Kuma with a subtle expression. He had just learned everything about this man from the Blue Star person's memories. He had to admit, such a person was truly both loved and disliked.
"Hmm... I received orders to eliminate the Straw Hat." Kuma crouched down, looking at the young man before him. He had grown so much, yet he was as small as Ginny once was.
"So... you plan to feign compliance, sacrifice yourself, suffer in silence, and die unknown?" Orochimaru's voice grew low here, even carrying a hint of imperceptible anger.
Kuma slightly lowered his head, not speaking, but the determination in his eyes showed his decision.
Orochimaru looked at the person before him, took a deep breath, and tried to control his emotions: "That's it??? Can't you say a few more words!!"
Kuma raised his head, looking calmly at Orochimaru, and slowly said, "I promised Satan Saint that I would undergo Vegapunk's experiment to erase my consciousness, so I will not eliminate the Straw Hat. However, I will help Monkey D. Luffy test whether his Companions are qualified."
Orochimaru looked at the one who was evading the question: "We don't need your so-called help! And our Companions don't need your test. Or... have you already undergone part of the experiment?"
Kuma nodded, still expressionless: "The test is necessary... and with their current strength, they won't be able to survive in the New World. So, if you were to travel, where would you want to go?"
Orochimaru heard this and laughed in anger, finding Kuma before him utterly foolish. However, Kuma was not affected by Orochimaru's mockery. He simply looked at Orochimaru, repeating his question: "So, if you were to travel, where would you want to go?"
Orochimaru took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions, but the anger in his heart remained difficult to quell. He suddenly thought of the burning Vivre Card he had just discovered. That idiot, everyone in this world was an idiot!! Orochimaru gritted his teeth, looked at Kuma, and said, "Loguetown."
"Loguetown????" Kuma was stunned, completely bewildered. Was Orochimaru going back to visit relatives? But that didn't seem quite right; logically, he should be returning to Foosha Village. Kuma was momentarily lost in confusion.
"Are you sure??"
"Sure!" Since he couldn't stop it, he could only deal with the other matter first. However, he still disliked such self-sacrificing people. Orochimaru decided to do something.
A wicked smile played on his lips as he said to Kuma, "Are you done asking? If so, stand up for a moment and unbutton your clothes."
Kuma nodded blankly, stood up, and obediently unbuttoned his clothes, looking at Orochimaru with a puzzled expression.
Orochimaru's five fingers curved, and something like a cyan flame emerged from his fingertips. A pattern he couldn't understand appeared on his palm. Orochimaru directly slapped Kuma's abdomen. A spiral pattern instantly appeared at the point of impact, along with some text he couldn't comprehend. Kuma looked at the pattern, bewildered.
"What is this?"
Orochimaru clapped his hands mischievously, "I won't tell you."
For the first time, Kuma felt... this child seemed a bit annoying.
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