Gekkō Kumomi, who was lying near the doorway, did not open his eyes, but suddenly spoke in a low voice and asked, "Makoto, did you find something?"
Higashino Makoto did not conceal anything. "There's a small snake circling outside. I think it might be Orochimaru-sama's summoning beast."
"Is that so? Then it should be here to look for you. It seems that lord has returned. Do you need me to accompany you?"
In truth, he did not want Higashino Makoto to go, but no matter what, Orochimaru was the highest-ranking superior here, and as subordinates they could not easily refuse.
"Orochimaru-sama is using this method to summon me, so he probably doesn't want my sensei to come along as well. Otherwise, he could have directly sent someone to deliver an order."
"Is that so? Then go by yourself."
"Alright, sensei."
After thinking for a moment, Gekkō Kumomi reminded him, "Makoto, just maintain respect toward Orochimaru-sama. Don't get involved too deeply. You understand the stance of our three families, don't you?"
"I understand."
At this point in time, in the eyes of the Konohagakure ninja, Orochimaru was still that powerful and reliable disciple of the Hokage, someone with outstanding command ability. His image was merely somewhat cold and unsettling, but not to the extent that he would ever turn on his comrades.
Gekkō Kumomi believed that he might simply have encountered a talented junior and, in a moment of delight, wanted to meet him. He would not do anything to Higashino Makoto.
The reason he spoke that way was that all three families were firm supporters of the Hokage faction, and as for Orochimaru… these jōnin were not fools. Through certain signs, they could naturally tell that this lord might no longer have any chance at the position of Hokage.
Otherwise, Orochimaru should have been assigned to the north to preside over the battlefront at this time, accumulating greater military merit to pave the way for his rise.
Who was currently presiding over that front? It was Jiraiya, another disciple of the Third Hokage, and the one shining most brilliantly on the battlefield was Jiraiya's disciple, Namikaze Minato.
Those who could become jōnin were never stupid. Some things did not need to be spelled out—everyone could see them clearly. Aside from a handful of Orochimaru's diehard loyalists, everyone else toward this Hokage disciple showed only respect and obedience to orders, without drawing too close.
...
Outside was a small snake whose body was interlaced with red-and-black ringed patterns. It was a bit longer than a pair of chopsticks. After it saw Higashino Makoto, it flicked its tongue, then turned around and left.
Higashino Makoto took one look and saw that the meaning of "lead the way" was so obvious—so it really had come to find him.
At the same time, he once again marveled at the wonder of ninja chakra life-forms. This snake was small, yet its intelligence was not low at all. In its tiny snake pupils, it could actually convey very human-like emotions.
The small snake was extremely fast and moved without a sound. Higashino Makoto was the same—drifting behind it like a gust of wind. Very quickly, he followed it to an open patch of ground outside the camp.
After arriving here, the small snake slipped behind a large tree and disappeared.
Higashino took a look. Behind the tree, there was an opening in the ground. A faint trace of light came from within, but if you didn't move close to where the cave entrance was, you wouldn't be able to see it from outside.
That Uncle Snake of his—he just likes digging tunnels underground. Just because your name is Orochimaru, do you really treat yourself as a snake?
Seems like… later on, his true body really is a white-scaled giant snake… then never mind.
Walking down the hardened earthen steps, he entered the downward passageway. On both sides, the walls were recessed with intricate, hard-to-understand patterns. Every so often, oil lamps provided illumination, but overall it was still very dim—a typical Orochimaru-style aesthetic.
After entering the underground space, there were some prison cells on both sides, but most of them were empty.
Higashino Makoto followed the chakra reaction he sensed, turned a few corners, and then entered a simply equipped laboratory.
Here, it was not oil lamps providing the light. The lighting was bright—apparently there was electrical equipment supplying power.
Under the bright shadowless lamp stood a slender figure who did not look very muscular. He wore Konohagakure's standard flak jacket. A head of long black hair hung loose down his back, not tied up.
He had his back to Higashino Makoto as he studied something at the lab bench.
Aside from him, there was another person under the light—a dead person—responsible for being studied, lying quietly on the lab bench, completely nude.
This was a female corpse.
This was a perverted scene. In movies, when this kind of scene appears, they at least have to cover it with a cloth as a token gesture, but reality doesn't need that.
"If my summoning beast hadn't led the way, would you have been able to find this place?" Orochimaru stopped what he was doing and slowly turned his head around.
What were the classic features of Uncle Snake's appearance?
Pale skin, purple eyeshadow, and golden vertical slit pupils—at a glance, he did not look human.
In the future, Morino Ibiki's description would be very apt: the feeling he gave was not that of a human, but of some kind of thing wearing human skin.
Higashino Makoto curiously took a moment to appraise this classic figure, famous in both his past and present lives, then slightly lowered his head and said, "Of course it's possible, Orochimaru-sama."
"Since you came to look for me, you must have already understood my background. This place isn't far from the camp and is still within the range of my perception."
"Just as I thought. Your perceptive ability is even more refined than I imagined," Orochimaru said, then moved his feet and stepped aside.
At this moment, Higashino Makoto saw who the material on the experiment table was—it was the live captive they had caught earlier. As expected, after having her value completely drained, she had now become Orochimaru's research subject.
At this point, Higashino Makoto finally confirmed one thing: this Kirigakure kunoichi… really was only an A cup.
"You don't seem surprised by what you're seeing."
"Orochimaru-sama, Konoha Hospital also has research departments. Things like dissecting corpses—I was exposed to them very early on."
"You learned that from following your mother, Higashino Megumi, correct? I remember her. She's a fairly capable medical ninja, but I believe you've already far surpassed her."
"My mother will always be my model for learning."
Information on the Higashino family was naturally no secret to Orochimaru and could be accessed at any time. He did not dwell on it, instead pointing at the experimental material and asking, "Do you recognize her?"
"I do. She's the Kirigakure captive we caught on the way."
"I already understand the course of events. It can be said that being able to annihilate the Kirigakure ninja and capture a live prisoner—your contribution was the greatest."
"Astounding perceptive ability, powerful medical ninjutsu, outstanding ninjutsu talent, and psychological composure far beyond your age."
As Orochimaru spoke, he couldn't help but extend his tongue and wash his face with it. "Higashino-kun, your excellence exceeds even my sensei's expectations. Compared to you, even I—once called a once-in-decades genius by him—feel inferior."
"You flatter me too much, Orochimaru-sama. There are many companions in the village who are stronger than me. They are the true geniuses."
Orochimaru chuckled softly. "You mean Kakashi? He really is a genius—but only insofar as being a ninja."
"But we are ninjas, Orochimaru-sama. So—what is it you wanted to see me about today?"
Orochimaru got straight to the point. "Higashino-kun, would you be willing to become my assistant? I need your abilities. There are far too many secrets in this world—perhaps I could take you along to see some of them."
So it wasn't that he coveted my body—he had his eye on my perceptive and medical abilities.
Forget it. You should keep that position for your true fan, Yakushi Kabuto. I'm just a fake fan with no feelings.
"Are there really secrets in this world that we ninjas don't know about?"
"Of course. For example, aren't you curious why this Kirigakure kunoichi could be stabbed through the heart by a kunai and still not die?"
"Is it some special ability?"
"The Hōzuki Clan of Kirigakure—their Hydrification Technique. Unfortunately, her talent wasn't sufficient. She could only liquefy part of her body to evade a fatal wound. Otherwise, in a place with water, she would have been very difficult to capture alive."
"The same flesh-and-blood body as ours, yet able to transform into water—don't you find that astonishing?"
Orochimaru's intent to bait him with curiosity was obvious, but Higashino Makoto said, "It is astonishing. However, Orochimaru-sama, compared to research, I prefer battle. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Orochimaru was neither surprised nor disappointed.
When he himself had been Higashino Makoto's age, he too preferred battle. It was just that, after witnessing enough comrades die, people inevitably changed.
He believed Higashino Makoto would be no exception.
He nodded. "Very well. Go back. But remember to keep your curiosity about this world. If one day you wish to understand it, you're always welcome to come find me."
Higashino Makoto respectfully performed a bow, then turned and left the underground laboratory.
What a pity, Mr. Orochimaru.
From the very beginning, I was already standing at the end point of your research. The chakra "truth" you're searching for is nothing more than a messy family soap opera involving a nest of aliens.
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