"These kekkei genkai are actually quite fascinating, aren't they?" Orochimaru said calmly. "At the very least, researching them helps me better understand their direct relationship with chakra."
In Orochimaru's view, research was never something that yielded results overnight.Studying these various bloodline limits was about laying a solid foundation.
Uchiha Ran did not respond to him immediately.
Instead, he continued to carefully read through Orochimaru's research notes, page after page, eyes focused and thoughtful.
Almost instinctively, Orochimaru did not interrupt him either.He simply stood quietly at the side, watching Ran flip through the records in silence.
After finishing the notes, Ran finally spoke, voicing his thoughts without hesitation.
"Orochimaru-sensei, you've been focusing your research on Ice Release, Boil Release, and similar kekkei genkai… but why not study the true power that ended the Warring States Era?"
He looked up, eyes sharp.
"Only Wood Release and the Sharingan are truly worth deep, long-term research."
From the notes, it was clear that Orochimaru's work centered mostly on Lava Release, Ice Release, Steel Release, and Boil Release.Among them, Ice Release and Boil Release clearly fascinated him the most.
He had even proposed a theoretical kekkei genkai called Crystal Release.
But Ran fundamentally disagreed with this direction.
Why research second-tier powers… when the strongest already exist?
In Ran's view, Wood Release—a kekkei genkai infused with Yang Release—was the embodiment of life energy itself, overflowing with limitless potential.
A Wood Release user could create trees, plants, and entire forests, bending them to their will.This power wasn't limited to offense—it could suppress, seal, poison enemies with pollen…
And by the same logic, it should also be capable of producing healing pollen.
Its adaptability and flexibility were terrifying.
As for the Sharingan, the exclusive bloodline of the Uchiha clan—it symbolized infinite possibility.
Even an ordinary Sharingan was already considered one of the most powerful dōjutsu in the shinobi world.
The Sharingan granted its user extraordinary perception and learning ability.
By activating it, an Uchiha could see through an opponent's movements and intentions, reacting in advance.Its dynamic vision far surpassed normal eyesight, and later it gained the ability to copy and reproduce other shinobi's techniques.
Most importantly—
Its genjutsu capabilities eclipsed nearly every other illusion technique in existence, whether used by those with dōjutsu or without.
And beyond the standard Sharingan…
There existed something recorded only in legends—
The Mangekyō Sharingan.
After closing the records, Ran pulled over a chair and continued speaking to Orochimaru at length.
"The Mangekyō Sharingan… I know of it," Orochimaru said, interest flickering in his eyes as he dragged a chair over and sat beside Ran."Hiruzen-sensei only mentioned it once. According to legend, Uchiha Madara also possessed it. A pity—I've never seen it myself. Tell me more, Ran-kun."
The Mangekyō Sharingan was the evolved form of the normal Sharingan.
Only extraordinarily talented Uchiha could awaken it—through rare and tragic circumstances.
It retained all the abilities of the standard Sharingan, while manifesting unique, terrifying powers.
Some Mangekyō users possessed unrivaled offensive abilities.Some could open entire illusionary worlds.Some wielded absolute genjutsu.Others amplified ninjutsu and taijutsu to monstrous levels.
There were even Mangekyō abilities rumored to foresee the future or warp space itself.
As Ran described it, Orochimaru's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"However," Ran added calmly, "clan records also state that the Mangekyō's power places an enormous burden on the user's body. It must be used sparingly. Supposedly, only Uchiha Madara ever overcame this drawback."
Orochimaru fell silent.
He knew the Sharingan well.He knew of the Mangekyō only as legend.
But even the ordinary Sharingan was already a top-tier dōjutsu.
He could hardly imagine how terrifying a dōjutsu beyond the three-tomoe stage would be.
"Ran-kun…" Orochimaru said slowly, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes."Are you planning to become my little test subject?"
Ran laughed lightly.
"Orochimaru-sensei, you're joking. I prefer being the one holding the scalpel—not the lab rat."
He leaned back casually.
"I simply want to enjoy the benefits once the research bears fruit."
Seeing Orochimaru's barely restrained excitement, Ran deliberately poured fuel on the fire.
"Actually, Orochimaru-sensei… there is a known method to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"However," he added, "it's a method that doesn't suit me."
Orochimaru's interest ignited instantly.
"Oh? The Uchiha have a method to advance to the Mangekyō?"
If such a method existed, it made no sense that not a single Mangekyō wielder had appeared among the many three-tomoe Uchiha.
"This method," Ran said quietly, "was told to me by my deceased parents. Its authenticity hasn't been verified."
Seeing Orochimaru listening intently, Ran continued.
"The Uchiha are a cursed clan… and a clan of love."
Only an Uchiha who loves deeply—who possesses overwhelming emotion—can awaken the Mangekyō.
At the instant that love is lost…
Most commonly, at the moment one kills their most beloved person with their own hands—
Love transforms into hatred.
That collision of love and hatred strikes the three-tomoe Sharingan, forcing it to evolve into the Mangekyō.
Orochimaru's gaze grew increasingly dangerous.
Ran noticed—and didn't care in the slightest.
In fact, he continued calmly.
"However, the vast majority of Uchiha can never reach such extreme love… and thus can never awaken the Mangekyō through this method."
He looked directly at Orochimaru.
"And as for me—Uchiha Ran—"
"The moment I learned how the Mangekyō awakens, I knew that this conventional method would never work for me."
"I cannot obtain the power to pacify the world in that way."
Ran's eyes gleamed faintly.
"Yet by sheer coincidence, the Third Hokage assigned you as my mentor."
"With your research capabilities, Orochimaru-sensei… I feel like I can finally see the moment I awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan."**
"Coincidence?" Orochimaru repeated softly, studying Ran with an inscrutable smile."Perhaps."
He rose slowly.
"Ran-kun, regardless of the reason—you are already my disciple."
"But remember this: to gain something, one often must lose something else."
"All destinies… are already arranged."
Ran smiled in response, eyes calm and steady.
"Very true, Orochimaru-sensei."
He added lightly—
"And those words apply to you just as much."