"Go on, go on."
The old bachelor Jiraiya waved his hand, watching the boy and girl leave the street corner. He glanced back at the Senju Ancestral Home and scratched his head in frustration... Meanwhile, on a street some distance away from the residence.
Because of the Nine-Tails transfer ceremony, the Anbu had evacuated the crowds from the nearby blocks. The Police Force had also received notice to blockade various intersections. Even though the ritual was complete and the alert had been lifted, no one had returned to the area yet.
"Was everything you just said true?"
Orochimaru walked ahead, his back turned to Uchiha Gen as he spoke.
"Orochimaru-sensei, Lady Mito has the ability to perceive the truth within human hearts. It would have been impossible for me to lie in front of her," Uchiha Gen reminded him.
"Although the Sandaime told me to take you under my wing, I've always felt that our personalities were very similar; you never seemed like an idealist."
That was because Gen's vision was based on something he had seen with his own eyes in his past life, not a mere fantasy.
"That wasn't just an ideal; it is simply what I truly believe. Furthermore, Orochimaru-sensei, I think the kind of 'idealist' you're referring to should be called a 'fantasist.' A true idealist is someone who stands on reality, keeps their feet on the ground, and moves toward their goal step by step regardless of the difficulty. They are people with longer vision, stronger will, and greater wisdom based on realism."
Uchiha Gen spoke to Orochimaru once more.
"I imagine that an extraordinary person like you, Orochimaru-sensei, must have ideals that differ from those of ordinary people, right?"
Orochimaru turned around and looked at Uchiha Gen, seemingly accepting this explanation.
"My ideals have changed over time, but the core has remained the same. When I first started studying under Lord Sarutobi, my dream was to master every ninjutsu in the world. Back then, I believed that if I could learn every technique, I could do anything."
Orochimaru stopped walking and continued.
"Later, I discovered that just learning ninjutsu wasn't enough. I hoped to know all the truths of the world so I could create any technique at will. But now..."
Under the sunlight, Orochimaru's gaze shifted toward the statues on the Hokage Rock.
"Whether it is Lady Mito or the First Hokage, who was hailed as the God of Shinobi—even though they were extremely powerful and their lives were not fragile—they could not escape the passage of time. A human's lifespan is limited. Trying to master infinite truths within a finite time is an extravagant hope. Unless one can achieve immortality, everything eventually turns into a handful of dust and returns to nothingness. What you said just now was not wrong; we are both idealists who stand on reality to pursue our goals."
Has Orochimaru already begun to harbor thoughts of pursuing eternal life?
But honestly, who would choose to die if they could live forever? Especially after gaining power and influence beyond that of ordinary men, one craves life even more. Throughout history, countless emperors who enjoyed supreme power sought immortality. Regarding this, Uchiha Gen was no exception. He was still young and in no hurry, but if such an opportunity truly existed, he wouldn't refuse it.
"A human life of fifty years, compared with the long duration of heaven and earth, is but a fleeting dream. Looking across the world, is there anyone beneath the sun who is truly immortal?"
Orochimaru looked at Uchiha Gen in surprise.
"That sounds like a death poem. I didn't expect you to have such a poetic talent."
Those verses truly struck a chord in his heart.
"This is indeed the death poem of a lord from the Sengoku period; I did not write it," Uchiha Gen replied.
"What was that lord's name?"
"No name of his has been left behind in this world," Uchiha Gen replied again.
There was no Oda Nobunaga in this world.
"To think that a refined figure capable of writing such verses would have even his name and deeds buried by time, leaving only a poem behind?"
Orochimaru sighed with a look of regret.
"Orochimaru-sensei, since things are as they are, why not set a new ideal? You and I are still very young. Whether it's immortality, mastering the truth, or changing this world, why not try to accomplish the things that no one before us has ever achieved? It would be a pity if we had the ability but didn't even try."
Uchiha Gen said this to Orochimaru with a smile. If possible, he didn't want Orochimaru to turn to the dark side. Emotionally speaking, Orochimaru treated him well. Practically, Gen had worked hard to secure the label of "Successor to the Will of Fire." If Orochimaru followed his original path, it would negatively impact Gen's standing.
Conversely, if his teacher could hold a more important position in Konoha, or even become the Fourth Hokage, it would bring immense benefits. As for stopping Orochimaru's curiosity entirely, that was likely impossible. Gen simply thought about influencing the outcome. He could use Orochimaru's peerless research capabilities to gain benefits for himself, while Orochimaru would gain a trustworthy partner.
"I understand what you mean. It's like a person who mixes yellow and blue and names the color he sees 'green.' We are simply doing something of the same nature."
A look of interest appeared in Orochimaru's eyes. Geniuses like him were often incredibly ambitious.
"Hehe, to achieve what you've described, my current abilities are still quite far off, let alone yours. However, I look forward to seeing if this wind of ours can truly move the windmills of the shinobi world. As for now..."
Orochimaru chuckled.
"You should focus on making yourself stronger as quickly as possible so you can survive this cruel war sweeping through the nations."
"Then, Orochimaru-sensei, isn't that exactly why you called me over and said I wouldn't have any free time tonight?"
Uchiha Gen smiled and asked him back. After spending so much time with Orochimaru, he hadn't figured his teacher out perfectly, but he understood the basics. Orochimaru never did anything without a purpose. Since they were heading to the battlefield tomorrow, whatever Orochimaru wanted him to do tonight was definitely a last-minute preparation that would be useful.