#97 - Orochimaru's approval

Orochimaru stood up and picked up the glass case containing his shed snakeskin.

The first time he saw a white snake's shed skin was when Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi went to visit their parents' memorial.

Hiruzen Sarutobi told him that the white snake symbolized luck and rebirth.

So Orochimaru took it as a talisman.

Later, Orochimaru saw Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki, accidentally step on an explosive tag and get blown up, and a life suddenly disappeared before his eyes.

Orochimaru suddenly felt that life was very fragile.

Later, he witnessed the death of Dan Kato, who almost became Tsunade's lover.

Orochimaru still remembered the scene at that time.

Dan Kato's internal organs were blown away, and his life was in critical condition.

At that time, Tsunade, the best and strongest medical ninja in Konoha, desperately tried to save Dan Kato.

But even if she used medical ninjutsu like crazy, she couldn't regenerate Dan Kato's internal organs.

"It is rumored that spirit snakes like the white snake possess the power of regeneration and luck, but unfortunately, they are just some boring legends. Whether it's a white snake or a human, they are ugly when they are about to die."

Orochimaru put down the glass case in his hand. On the table, there were several specimens soaked in solution.

Rare white snakes are indeed hard to find.

But it was nothing to Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru-sama," Kiyoshi's voice was calm. "Do you know why white snakes shed their skin?"

Orochimaru paused slightly and turned his head to say:

"Shedding skin is just a natural process for creatures to grow, nothing special."

Kiyoshi smiled slightly, his eyes still on the white snake, and said:

"Orochimaru-sama, I don't think shedding skin is just a biological or physical process."

"Oh?" Orochimaru's eyebrows raised slightly, his voice hoarse.

"Then what do you think shedding skin means?"

He wanted to see what kind of words Kiyoshi, a kid similar to himself, would say.

Anko Mitarashi, who was standing next to him, felt that she couldn't understand the conversation between Kiyoshi and Orochimaru-sama.

Orochimaru-sama, who had always paid attention to science and rigor, was actually talking about legends and myths with Kiyoshi?

Anko Mitarashi was not interested in these things.

She just wanted to know if Kiyoshi would pay her back for her tri-color dango later.

That was a high-end product!

In order to buy such tri-color dango to eat, almost all of her pocket money was used up.

"The so-called regeneration is because the past capacity can no longer bear oneself, and then through shedding skin, one obtains a new body. Every shedding is abandoning the shackles of the past and extending life."

Kiyoshi once again talked about the topic of "eternal life."

In Konoha, this was something that couldn't even be talked about.

Because other ninjas would only think it was rebellious and blasphemous to the natural laws of life and death.

But Orochimaru had been pursuing this goal all his life, and all his actions were based on this foundation.

Orochimaru frowned slightly, put down the glass case in his hand, and said in a hoarse voice:

"What do you want to say? Even white snakes cannot truly escape the fate of death. They shed their skin, but they will still die eventually."

"Orochimaru-sama, you said that white snakes symbolize luck and regeneration. Their death is only the end of the physical body, but their souls, their wills, can be continued through shedding skin, just like the snakeskin Anko just asked about. That white snake has long disappeared, but the shed snakeskin is still here."

Orochimaru was silent for a moment, his eyes falling on the white snake specimens again.

His fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a low sound, as if he was thinking about something.

After a long time, he slowly opened his mouth: "The continuation of the soul...will...interesting idea."

Kiyoshi's idea suddenly broke his old way of thinking.

It was like a thunderclap from the ground.

The white snake still dies after shedding its skin because it cannot truly transcend the concept of life.

But ninjas are different.

The soul and will are not untouchable areas.

If ninjas could shed their old bodies like white snakes and replace them with young and powerful bodies, wouldn't that be a kind of eternal life?

The so-called soul is attached to spiritual energy, and spiritual energy is closely related to physical energy.

If a young body nourishes this spiritual energy at all times, then how long can the soul live?

Can eternal life be achieved?

Orochimaru didn't know. He licked the corner of his mouth. This technique was indeed promising.

In fact, he had already grasped some clues about "regeneration."

Activating the body makes people stronger, and at the same time, it also improves the ability to regenerate.

The "curse mark" is a body activation technique.

Then, can he catch the wind about "eternal life"?

"Hehe, Kiyoshi-kun's insights are unique. He will definitely achieve great things in the future. Are you interested in becoming my assistant?"

Orochimaru extended an invitation.

"Orochimaru-sama, I am a disciple of Nonou-sensei."

Kiyoshi shook his head, pretending to be embarrassed and refused.

"A disciple of Nonou, huh..."

Orochimaru was still smiling.

It didn't matter. He had time to wait.

Yakushi Nonou had already proposed to Shimura Danzo the idea of leaving Konoha and retiring from the ninja world.

When that time came, what reason would Kiyoshi have not to join him?

"Since Kiyoshi-kun and I are both destined for snakes, then I will give this to you."

Orochimaru suddenly opened his mouth wide, opening and closing his mouth at an exaggerated angle.

With the movement of his Adam's apple, he spat out a scroll.

He wiped the mucus on it with his hand and handed it to Kiyoshi, saying:

"This is the 'Orochimaru-style Body Replacement Technique'."

Orochimaru handed this ninjutsu scroll to Kiyoshi.

He had been thinking about shedding skin and regeneration before, but he had not associated the soul and will with it.

If you want someone to do things for you, appropriate benefits are essential.

Anko Mitarashi looked at Orochimaru and Kiyoshi in disbelief.

He actually gave Kiyoshi a ninjutsu as soon as he came.

In this day and age, can ninjutsu be used as a souvenir?

Anko Mitarashi suddenly felt uncomfortable. She hadn't even received Orochimaru's teachings yet!

"Thank you, Orochimaru-sama."

Kiyoshi accepted the scroll.

Orochimaru, who was still considered orderly now, was not as arrogant as he would be later.

Even his methods of recruiting subordinates and assistants were much gentler.

"Anko, send Kiyoshi back."

Orochimaru said to Anko Mitarashi, who had been waiting beside him.

He felt that this seedling was good, and he also had the idea of taking him as a disciple.

It was likely that he would be her jonin leader after Anko graduated.

"Understood, Orochimaru-sama."

Even though she felt that Kiyoshi was not qualified to take that ninjutsu, Anko Mitarashi lowered her head and replied honestly upon hearing Orochimaru's order.

Then she took Kiyoshi out. Kiyoshi put away the scroll and followed her out.

"Remember to pay me back for the tri-color dango, the tri-color dango."

Anko Mitarashi once again made a request for compensation.

"Okay."

Kiyoshi, who had obtained a new ninjutsu, was in a good mood and agreed to buy a new tri-color dango on the street to compensate Anko Mitarashi.