"I, too, am deeply curious about eternal life."
The trembling voice of Uzumaki Raiden reached Orochimaru's ears. Only then did Orochimaru shift his gaze away from the bound Ōtsutsuki clansman.
"Raiden, after all these years, this is the first time I've sensed true desire in you."
Orochimaru carefully examined Uzumaki Raiden, speaking slowly. He had known Raiden for many years, yet despite their long acquaintance, Orochimaru had always felt he didn't truly understand him. His impression of Uzumaki Raiden was that of a super-genius from the Uzumaki clan.
However, this super-genius was one without desires. Power, wealth, even women—Uzumaki Raiden had never shown the slightest interest in them. Orochimaru had never met anyone quite like him.
But today's encounter changed that. At last, Orochimaru had glimpsed the deepest secrets within Uzumaki Raiden. Indeed, no human is truly without desire. Those who appear to have none often harbor the most terrifying ambitions.
To his surprise, Uzumaki Raiden, like himself, sought to uncover the mysteries of eternal life. He had even captured an Ōtsutsuki.
"Desire? I wouldn't call it that. I simply wish to live longer, to see more of this world, and to enjoy a peaceful life for as long as possible."
"Anyone who tries to disrupt this peace is my enemy."
"This little wish of mine, senior brother—surely you wouldn't refuse me this?"
Uzumaki Raiden smiled at Orochimaru.
"Your so-called wish is the most terrifying ambition."
"However, Raiden, I like you better this way. I'm willing to cooperate with you in studying this individual."
"And if I do uncover the secret to eternal life, I wouldn't mind sharing it with you."
Orochimaru smirked before turning his gaze back to the bound Ōtsutsuki clansman, his eyes filled with fanaticism.
Ōtsutsuki Kenshi shuddered under Orochimaru's gaze, feeling like nothing more than a fish on a chopping board, awaiting the chef's knife.
"Senior brother, I believe you. But if that's all, I still can't fully trust you."
"After all, I asked you to gather intelligence on the Akatsuki organization, yet after a few reports, you stopped providing information."
"That worries me, brother."
Uzumaki Raiden slowly raised his right hand and formed a one-handed seal over his chest. The rocky mountain around them trembled violently, and in an instant, the Ōtsutsuki was encased in thick layers of rock. A powerful surge of chakra flooded the stone chamber as the entire mountain was sealed once more.
Raiden swiftly exited the chamber and descended to the foot of the mountain. Not long after, Orochimaru also appeared, standing beside him. He gazed back at the stone chamber, deep in thought.
After a long pause, Orochimaru opened his mouth, and a scroll emerged, coated in mucus. He pulled it out and tossed it toward Uzumaki Raiden.
"..."
Raiden frowned at the slime-covered scroll. Two chakra threads extended from his fingertips, grasping the scroll at a distance. With Sakegari no Tachi, he carefully unsealed it and examined its contents.
"Hmm? Body Possession Technique?" Raiden, well-versed in ninjutsu, quickly identified the jutsu inscribed on the scroll.
"This is a technique I developed after decades of research. By transferring into new bodies, one can avoid aging—achieving immortality!"
"This is my proof of sincerity."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, awaiting Raiden's response. He believed this was a sufficient offering. After all, his was the only known jutsu in the entire shinobi world capable of prolonging life and defying aging. Sharing such a secret was no small gesture.
But to Orochimaru's surprise, Raiden merely shook his head.
"You developed Body Possession Technique? Truly, your talent is remarkable, senior brother."
"Calling you a genius doesn't do you justice."
"But…"
Raiden initially praised Orochimaru, only to shift the tone of the conversation.
"However, this technique isn't what I seek."
"Body Possession Technique requires constantly switching bodies. But another's body will always remain foreign—no matter what, the compatibility between soul and flesh will never be perfect."
"And forgive my arrogance, but I can't think of anyone in this world whose body surpasses mine in strength."
"I have no intention of giving up my body."
"This version of eternal life is not what I seek. So while your technique may be a treasure to others, to me, it is worthless."
Raiden tossed the scroll back to Orochimaru. Catching it, Orochimaru frowned.
"What do you want, then, to let me study that Ōtsutsuki?" His patience was wearing thin. He stepped back cautiously, increasing the distance between them.
"It's simple, senior brother. I only ask that you allow me to place a curse mark on you."
Raiden smiled, but his words made Orochimaru's face darken. Let Uzumaki Raiden place a curse mark on him? Given that Raiden had seen his Body Possession Technique and still made this request, it could only mean he had a way to ensure the curse mark would persist, even if Orochimaru changed bodies.
What kind of curse mark could defy even Body Possession Technique?
"You want to imprint a seal on my soul?!" Orochimaru's tone grew serious. Ever since developing Body Possession Technique, he had prioritized his soul above all else. Years of research had taught him one undeniable truth—nothing was more important than the soul.
Allowing Raiden to mark his soul? There was no way he would agree.
"Yes. Only then can I truly trust you, senior brother," Raiden said with a grin, though to Orochimaru, his words felt like rolling thunder.
"And if I refuse?" Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, his hand slowly reaching for his ninja pouch. He wasn't interested in hearing Raiden's answer—he was already preparing to counterattack.
"Does it even need to be said? You've seen too much, and yet you still think you can simply walk away?"
"Don't worry. I won't use the curse mark to control you. Our agreement remains: you focus on research, and I'll provide you with test subjects. In fact, if one Ōtsutsuki isn't enough, I can supply a second, even a third."
"In return, all I ask is that you share your findings with me."
"Of course, if you refuse, then I, your junior brother, will have no choice but to resort to force."
Raiden gripped Sakegari no Tachi and unsheathed the blade.
Orochimaru wasn't listening anymore. The moment he realized his Body Possession Technique had failed to earn Raiden's trust, he knew leaving unscathed was no longer an option.
As Raiden drew his sword, Orochimaru swiftly retrieved two smoke bombs from his pouch and threw them to the ground, retreating as he formed hand seals.
"Crack!" A loud thunderclap roared in Orochimaru's ears. A streak of purple lightning tore through the thick smoke, aiming straight for his chest.
Orochimaru barely had time to complete half a seal before the lightning struck. It was too late for ninjutsu. He raised his arms in an attempt to block.
In an instant, the lightning pierced through his arms, then his chest. An immense burst of chakra erupted from Raiden, dispersing the smoke in a violent gale.
"Drip—drip." Blood spattered onto the ground. Even for Orochimaru, the pain was unbearable. His face twisted in agony.
"Brother, do you have a spare body ready for your Body Possession Technique? If this container breaks, do you have another prepared?"
Raiden's expression turned cold. Holding Sakegari no Tachi steadily, he extended the blade with pure lightning chakra, forming a sword several meters long.
"A thunder-based chakra transformation—a lightning sword that extends tens of meters."
"His mastery of Lightning Release is already beyond exceptional. He doesn't even need hand seals anymore."
"If he combines this with the power of a Tailed Beast and the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, even my Reanimation Jutsu won't keep me alive for long."
"To escape from him, I'll have to rely on reincarnation!"
Enduring the excruciating pain, Orochimaru opened his mouth, and a figure slithered out from within.
Even though Uzumaki Raiden had seen this technique before, Orochimaru's ability to regurgitate entire bodies never failed to send chills down his spine.
"For someone who looks so refined, Orochimaru's jutsu are downright disturbing."
"There isn't another shinobi in this world quite like him."
Raiden didn't hesitate. In a flash, he lunged forward, aiming to grab the newly emerged Orochimaru. However, the figure Orochimaru had spit out moved like a snake, sliding fluidly across the ground in an S-pattern.
Raiden flicked his wrist, sending several lightning-infused arrows shooting toward Orochimaru's escaping form, but the latter managed to evade them using his serpent-like movements.
Seeing this, Raiden frowned slightly, activated his Lightning Armor, and gave chase.
Just as he moved, however, the discarded body—previously impaled by Raiden—suddenly glowed with a sinister light. Smearing his own blood onto his hand, the discarded Orochimaru quickly began forming hand seals.
"Boom!!!"
In the distance, a thunderous explosion rang out. The snake-like shadow attempting to flee was pinned to the ground by Raiden's sword, its form rapidly withering.
"This is…?"
Raiden's eyes narrowed in confusion as he stared at the shriveled figure before him. Then, sensing something, he quickly turned back toward Orochimaru's previous position.
There, drenched in blood, stood Orochimaru. He looked as if he had been severely wounded, yet his face bore a relaxed smile.
Behind him, three massive coffins emerged from the ground, forming an imposing barrier between them.
"Raiden, to deal with you, I've prepared a very special gift."
"I hope you like it."
Orochimaru let out his signature hoarse laugh as the lids of the three coffins slowly fell forward, crashing onto the ground.
From the left and right coffins emerged two men clad in armor—men whom Raiden knew all too well.
Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama.
As the two stepped forward, their gazes were initially blank, but upon seeing Raiden standing before them, understanding dawned in their eyes.
"Tobirama, the jutsu you left behind truly unsettles me, even in death."
Despite his restricted movements, Hashirama's consciousness remained intact. He sighed, his eyes filled with melancholy as he looked at Raiden.
"Forgive me, brother."
"But I suspect we aren't the only ones this little snake has reanimated."
Tobirama turned his head slightly toward the central coffin, his expression grave. Hashirama followed his brother's gaze, fell silent for a moment, then let out a deep sigh.
"Orochimaru… How dare you."
At that moment, Uzumaki Raiden's eyes locked onto the third coffin. His pupils trembled, his breath grew ragged, and his chakra surged uncontrollably.
His anger, so overwhelming, could no longer be contained.
The sheer pressure of his fury caused the very ground beneath him to crack apart.
"Tap."
With a soft footstep, a woman emerged from the coffin before Orochimaru.
No—calling her a woman wasn't quite right.
She was a girl.
Yet, in her eyes was a depth of wisdom and sorrow that far exceeded her youthful appearance.
She wore a pristine white kimono. Her long, crimson hair was tied up in an elegant bun, adorned with an ornate hairpiece from which two talismans dangled on either side. Intricate sealing formulas were inscribed upon them.
"Raiden?"
The voice that called out to him was gentle, yet tinged with the weight of time.
A voice he could never forget.
Not only had Orochimaru summoned the legendary Senju brothers, but he had also reanimated her.
The woman who had raised him.
Uzumaki Mito.
"Grandmother…"
Raiden's voice cracked as tears welled up uncontrollably.
Orochimaru, watching from behind the coffins, grinned.
"Clang!"
But before he could gloat, golden chains suddenly burst from Mito's body, hurtling toward him, Hashirama, and Tobirama.
The very next second, Orochimaru found himself completely ensnared.
His smirk vanished.
Hashirama and Tobirama, reacting with instinctual speed, barely managed to evade the chains.
"What the hell is happening?!"
Orochimaru's voice was laced with shock as he struggled against the chains now binding him in place.
Slowly, Uzumaki Mito turned to face him.
Her eyes were filled with pure, unfiltered killing intent.
Orochimaru's scalp tingled as a chill ran down his spine.
At that moment, he realized—
He had made a grave mistake.
Even if he wanted to dispel his Reanimation Jutsu, it was already too late.
His body was bound so tightly by the golden chains that he couldn't move a muscle.
"Did you really think that a simple curse mark would be enough to control me?"
Mito's voice, though calm, carried the weight of an unshakable will.
At that moment, a kunai slipped from her sleeve, clattering onto the ground.
Attached to it was a talisman inscribed with complex sealing formulas.
As Mito's foot pressed against it, black smoke began to rise from the sigil.
(End of this chapter)