nashuaworldcup Chapter 311 Orochimaru: Between me and "me", who is better?
Chapter 311 Orochimaru: Between me and "me", who is better?
Chapter 311 Orochimaru: Between me and "me", who is better?
Door: Comment!!!
On the big screen, the wooden door to the Hokage's office was slammed shut, the echo reverberating in the silent theater for several seconds.
in the audience.
Danzo trembled with shame and indignation.
With a loud bang!
He stomped his cane heavily, stood up abruptly, and bloodshot veins surged in his single eye.
"Useless! Utterly useless!"
He couldn't accept it.
In the dream, I clearly held the power of Root, and I had a legitimate reason and was in the right. However, when faced with such obvious favoritism, I was completely overwhelmed by Hiruzen Sarutobi's few words and couldn't lift my head.
"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
Familiar words echoed repeatedly in my mind.
It's always like this.
Hiruzen, that old bastard, always says the same thing.
With old and new grudges piled up, Danzo was so angry that a surge of evil fire coursed through his body.
[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Shimura Danzo have been detected! Emotional value +900!]
"Hahahahaha!"
Beside him, Jiraiya was laughing so hard he was doubled over.
"Oh dear, Lord Danzo, calm down, calm down!"
Jiraiya waved his hand dismissively, feigning concern, and teased, "It was just a small loss in a dream, nothing serious."
"Getting angry is bad for your health. Your body can't take this kind of stress. Why don't you sit down and have some water? Oh, right, there doesn't seem to be any water here—then take a few more breaths, don't hold your breath, hahaha!"
[Ding! Jiraiya's emotional fluctuations have been detected! Emotional value +350!]
Danzo felt dizzy and disoriented from this insidious and devastating taunt.
He could even feel the veins on his forehead throbbing wildly, as if they were about to burst.
However, Danzo also understood that if he replied with just one word, Jiraiya would only laugh louder, and the people around him would also enjoy watching even more.
He could only clench his back teeth tightly.
However, just as his anger was surging, something else that made Danzo even more uncomfortable also emerged in his heart.
Puzzled.
Jiraiya's taunts were certainly hateful, but what he cared about more than the taunts was—
Why?
It's one thing if Hiruzen Sarutobi in the dream is biased towards Orochimaru.
Hiruzen Sarutobi has always been like this; he speaks righteously but always manages to give his beloved disciples special favors.
But what exactly are those two old guys, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, up to?
Why did they side with Orochimaru, and so completely?
This is completely inconsistent with Danzo's understanding of those two people.
Those two are typical Konoha opportunists who value rules, balance, and stability.
Logically speaking, Orochimaru's blatant disruption of the program and his attempt to steal people from the root is precisely what they most resent and should be suppressed for.
However, they did not take the opportunity to launch an attack.
They not only helped Orochimaru cover up his lies, but they even turned around and accused him of lacking vision.
Is it just because of that research on the whole foot?
No.
Absolutely not.
Danzo almost instinctively rejected the idea.
This excuse is ridiculously naive and won't fool anyone who actually sits in a high-ranking position.
Those two elders are both shrewd people, how could they not see it?
unless----
A thought that made Danzo even more uneasy crept up his spine, sending chills down his spine.
Unless, in this dream, the force represented by Orochimaru has become so powerful that Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado have to be wary of him, or even actively curry favor with him and take sides.
They felt that offending Orochimaru for the sake of a few insignificant orphans, or for the sake of some so-called program, was an absolutely unwise choice.
This conjecture sent a chill down Danzo's spine.
Not right.
In my dream, I seemed to be underestimated by others.
He at least controlled the Root organization.
He is a person with real power in Konoha.
Danzo narrowed his one eye slightly and began to re-examine the disheveled figure on the screen.
Has his power and influence in Konoha weakened to this extent?
Or did Orochimaru do something that completely changed the power structure?
Just as Danzo was deep in thought.
In a corner of the audience, Kabuto's gaze swept indifferently over Danzo, a faint, unseen sneer that would have sent a chill down anyone's spine.
This is the consequence of opposing Lord Orochimaru.
Whether in reality or anywhere else.
Dou felt no emotion.
As for why the two elders cooperated so well in the dream, in Dou's opinion, it was perfectly normal.
How could Lord Orochimaru's value and wisdom be compared to that of Danzo, a rat in the gutter?
Smart people know how to choose.
Dreams simply amplify this wisdom even more clearly.
[Ding! Kabuto's emotional fluctuations have been detected! Emotional value +500!]
on the screen.
Danzo's footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Inside the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled clouds of mist, while Tsunade and Jiraiya stood a short distance away.
They were already tense because of this sudden questioning, and Danzo's departure did not make them feel any more relaxed.
Instead, it became even more somber.
Orochimaru calmly observed the imposing teacher behind the desk.
Unlike the elderly, retired third-generation person in reality.
Before him stood Hiruzen Sarutobi, his shoulders and back straight, his eyes sharp, and even the way he smoked exuded an oppressive aura of complete control.
Orochimaru's mind works very fast.
He was trying to guess what the teacher was going to say.
Are you inquiring about the progress of the Wood Release experiment?
Should we inquire about the arrangements for those children?
Or perhaps, we should take advantage of Danzo's absence to give him a clearer order?
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi simply smoked in silence.
a long time.
He slowly raised his eyes.
His gaze fell directly on Orochimaru's face, the oppressive aura he had displayed when facing Danzo was gone.
Instead, there is a familiar yet tiresome feeling.
Disappointment!
Orochimaru paused almost imperceptibly in his breathing.
He knew that look all too well.
Countless days and nights in reality.
As he repeatedly touched taboos and strayed further and further from Hiruzen Sarutobi's ideals, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes increasingly showed this disappointment when he looked at him.
And now, in this absurd dream, he saw it again.
In this world where he seems successful and highly regarded, why would this old guy give him that kind of look?
Hasn't he done a good enough job?
It's as if no matter where he goes, no matter what kind of successful person he portrays himself as, those eyes can penetrate his exterior and fall on the places he doesn't want to be seen.
A surge of anger, mixed with resentment, rose from the depths of Orochimaru's heart.
He stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi, the smile that always played at the corners of his mouth gradually fading away.
Orochimaru's face darkened.
[Ding! Orochimaru's emotional fluctuations have been detected! Emotional value +800!]
Jiraiya, who was standing nearby, clearly sensed that the atmosphere was tense and quickly stepped forward to try and smooth things over: "Hey! Old man, it's just about a few kids."
"Orochimaru was just doing his research—look, the matter is resolved, Danzo is gone, so let's not dwell on it."
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised the hand holding the pipe and waved it lightly, interrupting Jiraiya.
"It's just a few orphans, nothing serious."
His voice was very calm.
It was as calm as if the farce had never happened.
Jiraiya paused, his smile faltering halfway through. He awkwardly touched his nose and tactfully retreated to his original position.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze returned to Orochimaru.
The conversation turned.
His tone became serious: "I have never doubted your abilities, Orochimaru."
"Your wisdom, your talent and achievements in ninjutsu and scientific research are unmatched in the entire Hidden Leaf Village, and even in the entire ninja world."
"I have always been proud to have a disciple like you."
This was extremely high praise, leaving even Tsunade and Jiraiya speechless with astonishment.
Even in real life, Hiruzen Sarutobi never so bluntly expressed his certainty.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing this.
He didn't respond immediately, but looked at his teacher with a scrutinizing gaze, as if trying to confirm whether there was any hidden meaning in those words. The attitude of this world's Hiruzen Sarutobi towards him was something he couldn't quite understand.
But then...
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly.
"but."
As soon as those two words were uttered, Jiraiya's back stiffened.
Tsunade also clenched her fists unconsciously.
"I don't want to see you only focused on experiments, or even getting into conflicts with other elders because of them."
"You need to be mindful of your image and get along well with the other villagers."
"Especially maintaining good relationships with the elders and heads of various families."
He said this without scolding or blaming.
It's more like a teacher reminding a student, "You've come this far, don't let small things trip you up."
"You need to see the positions they each represent."
"And their indispensable role in Konoha."
Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his pipe lightly.
His gaze never left Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru, my expectations of you go beyond just being a researcher or an outstanding scientist."
"I have higher expectations for you."
The moment those words were spoken, Orochimaru's pupils dilated, and a thunderclap exploded in his mind.
Tsunade and Jiraiya, who were standing next to him, were completely stunned.
Tsunade's eyes widened suddenly, her mouth agape in shock.
In Konoha, within the context of the Hokage, what do these words mean?
It goes without saying that he is being groomed as a direct successor.
The hope is that he will not only become the pillar of the village, but also its leader.
Jiraiya was completely stunned; the nonchalant expression on his face vanished, replaced by a solemn look.
He glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi, then at Orochimaru, who stood frozen in place.
It was as if he was truly understanding for the first time just how much his teacher valued Orochimaru.
Jiraiya always knew that the old man favored Orochimaru's talent.
But he never imagined that his expectations would be this high.
Orochimaru, who was at the center of the storm, was completely stunned.
Higher expectations?
absurd.
ridiculous.
incredible.
In reality, he had never received such clear expectations.
On the contrary, he felt more and more suspicion and constraints.
It was the teacher's growing disappointment.
However, now, in this false dream...
The teacher he both longed for and resented most had so solemnly expressed to him this expectation that he thought could never belong to him.
Orochimaru stood there, looking at the complex eyes behind the smoke.
For the first time, he felt lost.
[Ding! Orochimaru's emotional fluctuations have been detected! Emotional value +2000!]
The Hokage's office was completely silent.
Time passed slowly in this silence.
The scene stopped moving forward and remained there.
at last.
The light on the screen began to fade.
The outline of the Hokage's office gradually blurred, the smoke dissipated into a grayish-white haze, and the figures slowly lost their boundaries.
-
The dream has ended.
The next morning.
Yinyin Village.
Underground laboratory.
Dou pushed open the door on time and habitually glanced around the laboratory first.
He even took a look around the archives.
Nobody here?
Lord Orochimaru should have arrived by now.
Orochimaru was almost obsessive about controlling the time spent on research.
Especially since the new research direction was just clarified yesterday, Orochimaru-sama should be more than anyone else to arrive late.
However, at this moment, the laboratory was empty.
Dou looked incredulous and pushed up his glasses.
This is very unusual.
Dou quickly recalled the contents of last night's dream.
However, that was ultimately just a dream.
Moreover, based on Kabuto's understanding of Orochimaru, those false acts of warmth and recognition would likely only be seen as entertainment outside of the experiments.
Last night — there didn't seem to be anything special about it.
What caused today's anomaly?
Just as doubts were churning in his heart.
Footsteps could be heard outside the corridor.
Dou immediately turned around and faced the door.
He lowered his head slightly, making a welcoming gesture.
Soon, a figure appeared at the doorway; it was none other than Lord Orochimaru.
He was still wearing his signature purple kimono, his long hair flowing freely.
However, under the shadowless lamps in the laboratory, his face was even paler than usual, a pallor that did not belong to Lord Orochimaru.
Kabuto's heart sank, and he asked with concern, "Lord Orochimaru, are you alright?"
Orochimaru seemed not to hear.
He walked straight to the lab bench, but did not immediately begin working as usual.
Orochimaru lowered his head slightly.
The light fell unfocused on the instruments, as if it were looking at them, yet also as if it wasn't looking at anything at all.
Dou stood behind him, his throat tightening.
He had many questions he wanted to ask, but his intuition told him that speaking up now might be quite bad.
There was a moment of silence in the laboratory.
There was only the hum of the instruments.
Orochimaru slowly turned his head and looked at Kabuto.
His eyes held none of their usual playfulness, a calmness that sent chills down my spine.
He asked earnestly, "Kabuto, who do you think is better, the Orochimaru in the dream or me?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Dou's breath caught in his throat.
The fact that this question came from Orochimaru was as impactful as seeing the sun rise in the west.
The ever-confident and ever-wise Lord Orochimaru is actually—wavering?
And why compare yourself to a version of yourself in a fantasy dream?
Rain Village, the central tower.
Pain, Konan, and Obito held another meeting.
Unlike the previous sharp strategic discussions, the atmosphere at this moment seemed somewhat casual.
At least, Obito has returned to his lazy state.
He sprawled casually in the chair, chin propped up with one hand, the other leg dangling back and forth, and said nonchalantly, "Hey, why did you call me here in such a hurry so early in the morning?"
"I'm busy right now. The cooperation with Orochimaru is just starting to take shape, and there's a ton of stuff to do."
When Orochimaru was mentioned, Obito became slightly wary.
That venomous snake always wore a sinister, eerie laugh, but no one could say for sure what it was plotting.
In the center of the room, Pain, the Deva Path, sat in the main seat, his expression blank.
He calmly watched Obito, showing no reaction to Obito's complaints.
Xiao Nan didn't say anything either.
Only the sound of rain tapping on the windowpane remained.
The silence lasted for a few seconds.
Pain finally spoke: "Obito, you are the most well-informed person I know."
His voice was calm, but the content of his words caused a flash of surprise and doubt to cross Xiao Nan's eyes.
She glanced sideways at Payne.
This is not in line with Nagato's usual style.
Nagato never liked to say nice things. Even when she wanted to praise someone, she would state the facts very bluntly, instead of saying it like this.
But she didn't say anything, she just continued to stand quietly.
Upon hearing this, Obito was taken aback for a moment.
It was as if he hadn't realized he was hearing such words from Payne's mouth.
Immediately, a smug chuckle came from beneath the mask, and the person unconsciously straightened their slumped posture.
He enjoys the feeling of being recognized, especially by those who are strong.
When praised by a man who calls himself a god, Obito may not say it, but he can't help but feel a little giddy inside.
He swung his leg, which was crossed over his shoulder, and said smugly, "Hmph, what you said today is quite pleasing to the ear. But it's true, there's really not much in the ninja world that I don't know."
Payne continued calmly, "I've run into a very troublesome problem."
"trouble?"
Pain, undeterred by Obito's interruption, continued, "I've searched for a long time but haven't found a definitive answer. I believe that, apart from you, probably no one else knows."
Obito's interest was piqued.
He leaned forward, his eyes beneath the mask gleaming with an inquisitive light in the darkness.
Tell me about it.
"I told you, there's nothing in the ninja world I don't know. Ask me any questions you may have."
Payne hesitated for a moment.
Obito, on the other hand, waited patiently.
"Shimura Danzo."
Payne slowly uttered the name.
"I've fought him before."
"I'm certain I killed him, and more than once."
"They struck at his vitals in different ways."
Obito's eyebrows behind the mask were slightly raised.
Danzo is dead?
Payne also said he had killed him more than once.
What does this mean?
"But," Payne continued in a deep voice, "each time, he came back to life."
"It's not a simple substitution technique or clone, but a true recovery to full health in a very short time after suffering a fatal injury."
"It's as if the previous deaths never happened."
Upon hearing this, Obito stopped swinging his leg.
"Resurrected?" Obito repeated in astonishment, then asked, "Danzo—that old bastard still has this ability?"
This was beyond his understanding of Danzo's abilities.
Danzo's greatest strength was never his direct combat ability.
That old man relied on intrigue and his power in Konoha.
Resurrected? And not just once?
This is not the kind of method that Danzo Shimura would use.
"Absolutely true," Pain affirmed, purple light swirling in his Rinnegan eyes. "I have repeatedly recalled and verified the process and details of the battle."
"That's neither an illusion nor high-speed regeneration."
"It's more like some kind of force that altered reality at a crucial moment."
At this point, Pain looked directly into Obito's eyes and solemnly said, "Based on the Sharingan on his body and my limited understanding of the Uchiha clan's forbidden techniques, I speculate that this should be related to some kind of Sharingan eye technique."
"Do you have any relevant information, Obito Uchiha?"
The moment Pain finished speaking, Obito's body stiffened abruptly.
He heard the news while he was in a state of smugness and was caught off guard, so he immediately revealed his weakness.
Obito was not Itachi Uchiha after all. The latter not only had a perpetually expressionless face, but also never showed any extra emotion.
Even after killing his entire family, he could still act out the lies as if they were facts in front of his younger brother without batting an eye.
Pain asked Itachi Uchiha the same question.
Itachi did not reveal any weakness.
He simply shook his head slightly.
However, Obito was different. Even though he was wearing a mask, Pain noticed Obito's abnormality immediately.
Konan also noticed Obito's unusual reaction.
Pain calmly stared at Obito: "As expected of you, you knew all along."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Nan, who was standing to the side, looked at him with understanding.
She instantly understood Pain's true intention in praising Obito this morning, which was contrary to his usual behavior.
That wasn't just polite flattery, but a carefully crafted setup.
The purpose was to elicit information about Danzo's resurrection abilities.
Obito's reaction has already given the clearest answer.
Obito fell silent.
Izanagi.
Of course he knew.
This is a forbidden technique known only to a very few members of the Uchiha clan.
At the cost of sacrificing the permanent light of one Sharingan, one can turn events that are detrimental to oneself into nothing, and only choose to realize outcomes that are beneficial to oneself.
This is our absolute trump card, the ultimate means to turn the tide in a desperate situation.
How did Danzo learn this technique?
Where did he get it from?
Countless questions churned in Obito's mind.
But right now, the most important question is whether or not to tell Payne.
This means revealing your strongest trump card to an ally with whom you are mutually exploiting.
Although he and Nagato are currently cooperating, it's uncertain whether they will become enemies once Madara Uchiha is defeated, or if Nagato gains power even greater than Madara.
It's safer to keep a trump card like Izanagi in your hands.
However, now that things have come to this point, pretending not to understand would be treating them like fools.
Obito was instantly caught in a dilemma.
Revealing secrets may create another enemy who knows your weaknesses in the future.
If they don't speak up, it could immediately jeopardize the current crucial cooperation and trigger suspicion and conflict.
The silence within the sealed room continued to build.
Every second made the air heavier.
Pain clearly didn't have the patience to wait for Obito's long internal struggle.
He looked at the silent Obito, his eyes radiating an increasingly obvious sense of oppression.
"Danzo, I must kill him."
Payne spoke again, his voice filled with murderous intent, leaving no room for maneuver.
"If you still want to maintain our cooperative relationship."
"I hope you won't hide this information from me."
This last sentence is no longer a question or a request.
It was an ultimatum.
Providing this intelligence is essential for maintaining the cooperative relationship.
Concealing the truth would mean the breakdown of cooperation and the unpredictable consequences that would follow.
Xiao Nan's gaze sharpened, and the hem of her robe fluttered slightly.
Obito's expression behind the mask shifted constantly.
He could tell.
Payne wasn't trying to scare him.
Nagato is indeed much smarter now than before. In the past, he always considered himself a god and would often rely on brute force to overcome problems.
Nagato is now learning to play his cards with intelligence and leverage, in addition to brute force.
Such a long gate is even more dangerous.
Ultimately, under pressure from Pain and Konan, Obito made a decision.
He slowly raised his head, and the eye holes in his mask met Pain's Rinnegan.
"I cannot disclose the specific principles behind this technique."
"This is my bottom line."
Payne's expression darkened, and the surrounding temperature dropped accordingly.
"but!"
"I can tell you how to crack it, or rather, how to effectively kill him."
Payne didn't speak, but simply looked at him quietly, waiting for him to continue.
Obito knew that if his subsequent explanations were even slightly flimsy, Pain would immediately turn hostile.
"His ability to achieve this resurrection effect was not simply due to some kind of secret technique."
"At its core lies a special consumable."
He deliberately spoke vaguely, concealing the fact that he possessed the Sharingan.
Payne's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.
"Consumables," he repeated, then asked doubtfully, "You mean—items?"
"That's right." Obito nodded. "You can think of it as him needing to consume a special consumable every time he revives, and the quantity of this consumable is limited."
"Therefore, the way to deal with him is very simple."
"You just need to kill him a few more times."
"Use up all his consumables."
"At that time, he will naturally be unable to be resurrected and will face true death."
The room fell silent.
Payne paused for a moment, then asked, "Is it that simple?"
This method of cracking sounds too straightforward, and even a bit lacking in technical sophistication.
But this explanation seems to make sense.
The stronger the forbidden technique, the greater the cost.
The solution is often not to use more complex mechanisms, but to discover the costs involved.
This aligns with the logic behind many forbidden techniques in the ninja world.
"It's that simple." Obito nodded firmly, his tone regaining its composure. "With your abilities, doing this shouldn't be difficult."
Payne pondered for a few more seconds.
His gaze lingered on Obito's mask.
He is making a judgment.
Determine the reliability of this intelligence.
Ultimately, he accepted this explanation.
Payne nodded slowly, then said to Obito in a much more solemn tone than before, "Thank you! This information is very important to me. You have shown your sincerity in continuing to cooperate with us in this matter."
As soon as he finished speaking, Obito's tense nerves, hidden behind his mask, finally relaxed for a moment.
He knew this was only temporary.
There is sincerity, but complete trust is far from being established.
But that's enough.
At least the foundation for cooperation remains.
The plan to confront Madara Uchiha can still proceed.
"Hmph, good to know." Obito snorted, regaining his slightly arrogant and nonchalant demeanor. "Danzo is now just a stray dog abandoned by Konoha. There's no need to waste too much time on him."
He spoke of it casually.
But he knew that Nagato had indeed outmaneuvered him today and had indeed become smarter.
He secretly resolved that he could no longer treat Nagato as casually as before.
"Don't forget our real goal. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
"We still need to follow up on Orochimaru's situation."
As he spoke, the space around Obito began to distort slightly.
Payne nodded and did not try to stop him.
Obito's figure was gradually swallowed up in Kamui's vortex.
Finally, only Payne and Konan remained in the secret room.
Konan looked at Pain and asked softly, "Nagato, do you believe what he said?"
She knew that Nagato wasn't the kind of person who could be fooled by a few words.
Payne nodded.
"Although he concealed the principles behind the technique, that was enough."
He paused for a moment, his gaze falling on the table, recalling the scenes of Danzo dying and returning time and time again.
"I can sense that his method—"
"feasible.
"
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