121-125

Chapter 121 Finding Reasons for Himself 

Minato's wife, Kushina Uzumaki, suggested that Shindai wasn't struggling with whether to help, but rather just needed a reason to help. Shindai wasn't happy with that answer, feeling he truly was just grappling with the decision itself, and if he should help, a reason would naturally appear. 

Seeing Shindai's expression, Kushina knew he didn't quite agree with her. So, she asked, "If you knew your friends were going to face something terrible, but you just let it happen, would you feel guilty and regretful afterward?" 

Shindai silently nodded. If Rin Nohara died, Obito Uchiha turned to darkness, and Kakashi Hatake suffered, how could he, knowing everything and doing nothing, not feel regret or guilt? 

Kushina continued, "If you'd feel guilty and regretful, then if you continued to live your peaceful life, could you truly find peace?" 

Shindai stared at Kushina,愣(lèng) (meaning "stunned" or "taken aback") . It seemed she had a point. Would he truly be able to live a peaceful life with a clear conscience then? Shindai wasn't a cold-hearted person; he believed he couldn't do it. 

Kushina smiled and said, "It seems you understand. Not helping will actually prevent you from returning to a peaceful life. Besides, you're afraid of worse things happening, but do you know what worse things will happen later?" 

Shindai shook his head. Of course, he didn't know what bad things would happen later; he was only guessing. 

Kushina gently ruffled his hair and said, "Since you don't know what the future holds, why are you so worried now? At least helping your friends isn't a bad thing, right? Who knows what the future holds? All we can do now is seize the present and live without regrets." 

Shindai frowned, lost in thought. Kushina didn't disturb him, quietly waiting for him to come to a realization. She believed Shindai would figure it out on his own. 

Shindai considered Kushina's words. That's right, who knows what the future holds? He was born into this world, and Obito had awakened his Sharingan early, which meant this world wasn't a fixed program that would remain unchanged. Perhaps the future had already shifted. And now, he was good friends with Obito, Kakashi, and Rin. If he let them get hurt, he'd feel regret, guilt, and sorrow. 

Since things had already changed, a little more change from him shouldn't matter, right? The Uchiha clan hadn't been wiped out yet, and there were so many other Uchiha for Madara to choose from; it didn't have to be Obito, did it? Plus, once Obito and the others developed, he could make them work for him, as they'd owe him. He could still happily live his own simple life. Yes, that's it! 

Having found a good reason for himself, Shindai's frown slowly relaxed, as if he'd let go of a heavy burden and sighed in relief. 

Kushina looked at Shindai gently. "It seems you've figured it out." 

Shindai unconsciously smiled, nodding. "I've figured it out." Feeling completely at ease, Shindai stretched languidly. 

Kushina asked curiously, "What kind of danger are Obito and the others going to face that made you so conflicted?" 

Mid-stretch, Shindai choked on Kushina's question and started coughing violently. "Cough, cough, cough! Kushina-neechan, who said Obito and the others would face danger? I was just asking for a friend!" 

Kushina gave Shindai a look that clearly said, "Don't bother pretending, I see right through you," and said in a teasing voice, "Oh? You're asking for a friend? Which friend? Aren't Obito, Kakashi, and Rin your only friends in Konoha?" 

Shindai huffed, "I was originally from Sunagakure! Don't tell me I don't have friends there!" 

Kushina scoffed, "Oh? Minato said you were a shut-in in Sunagakure too, barely stepping out of your house. You lived there for so many years; it seems like fewer than five people even knew you, right? Did you really have friends in Sunagakure?" 

Shindai retorted indignantly, "Don't underestimate me! Of course, I have friends! I have a good friend in Sunagakure named Pakura!" 

"Heh." Kushina looked at Shindai with a sneer, clearly not believing him at all. 

Shindai felt offended, his face flushed. He emphasized, "I'm telling the truth! I really do have a friend named Pakura!" 

Kushina casually said, "Ah, right, right, I believe you, I really do." 

Shindai was so angry his lungs felt like they'd explode. Is this what it's like to tell the truth these days? Nobody believes you? 

Shindai slumped onto a chair, giving up. "Fine, think whatever you want!" 

Kushina didn't press him further. Frankly, if Shindai wasn't concerned about Rin, Kushina's interest waned. Kushina stood up and said, "How about this? You rest for two days. In two days, I'll take you to see the Hokage-sama." 

Shindai "hmph"-ed and turned his head away. He was too angry to talk to Kushina right now. 

"Oh, come on, Kushina-neechan, whatever you say goes! Two days, right? I'll definitely be ready to go see Hokage-sama with you!" 

Shindai, who already had several bumps on his head, now had another small one on top of them, like a set of nesting dolls. He gave Kushina a fawning smile. 

Kushina instructed, "Rest well these two days. Go take a bath now; I don't know how long it's been since you last bathed, you're starting to smell! And! Put clothes on your puppet!" 

Shindai sniffed himself. He did smell a bit. "I know, I know, Kushina-neechan, please take care on your way out~" 

After watching Kushina leave, Shindai let out a long sigh of relief. He finally got rid of that troublesome "ancestor." Shindai dressed Kamunuki and then sighed again. He'd have to go to the battlefield in two days. He wasn't happy about it. 

The Mountain Graveyard 

In a place called the Mountain Graveyard in the ninja world, the aged Madara Uchiha sat on a tree stump used as a chair, a tube connected to his back, behind him stood the colossal Gedo Mazo. 

A pitch-black mass emerged from the ground. This shadowy entity was Zetsu. 

Madara's voice was hoarse as he asked, "How is it?" 

Zetsu reported, "Madara, of the people you asked me to investigate, one is currently on a mission with his teammates on the border of the Land of Fire, another is still imprisoned in Konoha's jail, and I'm still searching for the last one." 

Hearing Zetsu's report, Madara simply said in a low voice, "Is that so..." 

Chapter 122: Reversal of Heaven and Earth 

After Black Zetsu reported to Uchiha Madara, Madara just muttered, "Is that so?" and then fell silent. 

Black Zetsu thought Madara was deep in thought, but then he heard soft snores. That's when Black Zetsu realized Madara had actually fallen asleep! 

"Ahem!" 

Black Zetsu pretended to cough, and Madara opened his eyes, sighing. "I'm getting sleepier these days. My time is running out." 

He used to be the "Dance King of the Battlefield," but now he was just a frail old man, clinging to life in this dark place. Madara was seriously annoyed by it. 

Black Zetsu, confused, asked, "Madara, you transplanted the Rinnegan to Nagato, so why aren't you continuing to train him? Why do you want to find a proxy instead? Isn't that just extra work? If you're worried Nagato might go rogue later, I can keep an eye on him. Trying to find a proxy now just means one more person knows your plan, which doubles the risk, doesn't it?" 

Madara's voice was hoarse as he replied, "You're just a manifestation of my will; you don't have much power. If something happens to Nagato later, you won't be able to control him with his Rinnegan. That's why I need a double safeguard. Even though more people knowing means more potential for unforeseen problems, my plan isn't meant to be executed until after I'm gone. So, I'll lose control over Nagato then. 

"This plan isn't something that can be completed quickly; it's measured in years—at least 15 years or more. A lot can happen in 15 years, so I need a proxy. They'll keep each other in check, and if one betrays me, the other can take over and continue my plan." 

Black Zetsu was sneering on the inside. 

He didn't have much power? He was practically manipulating the entire development of the ninja world! Dealing with one Nagato would be a piece of cake! 

But if Madara wanted to be cautious, that was fine. A double safeguard wasn't a bad idea. Just in case Nagato really did have problems, like Madara said, his proxy could step in. 

Black Zetsu asked, puzzled, "But Madara, why did you choose those three people, especially that kid? He's dumb and weak; he's completely useless." 

Madara looked up at Black Zetsu. "As a manifestation of my will, how come you haven't inherited any of my wisdom?" 

Good thing Black Zetsu's face was already black; if it were white, it would've turned dark for sure. 

He had virtually guided and controlled the fate of the entire ninja world, and he had no wisdom? Inherit Madara's wisdom? It was more like Madara should inherit his wisdom! 

Just a mere pawn, and he was completely "reversing heaven and earth"! 

It was clearly because Madara was too stupid, and he was too smart to understand! 

Madara explained to Black Zetsu, "That dumb and weak kid you mentioned is actually my priority choice for a proxy. I chose Obito because he's different from other Uchiha. Obito is very kind. Only someone kind enough, after experiencing the pain of losing loved ones, can unleash greater hatred and undergo a true transformation. 

"As for the other two, they're just backups for Obito. If Obito doesn't work out, I wouldn't consider them. 

"Uchiha Setsuna inherited my will; he's cunning and treacherous. He's very unhappy with how Senju Tobirama managed the Uchiha clan and has always yearned to reclaim control from the Senju clan. But he's a bit foolish. The commotion he caused by inciting Uchiha clan members to revolt was discovered by Tobirama, and he's been imprisoned ever since. If Uchiha Setsuna were to become my proxy, at least his loyalty wouldn't be a concern. He would do whatever it takes to fulfill the mission I give him. However, his hatred isn't strong enough, so I don't have high hopes for his power. 

"And the third one, she's from my era. Back then, my father, Uchiha Tajima, was leading the Uchiha clan. She possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan, and her Mangekyo ability is quite impressive. She also had two other dojutsu transplanted, but she was sealed away by the Senju clan and the Sarutobi clan working together. Because no one knows her name, her clan members called her 'Nameless.' She resents the Uchiha, resents ninjas, resents the ninja world. If we can leverage that hatred, she could be controlled. 

"However, her hatred is too unpredictable since it wasn't given by me. Therefore, I wouldn't choose her unless absolutely necessary. So for now, I just want you to find her sealed location. Even if you find it, I don't plan on breaking the seal and releasing her immediately." 

Black Zetsu inquired, "Besides those three, aren't there any other suitable candidates?" 

Madara's voice was cold as he replied, "My energy is limited; I can't observe everyone. That's why I created you—to investigate and monitor for me. If you find a suitable candidate later, you can recommend them to me." 

Black Zetsu agreed, "Understood. I'll keep an eye out for other suitable candidates for you." 

Madara emphasized, "But don't get sidetracked. Your main mission right now is to observe Obito, wait for the right moment to act, and then bring him to me. Also, find 'Nameless''s sealed location. It should be somewhere in the Land of Fire. Search carefully. Even if she doesn't become my proxy, she can still be a secret weapon that we can use in the future. Alright, I've explained everything to you. Don't ask such stupid questions next time. You can go now; get to work." 

Black Zetsu almost lost his cool. 

Pfft, what was he putting on an act for?! 

He didn't know these things; what's wrong with asking?! 

Black Zetsu's body sank into the ground, leaving the Mountain Graveyard to get to work for Boss Madara. 

Two days later. 

Uzumaki Kushina brought Shindai to the Hokage's office. 

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a bit uncomfortable seeing Shindai. 

After all, Shindai's flattery from last time was still fresh in Hiruzen's mind. Even if he tried to forget it, seeing Shindai just brought it all back. 

Hiruzen tried hard to maintain a kind expression, smiling as he said, "It seems your puppet is finally ready, Shindai. Congratulations!" 

"Oh, Hokage-sama, don't be so modest! Next time I'm back, I'll customize one for you, guaranteed to satisfy! But we'll have to keep it a secret from Biwako-sama!" 

Shindai had a bit of a sneaky look, wiggling his eyebrows at Hiruzen. 

Hiruzen couldn't quite grasp what Shindai meant. Customize one? Keep it a secret from his wife, Sarutobi Biwako? Why? 

Seeing Hiruzen's somewhat bewildered expression, Shindai grinned mischievously, "Jiraiya-sama was very pleased, you know!" 

Hiruzen's eyes suddenly lit up. He instantly understood what Shindai was implying. 

Chapter 123 A Strong Love for Beautiful Things 

At first, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't understand what Shindai meant by "customizing a puppet," but once Shindai mentioned Jiraiya was very satisfied, Hiruzen instantly got it. Hiruzen knew Jiraiya's character all too well; after all, he and Jiraiya shared the same intense love for "beautiful things," or simply put, they were both "perverts." If he could customize one... Hiruzen wanted to customize a younger version of Biwako. Wait, if he can customize, why still Biwako? Of course, he'd customize... 

Just as Hiruzen was lost in his vivid imagination, Kushina Uzumaki asked curiously, "Shindai, Third Hokage, what are you two talking about? What's 'customizing'? And what did Jiraiya-sama like?" 

Hiruzen and Shindai simultaneously cleared their throats and said in unison, "Nothing!" 

Kushina found Shindai and Hiruzen's strange behavior quite odd. 

Hiruzen said with satisfaction, "Shindai, let's talk about this later. After this war is over, you can explain everything to me in detail." 

Shindai, with an understanding expression, said, "Hokage-sama, you can rest assured when I handle things. I guarantee it'll make you feel young again!" 

Hiruzen's previous discomfort about seeing Shindai vanished without a trace. This is clearly an excellent ninja who cares deeply for Konoha! 

Hiruzen inquired, "So, Shindai, are you planning to meet up with Kakashi and the others?" 

Shindai replied naturally, "Of course, I'm their teammate, after all." 

Hiruzen frowned slightly and told Shindai, "Shindai, that might not be convenient. How about... I arrange another team for you? You can temporarily go on missions with a different team, and once Kakashi's mission is over, I'll arrange for you to rejoin them." 

Shindai shook his head vigorously. "No, no, no. I don't want to team up with strangers. I can wait! It's fine if I rejoin them after Kakashi and their mission is over!" 

Kushina asked Hiruzen, "Third Hokage, are Kakashi and the others on some secret mission, making it inconvenient?" 

Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe and replied, "It's not that Kakashi and the others are inconvenient; it's Shindai who's inconvenient." 

Shindai was a bit confused. "Huh? I'm inconvenient? What's inconvenient about me? I'm a guy; I don't have inconvenient days." 

Kushina slapped Shindai's head. "What nonsense are you talking about?!" 

Shindai clutched his head and looked at Hiruzen, asking, "Hokage-sama, just tell me directly. Maybe I am convenient?" 

Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "Kakashi and the others are on the Land of Fire border, but their opponents are Sand Shinobi. You were once a Hidden Sand Village ninja, so..." 

Shindai and Kushina suddenly understood. So, that was the reason. They were worried that Shindai, having been a Hidden Sand Village ninja, might have reservations about fighting them. 

Hiruzen continued, "Also, you're currently wanted by the Hidden Sand Village. Your Magnet Release ninjutsu and puppet techniques are quite recognizable. If they spot you, they'll definitely hunt you down, so the battlefield where Kakashi and the others are is very dangerous for you." 

Shindai thought Hiruzen made a lot of sense, but he was still absolutely unwilling to team up with strangers. He'd rather stay in Konoha for now. Just as Shindai was about to ask Hiruzen if he could work in logistics in Konoha, Hiruzen added another sentence. 

"I also heard that the one commanding the Sand Shinobi in this battle is Elder Chiyo, the Hidden Sand Village's advisor..." 

Before Hiruzen could finish, Shindai immediately said, "Hokage-sama, I'll go!" 

"Huh?" Hiruzen looked at Shindai in confusion. According to Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya's descriptions of Shindai, shouldn't he be avoiding great danger like the plague? 

Shindai gnashed his teeth. "That old hag Chiyo! I'm going to beat that shameless old face of hers black and blue! How dare she frame me? In all my life, I've never suffered such injustice!" 

Hiruzen and Kushina exchanged glances, then both looked at the fuming Shindai with subtle expressions. They hadn't expected Shindai to be willing to fight the Hidden Sand Village ninjas just because Chiyo was there. 

Hiruzen reminded him, "Shindai, Kakashi is a Special Jonin now, and Obito and Rin are Chunin. Their mission definitely involves combat, so it's almost certain they'll be fighting Sand Shinobi. And you were once from the Hidden Sand Village. If you really go, you won't be able to leave halfway." 

Shindai said angrily, "They were the ones who didn't play fair! From the very beginning, I was forced into it. Nobody asked if I was willing, and when I was no longer useful, they just dumped all the blame on me, making me out to be a monster! That's not how you burn bridges! Hokage-sama, you don't need to say anything more. I'm a Konoha ninja now. I won't hold back just because they used to be from the same village. Besides, I'm not even close with them!" 

Hiruzen looked at the angry Shindai, paused, then said, "Since you've made your resolve, then... I understand, Shindai. As Hokage, I now issue you an order: immediately proceed to the Land of Fire border and rendezvous with Kakashi, Obito, and Rin. The four of you will then carry out missions together!" 

Shindai returned home and packed his essential belongings into his backpack. Once he was ready, Kushina helped him adjust his Konoha ninja combat uniform, then ruffled his hair and warned him, "Be careful on the battlefield, and stay safe, alright?" 

Shindai bid farewell to Kushina. "Understood! Kushina-neechan, I'm off now." 

Kushina watched Shindai leave, then sighed. Another one gone. 

Having left Konoha, Shindai was now incredibly excited. He was about to take on Chiyo; how could he not be thrilled? Since he couldn't find Chiyo's grandson, Sasori, yet, he'd test Kamunuki's strength on Chiyo first, especially since Chiyo was also a top-tier puppet master. 

Moreover, Shindai disliked Chiyo more than Rasa. When the Third Kazekage went missing, Sasori also disappeared that day. Wasn't Chiyo's brother Ebizo very smart? Couldn't he have figured out Sasori was the prime suspect? Shindai simply didn't believe Ebizo and Chiyo couldn't figure out Sasori did it. They must have been unwilling to believe it, or they were making excuses for Sasori. After all, Sasori was Chiyo's grandson and Ebizo's grand-nephew. As for him? He was just an ordinary Hidden Sand Village ninja with the Magnet Release bloodline limit. He had no status or background, which was why they just abandoned him, let him take the blame for the Third Kazekage's disappearance, so perhaps Sasori could eventually return to the Hidden Sand Village. 

Chapter 124: Orochimaru 

Near the border of the Land of Fire, Kakashi, Obito, and Nohara Rin had just finished a skirmish with some Sand Shinobi. They were about to win, but then more Sand Shinobi showed up as reinforcements, forcing the Konoha trio to retreat. 

"Ugh, those Sand Shinobi are so shameless! Don't they know not to hit a guy in the face? Seriously, no wonder Shindai used to be from that village; they all love to hit faces, it's so unfair!" Obito's face was swollen and bruised. 

"Alright, quit whining and hold still, I'll heal you." Rin took out some ointment and began dabbing it on Obito's face. 

Obito asked, "Kakashi, what's our next move?" 

Kakashi pulled out a map and checked it. "We're deep in enemy territory right now, it's too dangerous. Let's retreat first." 

The three of them pulled back from their position, heading back to the Konoha outpost. Shindai had already arrived at the outpost ahead of them. 

Right now, Shindai was standing awkwardly in the command room at the outpost. The commander here was Orochimaru. 

Even though Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru were all at the Land of Hot Water outpost at one point, Shindai had only met Jiraiya and Tsunade, never Orochimaru. His first impression of Orochimaru was deeply unsettling. It was like a cold, venomous snake was staring at him, treating him like prey, ready to strike at any moment. And even though Orochimaru's face was expressionless, Shindai couldn't shake the feeling that Orochimaru was up to something sinister. 

Orochimaru glanced at the scroll in his hand. "Kakashi and his team are currently on an external mission; I don't know when they'll be back. Since Hiruzen-sensei wants you to continue working with them, you can just wait for them here at the outpost." 

Orochimaru didn't look at Shindai directly even once, seemingly dismissing him. But Shindai understood; Orochimaru was naturally a cold person, not just towards him. And in Orochimaru's eyes, Shindai wasn't worth his attention anyway. 

Orochimaru continued flipping through other scrolls. When he noticed Shindai hadn't left, he finally looked directly at him. "Why are you still here? Something else?" 

Shindai awkwardly said, "Orochimaru-sama, I... I have a rather impudent request." 

"Just say it," Orochimaru said, frowning. He didn't like people who beat around the bush like Shindai, as it wasted time. 

Feeling Orochimaru's impatience, Shindai quickly blurted out, "Orochimaru-sama! I want to dominate Chiyo!" 

Orochimaru paused for a moment after hearing Shindai's words. Then, his eyes were no longer cold and detached; they showed a hint of interest. 

"You were a ninja from Sunagakure, so you should know Chiyo better than I do. She's a top-tier puppet master, but also an all-rounder with powerful taijutsu, medical ninjutsu, and sealing jutsu. She's also the sworn rival of Hanzō of the Salamander, the leader of Amegakure. You know who Hanzō is, right? He's a man regarded by ninjas as the pinnacle of the ninja world. A single word from him was enough to give me, Jiraiya, and Tsunade the title of the 'Legendary Sannin of Konoha.' A ninja who can rival Hanzō isn't someone who can be compared to the ninjas you've encountered before." 

Shindai's expression grew serious. "If I were to compare anything other than puppet jutsu with that old hag, I'd definitely lose miserably. But if it's just puppet jutsu, I will absolutely not be inferior to her!" 

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes at Shindai. "Oh? And why are you so confident? Honestly, I've seen many people who overestimate themselves and talk big, only to meet a miserable end." 

Shindai held up one finger. "First, Chiyo's main attack method is puppets, and my Magnet Release Ninjutsu naturally counters puppets. Once it invades a person or a puppet's body, it can completely paralyze them, rendering them useless. Magnet Release has a clear advantage when fighting against puppet masters." 

Then Shindai held up a second finger. "Next is the puppets themselves. I admit Chiyo's White Secret Technique has something to it, but not much. Because the puppets Chiyo uses are the 'Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu,' ten puppets created by the progenitor of puppetry, called Monzaemon or the Second Kazekage, Shamon. They can be manipulated with one finger per puppet and can even combine to perform combination attacks and ninjutsu. 

"However, those are ancient puppets. In my opinion, they're just relics. Orochimaru-sama, you're a scientist; you understand the importance of technological iteration, right? So..." 

Shindai unrolled a scroll and summoned Kannazuki. 

Shindai then enthusiastically asked, "Now, may I introduce my independently researched and manufactured puppet to you, Orochimaru-sama?" 

Orochimaru was about to refuse; after all, he had his own work to do and no time to listen to Shindai drone on about his puppet. But what came out of his mouth was, "Alright, I'll humor you and listen to your explanation." 

Orochimaru paused, then found a logical reason for his unexpected response. Perhaps he saw the passion of a researcher in Shindai, which made him willing to give Shindai time to explain his puppet. 

Shindai passionately explained the technology used in Kannazuki to Orochimaru. 

After listening to Shindai's explanation, Orochimaru's expression was a bit strange. "How come... it feels like your puppet uses technology I researched?" 

"Uh..." Shindai scratched his head awkwardly. "It does. I actually asked Minato-sama for some slightly more advanced technological data than ordinary tech. I never expected Minato-sama to give me core technological data. It's thanks to that core data that I was able to develop this generation of Kannazuki." 

Orochimaru was slightly surprised. "So, you spent two months independently learning that core technological data?" 

Shindai answered honestly, "Some of it I haven't quite grasped yet, and some of the knowledge is beyond my current understanding, so it's a bit difficult to process." 

If Shindai didn't have so many strange ideas floating around in his head, Minato suddenly pulling out such high-end stuff would have left Shindai completely bewildered. 

Orochimaru was now looking at Shindai with newfound respect. Although the technological data he gave to Konoha was outdated to him, even with that outdated data, it was still incredibly difficult for Konoha's researchers to fully comprehend. Shindai, however, had achieved this much in just two months, and he did it all by himself. He truly was a genius. 

The ninja world has many geniuses with talent in ninjutsu, genjutsu, or taijutsu, but not many with talent in scientific research. At least, Orochimaru hadn't encountered one until now. 

Chapter 125: Assistant Invitation 

Just like when Jiraiya saw Naruto's Rasengan, hearing that Shindai used his discarded core tech data to independently create Kannazuki, Orochimaru saw him as a true genius in research. 

Of course, Shindai couldn't compare to him, Orochimaru. After all, Shindai used Orochimaru's tech data as a reference, while Orochimaru himself had painstakingly developed everything he had, step by step, all on his own. 

Still, that didn't stop Orochimaru from feeling a little impressed with Shindai. 

To be able to independently understand his tech data was quite something, especially since all the technology in the Shinobi World, in Orochimaru's eyes, was far too primitive. 

Orochimaru critiqued Shindai's Kannazuki, saying, "Your puppet is indeed well-made, and I'd say it shows great ingenuity. You've fully utilized your strengths as a magnet release user, combining magnet release with a puppet." 

Hearing Orochimaru's critique, Shindai's chest puffed out slightly, and a proud expression unconsciously appeared on his face. 

Compared to the praise from folks like Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, or Obito, who didn't really understand, Orochimaru's compliments made Shindai much happier and carried far more weight. 

"However..." Orochimaru's tone shifted, "There are also many problems. Your idea of using converted electricity to power the puppet and allow it to act independently, free from your control, is indeed good. But the internal electrical system of the puppet is quite rudimentary, and the conversion efficiency is very low." 

"The drive and control systems are also poor; they can't fully utilize the puppet's characteristics. And you haven't completely eliminated the effects of magnetism on these components, so there's a high chance of malfunctions." 

"If you were to rely solely on manual operation, this puppet would be quite excellent. But if you want it to act autonomously, the core components have too many flaws; it's simply not good enough." 

Orochimaru's words made Shindai's puffed-out chest gradually shrink back. 

Shindai mumbled softly, "There wasn't enough time. If I had more time, I could definitely make Kannazuki even more perfect." 

Shindai's casual "if I had more time" caused Orochimaru's gaze to waver for a moment. 

Time. 

The deaths of his student, Nawaki, and Tsunade's boyfriend, Dan Kato, during the Second Great Shinobi War, as well as the countless lives lost in the conflict, made him acutely aware of life's fragility. 

This was what sparked his desire to master all ninjutsu and change the Shinobi World. But... a person's energy is always limited. 

Within this finite time, he couldn't achieve his goal. That's why he pursued immortality, hoping to find a way to make life eternal through scientific research, thereby overcoming life's limitations and maximizing his personal potential. 

Orochimaru fixed his gaze on Shindai and asked, "Shindai, wasn't it? This war won't last much longer. After the war ends, would you be interested in becoming my assistant?" 

Shindai immediately showed intense interest. Becoming Orochimaru's assistant would surely allow him to learn a vast amount of knowledge. 

But Shindai quickly calmed himself down. 

Orochimaru's research seemed a bit... all over the place. What he wanted to learn didn't really involve the human body, and while Orochimaru was incredibly skilled in mechanics, his main focus was on the human body. 

Besides, Orochimaru didn't seem easy to get along with. What if something went wrong during an experiment, and he ended up being used as experimental material? 

No, that's too dangerous. He wasn't seeking power; his research into puppets was purely out of interest. There was no need to risk his life. 

Shindai gave a dry laugh. "It's an honor that Lord Orochimaru would consider me, but let's wait until the war is over. Right now, I'm more focused on taking down Chiyo." 

Orochimaru looked at Shindai thoughtfully. 

Initially, when he heard about becoming his assistant, Shindai had shown a look of intense desire, but then immediately became wary. 

Wary of him? 

Why would Shindai be wary of him? No one knew about his forbidden experiments. In everyone's eyes, he was a hero fighting for Konoha. 

Even if he seemed difficult to get along with, if that were the only reason, Shindai wouldn't have spoken so freely with him about his puppet. 

Orochimaru could sense that when Shindai spoke about his puppet, it was as if he had found a kindred spirit to confide in, hoping for his approval. 

If that were the case, then when he invited Shindai to be his assistant, Shindai should have immediately agreed. 

Shindai's reply was a clear refusal. 

According to Orochimaru's nature, if someone refused him, he would never ask a second time. 

Because there's only one chance, and if you don't seize it, he has no patience to give a second. 

However, Orochimaru felt that Shindai's wariness must have a reason; it couldn't be baseless. 

So... Shindai must know something that made him wary. 

His forbidden experiments were extremely secret; Shindai couldn't possibly know about them. So, what could the reason be? 

Shindai's forehead broke out in a cold sweat. That feeling of being watched by a venomous snake had returned. 

Did he say something wrong just now? 

Amidst Shindai's unease, Orochimaru spoke again, "In that case, let's talk after the war. Though I still don't think you can kill Chiyo, with this puppet and your magnet release ninjutsu, you barely qualify to fight her. If I hear any news of Chiyo's movements, I'll let you know. Alright, I have other things to do. That's all for now." 

"Yes, thank you, Lord Orochimaru." 

Shindai left the command tent. 

Outside, Shindai let out a long breath, wiping his forehead to find it drenched in cold sweat. 

Orochimaru's pressure was simply too much. 

Among the Sannin, aside from that one time Tsunade punched him, Tsunade and Jiraiya were usually easy to be around. But Orochimaru was like a pressure cooker, radiating an oppressive aura from the moment they met. 

As for killing Chiyo, Shindai only said he wanted to "take down" Chiyo, not kill her. 

While Shindai was confident in his Kannazuki, fighting an old fox like Chiyo, who had immense combat experience, simply relying on Kannazuki and magnet release wasn't enough. 

Shindai was quite clear-headed about this. 

So, from the start, Shindai never intended to kill Chiyo. Besides using the battle against Chiyo's puppets to test Kannazuki's abilities, his goal was to land a slap on that old hag's face, consider it a victory, and then quickly bolt. 

Led by a stationed ninja, Shindai arrived at his assigned tent. 

Lying on the ground, Shindai tossed and turned. He felt that the Sand Village spreading rumors about him, and Chiyo protecting her grandson Sasori, the true culprit, while treating him as a disposable pawn and issuing a bounty on him... one slap wasn't enough! 

And who knew, maybe he wouldn't even be able to land that one slap on Chiyo. 

A truly wicked plan suddenly sparked in Shindai's mind. He abruptly sat up, a chilling, sinister chuckle escaping him. 

"Old hag, I'm going to ruin your good name!"