21-25

*Chapter 21: Orochimaru’s Severed Arm*

Kimimaro suddenly thought of something, and with a single thought, his hands began to change.

However, this transformation happened beneath the surface, within the bones of his hands, so it was invisible to the naked eye.

His hand bones turned gold!

The Divine Hand of God, activated!

Since obtaining this power, this was the first time Kimimaro had used it.

The power of the Divine Hand of God was actually quite simple: it made his hands much more dexterous.

Anything done by hand could be enhanced by this ability.

However, it only increased precision, not speed.

For example, the Divine Hand of God could make hand seals incredibly precise but wouldn’t increase the speed of performing them.

Even with just this effect, it was enough to significantly boost Kimimaro’s efficiency in learning medical ninjutsu.

It would also allow him to advance much further along this path.

“This feeling... it’s really different,” Kimimaro mused, feeling as if his hands had been completely transformed.

Once clumsy, now they felt extremely agile.

He placed his hands once again on the dying carp.

A green chakra, generated by the Healing Palm Technique runes, flowed into his palms.

Under the control of the Divine Hand of God, the once-wild chakra was tamed, like a horse bridled by a rider, completely subdued.

Kimimaro felt a strange contradiction at this moment.

His hands were doing something he was familiar with, but in an entirely unfamiliar way.

As strange as it sounded, it was happening right before him.

Minute by minute passed, and miraculously, the wounds on the carp began to heal.

After half an hour!

Kimimaro’s forehead was drenched in sweat.

But his eyes shone brightly.

“I did it!”

He withdrew his hands, and the green chakra vanished.

The carp, now full of life, wagged its tail energetically, leaping back into the pond.

Its lively movements showed no trace of the life-threatening injuries it had earlier.

“The Healing Palm Technique... I’ve mastered the basics!”

Kimimaro was overjoyed as he looked at his hands.

The effects of the Divine Hand of God were still present.

This was the first time he’d used the ability, and he couldn’t yet unleash its full power, only enhancing his dexterity by about tenfold.

As he used it more, his proficiency would increase, allowing him to boost his dexterity even further.

Kimimaro didn’t know the true limits of the Divine Hand of God, but it was likely to increase dexterity by hundreds of times.

If he reached that level and gained enough medical knowledge along with the appropriate medical ninjutsu, he could become a medical ninja on par with Tsunade.

But that would take a long time.

Both mastering medical knowledge and developing the Divine Hand of God would require time.

Kimimaro didn’t have much time, so he needed to shorten this process as much as possible.

Plus, there were many medical techniques that even the Hidden Sound Village didn’t possess, and he would need to find ways to acquire them himself.

“No matter what, I’ve completed the first and second stages of the Healing Palm Technique. What’s left is the third stage, converting my chakra into the green medical chakra by channeling it through the Life Gate.”

The Healing Palm Technique was a basic medical ninjutsu, but it was also an advanced one.

Its difficulty lay in the third stage.

Ordinary medical ninjas could only use the Healing Palm Technique through the use of runes and symbols. Mastering the third stage was a lifelong challenge for most.

Using the technique via runes was considered basic medical ninjutsu.

But if one could perform it through their own power, that would be advanced medical ninjutsu.

That was the difference.

Now, Kimimaro began practicing the third stage.

In this stage, the Divine Hand of God couldn’t help him; he would have to rely on himself.

However, the Still Plate could provide some assistance.

Channeling chakra through the Life Gate and releasing it was as difficult as opening the third gate in the Eight Gates Technique.

The Eight Gates Technique forcefully opened the Life Gate by using violent chakra to break through, granting incredible power.

In contrast, the Healing Palm Technique gently allowed chakra to pass through the Life Gate, harnessing its energy and channeling it into the hands for healing.

The principles were different, but the difficulty was the same.

Kimimaro knew this but wasn’t discouraged by the challenge.

A new cycle of training began.

One day...

Two days...

Three days...

By the seventh day!

The constant refining, controlling, and flowing of chakra had pushed Kimimaro’s body to its limits.

Fortunately, with his strong body and the power of the Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse), he could withstand this grueling training.

Finally, after seven days, he saw results.

As green chakra appeared in his hands, Kimimaro couldn’t help but feel a rare joy.

“At last, I did it.”

He felt a wave of exhaustion and leaned against the wall, slowly sitting down.

The green chakra dissipated, leaving his hands’ chakra pathways sore and aching.

“Whew...”

Kimimaro winced and smiled bitterly.

“I overtrained... I’ll need to pace myself from now on.”

In these seven days, he had fully mastered the Healing Palm Technique.

At the same time, his proficiency with the Still Plate had also improved.

“Boss, boss, are you in there?”

Just as Kimimaro was about to rest, Suigetsu’s voice came from outside.

“What’s up?”

“Boss, open the door. I’ll tell you inside.”

Seeing Suigetsu so anxious piqued Kimimaro’s curiosity.

He stood up, opened the door, and saw Suigetsu rush in, looking flustered.

“What’s going on? Why are you so worked up?”

“Orochimaru is back! And he got his left arm chopped off! He looks awful. Not sure who did it to him.”

Suigetsu had a smug look on his face, clearly enjoying Orochimaru’s misfortune.

“How do you know?”

Kimimaro was surprised.

The only person who could have severed Orochimaru’s arm was Itachi.

It seemed just as Kimimaro had predicted: Orochimaru returned to the Akatsuki, targeting Itachi and trying to take his Sharingan.

But he didn’t expect Orochimaru to get defeated by Itachi so quickly.

“I happened to see it. When Orochimaru went to see Oyashiro-senpai, I was nearby and saw everything.

Orochimaru just called Oyashiro away and didn’t even notice me. I figured such a big event needed someone to talk about it, so I came to find you.

Who do you think Orochimaru pissed off to get beat so badly? Are we following the wrong guy? Orochimaru’s practically a one-armed ninja now.”

“Even a broken ship still has three pounds of nails. Stop overthinking. Just stay quiet for the next couple of days. Orochimaru just lost his left arm, so he’s probably in a foul mood. If you annoy him, you’ll be the one in trouble. Best to lay low for now.”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 22: He Only Trusts Himself*

Shuiyue hurriedly covered her mouth and said, “You're right. So what should we do now?"

“Do what we’ve always done. Keep training.”

“Is your life only about training? That’s so boring. By the way, what exactly are you studying? A room full of weird books, and you never go out. I asked Senior Yinyi, but she wouldn’t tell me. So mysterious."

“Medical ninjutsu.”

“Medical ninjutsu? With your kind of talent, you’re studying medical ninjutsu? Are you sure you’re not sick?”

Shuiyue looked puzzled.

“I have my reasons. Of course, I study medical ninjutsu, but I’m not neglecting combat skills. Lately, I’ve just been busy with medical ninjutsu matters.”

“I’ve now got the basics down. Next, I’ll divide my time and train in other areas.”

Facing such diligence, Shuiyue was in awe.

No wonder he’s a survivor of a warrior clan. His dedication to training is something no ordinary person could match.

Meanwhile, in the laboratory.

Orochimaru lay on the bed, his Akatsuki robe tossed aside. The wound on his severed left arm had already received initial treatment.

“Orochimaru-sama, how did you get injured so badly? Who did this to you?” Yinyi asked angrily as she treated him.

“Heh, I underestimated him. I didn’t expect that at only thirteen, he could wield the Sharingan to such an extent. Not even his father was as skilled.”

“The Sharingan? From the Uchiha clan? But wasn’t the Uchiha clan wiped out three months ago?”

“He’s one of the only two survivors and the instigator of that massacre, Uchiha Itachi. The Sharingan is truly a remarkable thing. The power of the Kekkei Genkai is enviable.”

A trace of obsession appeared in Orochimaru’s eyes.

He had personally experienced the power of the Sharingan and was now completely captivated.

It was too wonderful.

He looked at his severed arm, where the Akatsuki ring still lay, and a flash of caution crossed his eyes.

“Yinyi, the vessel we prepared last time is still alive, right?”

“Yes, Orochimaru-sama. You’re going to...?”

Orochimaru nodded slightly.

“This body has lost its left arm, making it worthless for further use. Make the arrangements. In three days, we’ll begin the Living Corpse Reincarnation.”

“Yes, Orochimaru-sama!”

Hearing this, Yinyi immediately left to make preparations.

“Sharingan, Uchiha Itachi, the Akatsuki... Seems like I need to adjust my plans slightly. And that Uchiha orphan in Konoha, does he have the same potential as Uchiha Itachi? That kind of power... it's truly tempting.”

Orochimaru stuck out his tongue, licking his lips, as if unable to suppress his desire.

The allure of the Sharingan had grown to an overwhelming extent for him.

He had developed a great interest in the Uchiha orphan in Konoha.

But now wasn’t the time to act.

“I’ve betrayed the Akatsuki, and they won’t let this slide. It won’t be long before they send someone to hunt me down...”

Thinking of the strength of the Akatsuki members, Orochimaru couldn’t help but shake his head.

“Fortunately, this place is hidden enough, and it’s a proper village established in the Land of Fields. The Akatsuki won’t dare act recklessly. I’ll heal here safely, change my body, and plan for the next steps.”

Orochimaru glanced at his severed arm again, a strange look in his eyes.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Everything was ready for the Living Corpse Reincarnation.

Orochimaru and Yinyi entered a secret chamber where a woman in white lay quietly on a bed.

“Orochimaru-sama, everything is prepared. This is the vessel with the highest compatibility from the ones we prepared. Though she doesn’t have any special talents, she should allow you to exert 100% of your power.”

Yinyi said while looking at her notebook.

Orochimaru glanced at the woman, then thought of something and asked, “What has Kimimaro been up to lately?”

“Kimimaro? He’s been studying medical ninjutsu.”

“Medical ninjutsu?”

Orochimaru’s eyes narrowed, quite surprised.

“Yes. Kimimaro has a strong interest and talent in medical ninjutsu. He’s already learned the Healing Palm Technique. If we focus on nurturing this talent, he might surpass Lord Kabuto in the future.”

Already learned the Healing Palm Technique?

Orochimaru was even more surprised.

Learning such a technique in such a short time truly demonstrated extraordinary talent.

Interesting.

It turns out that the Kaguya clan not only had combat talents but also medical ones.

“He’s seeking immortality.”

“Immortality?”

Yinyi was stunned.

“It’s said that if the Kaguya clan’s talent is too strong, they will be cursed. This curse is called the Kekkei Disease. When it strikes, it brings unbearable pain. The stronger the talent, the quicker the death.

Kimimaro’s talent is so great that the Kekkei Disease has likely already begun to take root. His deep interest in medical ninjutsu is to cure himself.”

“If that’s the case, why not let me treat him?”

“The terror of the Kekkei Disease—neither you nor even Tsunade could likely cure it. Moreover, people like him don’t easily trust others. Right now, he only trusts himself.”

Orochimaru’s golden eyes were filled with admiration.

“Is... is the Kekkei Disease incurable?”

“Perhaps. So far, there have been no cases of it being cured.”

“What a pity. With such talent, it would be a great loss to the ninja world if Kimimaro dies young.”

“Yes. Heaven always seems to be jealous of extraordinary talent. Yinyi, go and bring Kimimaro here.”

“Now? But isn’t Orochimaru-sama about to perform the Living Corpse Reincarnation?”

Yinyi asked, puzzled.

“Let him come and witness my path to immortality.”

Yinyi was deeply shaken, not expecting Orochimaru to value Kimimaro to such an extent.

She didn’t dare delay and quickly went to find him.

“Yes, Orochimaru-sama. I’ll go right away.”

Orochimaru walked over to the woman in white, extending his right hand to gently caress her face.

“What a fine shell. Too bad it’s still not remarkable enough. For a vessel of the Living Corpse Reincarnation, suitability isn’t enough; it needs powerful abilities, like a Kekkei Genkai! That’s the power I truly seek.

Heaven truly is unfair. Some people are born with gifts others could never attain, no matter how hard they try.

But I won’t give up so easily. What the heavens won’t give me, I’ll take for myself. And if I can’t take it, I’ll steal it.

The Kekkei Genkai is just a backup vessel for me.”

Orochimaru chuckled coldly, withdrawing his hand.

Meanwhile, Yinyi had already found Kimimaro.

“Orochimaru-sama wants to see me now?”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 23: Immortality through Corpse Replacement

Kimimaro’s heart trembled as a sense of unease washed over him.

"Senior Oto, what does Lord Orochimaru want me to do?"

"Lord Orochimaru wants you to witness his path to immortality."

Witness his path to immortality?

What does that mean?

Could it be that Orochimaru really intends to make me his vessel?

That can’t be right.

I haven't fully grown yet. If I were to become the vessel, Orochimaru would still need to train my body to achieve the same level of power as now.

Corpse Replacement only transfers the soul’s power; it doesn’t bring the physical strength of the original body along with it.

Therefore, the vessel must be strong enough for Orochimaru to gain power equal to or greater than his own.

That’s why, after Sasuke joined Orochimaru, he was personally trained by him.

Because Orochimaru needed a stronger body.

If the vessel's own strength didn’t matter, Orochimaru could’ve simply locked Sasuke up and waited three years to possess him, avoiding all the unnecessary trouble.

Why spend three years patiently guiding Sasuke’s training?

Orochimaru doesn’t do useless things.

Thinking this through, Kimimaro felt that Orochimaru wouldn’t choose him as the vessel right now.

It would be too unwise.

After thinking it over for a moment, Kimimaro decided to go anyway.

First of all, he couldn’t escape.

This was the Sound Village. The chances of him escaping were nearly zero.

Secondly, since arriving, he hadn’t even undergone a medical exam. He didn’t believe Orochimaru would act so recklessly as to attempt a possession without checking first.

Lastly, his hereditary illness was already showing signs. If Orochimaru really wanted to use him as a vessel, he could simply mention this, and Orochimaru would abandon the idea.

Of course, Kimimaro also prepared for the worst.

If Orochimaru was truly so foolish, then even though he couldn’t resist the Corpse Replacement technique, he could at least severely injure Orochimaru with his own soul during the possession.

With his mind made up, Kimimaro said, "Understood, Senior Oto. Lead the way."

Before long, Oto led him into a secret chamber.

Orochimaru lay on a bed, smiling when he saw Kimimaro arrive.

At this moment, Kimimaro also noticed a woman lying on another bed.

That must be the vessel Orochimaru planned to use.

Seeing this, Kimimaro let out a small sigh of relief.

So, I was overthinking things.

"Kimimaro, you're here."

"Lord Orochimaru, Senior Oto said you called me to witness your path to immortality. Have you already achieved your dream?"

Kimimaro feigned curiosity.

"Immortality isn’t so easy. However, I have indeed developed a technique that makes it much harder to die. Some recent changes have required me to use this technique to solve a problem. Since the opportunity has presented itself, I want you to witness it.

You and I both seek the dream of immortality. Perhaps this will give you some new ideas. If this technique can be perfected, immortality may not be out of reach."

"What technique?"

"Corpse Replacement. You've been studying medical ninjutsu lately, haven’t you? Then you should know that humans are composed of two parts—body and soul.

The body ages, and the soul withers as well. But the soul withers much slower than the body. People die because their bodies age and break down.

If one could continually replace their body with a stronger one, giving the soul a new home, then immortality wouldn't be difficult to achieve. And if the body could be kept in peak condition, one wouldn’t only achieve immortality but eternal youth as well."

Upon hearing this, many thoughts flashed through Kimimaro’s mind.

Corpse Replacement is essentially body-snatching.

The body Kimimaro was currently using had, in fact, been snatched.

The difference was that this time, he hadn’t volunteered for it; he had been forcibly arranged by a time-travel agency.

"This powerful technique must come with some major side effects, right?"

Orochimaru’s eyes gleamed with appreciation.

As expected of someone he valued, Kimimaro had quickly grasped the key issue.

"You're right. Corpse Replacement has significant side effects.

First, there's the strength of the soul. If the soul of the one performing the transfer can’t overpower the soul of the vessel, the transfer will fail. Worse, the soul of the vessel could devour the transferor, not only causing them to lose everything but also bringing about their death.

Second, there's the body itself. Not every body is suitable as a vessel for my soul.

Each body resists foreign souls to some degree. Some bodies resist more, some less. If the resistance is too strong, even a successful transfer would leave me unable to exert my full strength, or worse, in a weakened state, marking a failed transfer.

We can perform tests in advance to estimate compatibility, though the results aren’t always 100% accurate. It’s a risk either way.

The last two side effects aren’t as severe by comparison. One is a period of weakness after the transfer, needed to allow the soul and body to fuse.

The second is that the interval between transfers cannot be shorter than three years.

Of course, these so-called side effects are mainly due to the fact that I haven’t yet perfected the technique.

Once perfected, these problems will no longer exist."

As Orochimaru spoke of his technique, his eyes shone with excitement.

He was passionate about this.

What surprised Kimimaro was that Orochimaru would reveal the secrets of Corpse Replacement to him.

Does he trust me this much?

Is it out of recognition for a fellow pursuer of immortality?

Kimimaro fell silent, while Orochimaru and Oto assumed he was simply in awe.

After all, most people would be stunned by such a technique.

If Kimimaro hadn’t already known about it, he would have been equally shocked.

"Your Kekkei Genkai illness is starting to show symptoms, isn’t it?"

Before Kimimaro could respond, Orochimaru spoke again.

Kimimaro was stunned—he hadn’t expected Orochimaru to know about the illness.

"Judging by your reaction, I was right, wasn’t I?"

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru. The Kekkei Genkai illness is a curse of the Kaguya clan. Once it strikes, no one has ever lived past twenty. That’s why I’ve been focused on studying medical ninjutsu."

For someone who seeks immortality, contracting such an illness is a true disaster.

"Heh, as I thought. The Kekkei Genkai illness is difficult to cure, and your chances of success are slim. But this Corpse Replacement technique might be your only hope for the future. There’s no harm in observing it now."

"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru."

Kimimaro bowed respectfully.

He hadn’t expected Orochimaru to be so considerate of him.

He couldn’t help but feel a bit moved.

"Now, watch closely."

With that, Orochimaru closed his eyes but opened his mouth wide.

His mouth grew larger, far beyond the limits of a human.

Suddenly, a black-haired, golden-eyed snake shot out of Orochimaru's mouth!

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 24: This Isn't the Immortality I Want*

The black-haired, golden-eyed snake represented the manifestation of Orochimaru's soul, carrying all of his knowledge and spiritual power.

The broken body in front of him had now become an empty shell.

The moment the snake appeared, the temperature in the room dropped by several degrees.

"What the…"

Kimimaro was stunned.

This scene was truly shocking.

Seeing it in person and watching it on a screen were entirely different experiences.

At that moment, Sound Clothes, who had been prepared for a while, pried open the mouth of the woman lying on the bed.

The black-haired, golden-eyed snake immediately slithered inside!

In an instant, the snake disappeared, and the woman, who had been unconscious, suddenly opened her eyes!

Her eyes, once black and white, slowly turned golden.

Those were the signature snake-like eyes of Orochimaru.

The transfer had succeeded!

At this point, Orochimaru's *Living Corpse Reincarnation* technique was still incomplete. He could only assimilate the vessel’s eyes to look like his, but not the entire appearance. He needed something like a human skin mask to make the vessel resemble his own face.

By the time of the *Shippuden* series, Orochimaru's Living Corpse Reincarnation had been perfected, allowing him to instantly transform White Zetsu into his own appearance.

From this, it was clear that Orochimaru was quite satisfied with his appearance.

Even when switching bodies, he kept the same face.

Orochimaru sat up, looked at his pale hands, and smiled contently.

The right to use this unfamiliar body now belonged to him.

"Orochimaru-sama, how do you feel?" Sound Clothes asked.

"This body is quite good. The rejection response is minimal, allowing me to exert 100% of my strength. In three years, I shouldn’t need to switch bodies again."

Sound Clothes smiled at his response.

"That's great! Congratulations, Orochimaru-sama!"

Orochimaru then turned his gaze to Kimimaro and asked with a smile, "What do you think of this technique?"

Kimimaro remained silent for a moment before slowly responding, "If you keep changing bodies frequently, will you even remember who you are?"

"Hmm?"

"Orochimaru-san, this technique is impressive, and if perfected, it would be even more so. But this isn't the immortality I seek. At the very least, it’s not the ideal form of immortality in my eyes.

"The body obtained through this method will still age and die. Based on the current situation, to keep the body in peak condition, assuming it’s not injured, it can only be used for a maximum of twenty years.

"Not to mention, if there’s a strong rejection response, then in three years, you’ll have to switch bodies again.

"And judging by Orochimaru-san’s situation, this isn’t your first time using this technique. This means that within just a few short years, you’ve already switched bodies at least twice.

"Orochimaru-san may accept this, but I can’t. Constantly changing my body, looking at unfamiliar hands and faces, and accepting memories that aren’t mine—if it happens too often, I fear I’ll completely forget who I am."

Kimimaro spoke sincerely.

And this was truly how he felt.

The idea of body-snatching didn’t sit well with him.

It was similar to how he felt now, having taken over Kimimaro’s body some time ago. While he had adapted to fighting and learning with this body, he still couldn’t fully get used to its subtle details, or the handsome face that, while just as good-looking as his previous life’s, still wasn’t his.

Last time, he had no choice. But if given the option, Kimimaro wouldn’t want to go through body-snatching again.

It might sound overly sentimental, but that’s just how he felt.

Orochimaru licked his lips. He wasn’t angry—quite the opposite, he appreciated Kimimaro even more.

As someone with plenty of experience, Orochimaru knew that everyone had their own limits, and that wasn’t a bad thing.

Only those who held onto their limits while pursuing their dreams could be truly strong.

From this perspective, Kimimaro had earned Orochimaru’s admiration.

"Of course, if there really is no other way and it's a matter of life and death, or if it’s for the dream of immortality, I might still choose this method. But until that time comes, I want to explore an immortality technique more aligned with my ideals."

Many people have given up their principles for their dreams.

He just wanted to hold onto them until the very last moment.

When faced with life or death, maybe he would eventually let go of these principles.

After all, Kimimaro was only human.

"Eternal youth, eternal life, eternal indestructibility—that's the kind of immortality I want to pursue."

"Hehe, Kimimaro, you continue to surprise me. I’m more and more eager to see if you can truly walk the path of immortality on your own."

Orochimaru was a bit excited.

"Sound Clothes."

"I'm here, Orochimaru-sama."

"From now on, whatever medical information or equipment Kimimaro needs, you provide. Also, work with him on researching his Kekkei Genkai disease. Try to find a cure."

"Yes, Orochimaru-sama."

Sound Clothes was astonished. Orochimaru’s attention to Kimimaro had reached such a level?

"Thank you, Orochimaru-sama."

"No need for thanks. Just show me the results of my investment. Haha, I’m a bit tired. You may leave. Sound Clothes, stay."

"I’ll leave you now, Orochimaru-san."

Kimimaro left.

Sound Clothes, curious, asked, "Orochimaru-sama, why do you value Kimimaro so much?"

She had never seen Orochimaru care so much for a young person.

"He's not an ordinary boy. In him, I see a reflection of my younger self. He’s neither my subordinate nor my disciple. I look forward to the day he becomes my peer."

At this, Orochimaru’s eyes were filled with anticipation.

It was an expression Sound Clothes had never seen in Orochimaru’s eyes before.

Leaving the secret chamber, Kimimaro returned to his room.

The shocking scene he had just witnessed remained fresh in his mind.

"Living Corpse Reincarnation is truly a fascinating technique. It’s just not what I’m looking for."

Kimimaro shook his head slightly, temporarily setting aside these thoughts.

Living Corpse Reincarnation was his last resort. Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn’t use this forbidden technique.

For now, his focus was on learning medical ninjutsu.

Kimimaro picked up the medical book beside him, calmed himself down, and began studying again.

Orochimaru had entered a period of weakness after using Living Corpse Reincarnation.

During this time, he was recuperating in the Sound Village.

This was convenient for Kimimaro, as he could consult Orochimaru whenever he had training questions.

As one of the ninjas who knew the most ninjutsu in the world, Orochimaru could provide answers that satisfied Kimimaro, regardless of the problem.

This was where having a good teacher really mattered.

With Sound Clothes’ full support, Kimimaro also began researching his Kekkei Genkai disease.

After a comprehensive medical examination, he received his report.

As expected, the initial symptoms of the Kekkei Genkai disease had appeared.

"This Kekkei Genkai disease is no joke, Kimimaro. This will be a long battle," Sound Clothes said seriously.

Kimimaro, however, smiled lightly.

"I've been prepared for this for a long time, Sound Clothes-senpai."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 25: Two Years Later

Two years passed quietly.

During this time, Orochimaru stayed in the Sound Village without ever leaving.

As a result, the development of the Sound Village progressed rapidly.

The number of ninjas had surpassed 500, with several at the Chunin and Jonin levels.

Although it still couldn’t compare to the five major ninja villages, which boasted tens of thousands of members, it was now on par with smaller villages like Grass, Hot Water, and Waterfall.

In a room, six identical versions of Kimimaro were reading books.

Each clone was reading a different book, but all were related to medical ninjutsu.

*The Shadow Clone Technique!*

An excellent way to speed up learning.

Shortly after Orochimaru returned two years ago, Kimimaro obtained this jutsu from him.

This technique was perfect for studying. The knowledge from the books read by the shadow clones could be transferred directly to the main body’s mind, saving Kimimaro a lot of time.

And the fatigue generated by this method could be quickly alleviated with the use of *Silent Seal*.

There was no denying that the Silent Seal was extremely effective.

After all six figures closed their books simultaneously, five of them disappeared into smoke.

Kimimaro closed his eyes and began processing the newly acquired knowledge.

After a long while, he finally opened his eyes again.

“I’ve finally finished reading 5,000 books.”

Kimimaro’s voice carried a hint of joy.

For most people, the mountain of books would have been an insurmountable challenge, but he had finally conquered it.

The vast medical knowledge in his mind gave him a sense of fulfillment.

“The theory is complete, but to turn it all into practical medical ninjutsu, I still need guidance. Senior Otohime has reached her limit; I need a better teacher.”

Kimimaro had surpassed Otohime six months ago.

Initially, he had hoped to consult Kabuto when he returned.

But unfortunately, in the past two years, he hadn’t seen Kabuto even once.

He truly lived up to his reputation as a spy—always busy.

In the lab, Orochimaru was observing four cylindrical tanks, each filled with green liquid and containing a person inside.

Three were men, and one was a woman, all appearing around the same age as Kimimaro.

"Orochimaru-sama, you called for me?"

Kimimaro approached Orochimaru and spoke.

“The curse marks on these four are still not perfect. They haven't progressed much compared to the one I initially placed on Anko,” Orochimaru said softly.

Hearing this, Kimimaro looked at the four inside the tanks.

They were the *Sound Four*.

They were undergoing Orochimaru’s curse mark experiments, but progress had been minimal.

Kimimaro, whose medical skills had become quite advanced, had become Orochimaru’s right-hand man.

Orochimaru had discussed this experiment with Kimimaro as well.

“The curse mark’s power is unstable. They can’t rely solely on their chakra to control it. The rejection is too strong,” Kimimaro remarked.

Orochimaru nodded.

“I’ve just received some information about a place called Tenpyo Village. There’s a boy there named Jugo. He possesses a power similar to the curse mark.

“Go and bring him back. He may be the key to perfecting my curse mark,” Orochimaru said, handing a scroll to Kimimaro.

“Understood, Orochimaru-sama.”

After receiving the scroll, Kimimaro left the lab.

Tenpyo Village, located within the Land of Rice Fields, was about a day’s journey from the Sound Village, not too far.

This was the first time Kimimaro had left the Sound Village since arriving, and he felt a bit excited.

“Boss, where are you going?”

At the entrance of the village, Kimimaro encountered Suigetsu.

In the past two years, Suigetsu had become completely obedient to Kimimaro, willingly calling him "Boss."

The primary reason for Suigetsu’s submission was *Ghost Path White Lightning*.

Facing this lightning-based attack, Suigetsu had no way to defend himself.

After being shocked a few times, he finally gave in.

“I’m leaving the village.”

“Leaving the village! You’re not planning to escape, are you? If so, take me with you! You’re not going to leave your little brother here to suffer while you go enjoy the outside world, are you? That’s too cruel!”

Watching Suigetsu’s dramatic performance, Kimimaro wasn’t surprised; he had long since grown used to it.

Suigetsu’s personality hadn’t changed at all over the past two years.

“Orochimaru-sama asked me to handle something outside. I’ll be back in about three days.”

“Something to handle? Alright then, Boss, take me with you! I’m bored to death in this village!”

Suigetsu’s eyes gleamed as he quickly made his request.

“Orochimaru-sama didn’t say you could come.”

“Please, Boss!” Suigetsu begged with big, pleading eyes.

Kimimaro smiled wryly.

“Alright, but don’t wander off or cause trouble. Otherwise, when we get back, you’re going in the black cell.”

Suigetsu was overjoyed to hear this.

“Don’t worry, Boss! I won’t cause any trouble or make things difficult for you!”

In the two years he’d spent in the Sound Village, Suigetsu had accepted his place and no longer wanted to escape.

Kimimaro was aware of this, which is why he allowed Suigetsu to come along.

Traveling together was more fun than going alone, after all.

The two left the Sound Village and headed towards Tenpyo Village.

Along the way, Suigetsu was full of energy, jumping around like a monkey.

“Ah! This is the sky outside the Sound Village! Ah! The ground outside! Ah! The flowers outside! Ah! The trees outside! Ah! The water outside!

“They’re all so wonderful! I love you all! I, Suigetsu Hozuki, have been reborn!”

Suigetsu spread his arms wide, spinning around in the fresh air, looking a bit out of his mind.

Kimimaro covered his face, suddenly regretting bringing him along—it was just too embarrassing.

Had Suigetsu gone crazy from being cooped up in the Sound Village for too long?

Human emotions varied greatly, and Kimimaro simply found Suigetsu annoying.

With a snap of his fingers, *Silent Seal* activated.

Instantly, Suigetsu’s noise was blocked from Kimimaro’s ears.

Peace at last.

Seeing Suigetsu so excited, Kimimaro decided to let him be. After all, once Suigetsu wore himself out, he’d calm down.

By nightfall, the two finally reached a small town and settled down for the night.

Suigetsu’s excitement had worn off by now.

“Boss, what does Orochimaru-sama want you to do?”

“Capture a boy named Jugo.”

“Jugo? What’s special about him?”

“It’s said that he possesses a mysterious power, but he can’t control it. Normally, he’s kind and gentle, but when that power erupts, he becomes bloodthirsty and violent.”

“That powerful? Orochimaru-sama must be really interested in that power.”

Kimimaro nodded.

“No wonder—it’s him, after all.”

(End of Chapter)