Analyzing the Ninja World Starting from Konoha

Chapter 259: Risk Isolation for Orochimaru

In fact, Orochimaru wasn't the only one researching Yamashiro Aoba; rather, the entire ninja world was frantically studying him.

It's important to know that even Hashirama Senju, who was revered as the "God of Shinobi" back then, only truly possessed terrifying strength that dominated the ninja world when he was in his twenties or thirties.

Other powerful figures who rose to prominence in the ninja world all gradually emerged over time, eventually making a name for themselves.

Even Minato Namikaze, known as the "Yellow Flash," only shone brightly on the battlefield in his early twenties thanks to his unique Flying Thunder God Technique.

But Yamashiro Aoba is different.

He's not even twenty years old yet!

At this age, most ninjas are still struggling to become Jonin, while Yamashiro Aoba has already defeated the combined forces of the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

This age also means that for at least the next ten years, Yamashiro Aoba will be in a period of rapid growth in strength!

What does this mean?

A ninja who wasn't even twenty years old already possessed the fighting power to sweep through an entire village; what would happen when he reached twenty-five?

At thirty-five, how terrifying will one's growth become?

No one wants to see another "God of Shinobi" appear in the ninja world, especially since this "god" belongs to Konoha!

The leaders of all the major ninja villages are racking their brains to analyze Aoba's weaknesses, trying to find a way to kill this monster before he becomes completely invincible.

Onoki, the third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, has convened three emergency meetings in a row.

Sunagakure even began sending envoys to other ninja villages to negotiate.

Even the Hidden Cloud Village, which had just been humiliated, was secretly researching how to counter Yamashiro Aoba's strange Lava Release physique.

Of course, Aoba was unaware of the thoughts and the extent of the fear the various countries in the ninja world had towards him.

If he knew, he would definitely tell them what his strength was worth.

In the next ten years or so, there will be two even more monstrous individuals who will possess the strength of the Six Paths level at the age of sixteen; those will be the true cheat codes.

However, while there are many intelligent people in the ninja world, there is only one research fanatic with a top-notch imagination like Orochimaru.

For Orochimaru, as long as he is given even the slightest clue, he can follow the trail and piece together the whole truth using his extraordinary thinking.

Moreover, Aoba deliberately revealed a flaw to lead Orochimaru to think in that direction.

The atmosphere inside the dimly lit tent was subtle.

"So, Lord Orochimaru's late-night visit is also to inquire about the future?"

Aoba crossed her arms in front of her and asked calmly.

Upon hearing Aoba's words, Orochimaru slowly suppressed the fanaticism on his face.

Those golden vertical pupils gleamed with an unfathomable light.

"Hehehe————"

Orochimaru stuck out his long tongue and washed his face, saying in a hoarse voice, "I am indeed very interested in knowing the future in advance."

"But now, I want to know even more—the secret of that resurrection spell!"

Resurrection spell.

This is Orochimaru's true purpose for this trip.

He lost both his parents at a young age and witnessed the death of his close friend and his disciple.

Having witnessed countless deaths and injuries, he felt a deep despair at the fragility of life.

If he could master the art of resurrection, if he could break the boundary between life and death, then he would be one step closer to the eternal life he had always dreamed of and the truth of the world!

Aoba wasn't surprised to see the almost overflowing desire in Orochimaru's eyes.

After Orochimaru met Kato Dan, Aoba knew that Orochimaru would come looking for him sooner or later.

He just hadn't expected it to happen under these circumstances.

It seems Orochimaru is determined to win today.

It's just a pity—

"That technique is not actually a ninjutsu in the traditional sense."

Aoba spoke slowly, her tone calm, "To be precise, it was a ritual."

"Moreover, I mastered it under extremely special circumstances. If you want to learn it, you must personally observe it during the ceremony."

"ceremony?"

Orochimaru's vertical pupils narrowed slightly.

Upon hearing the word "ritual," he not only showed no doubt, but his eyes revealed even greater interest.

As one of the top researchers and ninjutsu masters in the ninja world, Orochimaru has a wide range of knowledge and has come into contact with some special ninjutsu. Some special forbidden techniques do require special "rituals" to be performed.

"interesting----"

Orochimaru licked his face again, his golden pupils burning even brighter. "Since it's a ritual, then—what's the price?"

Aoba's lips curled up slightly.

As expected, Orochimaru is knowledgeable.

Every ritual comes at a price, and the more powerful the ritual, the greater the price.

The fact that Orochimaru was able to ask this question so quickly indicates that he had also conducted in-depth research on similar forbidden techniques.

"The offering requires an 'undamaged' Mangekyou Sharingan."

Kaleidoscope Sharingan?!

Upon hearing this word, Orochimaru's pupils constricted sharply.

Having witnessed Itachi Uchiha's outstanding performance, Orochimaru had begun researching the Sharingan and naturally knew that above the Sharingan, there was the Mangekyou Sharingan.

However, even throughout the entire thousand-year history of the Uchiha clan, very few people have ever awakened this legendary eye.

The last person confirmed to possess the Mangekyou Sharingan was Madara Uchiha, the Asura of the Shinobi World, who was also the only one who could rival the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

It can be said that although the price was heavy, it was still acceptable for such a heaven-defying ability as "resurrection".

Just as Orochimaru was processing this information, he suddenly realized something was wrong!

The ability to revive after being cut off means that Yamashiro Aoba has already acquired the Mangekyou Sharingan!

At that moment, Aoba's right eye suddenly changed.

In his originally pitch-black pupils, a scarlet color slowly emerged, and three magatama, connected end to end, began to spin wildly.

Immediately afterwards, the three tomoe began to transform and merge, eventually coalescing into a strange four-cornered shuriken pattern!

Kotoamatsukami!

hum!

The moment Orochimaru saw that eye, his brain went blank for a second, as if something had forced its way into his mind!

The next second, Orochimaru's expression changed drastically.

His golden vertical pupils suddenly contracted into extremely thin lines, and his entire body instinctively took a step back, instantly entering battle mode.

"What did you do to me?!"

Orochimaru's voice turned cold and piercing, his hoarse tone carrying an undisguised murderous intent.

Even when faced with such a psychological attack, he was extremely wary.

"Don't be nervous, Lord Orochimaru."

Aoba slowly closed her right eye, and when she opened it again, her pupil had returned to its normal black color.

"These eyes are the Mangekyou Sharingan."

"7

Aoba explained calmly, "That was a unique eye technique of the Sharingan after the Mangekyou Sharingan is activated."

"That technique is called [Kotoamatsukami]."

"The effect is that it can directly invade the other person's brain without being detected and permanently and thoroughly modify their will."

The air inside the tent seemed to freeze at that moment.

Orochimaru's expression turned extremely ugly. His golden vertical pupils stared intently at Aoba, and a dangerous light flashed in his long, snake-like pupils.

"In other words—"

Orochimaru's voice squeezed out from deep in his throat, each word distinct and deliberate.

"If you had wanted to, you could have easily turned me into a puppet who would obey your every command?"

"As expected of Lord Orochimaru."

Aoba smiled slightly and nodded frankly, "I understand very well."

silence.

An invisible killing intent permeated the air, which Orochimaru unconsciously released.

Orochimaru took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart.

"But you didn't do that."

Orochimaru's vertical pupils narrowed slightly. "Why?"

With just a thought, he could gain a powerful and loyal subordinate, and even master all of Orochimaru's research results.

Why did Yamashiro Aoba let this opportunity slip by?

"I told you long ago, Lord Orochimaru."

Aoba looked at Orochimaru with a calm gaze, "We are fellow travelers in the pursuit of truth, not enemies."

"What I just gave you was a very basic command in your subconscious."

Aoba said frankly, "As long as I don't attack you first, then—you can never attack me."

Orochimaru was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

He tried it immediately.

The moment the thought arose, an invisible force surged up from the depths of his consciousness; it was another "self" telling him to abandon the idea.

It didn't feel like being controlled by someone.

It seems more like he genuinely believes that taking action against Aoba is "unnecessary".

This is the most terrifying place.

But soon, this strange feeling was replaced by his insane thirst for knowledge.

"Hehehe—hahahaha!"

Orochimaru suddenly chuckled softly, the laughter growing louder and louder until it even took on a hint of madness.

He stuck out his tongue again and washed his face, a wicked smile slowly appearing on his pale face.

"It seems that in that so-called 'future,' I must have done something that you were extremely wary of, right?"

Orochimaru looked at Aoba, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "So, that's why you need to use this method to 'isolate the risk' from me?"

Aoba did not deny it and nodded frankly.

"The future you is indeed becoming less and less human."

"You're doing things that are becoming increasingly extreme. You're constantly separating your soul from your body, changing hosts again and again, like a snake shedding its skin."

"Every time your soul is separated, you lose a part of your humanity and eventually become a complete monster."

Upon hearing this, Orochimaru's smile not only didn't disappear, but instead became even wider.

"Separate the soul — change the body —"

He murmured these words, his golden pupils flashing with an almost insane light.

"It sounds like my future self has already touched the edge of immortality."

Aoba's lips twitched involuntarily as he looked at Orochimaru's excited expression.

Sure enough, what others fear is treasure in Orochimaru's eyes.

"so."

Aoba steered the conversation back on track, his gaze falling on Orochimaru's face.

"Now you understand, Lord Orochimaru."

"I used Kotoamatsukami on you not to control you, but simply to ensure that one day in the future, when you truly cease to be human—"

"At least they won't lay a hand on me."

Orochimaru was silent for a moment, then let out a low, hoarse laugh.

"Hehehe—Aoba-kun, you're always like this, calculating every step so meticulously."

"But don't worry, even without the God of the Otherworld, I wouldn't do something as foolish as attacking you now."

"after all----"

Orochimaru's smile became meaningful. "The secrets you hold are far more interesting than the Sharingan."

Faced with Orochimaru's extremely aggressive gaze, Aoba simply chuckled.

He did not refute, but slowly raised his hands and formed a very special mudra.

Upon seeing this starting stance, Orochimaru was taken aback for a moment, then his pupils suddenly contracted.

"This is... a spiritification technique?!"

However, before he could react, Orochimaru suddenly felt everything go black.

When he opened his eyes again, the scene before him had completely changed.

This is a desolate, dark red world.

The sky was a suffocating blood red, the earth was covered with dry cracks, there was no sign of life, and the air was filled with a suffocating deathly silence.

"Mental space?"

As a friend of Kato Dan, Orochimaru was also pulled into the mental space at some point.

He lowered his head and looked at his hands.

However, upon seeing this, his expression instantly changed.

At this moment, he was no longer that pale and cold human body, but a spiritual entity that appeared semi-transparent.

His body—or rather, his spirit—was no longer human!

Its arms were covered in fine scales, and several illusory white snakes writhed and struggled in pain on its torso, as if they were about to burst out of its body at any moment.

Deformed, ugly, and exuding a chilling aura, it has become a monster!

"Take a good look at yourself, Lord Orochimaru."

A calm voice echoed in this desolate space.

Aoba's figure appeared silently in front of Orochimaru.

Unlike Orochimaru's deformed and twisted spiritual body, Aoba's spiritual body was exceptionally solid, radiating a gentle and pure glow, flawless, like a god.

"Reason should be a yardstick to assist humanity and weigh good and evil. But once it is stripped of human standards such as empathy, compassion, and bottom lines, wisdom is reduced to a tool for simply calculating pros and cons."

"Intelligent people have the ability to see through the rules and take advantage of the world. But when there is no conscience to restrain them, all their wisdom will be used to avoid moral consequences and pursue only goals, interests and efficiency."

"In this process, you will gradually lose the instinct for empathy that distinguishes humans from wild animals."

Aoba stopped in his tracks, his gaze piercing straight into the depths of Orochimaru's soul.

"It's not wrong to want to exhaust all the ninjutsu in the world and understand the ultimate truth of life and ninjutsu, but in this process, if you can't always maintain your original intention—"

"If in the end you are no longer yourself, then even if you truly reach the end of truth, will the person standing at the end still be the original Orochimaru?"

Orochimaru remained silent.

In this spiritual space, facing one's true self renders any lies and pretense meaningless.

He looked at his deformed, ugly, and even somewhat beastly spiritual body, his golden vertical pupils flashing with complex light.

"Hehehe————"

After a long while, Orochimaru let out a low laugh, but his expression was extremely ugly.

"It seems that I have indeed 'changed' in the future!"

]>