Konoha: The Soul King from the Uchiha Clan

Chapter 140 Pervert

"Ah, Orochimaru-sensei, you haven't learned yet?"

Knowing so much, Uchiha Gen thought Orochimaru had already learned it.

"I've been busy with war and all sorts of research, I haven't been able to find the time."

"Even with exceptional talent, it would take a long time to learn Sage Mode, as the White Snake Sage has explained."

"The worse one's natural talent, the longer it takes and the greater the risk. If it's too low, there's only one way out: death."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Gen's heart stirred.

In the original manga, Orochimaru didn't learn the Sage Mode from Ryuchi Cave. Instead, he used Jugo to create the Cursed Seal. Was it because he took too long and missed the best time to learn it?

As we age, apart from experience, all aspects of our physical condition decline, including our mental and spiritual state.

It doesn't make sense that Jiraiya could learn the Sage Mode of Mount Myōboku, while Orochimaru couldn't learn the Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave...

As two of the three great holy lands of the ninja world, although the method of learning Sage Mode at Ryuchi Cave is more brutal, it is impossible for Sage Mode at Mount Myōboku to be much easier than that at Ryuchi Cave.

When Orochimaru finally remembered to learn Sage Mode, the side effects of the Reanimation Jutsu, especially those affecting the soul, completely eliminated any possibility of him learning Ryuchi Cave Sage Mode.

Therefore, Orochimaru had to find another way to study the mysteries of Sage Mode. Although the Cursed Seal was good, it was ultimately no match for the true Sage Mode.

After all, for Orochimaru, immortality was always the top priority. Learning all ninjutsu and researching the truth of the ninja world were secondary to power.

If he had urged Orochimaru to go to Ryuchi Cave in time, would Orochimaru have been able to learn Sage Mode?

The master and disciple shared similar goals, and the stronger Orochimaru became, the better it would be for him.

"I think we still need to make time for it; experimental research is never-ending."

"After learning Sage Mode, we may be able to find new research inspiration for immortality from the new power."

"Human lifespan is far too insignificant compared to nature, and also far too insignificant compared to natural energy."

"Isn't the eternal and omnipresent nature of natural energy a kind of alternative immortality?"

"If the human soul can reside in the natural energy of the world, then can it also achieve immortality?"

Orochimaru's eyes lit up and he said, "Your idea is excellent. I have another research topic that interests me."

"Teacher, your idea of ​​the immortality technique is very good, but there is one problem."

"What's wrong with it?" Orochimaru asked with interest.

"That means there has been no qualitative change in a person's body and soul."

"Even if I use my own clone, I think my soul will still suffer some damage, just less than if I use someone else's body."

"I don't think the rules of this world would leave such a big loophole."

"If this continues, the soul will eventually collapse due to excessive depletion, thus becoming able to live forever but not immortal."

"To bring about a significant qualitative change in the human body and soul, transcending humanity and leaping to a higher level of life, I believe this is the best way to achieve immortality!"

The Otsutsuki clan is such an existence. They are born with great strength and a lifespan of thousands of years, and they can also use the "Karma" to resurrect and reincarnate. It is no exaggeration to say that they are beings that transcend death.

Orochimaru's cursed seal is similar to the "Karma" seal, although it is a lower-end version, it is enough to prove Orochimaru's amazing talent.

Orochimaru ate the meat while pondering.

After a while, he said seriously, "What you said makes sense. The best way to achieve immortality is to leapfrog the level of life."

"The art of resurrection does indeed have the potential to grant immortality, but not true immortality; however, that doesn't matter."

"We can treat it as a safety net, with a long lifespan to support it, so anything is possible."

Uchiha Gen raised his wine glass and smiled slightly, saying, "As long as you're alive, anything is possible."

"A profound saying!"

Orochimaru raised his wine glass, smiled slightly, and agreed wholeheartedly.

With a clink, the two men gently touched their glasses together, producing a crisp and pleasant sound, before drinking their wine in one gulp.

The combination of boiling soup, chili peppers, and alcohol warmed them both, and beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads. In this cold, snowy season, they couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and happiness.

After finishing this topic, the two chatted about their experiences in the ninja world, and an hour passed before they knew it.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the master and disciple went about their own business, leaving the scene to be cleaned up by the Konoha ninja.

……

Happy days are always short-lived. In the blink of an eye, New Year's Day has passed, and while the villages are still immersed in the afterglow of the festival, the flames of war have reignited on the front lines.

As Orochimaru had predicted, Kirigakure did not launch a large-scale attack, but instead adopted a strategy of attrition.

After receiving the appointment of Uchiha Gen as vice commander, Kirigakure's strategy of attrition warfare was executed even more resolutely.

Because the deputy commander, as the absolute high command at the front, rarely goes on missions; instead, he stays at the camp to command.

If the deputy commander is like this, then the commander is even more so.

This is undoubtedly good news for the Jonin of Kirigakure.

That day, with his life hanging by a thread and the constant threat of dying from a genjutsu, left a deep impression on Suigetsu Hozuki, who never wanted to encounter Uchiha Gen again.

The same applies to the Kirigakure Jonin who received the intelligence.

If you encounter this, without teammates of equal caliber to help break the illusion, it will be very difficult to escape your fate relying solely on your subordinates.

But how could Uchiha Gen, who mainly came here to harvest souls, possibly be idle?

Within the combat zone, a Chunin squad from Kirigakure, clad in snow-white cloaks, carefully searched for traces of Konoha ninja in the snow-covered forests...

Suddenly, a nearly transparent streak of light flashed through the swirling snow and struck the leading Chunin squad leader of Kirigakure with lightning speed.

"What's wrong, Captain?"

"Is there enemy activity?"

Seeing their captain suddenly stop, a Kirigakure genin landed beside him, looking puzzled.

The next moment, the Chunin from Kirigakure suddenly sprang into action, turning around and simultaneously displaying one kunai in his left hand and two kunai in his right.

With his left hand, he stabbed a kunai into the right chest of a nearby ninja, while with his right hand, he swung a kunai that precisely pierced the right chests of two other subordinates.

The sudden turn of events stunned the three Kirigakure genin.

"This...this is...why?"

The closest Kirigakure genin, blood gushing from his mouth, stared in disbelief.

The Hidden Mist ninja grinned, revealing gleaming white teeth: "It's been so long since I've eaten the flesh of my subordinates, I really... can't take it anymore!"

The three Hidden Mist genin were terrified upon hearing this, never imagining that their captain, with whom they had spent every day, would be a cannibalistic psychopath...

The next moment, the souls and lifespans of the three people uncontrollably emerged from their bodies and poured into the body of the Kirigakure captain.

Thump, thump, thump, the three bodies fell from the tree branches and hit the ground with a dull thud, splashing up three piles of snow.

The next moment, the Chunin from Kirigakure formed hand seals and created a clone.

The clone took the kunai from the main body's left hand and stabbed it directly into the main body's heart.

The moment the blade pierced flesh, a semi-transparent soul emerged from the top of the head of the Hidden Mist Ninja, instantly streaking across the swirling snowflakes and disappearing into the distance, its whereabouts unknown.

With his heart pierced, blood spurted out like snakes, and the Hidden Mist Chunin's body fell towards the tree. Due to the death of his main body, the clone also vanished in a puff of white smoke...

(End of this chapter)