Starting as a pirate, he rose to become the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society.

Chapter 361 If you want to stand by my side, you'd better prove you're valuable enough, Orochimaru!

Seeing that his hands had grown eyes and mouths, and that they were excitedly and lively calling the Spirit Lord "Master," Orochimaru felt something was strange.

This situation is indeed just as the Spirit Lord said; he has lent him both arms.

"Shut up, it's too noisy." Bane frowned and scolded him with slight annoyance.

The little creatures in Orochimaru's hands quickly shut up, not daring to make another sound.

"From today onwards, you two will follow him and become his right-hand men. Don't do anything unnecessary," Bane instructed.

"Yes, Master," Orochimaru replied immediately with both hands.

Then, the eyes and mouth on the arm closed simultaneously and disappeared, leaving no trace of any problem.

"Spirit Lord, what is this?" Orochimaru finally couldn't help but ask.

"Those are creations of my soul," Bane said calmly. "It's also a kind of experiment. With them around, it's much easier for you to contact me. If there's anything you want to tell me, just tell them, and I can hear you."

After a slight pause, Bane grinned, a wicked smile spreading across his face, and said, "But in a way, it's like I've planted two eyes in you, Orochimaru."

Orochimaru had naturally considered this situation as well. To be honest, he didn't want to be constantly "watched" by the Spirit Lord, since he had quite a few secrets.

After a moment of contemplation, Orochimaru smiled, revealing a sinister smile reminiscent of a snake, and said, "I believe the Spirit Lord wouldn't harm me."

It wasn't that he was naive; he simply knew he had no choice. Was he really going to refuse to have his hands restored?

At the same time, Orochimaru also had his own considerations. Although this situation seemed to be monitored by the Spirit Lord, if you think about it from another perspective, doesn't this mean that his relationship with the Spirit Lord has taken a step further?

Thinking about it more deeply, the Spirit Lord must have had a deeper meaning in doing things, especially since he just said that he could heal with pure soul power, and he used the word "not very convenient" to describe it, rather than "impossible".

So, perhaps these hands are a test, a trial?

If I can gain the Spirit Lord's trust further after this, would there be any benefits?

From the moment he first met Bane, Orochimaru coveted the power of this Spirit Lord, but he was well aware that the gap between them was too great, so he was able to suppress his greed.

Taking it by force is probably unlikely, but changing our approach and pleasing the Spirit Lord to obtain a reward is not impossible, is it?

Alternatively, he could serve the Spirit Lord, who would then grant him the power he desired through a transaction; that would also be a good option.

As a smart man, Orochimaru looked at his own hands and knew that the Spirit Lord must have something to use him for, which was why he used this method to solve the problem of his arms.

"Then, offer your sacrifice," Bane said, looking at Orochimaru with a hint of anticipation.

Orochimaru didn't waste any time. He loosened his sleeve, and a small scroll slid into his hand. He then unrolled the scroll, laid it on the table, and with a single press of his hand, released the seal on the scroll, revealing two test tubes containing a special liquid on the table.

Each test tube contained a pair of Sharingan eyes, and Orochimaru was very sincere, not using any inferior single-tomoe or double-tomoe eyes as a substitute. Both pairs of Sharingan eyes were three-tomoe eyes.

Bane leaned back on the couch, casually extending one arm. A few dark elements emanated from between his fingers, as if he had stirred something. The two test tubes floated up from the table and landed precisely in Bane's hand.

"The Sharingan is interesting." Bane glanced at it but didn't pay too much attention to it. With a casual wave of his hand, he created dark, rippling waves in the air, opened his dark space, and casually tossed the two test tubes inside.

After putting away the Sharingan, Bane picked up his pipe, took a drag, and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke. He looked at Orochimaru and asked, "Your Konoha Crush plan seems to have failed. However, you did successfully instigate a war between Konoha and Sunagakure. Speaking of which, I haven't been out much lately. How's the fighting going?"

Nearly a month has passed, and Bane has really not paid attention to the riots outside. Now he is also a little curious.

Upon hearing this, Orochimaru pondered for a moment before organizing his thoughts and saying, "It can be said that Konoha's advance is unstoppable; they have fully invaded the Land of Wind's territory and suppressed Sunagakure from the very beginning. However, this war has also affected the other major ninja villages. Kirigakure, which is separated from the mainland, has remained silent for the time being, but Iwagakure in the Land of Earth and Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning are already showing signs of restlessness."

At this point, Orochimaru's lips curled into a sinister smile as he said, "Konoha wants to crush or even devour Sunagakure in one fell swoop, but how could Kirigakure and Iwagakure allow the already powerful Konoha to become even stronger? Perhaps the Fourth Shinobi World War will begin because of this. It's quite exciting to think about, a Shinobi World War that I will personally start."

"You really have a really twisted sense of humor," Bane said, raising an eyebrow.

However, Orochimaru's expression turned somewhat regretful as he spoke: "Unfortunately, although I very much hope that this turmoil can escalate into the Fourth Shinobi World War, it seems unlikely. My dear Sarutobi-sensei will certainly not allow the situation to escalate to this extent. On my way to visit you, Lord Spirit, at Ryuchi Cave, I heard that the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure, Rasa, has personally visited the Daimyo of the Land of Wind and returned. Afterwards, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind invited the Daimyo of the Land of Fire to a meeting. If nothing unexpected happens, this war will end soon."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not want this situation to escalate into the Fourth Shinobi World War. The two daimyo would meet again, and it was very likely that Konoha would emerge victorious, gain enough benefits, and then end the war.

As for what price Sunagakure would have to pay, Bane had no interest in it.

After inquiring about this curious matter, Bane asked, "So, what about you, Orochimaru? What are your plans after this?"

"I intend to..." Orochimaru said, but suddenly became agitated, and his expression gradually fell silent.

His original plan was to take down Sasuke Uchiha after this, replace his body with another vessel, and seize control of the Uchiha clan's power.

Even on the way to Ryuchi Cave, Orochimaru was still thinking about the next steps, but for some reason, after seeing the Spirit Lord, having his soul forcibly extracted and then re-infused into his vessel, and regaining his hands, Orochimaru felt somewhat bored.

It's a response that comes from witnessing a higher existence and a broader world, leading to a deeper understanding of one's own insignificance.

His proud technique of resurrection was a joke in the hands of the Spirit Lord. The Spirit Lord could easily extract his soul and put it into a container. In a sense, wasn't that the same as resurrection?

Moreover, it's a more perfect version of "Reincarnation of the Undead," without any side effects or the restriction that it can only be used once every three years.

In comparison, Orochimaru felt that he was very naive.

The Uchiha clan, which I used to find amazing, now seems a bit useless—tasteless to eat, but a pity to throw away.

After a long silence, Orochimaru looked at Bane with a complex expression and asked, "Spirit Lord, can we ninjas truly obtain the power of immortality, and truly glimpse the truth of this world?"

"Are you wavering?" Bane raised an eyebrow, looking at Orochimaru and said softly, "Are you wavering in your pursuits, in your ideals?"

Orochimaru took a deep breath and nodded, saying, "That's right. After witnessing your great power, Spirit Lord, I felt even more the insignificance of a ninja and my own insignificance. Perhaps I will never be able to stand at your height to see the world and its development, let alone glimpse the truth. This is very frustrating. I feel like a frog at the bottom of a well."

"A frog in a well." Bane hadn't heard this phrase in a long time.

Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single look!

For some reason, he felt a little emotional. Orochimaru said he was a frog in a well, but in reality, everyone is the same, only the size of the sky they see varies.

Just as Bane's expression turned somewhat wistful, Orochimaru, seemingly unable to contain his curiosity any longer, couldn't help but ask, "Spirit Lord, what are you pursuing this time? Forgive my intrusion, but I'm curious."

"Me?" Bane finally withdrew his earlier sigh, looked at Orochimaru, and after a moment of contemplation, said, "If we're talking about what I'm pursuing, I guess I'm pursuing a higher realm?"

"A higher realm?" Orochimaru found this description hard to comprehend, then said, "I have a certain understanding of the ninja world, and among all the beings I have seen, you, Spirit Lord, are undoubtedly the most powerful. Could it be that, for you, there is an even more powerful being in this world?"

"Then there shouldn't be any left, right?" Bane stroked his chin, gently tapped the ash out of his pipe, and pondered for a moment before speaking.

Madara Uchiha is very powerful, but judging from Bane's current strength, he doesn't pose much of a threat. As for Kaguya Otsutsuki, the "Goddess of the Rabbit" sealed in the moon, she's really nothing special. Bane believes he's stronger than her.

As for those Otsutsuki aliens still drifting in the starry sky, there's no point in comparing them.

"No one in this world is stronger than you, but do you still want to pursue a higher realm? What is the point?" Orochimaru asked, puzzled.

"Hahaha, you're right to call yourself a 'frog in a well,' because that's all the world you see. And I, too, am a frog in a well. Orochimaru, the only difference between us is that the sky I see is a little wider than yours." As Bane said this, he raised his hand, gently pinched his index finger and thumb together, revealing a small gap, as if comparing or describing something.

However, the space between these two fingers is the boundless universe.

After Bane finished speaking, the cave fell silent. Fubuki and Shukaku had stopped talking and had been watching the scene quietly from a corner since Bane had recharged Orochimaru's arms.

Orochimaru seemed to be processing the information revealed in Bane's words, and was also silently pondering something.

A few minutes later, Orochimaru broke the silence, looking at Bane and saying, "Now that we know we're at the bottom of a well, if we don't do something to change things, we'll just become one of these mediocre people. Spirit Lord, perhaps I'm being a bit offensive, but if possible, I'd like to follow you and see the sky you described, which is a little wider than mine."

"Hahahahaha!" Upon hearing Orochimaru's words, Bane couldn't help but burst into laughter.

After a hearty laugh, Bane, with a slightly expectant smile, said, "There aren't many empty seats next to me. Plenty of people want to stand there, so you'll have to prove your worth first, Orochimaru."

Bane did indeed admire Orochimaru. In his view, Orochimaru was a rare genius in the ninja world. What he admired even more was Orochimaru's belief that in order to pursue his ideals, he could break through the shackles of the world, use any means necessary, and disregard the opinions of others to firmly do what he wanted to do.

He clearly understands what he wants, so he pursues that need without any scruples, never hiding his behavior and never caring about other people's opinions.

That's great!

You can call such a person evil, you can say whatever you want about him, but he can also definitely be called pure!

As for Bane, he likes pure people. On the Empire side, Dr. Genus is researching the Transcendent Gate. Bane needs to acquire knowledge, materials, and so on that can help Dr. Genus's research in the Ninja World.

However, even Dr. Genus would find it difficult to fully comprehend the unique knowledge of another world he had never encountered before. But if Orochimaru were to act as his assistant, the efficiency of his research, whether on space-time or tailed beasts, would likely be greatly improved.

As one of the few top-tier scientific researchers in the ninja world, Orochimaru certainly possesses considerable value to Bane, though he himself is unaware of it.

When Orochimaru first met Bane, he coveted Bane's power, and Bane, at that time, was also eyeing Orochimaru's talent.

(End of this chapter)