Warlock Invasion of Naruto.

[Chapter 173: The Secret Technique of the Soul!]

Orochimaru's eyes flickered slightly; every time he saw Bai Yu, he had a different feeling.

It has been more than three years since I last met Bai Yu.

At that time, he was framed by Danzo and betrayed Konoha. As a result, he was ambushed by the old man with the communication snake and was seriously injured. Then, he was intercepted by Kakashi, who actually wanted to fight him. If it weren't for the sake of the deceased Sakumo, Orochimaru probably would have made a move.

Finally, Bai Yu appeared, and the situation returned to normal. On that occasion, Bai Yu gave Orochimaru a very dangerous feeling.

However, when they met again after more than three years, Orochimaru felt that Bai Yu was just an ordinary person he met on the street, except that he was good-looking. Everything else seemed rather ordinary.

It was precisely because of this that Orochimaru felt Shiraha was even more dangerous.

Because chakra fluctuations are very difficult to conceal, Orochimaru, although not a sensory ninja, gained some snake-like sensory abilities after completing the 'Eight-Headed Serpent Technique' and completely abandoning his human nature.

Bai Yu has become much stronger!

Unfathomable!

Orochimaru once again felt a blow from Shiraha. Although he had been called a genius that only appeared once every few decades by the Third Hokage, and he had always believed that he had good talent, especially in the development of forbidden techniques and the exploration of the mysteries of the human body, Orochimaru believed that he was still ahead of everyone else.

However, Bai Yu seems to have reached a completely new level in his exploration of the human body; the gap is too great.

Is this the difference between an ordinary person and a true genius?

There seemed to be a deep-seated suppression between him and Bai Yu, a gap that came from the depths of their souls, making Orochimaru very uncomfortable. He even had a faint feeling that he wanted to escape from this place.

Orochimaru hesitated after glancing at Kimimaro behind Shiraha.

Orochimaru was very interested in the bloodline of the Kaguya clan.

Especially Kimimaro, a genius who fully awakened the Shikotsumyaku (Corpse Bone Pulse), possessed strength far exceeding that of an average Chunin at a young age, without any training, solely based on his bloodline talent.

Kimimaro was very useful, whether for studying bloodlines or for training loyal subordinates.

Furthermore, after Orochimaru developed the cursed seal, he needed people with special physical conditions to transplant the cursed seal, and Kimimaro was clearly an excellent test subject.

Unfortunately, Bai Yu beat her to it.

Orochimaru thought to himself that it was probably unrealistic to ask Shiraha for the person.

"I didn't expect to meet Orochimaru-sensei here. It seems you've also gained a lot." Bai Yu looked at the boy behind Orochimaru with a smile.

"This child is named Jugo, and he is the last surviving member of the extinct Libra clan," Orochimaru said, following Shiraha's gaze, without offering any further explanation.

Although he didn't think Shiraha would directly try to kidnap someone, Jugo's importance was extraordinary. He was a key figure that Orochimaru absolutely could not allow to have any accidents happen to him, at least until the cursed seal was fully perfected.

“The Libra clan…” Bai Yu’s expression shifted. He had heard of the Libra clan before. The annihilation of this clan had little to do with Kirigakure, because they were not a bloodline ninja clan.

Librans seem to have a genetic condition that makes them prone to madness, and in severe cases, they may have homicidal tendencies or even turn on their own people.

Therefore, the extinction of the Libra clan was inevitable.

However, Orochimaru is clearly not the type to do charity. The fact that he keeps Jugo by his side suggests that Jugo possesses something that Orochimaru values ​​highly.

Judging from the abnormal fluctuations in the surrounding natural energy particles, it may be related to the cursed seal that Orochimaru had been secretly researching.

"It seems you've also noticed this child's unusual constitution," Orochimaru smiled slightly. "Actually, I'm quite interested in the child beside you. How about we make a deal?"

"What deal?"

Bai Yu asked.

“I knew you’d be interested,” Orochimaru said. “I want a drop of blood from the child behind you.”

Orochimaru actually wanted to use Jugo and Kimimaro as a bargaining chip, but although he really wanted to study Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku, Jugo was just as important to him.

Especially after their previous interactions, Orochimaru knew what kind of person Shiraha was, so he decided to settle for second best and obtain some cells.

"Well..." Bai Yu's heart stirred, but he didn't agree. Instead, he looked at Kimimaro behind him with a questioning look: "Is it alright?"

"Of course, Lord Shiraha!" Kimimaro's slightly tense expression relaxed. He was worried that Shiraha would treat him like an object and exchange him with Orochimaru. If it was just a matter of drawing a little blood, it was nothing. In this chaotic world where death could happen at any time, being able to continue following Shiraha and burn out his last bit of life was what Kimimaro cared about most. As long as he could stay by Shiraha's side and serve him, he would do anything.

"If that's the case, what can I gain?" Bai Yu asked Orochimaru after seeing Kimimaro agree.

Although he believed that Kimimaro would most likely agree, if Kimimaro really refused, Shiraha would follow his wishes and not make an exchange with Orochimaru.

“Similarly, I can also extract Jugo’s blood and exchange it with you.” Orochimaru’s eyes flickered slightly.

"No way." Bai Yu shook his head and refused.

Orochimaru frowned: "Why?"

"That's certainly not enough. If you want to study the Corpse Bone Vein, even just a small portion of Kimimaro's blood will give you preliminary research data."

However, the child named Jugo next to you is very likely just physically special, and does not have any special bloodline. After all, the Libra clan is not a bloodline family.

His constitution, which automatically attracts natural energy, can only be truly explored by having him personally participate in experiments.

So you have to bring this child with me so I can give him a full medical check-up, and then I'll return him to you.

Bai Yu spoke up.

"Bai Yu, your judgment is as sharp as ever! But..." Orochimaru's expression turned displeased: "Don't you think your terms are too much?! This deal is completely unequal."

"What if I also help you eliminate the potential risks?"

Bai Yu then changed the subject.

"Hidden danger? What hidden danger?" Orochimaru was slightly taken aback.

Bai Yu smiled faintly and said, "The feeling of weakened mental strength must be very uncomfortable, right? It takes a long time to recover. And it will take even longer for your body to adapt."

"You!" Orochimaru's pupils contracted sharply. He felt as if he had been stripped naked and exposed to Bai Yu under Bai Yu's smiling gaze.

“It seems that Orochimaru-sensei has completed the development of your reincarnation technique. However, I have long known that there is no such thing as a true eternal technique. The immortality of the soul is the most difficult.” Bai Yu continued, “In this situation, if you encounter a master of genjutsu who is proficient in Yin Release, you will probably be greatly restrained.”

Manipulating souls is a specialty of wizards and sorcerers. Orochimaru's aura changed too much under Bai Yu's perception. It could even be said that his physical aura had completely transformed into that of a different person. Bai Yu understood that he had completed the reincarnation technique, but the energy field of his soul had been significantly weakened.

Such eternity is hard to maintain, because the body will still age and constantly change bodies, and the soul will continue to weaken until one day it completely decays and withers away.

Of course, for ordinary ninjas, let alone living for one or two hundred years, simply maintaining a fresh body for several decades and keeping their physical functions at their peak is something many strong people dream of.

As ninjas age, their physical functions decline rapidly, resulting in a precipitous drop in strength; very few are exceptions.

Judging from the degree of soul weakening during this meeting, Bai Yu estimates that Orochimaru's so-called Eternal Technique will not exceed four hundred years.

If Bai Yu hadn't unlocked the "Book of Ancient Sorcerers" in the first place, he might have been very interested in it.

Using ordinary meditation to advance to the first level of wizard, the normal lifespan is two hundred years, and the maximum lifespan will not exceed three hundred years.

Orochimaru's creation of this technique is simply a genius innovation. Even though Bai Yu has now advanced to the first level of "Summoning Sorcerer" and has a lifespan of over a thousand years, he can't help but marvel at Orochimaru's strong scientific research ability, after all, he doesn't have the inheritance of a wizard.

Unfortunately, the limitations of civilization meant that Orochimaru's technique was destined to have a fatal flaw, so Bai Yu wanted to extend a helping hand to Orochimaru and cooperate with him.

"..." Orochimaru's hands were clenched tightly under his sleeves, making his already fair hands appear even paler.

He felt somewhat frustrated. The forbidden technique for immortality that he had painstakingly researched had its most fatal weakness seen through by Bai Yu at a glance.

Orochimaru only discovered the flaws of the 'Reanimation Jutsu' after successfully replacing the bodies of his subordinates. However, he no longer had confidence that the 'Reanimation Jutsu' could be further improved.

This technique was developed by him by combining the 'Eight-Headed Serpent Technique' and the 'Spirit Transformation Technique', which can be said to be standing on the shoulders of his predecessors.

In particular, the Eight-Headed Serpent Technique is an unorthodox technique that transforms most of the body into a snake; Orochimaru has already pushed it to its limit.

Even if Orochimaru has a long lifespan after completing the reincarnation, he doesn't know how long it will take to further perfect the 'Reanimation Jutsu'.

After being reincarnated, his mental strength dropped drastically. It took him more than a year to barely recover, but he was still unable to return to the state before his reincarnation. It would take even longer for his body to fully adapt and return to its peak strength.

Perhaps this has a lot to do with the physical qualities of the reincarnated body, but when it comes to the soul level, Orochimaru is also somewhat at a loss.

The soul and space are the most mysterious realms.

Space-time ninjutsu often defies common sense; if you can't learn it, you simply can't.

The same applies to the soul level. Orochimaru felt lost about the future. Even though he was no longer human, he still had limits.

"Do you have a way to solve my problem?" Orochimaru felt his voice was hoarser than ever before.

Everyone has their own secrets. From the later stages of the Wood Release experiment, Orochimaru and Hakuba each conducted their own experiments.

He never shared either the Reincarnation of the Corpse or the Cursed Seal with Bai Yu.

However, at this moment, he not only had to take the initiative to share his most valued research results, but also had to see if Bai Yu was willing to exchange them.

“Of course.” Bai Yu nodded. “In exchange for these two conditions, you lend me Chongwu for a period of time. I guarantee that when I send him back, he will be just as healthy as he is now. Unless it’s for an enemy, I will not force anyone to participate in human experiments. You should know that. As for my reputation, you should know it even better, right?”

Orochimaru's eyes flickered, and he said, "I'll trade with you."

Jugo was saved by him while he was in a frenzy. Without him, Jugo would have died long ago. Therefore, in Orochimaru's view, Jugo's fate was naturally up to him, and that was indeed the case.

Neither Orochimaru nor Shiraha could resist Jugo.

"I will help you resolve the hidden danger of your weakened soul, but I cannot guarantee whether you will be willing to use this method."

Bai Yu added, then took out a palm-sized glass bottle from his pocket, which contained a bright red liquid that looked like blood.

It does contain blood, but it's blood that Bai Yu himself has processed.

The blood of most super-radiated and mythical creatures can be used as raw materials for potions that enhance the physical and mental energy of living beings, and can even be consumed directly.

Bai Yu's bloodline originates from the Level 4 creature "World Tree Companion Python". Although he is only Level 1 now, his bloodline power has already surpassed that of an adult Level 2 radiant creature, and is absolutely effective in directly enhancing Orochimaru's mental power.

Moreover, Bai Yu sensed a kindred spirit within Orochimaru.

It's clear that Orochimaru is also developing in a non-human direction.

However, Orochimaru did not inherit the legacy of the wizarding civilization, so he could only be considered a wizard with modifications, not even a low-end version of a bloodline sorcerer.

"The blood here can restore your soul to its peak, and it's even possible for your mental strength to break through again."

Bai Yu explained.

As he spoke, he extended his fist toward Orochimaru.

Orochimaru was slightly taken aback. This was an ancient method of communication used in ninja sects, communicating directly through chakra connections.

After a slight hesitation, Orochimaru could not resist the temptation and stretched out his fist, which collided with Shiraha's.

Soon, their chakra connected. Orochimaru tried his best to hide his inner thoughts, preventing Hakuba from touching his secrets.

Orochimaru was quickly and deeply shocked.

Bai Yu's chakra is very strong!

If his chakra is a lake, then Shiraha's chakra is a rushing river.