Inside Orochimaru's laboratory, Diarmuid was lying within a piece of machinery he couldn't quite identify. The device continuously emitted beams of light for about two or three minutes before finally cycling open.
"Is it done?" Diarmuid asked.
"Mm," Orochimaru responded with his typical clinical calm.
Diarmuid stepped out of the machine and looked toward Orochimaru. The man had truly invented some "black technology" that functioned remarkably like a CT scanner. Stepping closer, he saw a diagnostic chart filled with data points and metrics that even he couldn't fully decipher.
"So? What's my situation?" Diarmuid inquired.
As he spoke, his arm had already almost completely transformed into wood, sprouting numerous lush, emerald-green branches.
Orochimaru didn't answer immediately, continuing to scrutinize the chart. After a moment, he let out a small chuckle. "It's not a major issue."
"I'm halfway to becoming a tree spirit, and you say it's 'not a major issue'?" Diarmuid rolled his eyes.
"Just let it keep growing. I estimate that in three days, you will have completely turned into a tree," Orochimaru said after a moment of thought.
Diarmuid: "???"
"And why exactly should I let it keep growing?" Diarmuid asked, bewildered. Is your lab lacking a potted plant or something?
"This is the Wood Release adapting to your physique. I suspected this from the start, but since you hadn't awakened its power yet, it remained a theory. Based on current data and my projections, this is a normal phenomenon. When you have fully transformed into a tree, it will signify that the Wood Release has perfectly harmonized with your constitution..." Orochimaru explained, turning to look at Diarmuid.
"And then?" Diarmuid's eyes lit up.
"Then, naturally, you will be able to retract and release it at will," Orochimaru said with a confident grin.
"At that point, I'll return to normal? And I'll have mastered Wood Release, able to use techniques like Veritable 1000-Armed Kan'on or Nativity of a World of Trees?" Diarmuid pressed.
"Returning to normal is a certainty. As for whether you can pull off those high-level Wood Release techniques, that depends on how you develop them. Speaking of which, do you even know the hand signs for the 1000-Armed Kan'on?" Orochimaru asked.
Indeed, one shouldn't assume that simply awakening the power of Wood Release allows them to spam screen-clearing ultimate moves like Hashirama. One still had to learn the specific formulas and techniques or develop them independently.
Wood Release, at its core, was a Chakra nature, a Kekkei Genkai attribute, rather than a specific set of moves. Much like the Sharingan having specific techniques like Izanagi, if you don't know the formula, you can't use the move.
Therefore, to master an ultimate technique like the 1000-Armed Kan'on, one needed to master the corresponding seals and formulas.
However, as soon as Orochimaru finished speaking, Diarmuid said confidently, "I know a thing or two."
A flash of surprise crossed Orochimaru's face. "Really? Even I couldn't get my hands on those formulas back then. I only found scrolls for simpler techniques like Nativity of a Sea of Trees or Tree Bind Flourishing Burial... You actually know the formula for the 1000-Armed Kan'on?"
During Orochimaru's time researching Wood Release in Konoha, the village was initially very cooperative. He had gained access to several Wood Release Ninjutsu scrolls, including the ones he mentioned. Later, those scrolls fell into the hands of Danzō, though with Orochimaru's memory, they were already etched in his mind.
With a "guinea pig" like Yamato around, Danzō would eventually teach those formulas to Yamato, which was why Yamato could use certain Wood Release techniques (though building houses was something Yamato developed on his own).
Thus, hearing Diarmuid claim he knew the ultimate techniques left Orochimaru quite astonished.
Diarmuid gave a dismissive, arrogant wave of his hand. "Don't underestimate me. Watch closely."
The moment the words left his mouth, Diarmuid slammed his hands together in front of his chest. The force was so great it caused the leaves on his wooden arm to tremble. He let out a thunderous shout:
"VERITABLE 1000-ARMED KAN'ON!!!"
While absolutely nothing happened, the momentum and aura were certainly impressive.
Orochimaru nodded silently, continuing to observe Diarmuid. Seeing Diarmuid turn to him with a raised eyebrow, Orochimaru asked blankly, "Well?"
"Well what?" Orochimaru looked at him, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"The 1000-Armed Kan'on!" Diarmuid said, looking at Orochimaru as if he were the strange one.
"The 1000-Armed Kan'on? Where are your hand signs?" Orochimaru asked, bewildered.
"Didn't I just clap?" Diarmuid said, slamming his palms together again. He barked: "VERITABLE 1000-ARMED KAN'ON!!!"
Then, before Orochimaru could speak, Diarmuid continued with a straight face while Orochimaru looked on in shock. "If I remember correctly, that's exactly how Hashirama used it. He just claps his hands, and boom, there it is..."
Orochimaru's shocked expression gradually faded into a flat stare. He looked at Diarmuid and said dryly, "They say that in the pursuit of power, some people lose a great deal. It seems you have lost your mind."
Diarmuid's face darkened. "Watch your mouth."
"If you were telling a joke, I must admit, it was mildly amusing," Orochimaru said coldly.
"I'm serious. When Hashirama used this jutsu, he just clapped his hands and it was done. So I thought Wood Release might be special..." Diarmuid said hesitantly.
"As far as I know, the First Hokage could use any jutsu by simply clapping his hands. Your logic is entirely flawed. Don't think Wood Release is that simple," Orochimaru said, giving Diarmuid a helpless eye-roll.
Has this man traded his brilliant intellect for peerless power?
Actually, Diarmuid hadn't really lost his wits; he was just trying to lighten the mood. He thought for a moment and then asked, "So, once I've settled this Wood Release issue in three days, I'll need to find a way to get some Wood Release Ninjutsu scrolls?"
"I know a few, techniques like Nativity of a Sea of Trees, Tree Bind Flourishing Burial, and Four-Pillar Prison Technique. Back when I researched Wood Release, the village... no, Konoha opened some of these formulas to me to facilitate my research," Orochimaru said. He paused, then added, "I'll compile them into scrolls for you over the next two days. Once your Wood Release has fully stabilized, you should be able to use them."
"And what about the more powerful techniques like the 1000-Armed Kan'on..." Diarmuid went silent for a moment before asking.
"Those apex techniques, such as the Wood Dragon, the Wood Golem, and Nativity of a World of Trees, Konoha kept as strategic reserves. They feared other villages might accidentally awaken Wood Release as well. They were originally kept by the Senju Clan, and now they might have been moved to the Scroll of Seals," Orochimaru mused. He then added cautiously, "This is only my guess. I'm not entirely sure where those specific scrolls are kept."
"It seems I'll have to find an opportunity to stir some trouble in Konoha. Specifically, I must get my hands on that Scroll of Seals," Diarmuid said with firm resolve.
"With your current strength, you could simply go to Konoha and seize it..." Orochimaru smiled.
"You have a point, but I have a better idea," Diarmuid said, a smirk spreading across his face.
Kushina, Minato's wife, should be pregnant by now. The Great Heir Naruto wouldn't be long in coming. When that time comes, Obito will surely go to Konoha to trigger the Nine-Tails' rampage. On that night, all of Konoha will be plunged into sudden disaster and chaos.
Diarmuid planned to seize that moment to take the Scroll of Seals.
It was perfect: he'd get what he wanted and let the Uchiha Clan take the fall. Absolutely flawless.
Diarmuid didn't voice these plans aloud, and seeing his expression, Orochimaru didn't pry. Orochimaru didn't know about Kushina's pregnancy. Jiraiya knew, but he wasn't a fool; Kushina's pregnancy was a high-level Konoha secret. He'd have to be insane to tell Diarmuid or a rogue ninja like Orochimaru.
Orochimaru's steady "all-according-to-plan" demeanor gave Diarmuid confidence. He stopped worrying about the mutation on his body, at worst, it would be over in three days.
As for other solutions, Diarmuid actually had a backup: using the power of darkness to absorb the manifested wood. It might recur, but it would solve the problem in the short term. However, fearing it might negatively impact the Wood Release's growth, he chose not to use it yet. If Orochimaru's estimate proved wrong after three days, he'd use that method to return to normal and seek another path.
He wasn't panicking.
Once the Wood Release issue was addressed, Orochimaru's interest shifted. He looked at Diarmuid's face and asked with some excitement, "Judging by your current state, was the Sage Mode a success?"
"Yes, a complete success. It also proves that your path, using the Cursed Seal as a key to open the gates of Natural Energy, was entirely correct. How about it? Do you want to try practicing Senjutsu yourself?" Diarmuid asked with a grin.
Orochimaru nodded at first, but then hesitated. "From your current experience, would it be accurate to categorize Senjutsu as Yang Release?"
Yang Release refers to techniques that act upon the physical body, such as the Akimichi Clan's Multi-Size Technique.
Diarmuid thought for a moment. "Calling it just Yang Release is too broad and singular. Senjutsu can't be summed up by Yang Release alone, but its nature is indeed very similar, as it is a technique that acts upon the physical form."
Orochimaru nodded, a hint of regret in his voice. "There is no way to have everything in this world. If that's the case, it seems Senjutsu and I are not destined to meet."
"Why?" Diarmuid was stunned for a second, but realization quickly dawned in his eyes.
Sure enough, Orochimaru shook his head helplessly. "My Living Corpse Reincarnation requires me to switch vessels every three years. Therefore, based on what you've said, even if I master Senjutsu, I would be forced to start over from scratch every time I change bodies. It would be meaningless."
Sage Mode acts upon the physical body, but Orochimaru was clearly a man walking the "path of the soul." When he changed vessels, even if he had mastered Senjutsu, the new body would be a blank slate. Of course, since Orochimaru's constitution wasn't as monstrous as Diarmuid's, his Cursed Seal path might not take as long to master, but regardless, it felt like a wasted effort, and Orochimaru hated nothing more than wasted effort.
So, he had no intention of wasting time researching Senjutsu for himself.
"That truly is a shame," Diarmuid remarked.
As the founder of self-taught Senjutsu, it was indeed a pity that Orochimaru wouldn't be practicing it himself.
"It doesn't matter. I am a researcher at heart. To see my theories and successes validated through you is enough to satisfy me. And besides, there may still be opportunities in the future," Orochimaru said, waving it off with an air of casual indifference.
A true scientist to the end.
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