"Come, Orochimaru—kneel. I have a favor to ask."
Shenyue Yuan stood there barefoot, smiling brightly as he greeted the man who had just stepped inside.
After receiving the new mission, he had returned home, ordered the maids to prepare a full table of dishes…
…and sent someone to summon Orochimaru.
"Hah?"
Orochimaru's expression changed instantly.
Who… asks for a favor like that?
"Hahaha—sit, sit."
Shenyue Yuan laughed, pushing him toward the table and helping him into a seat.
Orochimaru's face flickered between emotions.
Like sitting on needles.
His gaze was immediately drawn to the table—
A feast from Amegakure.
Especially the iron pot in the center.
Fish stew. Oden. Separate sections. Boiling hot.
Spicy. Fragrant.
Orochimaru… didn't care much for food.
To a researcher like him, eating was just fuel—
A way to maintain bodily function.
Anything more… was a waste of time.
His eyes lingered for a moment—then pulled away.
His thoughts raced.
Why did Shenyue Yuan suddenly call him here?
A moment passed.
Orochimaru gave up.
Trying to understand this man's thought process…
Pointless.
This guy was simply too… abstract.
"What do you need from me?"
Orochimaru asked.
Shenyue Yuan smiled.
From his ninja pouch, he took out a scroll—
"Toxin Extraction."
He handed it over.
Orochimaru accepted it, spread it across the table, and scanned it briefly.
His snake-like pupils narrowed.
Interest flickered.
"They…"
He paused.
"I mean—the Leader… actually gave you Hanzo's jutsu scroll?"
Shenyue Yuan frowned.
"I took it from the jutsu archive in the steel tower. Why—don't they let you in there?"
Orochimaru shook his head with a helpless smile.
"They don't."
"In Amegakure, many restricted areas require approval from the Leader or the Angel."
"Myself included."
"Even official Akatsuki members don't have access."
"…I see."
Shenyue Yuan fell into thought.
So Nagato and Konan… truly held nothing back from him.
"I've wanted to study Hanzo's poison techniques for a long time."
Orochimaru's gaze returned to the scroll.
Then he seemed to realize something.
He looked up.
"Don't tell me… you intend to cultivate this?"
Shenyue Yuan nodded.
"You can take these scrolls."
"As payment—help me see if the training process can be simplified."
"Understood."
Orochimaru put the scroll away.
Then, after a brief pause, he spoke again.
"You are strong… but there's something I must say."
"The risks of this technique are extremely high."
"Especially… the arm transplant involved."
In Orochimaru's view—
Even someone as powerful as Pain…
Even with the Rinnegan…
Couldn't just learn any jutsu without consequence.
Hanzo's poison arts were no exception.
One mistake—
And even Pain would die.
Of course, Orochimaru didn't know Pain was a puppet.
But if Nagato himself attempted it…
The result would be the same.
Death.
Strength wasn't about stacking forbidden techniques or grafting powerful body parts.
Every body was different.
That so-called "perfect experimental vessel"—
One in ten thousand—
Orochimaru had never seen one.
Even he himself…
Paid a ridiculous price every time he modified his body.
This warning—
Was also a disclaimer.
A precaution.
In case things went wrong.
"No need to worry about that, Snake-san."
Shenyue Yuan laughed.
"Just do the research."
"I'll handle the rest."
"…"
Orochimaru fell silent.
Good advice rarely saves the damned.
"Then I'll skip dinner."
He smiled faintly.
"I'll return and begin researching immediately."
Shenyue Yuan quickly stopped him.
"You're already here."
"We're all from Konoha—brothers, in a sense."
"Eat first. Then go."
"…"
Orochimaru went quiet.
Honestly—
He was afraid.
Afraid this man might suddenly throw him into some impossible situation again.
Because unlike others—
Orochimaru valued one thing above all else.
Immortality.
He didn't want to die.
"The cells of the Hōzuki Clan—I have those in my lab."
He changed the topic deliberately.
"But the salamander liver oil… and the Peacock Poison Stone from Hoshigakure…"
Shenyue Yuan thought for a moment.
"The materials are manageable."
"But the 'extremely Yin-aligned substance' mentioned in the scroll…"
"Any ideas?"
Orochimaru pondered seriously.
Then spoke.
"It should refer to something containing immense Yin Release chakra."
"In other words—something with powerful spiritual energy."
As soon as he finished—
His eyes lit up.
He looked at Shenyue Yuan.
Shenyue Yuan looked back.
At the same time—
They spoke.
"Sharingan?"
Orochimaru added:
"There may be something in this world with even denser Yin chakra than the Sharingan."
"Allow me to research further."
"Then I'll leave it to you, Snake-san."
Shenyue Yuan grinned.
Orochimaru glanced at the table.
Then smiled.
"May we begin?"
"I can't wait to try this feast."
He wanted to finish quickly—
And leave.
Being alone with someone who could decide his life or death at will…
Was terrifying.
"Not yet, not yet."
Shenyue Yuan waved his hand.
"There's one more guest."
"…Another guest?"
Orochimaru frowned.
Who?
At that moment—
A drenched figure stepped in from outside.
"Apologies, Yuan-kun."
"I was walking around Amegakure today, familiarizing myself with the environment."
"I only just returned and heard from the maid that you invited me…"
The scent of food filled the room.
Uchiha Itachi lifted a hand, brushing back his rain-soaked hair.
Then—
He saw Orochimaru.
Surprise flashed across his face.
"Orochimaru-sama?"
At this point—
Orochimaru hadn't attacked Itachi.
Their relationship within Akatsuki hadn't deteriorated.
Orochimaru's expression shifted as well.
"…Itachi?"
The night Obito brought Itachi to the statue tower—
Orochimaru hadn't been there.
"Didn't expect you to join Akatsuki as well…"
Itachi inhaled sharply.
He studied Orochimaru carefully.
No mistake.
This man—
Was one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha.
His expression gradually calmed.
But inside—
His thoughts surged.
His identity now was clear:
A spy planted by Konoha.
And now—
Just after joining Akatsuki—
He had obtained critical intelligence.
Orochimaru's presence.
Shenyue Yuan's earlier arrival.
Both—
Explosive information.
"…"
A flicker of hesitation crossed Itachi's eyes.
Should he report this?
Or not?
Orochimaru might not read his thoughts—
But even the slightest shift in expression…
Was as obvious as naked truth to Shenyue Yuan's perception.
"My lord, the chicken soup is ready."
A maid stepped forward, placing a steaming pot on the table.
Shenyue Yuan picked up his chopsticks first.
Laughing—
"Ahahaha—Itachi-san, you're late."
"You'll have to drink three cups as punishment."
"Now that everyone's here…"
"Let's eat."
Author's Note:
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