What was a "Ninja"?
Upon hearing this question, Ren's first instinct was to pull out Jiraiya's classic answer from the original story to refute Orochimaru. He wanted to shout: A ninja is one who can endure anything.
He wanted to do what he had done before—overwhelming Hidan with radical theories or rebuking Mangetsu Hozuki. He wanted to masquerade as an ally of justice or evil, using stolen, high-minded words to deliver a spiritual critical strike to his enemy.
But as the words reached his lips, they died in his throat.
Orochimaru was not a hot-blooded idiot like Hidan. Such platitudes wouldn't break his will or deceive him. If he spoke them now, they would be seen through instantly, sounding hollow and powerless.
In truth, as the level of enemies he faced grew higher, these psychological attacks had become increasingly ineffective. When facing Yagura Karatachi, Ren had nearly been counter-persuaded himself.
Even Ren himself didn't truly understand Jiraiya's words. All along his journey, it had been others pushing him forward and making choices for him.
So, what exactly was a ninja?
For the first time, confusion surfaced in Ren's heart. He had never wanted to be a ninja, nor had he thought about what he wanted to achieve as one. He was simply greedy for money and missed home—like a child who refused to grow up.
To the outside world, he was always full of lies, spouting "grand and righteous" nonsense he didn't even believe to force a change in perspective or to sugarcoat his schemes. Words were the weapon he used to turn the tide when he was at his weakest.
But now, under the intense, burning gaze of the man standing inches away, Ren's eyes instinctively darted. He stumbled back a step, gritting his teeth, unable to provide even a decent answer.
Orochimaru looked down at the struggling expression on Ren's face and let out a raspy laugh.
"Heh heh heh... Aren't you being quite honest now?"
Hearing those words—the kind used to mock a child while patting their head—Ren instantly flared up. His eyes turned savage. Gripping the hilt of the Kusanagi sword with both hands, he twisted it inside Orochimaru's body, carving a jagged hole in his abdomen.
He barked out, sounding like his defenses had been breached:
"Don't screw with me!"
"Listen well, Orochimaru! My 'Way of the Ninja' is to trample this entire shinobi world, sweep the old systems into the trash, and rewrite every tragedy of this world! That is something I cannot escape!"
"Is that so?"
Orochimaru sneered, his lips curling upward. He stared at Ren with sheer fascination as blood bubbled from his mouth and slid down his chin. A crimson droplet splashed onto Ren's eyebrow.
Then, the man leaned in and whispered with a mocking, yet almost intimate tone:
"Do you need me to find you a mirror? So you can take a good look at your eyes right now?"
"The heart does not lie. You don't actually believe a single word of what you just said has any meaning."
"Heh heh heh..."
Orochimaru leaned closer to Ren's ear. "My disciple... you have no answer at all. But then, there is no such thing as a perfectly correct answer in this world. However, by staying alive, one can find interesting things."
"Just as you have been trying to find answers in death, I found you while I was pursuing immortality."
A brilliant, fanatical light suddenly ignited in Orochimaru's eyes!
He stared intensely at Ren—specifically at the three tomoe forming the "Seal of Heaven" on the back of his neck. He took a deep breath and spoke in a low, heavy voice:
"Ren Uchiha... you simply lack a powerful guide to let you see the things your heart truly craves!"
His tone became urgent, his eyes greedily scanning Ren's body. Every inch of this boy inherited a part of his soul and could perfectly integrate the Cursed Seal of Heaven. Multiple forbidden jutsus merged within him, yet they reached a bizarre, impossible "harmony."
Such talent. Such a body.
He had already surged far ahead of Orochimaru's expectations! This kid undoubtedly possessed a terrifying talent he wasn't even aware of—a talent capable of perfectly inheriting the Way of the Ninja that Orochimaru yearned for!
A cold, damp wind blew past, causing Ren to shiver involuntarily. He raised his head, looking at Orochimaru with a mix of shock and confusion.
"A guide? And... the things I crave?"
This was the first time since coming to this world that someone had dissected Ren so deeply—analyzing his body and excavating his soul. And then, with unparalleled certainty, that person told him they could help him find what he truly desired.
Even Ren's heart trembled slightly.
"Heh..." Orochimaru looked at Ren's expression, feeling more satisfied than ever.
However, he didn't continue. He calmly took the Kusanagi sword from Ren's hand, pulled it out of his own abdomen, and thoughtfully wiped the blade clean with the sleeve of his kimono before sliding it back into the scabbard at Ren's waist.
As he did this, the wound on his stomach completely healed amidst a drift of white steam.
Orochimaru turned and walked to the very edge of the cliff, standing still in the cold wind of the Land of Rain. His golden snake pupils looked out indifferently over the battlefield.
Reeds grew wildly over severed limbs; swords and kunai were stabbed everywhere into the earth. From the leaden sky, heavy droplets of rain began to fall like beads. For a moment, save for the sound of the weeping rain, the world was silent.
The thick, black clouds churned, revealing a single gap. A beam of golden, divine sunlight pierced through the darkness, sweeping across the broken world until it fell directly onto the man standing at the cliff's edge.
It illuminated him, making him radiant!
In this sacred, almost miraculous scene, Orochimaru laughed. He opened his arms wide and spoke raspy:
"My disciple, as you can see... Shinobi themselves are not noble creatures."
"They die when stabbed. they suffer when sick. And when they grow old, they fall into a wretched, pathetic state. A 'Ninja,' as the name implies, is simply someone who uses Ninjutsu."
"And only by learning and utilizing every Ninjutsu in this world can one become the ultimate individual! That is all."
"And you—"
Orochimaru whirled around, his gaze as sharp as a blade's edge! It cut through all of Ren's disguises, through his bloodline, through his heart, peering into the soul that was even more manic and maddened than his own.
A fanatical smile spread across his face.
"Without even realizing it, you have already stepped onto this path! To master all truths, to learn every Ninjutsu, Forbidden Jutsu, and Secret Technique—even Bloodline Limits, Bloodline Expansions, and things beyond..."
"Ultimately, in unimaginable, frenzied combat, you will weave it all together!"
"To reach the final realm. To become the supreme being!"
Orochimaru licked his lips, his voice rising with absolute conviction.
"My disciple! This is your future! This is the thing you have been ignoring! This is what your soul craves!"
"You are just like me! You possess the same great ideal as I do! And your talent far exceeds my imagination!"
"As long as you fight, those eyes of yours can replicate any opponent's technique! Whether it's a Secret Technique or a Forbidden Jutsu, it's child's play before those eyes!"
Orochimaru stood in the brilliant beam of light, staring at Ren with religious fervor. His breathing became heavy and raspy, a sickly flush rising to his face as if he were contemplating something even more exhilarating.
He swallowed hard and exclaimed with extreme excitement:
"This is nothing short of a miracle! A miracle that far surpasses the normal Sharingan—even surpassing the legendary eyes of the Sage!"
"Ren Uchiha, you are perfectly suited to be my, Orochimaru's, successor! To inherit my ideals, my forbidden jutsus, and my dreams!"
"Therefore—"
"Whatever I have, I can give to you! The Kusanagi sword, the Flying Thunder God, Living Corpse Reincarnation, the Eight-Headed Serpent, Reanimation, living Bloodline Limits... I can even kidnap a unique Bloodline Expansion user for you!"
Orochimaru walked toward Ren, his steps almost stumbling in his excitement. As he moved, the golden beam of light followed him like a spotlight on a stage, piercing the weeping sky and illuminating the swaying rain.
Finally, it rested on the cliff, lighting up Orochimaru's fanatical face. He slammed his hands onto Ren's shoulders. His smile was uncontrollable. His golden snake pupils stared deep into Ren's eyes, forcing him to see the determination and sincerity within.
Then, Orochimaru spoke with profound earnestness:
"Now!"
"Ren Uchiha, become my son!"
"Let us take everything into our hands, and then we shall witness the so-called 'Truth' of this world!"
Ren blinked, suddenly snapping back to reality. He looked at Orochimaru with utter horror.
What the hell? I treat you as a 'cheap master,' and you want to be my father?
"Orochimaru! What the hell are you talking about?!"
Ren shoved Orochimaru's arms off his shoulders and retreated several steps. The shock in his heart was no different from a nuclear bomb detonating in his brain. His mind instantly stalled.
But looking at Orochimaru's expression... the sincerity in his eyes... he seemed to be dead serious?!
At this moment, Ren truly felt the force of the storm he had caused as a small butterfly. And he finally understood the meaning of one phrase: The plot has completely collapsed.
He couldn't accept this absurd reality. Contrary to his belief that Orochimaru wanted to kill him, the man before him wanted to be his father and pass down everything he knew.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"You want me to be your son? To call you father? Orochimaru, stop dreaming!"
Ren's face twisted. He unsheathed the Kusanagi sword and pressed his palm against his heart. If Orochimaru took another step, he would blow himself up right here!
"Heh..."
Seeing Ren's reaction, Orochimaru let out a raspy laugh, reigning in his fanatical expression. He returned to his "Coldblooded" persona.
He scanned Ren from head to toe before sneering. "It seems the time isn't right yet. But do you think you can escape?"
"Don't forget, you are my disciple. In this Third Great Ninja War, I will continuously arrange for you to fight for your life against powerful enemies—including myself—so you can master every kind of technique."
"Eventually, you will become the form I desire. Heh heh heh..."
Orochimaru turned away, standing at the cliff's edge once more. His voice returned to its cold, indifferent tone.
"Go find Ryoma Aburame. Your mission will be issued soon."
"For the next battle, I will withdraw all Konoha ninjas—"
"And let you face them alone!"