A massive influx of information flooded into his mind, forcing Orochimaru to immediately undo his Transformation Jutsu, reverting to his young form. Veins bulged on his forehead, faintly showing blood.
This wasn't the end. The next instant, countless capillaries burst with a crackling sound, dyeing his entire head crimson.
Yet, despite suffering such damage, Orochimaru couldn't withdraw from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. The immeasurable information occupied his mind, leaving him utterly incapable of controlling his consciousness.
"This is bad..." Genie Lamp instantly noticed Orochimaru's abnormal state. However, the information projected from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path existed within his thoughts, a level even Genie Lamp couldn't control.
"It seems I can only retreat for now."
Frowning, Genie Lamp directly controlled Orochimaru, severing that portion of mental energy and forcefully pulling him out of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's spiritual space.
Above the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, the change happened too quickly for anyone to react. Nagato looked at the bloody Orochimaru and, after a moment's hesitation, decided to step forward to check on him.
However, at that moment, Orochimaru opened his eyes and let out a deep sigh.
Nagato's expression was serious, but as he examined Orochimaru's youthful form, a hint of curiosity flashed in his eyes, and he asked, "What happened to you?"
"Just a minor accident, but it's nothing at all."
Orochimaru wiped the blood from his head, revealing the fair skin beneath. The previous damage had already completely recovered.
He continued, "However, about the test, we'll have to put it on hold for now."
"..." Nagato sized up Orochimaru's physique and, after a long pause, said, "Alright."
Although he couldn't see it clearly, based on Orochimaru's words and actions, he could guess that the previous incident was not as calm and uneventful as it appeared.
However, since Orochimaru hadn't undergone any drastic personality changes and had even acted with restraint and prudence, refusing to push himself, Nagato had nothing more to say.
Jumping down from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Orochimaru flew to the side of a rock wall in the cave and assumed a meditation posture. Natural energy began to circulate within and around his body.
This action led Nagato and Konan to believe Orochimaru was recovering his lost energy. In reality, however, that wasn't the case.
Genie Lamp controlled Orochimaru's body while observing his consciousness, a troubled expression on his face. "Tsk, this is troublesome."
Although the mental connection between the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and Orochimaru had been forcefully severed, in that short period, the object had already infused a vast amount of information.
While Orochimaru's mental strength had reached the Six Paths level, he was now like a diner who, disregarding his body, was forced into a gluttonous feast. He had eaten far too much and could only now hold his distended stomach and slowly digest.
"Poor fellow, I'll reluctantly take control of your body until you've finished digesting."
A playful expression flickered across Genie Lamp's face. Smoke poured into Orochimaru's body, and then he stood up from the ground, flying back to the top of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Turning to Nagato, he said, "That's all for today's test. For now, I can't find a way to separate the Tailed Beasts."
Nagato certainly had no objections to this, but Orochimaru's words piqued his interest. "Today?" he asked.
"Yes."
Genie Lamp mimicked Orochimaru's usual expression, sticking out his tongue and licking his lips. "After research makes a new breakthrough, we'll naturally continue to try."
"You're truly persistent," Nagato frowned slightly. "This kind of thing is too risky. There won't be a next time."
"..."
Genie Lamp smiled and said nothing further, unwilling to get into a verbal argument with Nagato. After all, whether he persuaded him or not, it wouldn't affect whether the next experiment took place.
After a moment of thought, Genie Lamp spoke, "We'll discuss that later. There's another matter that requires the help of the Hidden Rain Village. This matter can also serve as a trade between Konoha and Kumogakure."
Nagato looked at Orochimaru doubtfully. "What matter?"
"Assemble the bloodline ninjas under your jurisdiction..."
Genie Lamp smiled. "You don't need to bring them all. One or two will suffice. I have some experiments that require their cooperation."
"Experiments? Cooperation?"
Just a few simple words were enough to conjure images of bloody and cruel events. Nagato's expression immediately soured, and he flatly refused. "Don't even mention such things. I will absolutely not agree."
Konan also looked displeased. Her impression of Orochimaru, which had improved slightly due to his special youthful form, had instantly plummeted to negative.
"You seem to have misunderstood something. I have no ill intentions."
Genie Lamp smiled. "I'm just conducting some ordinary checks. If you wish, you can even observe."
Nagato looked at Orochimaru with confusion. "Just that?"
Genie Lamp nodded slightly. "Yes, just that."
"..."
Nagato pondered for a moment and then suddenly retorted, "Even so, why should I help you?"
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path concerned the safety of the ninja world. His tolerance towards Orochimaru was precisely for this reason. The relationship between them wasn't good enough for them to help each other.
Genie Lamp glanced sideways at Nagato and suddenly chuckled. "Yakushi Kabuto, he's with you, isn't he?"
Although it was a question, it was spoken with a tone of certainty, which caused Nagato's expression to change slightly.
Yakushi Kabuto was indeed in the Hidden Rain Village, remaining unseen to avoid suspicion. He had previously thought that Orochimaru hadn't brought it up to deliberately overlook it for the sake of maintaining their factions' relationship, but now it seemed that wasn't the case.
"You go and handle this, and I won't pursue Yakushi Kabuto..."
Genie Lamp smiled. "Since you don't like to help, how about this trade instead?"
"..." Nagato remained silent for a moment and then said, "Alright."
There weren't many people he cared about. Yakushi Kabuto, who had helped him undergo a transplant surgery and undergo a complete transformation, was barely half of one among them. Unless it was absolutely necessary, he wouldn't hand Yakushi Kabuto over.
"Very good."
Genie Lamp glanced at Nagato, used the Transformation Jutsu to revert to Orochimaru's original appearance, and said, "It's about time. Let's go back."
...
In the Hidden Rain Village, after the group of three returned, the negotiations were still ongoing in a tug-of-war.
Nara Shikaku was highly intelligent. To secretly profit his village, he designed many overt and covert plans, aiming to achieve the outcome of 'the Hidden Rain Village being sold out to Konoha.'
However, the Lord of Hozuki Castle, Muwu, and Kakuzu were not to be trifled with. The former managed a large force, and the latter was extremely sensitive to money. Individually, they might not be Nara Shikaku's match, but their cooperation could produce remarkable results.
Therefore, Nara Shikaku could only proceed slowly, probing for their weaknesses through various verbal exchanges to negotiate the most advantageous contract for his village.
After Genie Lamp returned, he listened for a while, nodded slightly, patted Nara Shikaku on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "You're doing well. But if you worked a little harder, the ordinary people here would have to beg for food."
"..." A bead of sweat trickled down Nara Shikaku's forehead, his expression one of considerable embarrassment.
The Lord of Hozuki Castle, Muwu, opposite Nara Shikaku, looked even more embarrassed.
In a sense, if there were people begging for food in Kumogakure's territory, it would be due to his mistake.
Kakuzu, on the other hand, was indifferent. He only cared about the increase in the amount of money and had no concern for the lives of others.
Jiraiya nodded slightly upon hearing Orochimaru's words. From Konoha's perspective, he naturally couldn't say much, but he instinctively disliked it.
"You've all seen how powerful he is..."
Genie Lamp turned his gaze to Muwu and Kakuzu and said with a smile, "But compared to zero-sum games, it's better to cooperate. At least the Infinity will be higher."
Upon hearing Orochimaru say this, a bitter smile appeared on Muwu's face. It was not that easy to make previously hostile parties move towards cooperation; his statement was a bit too naive.
At least for now, he preferred to rely on each person's abilities and compete for interests in a hostile environment.
"If you don't do it, some things will never be accomplished... Well, but it's up to you."
Genie Lamp smiled meaningfully but didn't force them further.
Frankly speaking, a world like the ninja world wasn't suitable for top-down reform. After all, even the weakest Genin possessed power.
Like a spring, when power is transmitted downwards, it tends to rise.
Perhaps existence like Orochimaru didn't fear this, but those who were not as capable as him, and those who were even less capable than them, might not be able to accept it.
After a moment of thought, Genie Lamp bid farewell to Jiraiya and left the meteor island.
He went to the lake and casually conjured a three-story earth building with Sage Art: Earth Release, then began to feign meditation and cultivation within.
...
Time passed quickly, and three days were soon over.
The negotiations between Konoha and Kumogakure had already concluded at the pace of Nara Shikaku and the Lord of Hozuki Castle. Genie Lamp, citing the need for future experimental cooperation with the Hidden Rain Village, sent Jiraiya and the others back.
The latter wasn't worried about Orochimaru's safety. On the contrary, leaving him in the Land of Rain would be more dangerous for the Hidden Rain Village.
During this period, the bloodline ninjas Orochimaru had requested also began to gather slowly.
He hadn't seen them, of course. Genie Lamp admitted that while his eyesight was superior to Orochimaru's, he was far inferior in his grasp of specific details. If he tried to imitate Orochimaru's experiments, it would only be a poor imitation, lacking the necessary knowledge.
However, despite that, he had looked at all the bloodline ninjas who had arrived: Kirigakure's Lava Style, Boil Release, Ice Release; Kumogakure's Storm Release, Magnetic Release... It was worth noting that even a ninja from the Kaguya clan had been sent. Judging by his appearance, it was undoubtedly Kimimaro, who had caused considerable trouble for the main protagonists in the story.
If this guy hadn't died early due to his bloodline disease, he might have wiped out the main protagonists directly.
"This guy's bloodline disease might have something to do with Otsutsuki Kaguya's 'Deadly Bone Ash'..."
Genie Lamp tilted his head, carefully observing the cold-faced youth, and mused, "We need to make sure Orochimaru pays close attention to him."
It was quite interesting. In the original timeline, Kimimaro was Orochimaru's subordinate and held such strong personal worship for him that he wished to offer his body to Orochimaru and become one with him.
But due to his bloodline disease, Orochimaru at the time was helpless, and ultimately did not choose Kimimaro, but another body that was not very suitable.
Kimimaro also collapsed on the battlefield due to overusing his Shikotsumyaku during battle.
"What a pity..." Genie Lamp recalled the content from his past life with a sigh. "However, in this timeline, perhaps his fate can be changed."
As he was thinking, Genie Lamp suddenly sensed some movement from beneath him.
The long-dormant Orochimaru suddenly opened his eyes, his golden pupils showing a hint of confusion rather than the usual sharp focus.
Genie Lamp's voice transmitted his thoughts with a smile, "Tsk, tsk... Did you get silly from sleeping?"
"..."
Orochimaru didn't immediately respond to Genie Lamp's jest. After a long pause, he said, "Perhaps that's really the case... maybe."
The past three days of digesting the information from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had had minimal physical impact, but mentally, it was no less than a fierce battle.
The level of exhaustion was only comparable to when he had stayed up for nearly half a month continuously to study the 'Eight-Branched Snake Technique.' His mind didn't want to work at all right now.
Even so, as Orochimaru recalled the contents of his memories, his eyes still held a sense of shock. "I think I know the origin of the Otsutsuki clan."
"What?"
Genie Lamp raised his eyebrows, his eyes filled with intense interest. He hadn't expected Orochimaru's attempt to yield such a reward.
These were pieces of information that, even from his God's-eye perspective in the original timeline, he might not have been able to fully obtain.
"The origin of the Otsutsuki clan... Tell me quickly!" Genie Lamp urged.
"The whole process is long and complicated. My condition isn't good right now..."
Orochimaru glanced at Genie Lamp, then closed his eyes to adjust. His breathing became long and steady, and before long, he fell into a deep sleep.
"Ah, this guy..."
Genie Lamp scratched his head, his expression somewhat frantic.
He had piqued Genie Lamp's curiosity and then completely ignored it, falling asleep. What kind of behavior was this?
Genie Lamp now strongly suspected that Orochimaru's only purpose in insisting on telling this was to achieve this.
However, as a Genie Lamp with professional ethics, he was generally well-behaved in controlling the host's body. Prying into the host's thoughts and memories would be crossing the line.
In a sense, the host and Genie Lamp were in an equal relationship, and they needed to maintain basic respect for each other.
Therefore, no matter how unwilling Genie Lamp was, he could only wait and find other ways to pass the time.
Time passed slowly, but after a bumpy day, it eventually came to an end.
As soon as Orochimaru woke up from his sleep, Genie Lamp immediately urged, "Speak, what memories were in the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path that allowed you to grasp the origin of the Otsutsuki clan?"
"Although it's a bit surprising..."
Orochimaru let out a long sigh and stopped being coy, directly stating, "The Otsutsuki clan is the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path."
You don't say.