Chapter 252: There Are Always Those Who Try to Obtain a Status They Don't Deserve
"Oh?" Orochimaru looked at Kenichi with a half smile. "I thought you'd want Amado to join Akatsuki."
Kenichi could not help feeling a little exasperated. When had he ever given his teacher such a strange impression?
To Kenichi, Akatsuki was nothing more than a place to obtain research materials and funding. He still had not gained much from them yet, but at least Nagato's attitude had softened. That meant it would not be impossible to profit from Akatsuki in the future.
"Teacher, Akatsuki does have some very valuable research subjects," Kenichi said with a helpless shrug. "But if Mr. Amado joined, it could cause unnecessary trouble."
A scientist like Amado would be wasted inside Akatsuki. Just looking at the Ninjutsu deflection device he had developed made it clear where he belonged. He belonged in laboratories, not working as a mercenary.
It was like sending a top scientist into a war zone to become a hired blade. Absurd.
Orochimaru nodded. He agreed. Someone like Amado should not join Akatsuki. He should serve under them instead. If such a talent were allowed to slip away, even Orochimaru would feel reluctant, especially when Amado's knowledge was outstanding.
During their conversation yesterday, Orochimaru had already confirmed it. Amado's research ability was excellent, and he had mastered many advanced techniques beyond cloning.
He was one of the few people who made Orochimaru want to talk all night.
The previous one was Kenichi.
"Teacher, can I stay here a while longer?" Kenichi chuckled as he rubbed his hands together. "The Land of Snow still isn't stable. I want to stabilize the situation first."
Koyuki's age was the key issue. If Kenichi left now, there was no telling whether certain people would try to stir trouble.
Koyuki herself was fine, but she now carried Kenichi's mother worm. The mother worm could not die.
So Kenichi planned to remain for a while and see whether any idiots dared to move. If they did, he would kill them. If they did not, it would not be too late to leave afterward.
"Oh?" Orochimaru's lips curved slightly, amused. "Alright. Then I'll take Amado back by boat first. Your airship isn't suitable to expose right now."
Of course, he could guess what his disciple was worried about. Orochimaru had witnessed what happened yesterday.
And that giant sword formed from lightning also reminded him of the phrase in Konoha's report about the attack: "a beast extending its claws from the dark clouds."
Kenichi's current strength was becoming more and more difficult to measure.
Without realizing it, Orochimaru even felt that he had little left to teach this disciple. In that case, he would prepare a graduation gift.
In his view, a gene programming Ninjutsu with a greatly improved success rate would be an excellent choice.
"Alright, Teacher. I understand." Kenichi turned and hurried out.
He planned to stay for a month. That should be enough.
But before that, he had to make it look like he had already left the Land of Snow.
So Kenichi and Orochimaru put on a show together. Kenichi departed the Land of Snow in full view of everyone, leaving by boat, while Koyuki cried on the shore.
To keep it secret, Kenichi did not even tell Koyuki.
Only after the ship had been at sea for three days did Kenichi, who was aboard the boat, dispel his Shadow Clone.
"Couldn't a Shadow Clone have handled that?" Amado asked, puzzled. "Why did the real body go through it when a clone could have done it?"
"My student always has strange ideas," Orochimaru said. He was used to it. Kenichi had done many odd things.
Back when Orochimaru was still in Konoha, he once saw Kenichi staring blankly at the Hokage Rock. For a moment, Orochimaru thought Kenichi wanted to become Hokage. After all, only past Hokage were carved into the rock.
Later, Orochimaru learned the truth.
Kenichi had simply been curious whether the Hokage Rock statues were formed with Ninjutsu or carved by hand. And if they were carved by hand, how much it would cost to carve them.
Orochimaru had been so amused he nearly laughed out loud. He immediately sent Kenichi to carve stones himself. Fortunately, Kenichi quickly realized his mistake and returned to research with proper diligence.
"Your student is truly outstanding," Amado said.
He remembered Kenichi's performance in their previous fight and looked at Orochimaru with clear envy.
Still, Amado could not help feeling something else was off. Why did Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin, seem somewhat feminine?
Amado had heard the rumor circulating through the shinobi world that Orochimaru was actually a woman. People spoke of it with such certainty that there were even books dedicated to the claim.
But no matter how Amado looked, Orochimaru in front of him was a man, simply the type with exceptionally good luck.
After all, taking in a disciple of Kenichi's caliber was impressive.
Amado had taken students as well, whether sincerely or for missions, but none of them came close to Kenichi.
This man was not only powerful in battle, he was also talented in research. A perfect disciple.
"Hm." Orochimaru stared at the spot where Kenichi had vanished, his gaze lingering.
Even he felt pressure when facing a disciple like that.
"These fools…" In the Land of Snow, Kenichi wore a cold smile as he watched several elders of Yukigakure begin to test the waters.
He truly had not expected them to dare make a move. They probed step by step, carefully and shamelessly.
Yet Koyuki performed far better than Kenichi had anticipated. She held her ground.
With a deliberate air of mystery and by borrowing prestige, she even managed to stabilize the situation for the time being.
But Kenichi also understood something clearly.
As long as he did not act, those people would not be able to keep up their act forever.
"I have to wait until the very end," Kenichi thought, already sentencing them to death. "Then I'll move with speed and decisiveness and wipe them out. Otherwise, they'll never be convinced."
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