Night, in the Training Space.
[Human Puppet: Proficient (Incomplete)]
After repeated attempts failed to further improve his proficiency in the Human Puppet Technique, Masahiko regretfully decided to temporarily abandon training in it.
"The crucial handling of Chakra and souls is missing."
Sasori's Human Puppet Technique could completely transform one's body into a puppet creation, concentrating the body's life and Chakra into a single piece of flesh.
Sasori also shared knowledge in this area yesterday.
However, soul and life are the most dangerous fields, and currently cannot be simulated in the Training Space. Trying them externally would be too risky.
He chose to temporarily put it aside and seek "help" from Orochimaru in the real world.
However.
The current Human Puppet Technique can already be applied in many fields.
Prosthetics and puppet skeletons are just the most basic applications.
Masahiko put down his arduous training in Puppet Technique and continued to practice Sealing Jutsu.
Meanwhile—
In a distant mountain village.
In a corner of the mountains, Karin looked at the panda in front of her, reading the letter on it, and couldn't help but swallow.
A moment later, she took a deep breath and formed hand signs.
In an instant, from the sealing scroll, a mysterious Ninja with a black robe and fox mask appeared, along with a bottle of Masahiko's own blood.
The other party picked up the sealing scroll.
"Well done."
"My Lord, I succeeded!"
Karin was ecstatic.
The Black-Robed Man smiled, "I told you, you have great talent, and I will help you become a powerful Ninja, so... be confident, Karin."
"Yes!"
Karin raised her head.
"Here are some medical and Ninja-related books. The knowledge within them can help you control the power inside you."
The Black-Robed Man threw the items to her, then left this desolate mountain range... The vast mountains were desolate.
Most of the blood and sealing scrolls had already been brought back via Summoning Jutsu, waiting for the main body to summon them the next day.
This was also the purpose of bringing the blood.
Masahiko headed north, and once outside that range, he canceled the Transformation Jutsu effect on his body and rushed to Orochimaru's base... Inside the Land of Grass base, Orochimaru sat in a chair, deep in thought after completing another research.
Beside him, Yakushi Kabuto took a deep breath and said:
"My Lord, according to my investigation, the Kaguya Clan's kekkei sickness is indeed relatively common, and we cannot rule out this possibility."
"Hmm."
Orochimaru lightly tapped the table with his finger.
The Cursed Seal could allow one to advance by leaps and bounds and gain incredibly powerful strength, but as Masahiko said, it was also a powerful, unstable variable.
Kimimaro's condition, if inoculated with the Cursed Seal again, might not yield the best results, and could instead bring the threat of the kekkei sickness.
He pondered for a long time and said, "Then stop it."
"Yes, then Kimimaro..."
"I will comfort him."
Orochimaru chuckled softly.
He was pondering when his eyes suddenly narrowed and he said, "We have a guest."
"Should I avoid them?"
"No need."
Orochimaru smiled and said, "It's Masahiko-kun."
A moment later, Masahiko, slightly altered and wearing a mask, walked in from outside.
"Lord Orochimaru, it's been a few days."
"Masahiko-kun, you've come suddenly, is there something you need?"
Orochimaru asked.
Masahiko said, "I have an idea, so I came to discuss it with Lord Orochimaru, or rather... to make a trade."
"Oh?"
Orochimaru's lips curled slightly as he said, "Tell me, and I'll consider whether to trade."
"I have a way to solve Kimimaro's problem."
Masahiko replied.
Orochimaru heard this, pondered for a moment, and shook his head: "I don't believe it."
He had researched Bloodline Limit for many years.
The reason why kekkei sickness is difficult to solve is that it originates from the Bloodline Limit itself.
Therefore.
After Masahiko's reminder, he had already believed it eighty to ninety percent.
If Kimimaro truly developed kekkei sickness, Orochimaru did not believe there could be a cure.
"Normal methods indeed cannot solve it, but my method is different; it's a path to eternity."
Masahiko smiled.
"A path to eternity?"
Orochimaru couldn't help but let out a few chilling laughs upon hearing this.
Then, he looked at Masahiko.
"Masahiko-kun, if I weren't certain you have no connection to a certain person, I would think you were impersonating him."
"Are you referring to Sasori of the Red Sand?"
Masahiko counter-asked.
Orochimaru was a little surprised, then nodded gently and said, "Indeed, you actually know Sasori of the Red Sand?"
"Of course, as someone also pursuing eternity, I naturally pay attention, including you... I've also learned a bit about your research."
Masahiko replied.
Orochimaru pondered for a moment, and a hint of understanding appeared on his face: "Masahiko-kun, your meaning... is you want my research notes?"
"This would be a win-win trade."
Masahiko made no attempt to hide it.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and said, "This area of research is highly valuable; you can't afford the price."
"No matter, I don't need everything, just some research materials related to life and soul. I already have some explorations in these fields myself."
Masahiko was not flustered, "Different people gain different things; only through exchange and learning can one reach higher realms."
Although he hadn't deeply researched the fields of life and soul, his conversation with Sasori that day contained a lot of knowledge in this area.
"How do you have research knowledge in this area?"
Yakushi Kabuto couldn't help but be surprised.
Masahiko smiled, "Naturally, because... what I represent is not just me."
"Oh?"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.
"We discovered that the soul is not completely dependent on flesh and blood; it can be transferred using Chakra and flesh as a medium."
Masahiko said this, looking at Orochimaru with deep meaning.
Orochimaru understood the profound meaning in the other party's words.
But at the same time, he was somewhat unwilling to believe—
Could the other party really know his secret?
However, thinking carefully... six months ago, Masahiko was just an unknown Chunin, but now he has grown into a formidable powerhouse.
Moreover.
Some knowledge was indeed beyond Masahiko's previous level of access and could not be explained by simple research findings.
If there was an organization behind him, it would be more credible.
"Lord Orochimaru, you are also on the path to immortality, so... you should understand how fragile a flesh and blood body is, right?"
Masahiko sighed, "In the face of powerful strength, humans are as insignificant as ants; those people might even step over them without noticing, just like my parents..."
"They died in the Nine-Tails Attack, yet they only added another line to the Memorial Stone."
Masahiko's voice was low.
"If there was such a technique that allowed people to live forever in a special way... I wonder if you would be interested."
"It sounds like you are researching this technique?"
Orochimaru mused.
"Yes, and we've already made some progress."
Masahiko smiled, "This is just one part of our research; there are other studies that even you might find hard to imagine."
"Masahiko-kun, I dislike baseless bravado; it only makes me annoyed by your foolishness."
Orochimaru's voice was cold.
Masahiko said, "Then, do you know... what exactly is the power of the Cursed Seal you placed on Anko?"
"Hmm?"
Orochimaru's gaze sharpened.
He sat up straighter but did not reply.
"It seems you know some things, but certainly not as comprehensively as we do."
Masahiko stared at Orochimaru and smiled, "You didn't pass the test, did you?"
"You actually know that!"
Orochimaru's expression became solemn; he was somewhat unsettled.
This meant... the other party truly knew some secrets!
He pondered for a long time, making no statement.
This kind of organization—
Orochimaru looked up and said, "What is your purpose?"
"Similar to yours, but immortality is only the first step in breaking free from the shackles of the flesh; above that are higher levels of life."