Collaborative research on an immortality technique...
This answer was both expected and unexpected.
Expected because Orochimaru's lifelong wish was to research an immortality technique. Unexpected because he stated it directly.
After all, something like an 'immortality technique' didn't sound like a proper Ninjutsu and required extensive human experimentation.
Such things were explicitly forbidden in any Shinobi Village.
For Orochimaru to mention it to Ryuji, someone from another village, showed great sincerity.
Unfortunately,
Cooperation requires both parties to be on equal footing. Orochimaru lacked the capital to cooperate with Ryuji.
Therefore, Ryuji refused without hesitation.
"That's something strictly prohibited. Are you joking, Orochimaru-sama?" Ryuji picked up his teacup for a sip, speaking in a teasing tone.
But Orochimaru didn't catch Ryuji's drift.
He sat upright, staring intently at Ryuji, serious. "Ryuji-kun, I know you and I are the same kind of people. There's no need to adhere to taboos in the eyes of ordinary people with me."
"Orochimaru-sama is jesting, I..."
"Although I haven't been in Konoha, news of your deeds keeps reaching me," Orochimaru interrupted Ryuji's denial, continuing. "Possessing the technology to create puppets with independent consciousness, resurrecting the dead..."
"Stop, stop, stop..." Ryuji made a stopping gesture, exasperated. "Why are all three Sannin like this?"
"Oh, has Tsunade also come to see you?"
Orochimaru was somewhat surprised but quickly smiled. "But it's not strange. The two most important people in her life died in war. It's only natural she'd come to you."
"That's exactly why I say you're all sick." Ryuji bluntly criticized. "Whether to Sunagakure or the outside world, I've explained it. I simply do not have the ability to resurrect the dead; I merely healed Third Kazekage-sama who was feigning death for strategy."
"Oh, really?"
Orochimaru extended his long tongue, licking around his lips. His cold serpentine eyes gleamed with interest. "I'm inclined to believe you lack the ability to resurrect the dead. But saying you healed a Third Kazekage pretending to be dead... even laymen wouldn't believe that, let alone someone knowledgeable like me."
'Yes, yes, no one in this world understands resurrecting the dead better than you, alright!'
Ryuji internally complained but outwardly showed great anger. "Believe it or not, I'm tired of wasting words."
"Ryuji-kun, snakes don't rely on eyes to discern things. Trying to deceive a snake by playing dumb is useless." Orochimaru remained very patient with Ryuji, not angry at all, a smile on his lips as he spoke. "Ryuji-kun probably used cloning or the technology that created Gin to make a new Third Kazekage, right?"
'As expected, dealing with knowledgeable people isn't easy to fool.'
Ryuji inwardly sighed, but his expression grew angrier. "If you came here just to spout nonsense, then please leave."
"Don't be angry, Ryuji-kun." Orochimaru still wore a smile. "I didn't come to expose your secret; I want to cooperate with you."
Here, Orochimaru's gaze turned somewhat feverish.
"You can create a Third Kazekage undetected by companions, create a Gin with independent consciousness... you must have quite advanced soul transfer technology, right? If your technology and mine collaborate, we can surely develop a true immortality technique!"
Indeed, in Orochimaru's view, Ryuji possessed soul transfer technology, not soul creation technology.
Because he had deep research into souls and understood how complex they were.
That simply wasn't something detectable by current-era technology. One could only conduct rudimentary human experiments, searching for soul characteristics one by one, then develop soul-related techniques.
In his view, creating souls was the domain of gods; humans couldn't possibly achieve it.
Whether the new Third Kazekage or Gin... their consciousnesses were transferred souls from other people.
In a sense, Orochimaru wasn't entirely wrong.
Whether the Third Kazekage, Gin, or other puppet constructs... their souls were newly created souls, but their materials originated from the original owners' Chakra.
So, calling it soul transfer wasn't wrong.
However, it's still that same phrase.
Cooperation requires both parties to be on equal footing. Ryuji not only had soul transfer technology but also soul creation technology.
Why would he cooperate with Orochimaru?
"Orochimaru-sama certainly has wild imaginations. Soul transfer, how could..."
"Ryuji-kun, state your conditions." Orochimaru interrupted Ryuji again.
The other party's repeated feigning of ignorance tested his patience, so he directly asked for terms.
Ryuji paused, then smiled. "This isn't about conditions. It's about something impossible. How can I cooperate with you?"
"Hoo~"
Orochimaru took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
He calmly looked at Ryuji, thought for a moment, then continued, "Since Ryuji-kun isn't interested in cooperation, let's discuss a transaction."
"Oh, what transaction?"
"Soul transfer technology!" Orochimaru said. "How about I exchange Hashirama's cells for your soul transfer technology?"
"Pfft!"
Ryuji couldn't help but sneer.
'Exchanging Hashirama cells for soul transfer technology? What confidence made you think I'd agree?'
But he also knew Orochimaru wasn't without sincerity.
After all, Hashirama's cells were indeed valuable treasures.
And soul transfer technology... though rare, wasn't unique. Even in Konoha, there were Ninjutsu allowing brief soul departure and possession of others.
Though different from complete soul transfer, with research, it wasn't impossible to develop.
But soul transfer techniques, aside from researchers like them, didn't hold much value.
Hence, few researched it before, as most Shinobi pursued offensive Ninjutsu.
Orochimaru offering Hashirama's cells for soul transfer technology was absolutely sincere.
He simply didn't know the value Hashirama's cells held in Ryuji's mind.
Thus, seeing Ryuji's sneer, Orochimaru frowned.
Even clay dolls have some temper, let alone a legendary Sannin like him.
If it was just refusal, fine. But showing such a sneering attitude, wasn't that excessive?
"Ryuji-kun, I came with utmost sincerity." Orochimaru's raspy voice lowered slightly, a hint of anger palpable.
Ryuji promptly adjusted his mood, his expression serious. "I know that. It's just that Orochimaru-sama keeps insisting I have soul transfer technology and seriously wants to trade, I couldn't help it. My apologies."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but chuckle again.
This wasn't feigned; he just laughed for a different reason than stated.
Seeing Ryuji's demeanor, Orochimaru also felt doubt.
'Was my speculation really wrong?'
But immediately, he dismissed that sliver of doubt.
Unlike Jiraiya, he operated based on evidence.
Whether the Third Kazekage was truly alive or Ryuji created a new one aside...
But puppets with souls, capable of independent thought and action... without soul transfer technology, that was simply impossible.
So Ryuji definitely had soul transfer technology; he just didn't want to trade with him.
Orochimaru pondered deeper.
'Did Ryuji not want to trade, or did he think the offered price insufficient?'
After a moment's thought, Orochimaru believed it was the latter.
Everything in this world could be traded. If not, the price was insufficient.
But Hashirama's cells were the most valuable bargaining chip he could offer. If that wasn't enough, what else could he offer for trade?
Sharingan?
Byakugan?
No, no, the Byakugan couldn't be offered.
Though with enough ruthlessness, obtaining a Byakugan wasn't impossible, but doing so would certainly cause an uproar throughout the village.
Whether he could avoid suspicion was uncertain.
Moreover, the Byakugan's strategic value was immense. Offering it as a bargaining chip to another village was foolish.
At least, in Orochimaru's view.
Just one Byakugan was more valuable than so-called soul transfer technology.
He couldn't make such a losing deal.
Then use Sharingan?
Besides Hashirama's cells, he only had one three-tomoe Sharingan given by Danzo for research.
But would that be enough?
Though the outside world mythologized the Sharingan, it wasn't that powerful in reality.
Its 'invincible in one-on-one' reputation was conditional on opponents lacking powerful secret techniques or Kekkei Genkai.
If the Sharingan faced the Byakugan or equally ranked secret Kekkei Genkai, try being 'invincible in one-on-one' then?
Forgot how Uchiha Setsuna was defeated?
"Orochimaru-sama..."
The voice from across brought Orochimaru back from his thoughts. He looked up. "What is it?"
"Actually, I really don't have soul transfer technology."
"..."
Orochimaru opened his mouth, then closed it.
He knew unless he offered a price that tempted the other party, words were useless.
The other wouldn't admit it.
"What I actually have is soul creation technology."
"Oh."
Orochimaru replied indifferently, then picked up his teacup for a sip.
And then...
"Pfft!"
As he set the cup down, Orochimaru suddenly spat out all the tea in his mouth.
Luckily, Ryuji anticipated this and stepped aside earlier, or he'd have a face full of tea now.
Orochimaru, unaware of his lapse, stared wide-eyed at Ryuji, voice trembling. "What did you just say?"
'Hooked.'
Ryuji's lips curled slightly upwards. He spoke unhurriedly, "Soul creation technology."
"Soul creation technology!?"
Orochimaru repeated the phrase incredulously, trying to confirm if he was hallucinating.
But no matter how many times he repeated it aloud, what reached his ears was 'soul creation technology', not 'soul transfer technology'.