The snake shook its head, dropping the dead Root member on the ground. Then, it opened its mouth toward Amane and spat out a young man with short white hair.
In Amane's perception, only a sliver of Chakra remained in this person's body to sustain his life. The rest was Chakra injected from the outside, likely to forcibly prolong his life.
Now that he had been spat out of the snake's mouth, this supply was cut off.
One minute! If he wasn't replenished, Hohzuki Mangetsu would die right here on the spot.
[The butterfly effect, huh? The situation in Kirigakure is much better.]
Feeling a sense of emotion, Amane stepped forward and offered her arm to Hohzuki Mangetsu's mouth.
With a sharp sting, Amane felt her Chakra begin to flow rapidly into Hohzuki Mangetsu's body through the painful spot.
In just a few seconds, Hohzuki Mangetsu's own Chakra was restored. Furthermore, the emaciation caused by not eating properly for a period of time had improved significantly.
"As expected. Women of the Uzumaki clan possess the ability to convert their own Chakra into a Yang-natured healing power. This power even works on themselves."
The sinister voice she had heard years ago in the Root's underground echoed. This also made Amane realize that her Kagura Minds Eye truly could not detect him.
"Sigh... As expected of Lord Orochimaru, one of the Sannin. So, how do you plan to deal with me?"
Amane spoke helplessly; in fact, she truly was helpless.
She only found out that night that ever since she had encountered Orochimaru with a Shadow Clone that day, she had been under his surveillance.
As expected, the Land of Water is a dragon's den and a tiger's lair.
"Deal with you? How cruel. I've never had such a thought. My purpose was stated very clearly inside that sealed gate, and I have no intention of changing my mind."
While speaking, Orochimaru had already "revived" Hiro, whom he had just killed. He likely used the same technique as the one used to deliver intelligence before.
Time went back to five hours after she prepared to crack the sealed gate, when the Water Clone looked toward the "nuclear explosion" in the distance.
"It's done!"
After the sound of the explosion, the Water Clone heard the cheers of two Shadow Clones at the same time. It seemed that the Super Five-Way Combined Guardian Seal had been broken.
And since the three of them hadn't disappeared, it proved that the original body over there hadn't been affected by the "nuclear explosion."
The two Shadow Clones pushed open the gate. To their great fortune, it indeed contained countless Kirigakure techniques and some extremely important historical records.
If the people of Kirigakure found out that Amane had broken into this place, she would undoubtedly be on their lifelong hit list, and it would very likely trigger a war between the Land of Water and the Land of Fire.
But unfortunately, the result of Amane's five hours of work was the creation of a "key" for the seal.
Ensuring that all the alarm mechanisms remained exactly as they were when she arrived and when she left.
The only thing to be careful of was not to leave any traces proving Amane had been there. Otherwise, even if someone noticed something was wrong, they would only think it was the work of an Akatsuki member.
[Good grief, there was an explosive formula hidden behind the door. If I hadn't used the 'key' to unlock it, this place would have blown sky-high.]
After Amane entered, she looked back and thought to herself.
Clap, clap, clap... However, just as Amane was about to start looting, the sound of clapping reached her ears, making her hair stand on end!
"Subarashii. To have such high attainment in Sealing Jutsu at such a young age, no wonder you could break the Cursed Seal Danzo placed on you."
"You are! Orochimaru!"
Her eyes couldn't help but glance at the other Shadow Clone, who had been maintaining Kagura Minds Eye and was also wearing a look of surprise.
"Don't be nervous, child. I know this is a Shadow Clone, and I also know your original body is at Mei Terumī's base."
Saying this, Orochimaru ignored Amane's darkening expression. After a series of Hand Seals, countless small snakes slid out from under his clothes and began to crawl around.
Their targets were all the records here. After the snakes approached the records, they bit into them one after another, and the sound of countless techniques being broken immediately echoed in the room.
Orochimaru pointed to a scroll and said, "That should be what you want."
"And then use that as leverage to blackmail me?"
Amane said.
"You truly are an interesting child. From my observations of you during this time, you don't seem like someone from Root at all. You possess a mind, execution, and caution far beyond your age. Could it be... is Minato inside you?"
Amane's Shadow Clone even knew Obito, so how could she not know her parents' names? Moreover, this happened in this life; the two of them had even called out to each other when they died.
But Amane remained expressionless, knowing this was Orochimaru's test.
It seemed that Orochimaru had seen all of Amane's actions. His coming to find her today was very likely because he had some schemes, so at the very least, she couldn't let him control the pace completely.
"No abnormality in heartbeat, no change in body temperature. Heh heh heh, fine. Then, Young Lady, are you interested in coming with me?"
Orochimaru got straight to the point and stated his intention.
"To become your test subject? I at least know why you defected."
It wasn't just because of the Hashirama cells experiment, but for his own immortality Ninjutsu. He captured Ninjas from his own village and gathered children from the surrounding areas along with Danzo.
This was what created the existence of Kinoe.
"Exactly. I am very interested in your bloodline, your talent, and your status as a successful transplant of Hashirama cells. For the sake of my ambition, I deeply desire your help."
Orochimaru maintained that gentle smile, just as he did years ago. Then, very calmly, he stated his purpose and reasons.
This was the truth. Orochimaru's intelligence had also been conveyed through Amane, so she naturally knew that this Sannin was not lying to her at this moment.
Hmph! It seems even my personality has been figured out.
"Interesting. Then what is my reason for agreeing? You must have thought of it before appearing before me."
Amane showed an interested smile, waiting for Orochimaru to continue.
"Uzumaki Tian Yin."
Her name was suddenly called, but this wasn't enough to make Amane lose her composure; rather, it was to be expected.
Since he had even investigated her personality, then through the alias used at the base and his direct exposure of Amane breaking the Cursed Seal just now, a fact could naturally be deduced.
"You know exactly who you are, don't you?"
Orochimaru walked over slowly and continued, "I don't know how you found out, but if that's the case, your motivations can be explained very clearly, including your purpose."
His footsteps stopped. Having said this, Orochimaru glanced behind him. Amane's Water Clone had just arrived, looking ready for action.
"I can help you return to Konoha, and during this time, I will fully guide your training, making your Sealing Jutsu, Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu even stronger. What you need to do is assist in my experiments, confuse Danzo's eyes and ears, and occasionally let me draw some blood."
Orochimaru finished presenting his chips. Through his surveillance and investigation of Amane over these days, he had already figured out what this child desired in her heart.
Choosing to seal the Tongue Binding Seal rather than eliminate it directly proved Amane's purpose.
And although he wouldn't dare speak of her IQ just yet, at least she dared to think about the situation in Konoha and how to better achieve her goals.
When the situation evolved to the base's combat power being weak, Amane didn't start a massacre according to Ding's instructions. The Shadow Clone she left behind beforehand even chose to help Mei Terumī and others, proving she possessed good, positive emotions in her heart.
With the above results, Orochimaru used this method to make Amane help him willingly.
"Appealing to interests, filling the heart, persuasive guidance, appropriate fear and deterrence, and then presenting the path to the desired object before others' eyes—this is far more sophisticated than Root's methods."
"Lord Orochimaru, if I chose not to agree now, you would probably take direct action against my original body, right?"
Amane turned around, picked up the scroll Orochimaru had just pointed to, and continued as she brought it before him, "In that case, I ask Lord Orochimaru for some guidance."
His golden, snake-like vertical pupils couldn't help but contract.
"Uzumaki Tian Yin, you truly exceed my expectations. I now believe Minato is not by your side; this is not his style."
This was making him take the blame for something that couldn't see the light of day; Amane was counterattacking.
[Not bad, not bad. It's getting more and more interesting.]
Orochimaru took the scroll.
He then controlled all the snakes from before to record all the information in this room. After returning everything to its original state, the two of them left the Sealing Chamber.
This was the origin of what was happening now, after everything was settled.
Looking at the familiar face with a gentle smile and Kimimaro, who wasn't even as tall as Orochimaru's waist, Amane chose to wave at Kimimaro and ask, "Do you still remember me?"
Kimimaro was momentarily dazed by the sudden question, but after Amane repeated what she had said to him that night, he suddenly realized.
"You two know each other?"
Kimimaro naturally answered the question Orochimaru asked seriously.
Watching this scene, Amane suddenly felt a sense of being in the same boat; there was really no fundamental difference between her and Kimimaro now.
"I see. But why didn't you stop this child back then?" Orochimaru asked with great interest, while also showing a bit of a tendency to stir up trouble.
If Amane didn't answer well, Kimimaro's favorability would decrease.
"Because of his eyes. I could see his loneliness, so how could I stop the only thing he wanted to do at that time? Compared to death, living meaninglessly is even more terrifying. For this reason, people keep searching for meaning while they live, don't they?"
Amane indicated that she had a script, and that last sentence was indeed her true thought, so the effect was outstanding.
Not only was Kimimaro deeply moved, but even Orochimaru couldn't help but feel a sense of resonance as he smiled and said, "I really look forward to our time together."
Kimimaro and Orochimaru's favorability has increased.
Amane felt as if she heard this voice line in the dark.
Then, at Orochimaru's suggestion, the two of them introduced themselves.
"My name is Uzumaki Tian Yin. What's yours?"
Amane spoke first.
"Kimimaro. Nice to meet you."
Kimimaro smiled and nodded at Amane.
"Then come with me. My work in the Land of Water is finished. Also, Amane, you've been noticed by a guy in the Akatsuki Organization named Zetsu. He specifically gave me the news that you were here."
Zetsu?
Amane pondered in her heart.
[If it's just Zetsu, Obito probably doesn't want to keep targeting me.]
If Naruto wasn't the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, from the original work, Obito wouldn't have specifically targeted Naruto, as evidenced by when they went to chase Sasuke vs. Itachi.
This is a good thing. If Obito were determined to act, even if Orochimaru truly wanted to protect Amane, it would likely be difficult.
Then she couldn't help but glance at Orochimaru.
Current Orochimaru hasn't developed things like the Cursed Seal yet, and after he has it, the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique will appear.
[Only then will I truly be in danger. After all, Kimimaro will get sick later. But if I tell Orochimaru about Zetsu, maybe...]
It probably still won't work. Orochimaru has to get over his addiction to the Sharingan first.
[But then again, would Orochimaru really set his sights on me? Forget it, I can't figure this out. In any case, I still have no choice; I can only face it positively.]
"What do you want me to do about Danzo's side?"
Looking at the corpse that acted like a normal person, Amane asked.
"Do nothing for now. Danzo can't even protect himself at the moment. Just follow his instructions and go to the Land of Hot Springs. I happen to have a base there as well."
With that, the three of them had no further conversation and followed Orochimaru to the base in the Land of Water.
As soon as they arrived, Amane saw that man.
Big Brother Jackie Chan, Yakushi Kabuto.
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