"Congratulations, Amane. Although it's just a small country, you successfully defeated a Village Kage and even captured him alive."
Amane sat on the ground, her face pale. Yakushi Kabuto walked over slowly, a hint of admiration in his gaze behind his glasses.
To be honest, this exceeded Yakushi Kabuto's expectations. Prior intelligence hadn't mentioned that the Grass Shadow was a Jinchuriki; his actual combat records in history were far too few.
"That is indeed the Grass Shadow; I didn't expect him to be defeated."
At this time, Karin and her mother were also brought over by Yakushi Kabuto. Seeing the Grass Shadow bound by Golden Chains and completely unconscious, they felt as if they were in a dream.
They couldn't believe that the Uzumaki clansman they met today was so powerful, but why did she still maintain the appearance of a child?
As for Karin, once she confirmed it was the Grass Shadow, her red eyes filled with worship as she looked at Amane.
"Thanks for the compliment, but that nearly killed me. As the price for your faulty intelligence this time, guide me in Medical Ninjutsu when we get back."
Amane said while placing one hand on the Grass Shadow's chest, seemingly doing something.
Although she had wondered if the faulty intelligence was intentional on the part of Yakushi Kabuto or Orochimaru, upon closer thought, it didn't fit their personalities; it was likely impossible.
If they wanted to confirm her strength, they had already done so countless times over the past year.
Aside from the Rasengan lineage, Orochimaru knew almost all of Amane's skills, especially those related to Sealing Jutsu.
"Medical Ninjutsu? Are you sure you need it?" Yakushi Kabuto said, completely puzzled.
If someone bites her, she can heal them; if she bites herself, she can heal herself. Why bother learning Medical Ninjutsu?
But Kabuto was a smart man and immediately understood Amane's meaning: "You want to control this healing power? Hmm, alright. After we return, I'll give you some basic scrolls first. Come find me once you've learned them."
The matter was settled, and then Kabuto began to ask Amane what she was doing to the Grass Shadow.
Amane didn't hide it either, clearly stating that she was making a Sealing key, intending to see exactly what was sealed inside him.
Why make a key instead of forcing it open? Naturally, it was because sending a living Grass Shadow back had more value to Orochimaru than a mere corpse.
After all, when living under someone else's roof, one should do what they can to please the boss.
"According to the records, about five years ago, a group of Grass Ninjas on a mission discovered it in the wild."
"Even while heavily injured, that white snake still slaughtered more than half of them."
"In the end, the current Grass Shadow purchased a sealing scroll at a high price to capture it. After bringing it back to the Village and discussing it, he chose to seal it within himself."
Kabuto slowly recounted the information he had just obtained regarding this. Then he saw Amane close her eyes, her expression gradually becoming calm.
This was the signal that she had entered the Sealing Space.
But Amane soon woke up and said, "It seems this fellow is quite unwilling. Shall we head back now?"
"Of course, but not back to the base. We're going to the Sound Village. Kimimaro and the others are there, and it's time for everyone to meet you."
Matters related to the Sound Village had always been the responsibility of Kabuto and Kimimaro, while the work assigned to Amane was basically assisting Orochimaru with experiments.
Although Amane would occasionally handle some tricky missions with Kimimaro during this year, she had indeed never participated in the construction of the Sound Village.
[Everyone?]
Amane had also used the experimental subjects she saved to collect a lot of intelligence. Currently, Orochimaru's Sound Village had taken in many war orphans and ninja families that hadn't joined the national system for various reasons.
Of course, this wasn't pure charity, but rather gathering these people to raise them like venomous insects.
The strong could become Orochimaru's power, and the failures could also become Orochimaru's "power." Through Orochimaru's flowery words and coercion, every single one of them was willing.
This was where Orochimaru was formidable. He could always find all sorts of talents from some unknown corner to serve him.
On the journey to the Land of Rice Fields, because two civilian Uzumaki Clan Members were added, the speed inevitably slowed down a lot.
Momohime was originally a bit afraid it might lead to a scolding, but she didn't expect that Kabuto and Amane wouldn't mind at all, resting when it was time to rest.
It was this kind attitude that finally gave Karin the courage to speak to Amane. Amane's very friendly response made Karin completely fall for her, and she began to talk incessantly.
In this process, while Momohime felt relieved and happy, she also realized something was wrong.
That was the issue of Amane's age. Why hadn't she changed back even at this point? Why was her interaction with her daughter Karin so ordinary? Moreover, Kabuto's attitude toward Amane didn't seem like that of a peer or an elder.
So, one night, Momohime finally quietly asked Kabuto.
And Kabuto naturally wouldn't lie, which, besides making Momohime feel embarrassed, also made her sincerely admire this child who was the same age as her daughter.
Momohime simply couldn't imagine what Amane had gone through to possess such powerful strength and intellect at an age similar to her daughter's.
Just like that, a few days later, the four finally arrived at the Sound Village in the Land of Rice Fields.
"Not bad, Karin. It seems your talent is quite good; just like this, concentrate your Chakra by following the power points during movement."
Karin was panting, but she was very happy in her heart.
Not only because Amane's teaching on how to refine Chakra over the past few days had yielded results, but also because of the joy that these results were recognized by her "Master."
"Yes! Amane-sensei!" Karin said with full energy.
[Sensei... Well, it's okay. I hope you won't be so boy-crazy in the future.]
Thinking about Karin's personality in the future of the original work—how she could humbly forgive Sasuke with just an apology after being stabbed by him—Amane wanted to see if she could change it.
Amane felt that the reason the original Karin was like that was, firstly, because Momohime died too early, and secondly, because Sasuke's appearance was a classic hero saves the beauty moment. Plus, he was handsome.
In that case, she would try her best to improve Karin's strength. With Momohime still alive, even if a hero saves the beauty moment were triggered, she probably wouldn't be so boy-crazy.
"Although I said you're probably older than me... never mind, superiority is determined by mastery. If you're free, you can try tree climbing, but be sure to stay safe and don't practice in places that are too high."
"Our Uzumaki Clan has a lot of Chakra, so we need to practice Chakra control while we're young and have less of it; otherwise, it will become increasingly difficult to control in the future."
This was one of the reasons Amane guessed, after her own cultivation, for why Naruto had poor Chakra control in the original work.
If one doesn't develop that feeling while their Chakra volume is low in childhood, they can only go down the path of mindless damage-dealing in the future. While that's not impossible, most Sealing Jutsu would essentially have to be abandoned.
"Welcome back, Amane. This must be that Karin, right?"
A familiar, sinister voice echoed in her ears, and Karin felt a surge of panic as if she were being watched by a snake. With just one glance at those golden vertical pupils, a full-body tension of fear replaced her previous energetic cheerfulness.
"Hello..."
But Karin still mustered her courage and gave a polite greeting.
"Hmm, a very polite Young Lady, and she looks quite clever too. Welcome to my Sound Village."
Amane really wanted to complain about how he could tell she was clever.
She watched as Orochimaru's eyes looked at Karin, then at Momohime, and finally at the Grass Shadow who had been dragged all the way by Yakushi Kabuto.
She understood that Orochimaru was in an excellent mood right now; the harvest from this trip was truly abundant.
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