Knock, knock, knock!
The sound of knocking echoed through the silent laboratory.
Orochimaru's raspy voice rang out.
"Enter."
"Teacher, I've mastered it!"
"Good, I see."
Orochimaru's reaction was surprisingly calm.
Motomu saw that he only gave a slight nod while continuing his experiment.
He didn't seem to have any other thoughts on the matter.
"Teacher Orochimaru, may I ask you a question?"
"Why... why did you take me as your disciple?"
A two-second silence followed.
Orochimaru, who was recording data, paused his pen.
"Motomu-kun, do you not wish for me to be your teacher?"
"No, I'm just curious. Why would someone from the Hokage's lineage take in an Uchiha like me?"
Motomu's voice was laced with doubt, as if he truly couldn't wrap his head around it.
"Motomu-kun, your thinking is just like the Third's—too rigid!"
"Ninjutsu, knowledge, and secret techniques shouldn't be hoarded by just a few individuals."
"My dream is to achieve immortality and then learn every ninjutsu in the world."
"In exchange for the Summoning Jutsu..."
"...would you be willing to teach me your unique technique?"
As Orochimaru stared intently at his right eye, Motomu finally understood the man's surface intentions.
'He wants to learn my Psychokinesis?'
What was Orochimaru's ultimate pursuit?
To learn all ninjutsu, master the truths of the world, and become an ultimate being who transcended time.
That part was certainly true.
It had been mentioned in the original series Motomu had watched in his past life.
If his memory served, Orochimaru's philosophy was born from the deaths of his parents and his student, Nawaki.
Based on that, what Orochimaru was saying was likely eighty percent sincere.
Right now, it was simply that Orochimaru knew his Psychokinesis was released through the Sharingan.
And he wanted to study that power.
'Am I really supposed to let my dear teacher dissect Big Eyeball?'
That was out of the question!
He looked at Orochimaru.
The man's attitude was so sincere that it sent a chill down Motomu's spine.
'I have to find a way to trick him!'
For someone who pursued ultimate truth and immortality...
Should he actually set such a determined fellow on the path of Immortal Cultivation?
A bold idea suddenly flashed through Motomu's mind.
If he used Hypnosis to construct a dream world...
And filled that dream with the xianxia web novels from his previous life...
Natural energy.
Heh, with Orochimaru's dedication to research, he just hadn't found a path yet.
Who knows? He might actually be able to refine natural energy as if it were spiritual qi!
"Teacher Orochimaru, is ninjutsu truly the only power that exists in this world?"
"Or rather... is there only one world?"
"How much do you know about the Three Great Sage Regions?"
Orochimaru's golden, slitted pupils suddenly constricted.
He hadn't expected such words from the child standing before him.
"Intriguing. Your perspective on the world is quite surprising, Motomu-kun."
"But what does this have to do with your technique?"
Motomu's voice remained low. Ignoring Orochimaru's question, he continued his steady narration.
"The Sage Regions aren't the only way to come into contact with Senjutsu."
"Natural energy isn't a power exclusive to snakes, bugs, slugs, or toads."
He watched as Orochimaru fell into deep thought, frowning.
Motomu's mind was racing so fast it was practically throwing sparks.
'It seems Orochimaru hasn't discovered the Cursed Seal or Jugo yet?'
However, seeing him think so seriously rather than looking bewildered...
Motomu guessed he already knew about natural energy and Senjutsu.
Having confirmed Orochimaru's current level of knowledge...
Motomu felt everything become much easier.
Next, he just had to wait for Orochimaru to take the bait!
"Is Senjutsu your special way of using the Sharingan, Motomu-kun?"
Hearing Orochimaru still obsessing over the Sharingan...
Motomu blanked for a moment.
He could use Big Eyeball's Psychokinesis even without activating the Sharingan.
He had only used the Sharingan in previous battles to observe his opponents better.
Since that was where his focus was...
All he had to do was mislead his attention and shift the focus away from Big Eyeball.
Without saying another word...
Motomu raised his hand, and the pen Uncle Snake had set down instantly took flight.
"Teacher, did I use the Sharingan just now?"
Orochimaru stared at Motomu intently.
Indeed, Uchiha Motomu had performed that unknown technique without activating his eyes at all.
He couldn't help but applaud.
"Motomu-kun, is this a technique you developed yourself?"
'You fell for it!'
Seeing the inquisitive look in Orochimaru's eyes...
Motomu knew his plan had achieved its first objective.
At the very least, from now on, Orochimaru wouldn't be constantly staring at his Sharingan.
Whether he could completely hoodwink Orochimaru next depended on one key thing...
Whether his chakra would hold out and if his Hypnosis was up to the task.
"Teacher, you flatter me too much. At my age, I can't even perform the Three Basic Jutsu properly."
"How could I talk about creating my own ninjutsu?"
Motomu shook his head, denying Orochimaru's suggestion.
Then, shifting his tone, he asked a question in return.
"There are Three Great Sage Regions like Ryuchi Cave—why couldn't there be a fourth?"
"Or rather, to the Sage Regions, isn't the ninja world itself a 'Sage Region' in its own right?"
"Since someone like you can be summoned by a Sage Region, why couldn't someone else?"
"Are you implying...?"
Was there really a fourth Sage Region, or was he just spinning a yarn?
Orochimaru didn't deny it.
He simply waited in silence for Motomu to continue.
Judging by Orochimaru's half-smile, Motomu knew he had to present something next that would force the man to believe!
"Teacher, I have a method to commune with the fourth Sage Region once."
"For this method, you only need to enter a dream."
Orochimaru was skeptical, but in his heart, he was already seventy percent inclined to believe.
A six-year-old child who hadn't even graduated from the Academy...
Was no more likely to invent a new ninjutsu than a new Sage Region was likely to appear.
And a six-year-old could never fabricate such a theory out of thin air.
Either he had someone backing him, or... he was telling the truth.
Guided by his investigative spirit, Orochimaru agreed without hesitation.
Half an hour later.
Inside a dim cave within the Anbu base...
Several elite Root members wearing oni masks set up a barrier.
On the stone platform in the center, Orochimaru lay ready.
Looking at the security force surrounding them...
Motomu knew it was time to witness a miracle!
He attempted to cast Hypnosis.
There was no resistance; Orochimaru was successfully hypnotized.
But controlling a dream with just Hypnosis was too difficult.
To keep the dream from collapsing, Motomu couldn't modify the environment on a large scale.
However, Motomu still had an ace up his sleeve.
Dream Eater, activate!
Crack! A corner of the dream reflecting Orochimaru's daily life fractured.
Motomu forcibly controlled Dream Eater, slowing the speed as much as possible to exploit a system bug.
Hypnosis created the dream, while Dream Eater devoured it.
The devouring process, while the skill was active...
Meant that even if the dream world was turned upside down, it would persist until it was completely consumed.
At the same time.
Inside the dream, Orochimaru looked up as if sensing something.
The scenery of the Konoha streets transformed into streaks of multi-colored light and flashed past his eyes.
His clothes turned into coarse hemp robes.
An ancient mountain gate appeared before him.
Countless youths, seemingly in the same position as him, stood quietly by his side.