Starting as an ordinary servant, he slowly accumulated strength.
In the early stage of Qi Refining, he tested pills for others to earn five and a half spirit stones; in the middle stage, he was backstabbed while exploring a cave dwelling; forty years into the late stage, he only managed to save enough for a single Foundation Establishment Pill.
Finally, after 108 years, his spiritual energy liquefied, and he entered the Foundation Establishment stage.
But the Foundation Establishment stage brought its own set of obstacles.
If the cultivation method was flawed, he changed it.
If his lifespan was running out, he used demonic arts to extend it.
If the sect found out, he defected and embraced the demonic path.
His title: the Ghostly Evil Rogue Cultivator.
Standing proudly beneath the Myriad Soul Banner, Orochimaru licked his lips. His desire for immortality could never be extinguished, no matter the hardships.
But heaven does not always grant what man desires.
During the Golden Core Lightning Tribulation, he was overwhelmed by karmic debt due to his use of demonic arts.
The heavens roared, and thunder shook the nine firmaments.
Moments before the myriad lightning bolts struck, Orochimaru slowly regained consciousness.
Motomu's Dream Eater, held to its absolute limit, finally came to an end.
A massive surge of pure life force—more than half of Motomu's original vitality—flowed into the Big Eyeball.
Suppressing the urge to scream in pure bliss, Motomu kept his eyes glued to Orochimaru's every move.
"A realm of dreams and swirling clouds... Is that the fourth Sage Region?"
A low, raspy voice escaped Orochimaru's lips.
Suddenly, Orochimaru sat up on the stone platform and began coughing violently.
Motomu tensed up, knowing this was the side effect of Dream Eater stripping away one percent of his life force.
He hurried forward to support Orochimaru.
"Teacher, what did you see?"
"This Dream-Entering Technique... its cost is quite significant."
Orochimaru looked at the blood on his hand from the cough, suppressing his internal shock as he replied with a trembling voice.
"It matters not."
"How could one seize the providence of heaven and earth without consequence?"
"My master's cultivation has reached the Golden Core stage, catching a glimpse of the heavenly secrets."
"The ninja world may be vast, but it is merely one of the three thousand minor worlds."
"Disciple, did I speak incorrectly?"
He believed it? He actually believed it!
Motomu's hand trembled slightly as he supported Orochimaru, putting on a mask of disbelief.
"Teacher, what are you saying?"
"Isn't that Sage Region just a cave with a skeleton sitting inside?"
A strange look flashed in Orochimaru's eyes before he came to a sudden realization.
Wasn't that scene the ancient cultivator's cave dwelling he had explored during his Qi Refining period?
Just as he had picked up the Object Manipulation Technique in that cave, enemies had found and pursued him.
It seemed he understood more about that world than his disciple did.
Orochimaru pondered for a moment and came to a conclusion about Motomu's peculiar ninjutsu.
"Disciple, what lies beyond the cave?"
"There... there's nothing else!"
"As soon as I picked up that mysterious technique, I was chased down and killed."
Just as he thought!
Orochimaru let out a light chuckle and formed a hand seal according to the cultivation method.
He waited for a moment.
Nothing happened.
'Is it because I lack spiritual power?'
Orochimaru recalled the natural energy Motomu had mentioned earlier. Countless research topics immediately flooded his mind.
[RESEARCH: NATURAL ENERGY AND THE DIFFERENCES FROM SPIRITUAL ENERGY]
[RESEARCH: EXCAVATION OF THE DAN TIAN]
[RESEARCH: PROPORTIONAL COMBINATION OF SPIRITUAL ENERGY AND NATURAL ENERGY]
His thoughts were chaotic, so Orochimaru decided to start his research immediately.
The old man Hiruzen's missions? Nothing was more important than cultivation and immortality.
The position of Hokage? Let Jiraiya have it if he wants it.
What did any of that have to do with Orochimaru—no, with the Ghostly Evil Rogue Cultivator?
After dismissing Motomu and the Root members, Orochimaru dove into his laboratory and immediately began his research.
...
Back at home.
Feeling his life force overflowing.
Motomu couldn't wait to start refining chakra.
One hour.
Two hours.
It wasn't until late into the night that Motomu slowly stopped the refining process.
The increase in volume was staggering.
The effect this time was even stronger than when he had drained Uchiha Haru dry.
During his match with Kakashi, fifty Reflect walls used up more than half of his chakra.
Now, the chakra required for fifty Reflect walls was only a tenth of his total capacity.
'If I do this a few more times, I'll be invincible!'
A mere one percent of life force would naturally recover in a few months.
If everyone in the ninja world gave him one percent of their life force...
Wouldn't he soar and become the god of this world!
Motomu switched his vision, watching the Big Eyeball working hard to grind levels under the moonlight.
His thoughts returned to the present.
'What does it matter if my life force is strong and my chakra is plentiful?'
The ninjutsu he knew were still common techniques like Mud Wall.
His chakra couldn't even utilize his advantages properly.
Instead of wasting more effort on this, it was better to let the Big Eyeball level up quickly.
Based on current Psychokinesis calculations—30 Special Attack times 40 grams of body weight...
It could already lift over a kilogram.
The Senbon Cannon reaching supersonic speeds was now a reality.
Next, one of Motomu's plans was to practice the Summoning Jutsu and see if he could become self-sufficient.
Second was to find out what was going on with Kakashi's father.
If something was really going to happen, Motomu wanted to be of some help.
He wanted to see if the dream world could influence Sakumo's decision and change his suicidal fate.
As for the current Orochimaru...
Motomu chose to wait and see; the probability of successfully cultivating immortality was low.
Even if he did find results, it wouldn't be within the next few years.
Early morning.
The sky was just beginning to brighten as light rain fell under a blanket of dark clouds.
To the sound of Obito knocking on the door, Motomu put the Big Eyeball back in.
He opened the door to see a frantic Obito.
Motomu paused, then asked.
"What's wrong?"
"Brother! Uncle Sakumo committed suicide!"
BOOM!
A flash sparked within the thick, impenetrable clouds, followed by a low rumble of thunder.
The autumn rain pitter-pattered against the black eaves of the Hatake residence.
Outside the funeral hall, Motomu and several of his young friends gathered once again.
Looking at Kakashi, who had been kneeling for seven days.
Motomu didn't know what to say.
Everything had happened too fast!
Just seven days ago, he had been thinking about how to help, and then the tragic news arrived.
"Kakashi will pull through."
Amidst the silence, the ever-cheerful Guy was the first to speak.
"How can those people be so despicable!"
"Uncle Sakumo only failed the mission because he saved them!"
Obito's resentful voice carried a deep sense of confusion.
Is this how good people are rewarded?!
Motomu watched as the thoughtful Rin and Anko stepped forward to comfort the young Kakashi.
He felt a pang in his chest as well.
Sakumo, who had treated him to a meal and prioritized the lives of his comrades, was dead.
Such a top-tier expert had died in such a miserable way.
Should good people be driven to their deaths?
And who was the culprit behind all this?
Motomu knew.
Aside from Danzo, who acted as the scapegoat, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi, who allowed it to happen, was also one of the killers.
A victim of a power struggle, Hatake Sakumo had done nothing wrong.
He was simply too strong, a threat to the Third Hokage's faction.
Moreover, perhaps he had discovered the truth behind the schemes.
He likely chose suicide so that his son, Kakashi, could grow up safely.
Motomu was not a man of many words.
He preferred to be thorough in his actions.
Decaying fossils like Danzo and the Third Hokage... in his eyes, they were just like Uchiha Haru, already destined for the grave.
During these seven days, besides coming to visit Kakashi...
He hadn't let the Big Eyeball's leveling slack for even a moment.
It was now a frequent visitor to the Forest of Death.