"Heh... the Sound Four and Kimimaro, as expected, have become your stepping stones."
Looking at Izayoi who had appeared before him, Orochimaru didn't panic. Instead, he let out a hoarse laugh. On his bandage-covered face, his yellow, vertical pupils were filled with heat and greed as he said, "I guessed that you were an Uzumaki or Senju descendant with Intergenerational Bloodline Awakening, but I didn't expect you to be even more outstanding than I imagined. Not only do you possess Ninjutsu talent that rivals the Second Hokage, but you've also awakened the Kekkei Genkai of the First Hokage."
"What surprises me even more is that you clearly awakened Wood Release long ago, yet you knew how to hide it. After Tsunade took office, you immediately seized the opportunity to quickly become Konoha's hope... This is beyond what precociousness and deep scheming can achieve. I think that in addition to the Senju bloodline, you are also a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, having awakened the Kagura Mind's Eye and personally witnessed much of Konoha's darkness."
Orochimaru's tone was full of certainty in the last sentence.
Orochimaru, who had planted many spies in Konoha, had easily grasped more detailed information about Izayoi.
For the first six years, he was unremarkable. In the next six years, he was inseparable from the Main Family's young lady of the Hyuga Clan, a Minato-style commoner Genius.
He had thought that his pursuit of the Hyuga Clan's young lady was to climb the Hyuga Clan's high branches and complete a class leap.
But he didn't expect that all of this was just his disguise.
He had awakened Wood Release long ago, knew his own specialness, but endured without revealing or showing off. Instead, he bided his time, waiting until his strength reached the level of a trump card before slowly revealing his talent.
Only after a clansman became Hokage and could become his backer did he completely expose his true trump card.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen this time to expose Wood Release. He should have used Wood Release to subdue the Sand Village's One-Tail Jinchuriki during the Chunin Exams.
That would have been the most suitable stage.
Understanding all of this, Orochimaru's evaluation of Izayoi in his heart far exceeded Minato Namikaze and Kakashi Hatake, and even his younger self didn't even have the qualifications to carry his shoes.
So, without waiting for Izayoi to speak, Orochimaru said with a smile, stating his guess, "You came to me alone to take my head and pave the way for yourself to become the Sixth Hokage?"
Izayoi didn't know that in Orochimaru's eyes, he had already become an extremely scheming and calculating fellow.
After listening to Orochimaru's analysis, Izayoi couldn't help but applaud, sincerely praising, "As expected of Orochimaru-sama, you guessed that I possess both the Senju and Uzumaki bloodlines with just this little bit of information."
Whoosh—
Just then, a blur appeared behind Izayoi, the green light so dazzling in the dim room.
"Orochimaru-sama, run quickly!"
Yakushi Kabuto's voice sounded as the Chakra scalpel in his hand went straight for Izayoi's nape.
Unfortunately, he didn't know how terrifying a Wood Release Ninja who didn't need to weave hand seals was.
Izayoi didn't move, and suddenly a wriggling sensation came from behind him. Then, several wooden vines extended out, like octopus tentacles, binding Yakushi Kabuto's limbs and body.
Blue Chakra immediately flowed along the wooden vines into Izayoi's body.
Seeing this scene, Orochimaru's expression suddenly became fanatical as he said, "Absorbing Chakra, as expected, it's orthodox Wood Release!"
Wood Release is an all-around Kekkei Genkai.
Not only is it integrated with offense and defense, but it also has exaggerated range scene techniques, as well as the ability to fly, escape, and seal.
However, this is only the perception of the world.
Only the old monsters from the First Hokage's era, the higher-ups of Konoha, and Orochimaru, who had conducted the Wood Release Experiment, knew that the truly strongest ability of Wood Release was actually Chakra absorption.
Once entangled by tree branches, Chakra would be quickly absorbed, becoming nutrients for the trees to grow and increase their toughness.
The greater the enemy's Chakra, the stronger the power of Wood Release.
Fighting against a Wood Release Ninja means you get weaker the more you fight, while they get stronger. How could you possibly win?
That's why the Tailed Beasts became playthings for the First Hokage.
Seeing that Izayoi's Wood Release also had the ability to absorb Chakra, Orochimaru immediately determined that he was definitely not an experiment created by Konoha, but a true descendant of the Senju.
At that moment, in Orochimaru's eyes, Izayoi became an even more perfect vessel for Reborn than Sasuke Uchiha.
If he could seize Izayoi's body, with his knowledge, Izayoi's talent, and Kekkei Genkai, Orochimaru wouldn't fear Itachi Uchiha, or even the Akatsuki Leader with the Rinnegan.
However, Orochimaru also knew that with his current strength, he was no match for Izayoi.
But fortunately, he still had a backup plan.
Orochimaru quickly calmed his emotions, looked at Izayoi, who had effortlessly subdued Yakushi Kabuto, and said with a smile, "Izayoi-kun, Kabuto was just anxious to protect his master and had no malicious intent. My current body is on the verge of collapse, and it seems I won't be able to Reborn. How about we make a deal? I'll give you my head, and you spare Kabuto's life."
"Orochimaru-sama..." Yakushi Kabuto widened his eyes, tears of emotion streaming down his face, his acting superb.
If Izayoi didn't know why Orochimaru wasn't afraid of death, he might have been fooled by these two guys.
After quickly draining Yakushi Kabuto's Chakra and using wooden vines to tie him up like a dumpling, Izayoi was just about to speak.
Another afterimage appeared out of nowhere beside him—Sasuke Uchiha.
"Sasuke-kun..."
Looking at Sasuke Uchiha, who had suddenly appeared with Three-Tomoe Sharingan eyes, Orochimaru was slightly stunned, then his eyes became fiery again.
Two perfect Reborn vessels appearing before him at the same time had an impact on Orochimaru no less than throwing two unconscious, naked beauties in front of a starving pervert.
If he hadn't lost all his Ninjutsu and his body wasn't on the verge of collapse, unable to exert even a tenth of his strength, Orochimaru would have taken a gamble, even if Izayoi was a Wood Release Ninja and Sasuke Uchiha had evolved his Genjutsu eye.
"What a disgusting look..."
Noticing Orochimaru's gaze, Sasuke Uchiha got goosebumps all over his body and said with disgust, "Is this guy really trustworthy?"
"Don't worry, Orochimaru-kakka is very reputable," Izayoi said with a smile.
Hearing this conversation, Orochimaru's eyes flashed instantly, and he smiled, "It seems Izayoi-kun isn't here to kill me."
"I never said I was here to kill you, Orochimaru-kakka," Izayoi said with a smile. "Although I don't know why you would think that, you should be very clear that Wood Release has already paved the way for me. Your head is just icing on the cake."
"Hehe... you have a point," Orochimaru nodded in agreement, smiling. "So, you brought Sasuke-kun to me because you need my help with something?"
"That's right, I'm here to make a deal with Orochimaru-kakka."
Izayoi nodded, then took out two scrolls from his body and handed them to Sasuke beside him.
Sasuke Uchiha instantly understood, took the scrolls, opened them, made hand seals, and took out the contents.
With two *poof* sounds, as the smoke dissipated, a White Zetsu Clone and a metal Combination Lock Box appeared.
Orochimaru's gaze focused on the White Zetsu Clone, his expression surprised. "This is... Zetsu!"
"It seems Orochimaru-kakka knows this kind of creature. This thing is called Zetsu?" Izayoi pretended not to know, saying, "This guy's ability is very special. He can merge with the earth and vegetation. If I didn't have Wood Release and he wasn't hiding in the dark spying on me, I wouldn't have been able to discover him."
"Hehe... this is a clone of a member of Akatsuki called Zetsu," Orochimaru came back to his senses, looked at Sasuke Uchiha, and said with a smile, "Akatsuki is the mercenary organization that Itachi Uchiha joined after he defected."
Sasuke Uchiha's eyebrows furrowed slightly, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes as he remembered the name of this organization.
"This guy's body is a bit special; it's a gift I'm giving to Orochimaru-sama."
Izayoi crouched down, pried open the White Zetsu Clone's mouth, and smiled at Orochimaru, "Orochimaru-sama's current body should completely collapse in a few days. How about transferring into this body ahead of time?"
"..."
Orochimaru fell silent.
However, looking at the smiling Izayoi, he knew he had no choice.
Thus, the bandages on Orochimaru's face instantly snapped, and he opened his bloody mouth, spitting out a White Phosphorus Serpent, which shot towards Izayoi and Sasuke Uchiha.
Sasuke Uchiha was taken aback and subconsciously took a few steps back.
Izayoi, however, pried the White Zetsu Clone's mouth open even wider, his smile undiminished.
The yellow vertical pupils quickly scanned Izayoi and Sasuke Uchiha a few times, and then the White Phosphorus Serpent obediently burrowed into the White Zetsu Clone's mouth.
Immediately, the White Zetsu Clone's body wriggled, and its skin changed to a human skin tone at a speed visible to the naked eye, and clothes appeared out of nowhere.
Before long, the White Zetsu Clone turned into Orochimaru's appearance.
"This body..."
Orochimaru, who had successfully transferred, slowly stood up, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Apart from Izayoi, no one knew Orochimaru's current mood.
It's still that saying, there is no perfect Ninjutsu in this world.
The Living Corpse Reincarnation, the weakness is also very obvious.
When fighting for the body with the container, the container will generally resist. At this time, Orochimaru needs to fight against it in the spiritual space, and the spirit and soul will be weakened.
Even if the container does not resist, after the Reborn is successful, Orochimaru will fall into a period of weakness, which is the soul adapting to the new body.
But now, Orochimaru doesn't have any side effects.
The spirit and soul have not weakened, and the soul does not need to adapt to the new body, as if... this corpse is Orochimaru's original body before he learned the Living Corpse Reincarnation.
Even more incredible is that this body is just a clone.
Zetsu has a big secret!
Orochimaru instantly realized this and couldn't help but stick out his tongue, his smile playful.
As expected of an organization with the Sage Eye, it seems there are still many unknown secrets.
At this moment, Izayoi's laughter came to his ears.
"It seems Orochimaru-sama likes this body very much."
Turning to look at Izayoi in front of him, who was calm and composed, or rather, didn't take him seriously at all, Orochimaru first narrowed his eyes slightly, and then smiled in a hoarse voice, "Hehe... I like Izayoi-kun's gift very much, so... what kind of deal do you want to make?"
And Izayoi's next words caused Orochimaru to instantly lose control of his emotions.
"Does Orochimaru-sama want to undo the Dead Demon Consuming Seal?"
"Huff..."
Orochimaru breathed rapidly and said, "Does Izayoi-kun know the solution?"
"I didn't know originally, but not long ago I found a member of the Uzumaki Clan, and then I knew," Izayoi lied without batting an eye. "The Dead Demon Consuming Seal is a sealing technique of the Uzumaki Clan, sacrificing one's own soul to summon the Death God to seal the target's soul, a forbidden technique of ultimate one-for-one exchange."
"Then what's the solution?" Orochimaru asked quickly.
"The solution is to find the legendary Death God Mask, let a guy be the sacrifice to summon the Death God, sacrifice his own soul, and retrieve the soul inside the Death God's stomach." Izayoi hooked Orochimaru like a bigmouth bass, spreading his hands and smiling, "As for where the Death God Mask is, I don't know."
"I see..."
Orochimaru was slightly dazed, half believing and half doubting.
However, Izayoi's words gave him a direction.
Next, as long as he investigates the secrets of the Uzumaki Clan, he will know whether it is true or false.
Thinking of this, Orochimaru's mood improved, and he couldn't help but smile, "This information is very important, so what do you need me to do for you, Izayoi-kun?"
"I want something, and... help me perform an operation on Sasuke."
Izayoi entered the password and opened the metal Combination Lock Box.
"This is... Hashirama Cell!"
Orochimaru recognized this thing at a glance, subconsciously ignoring the previous words, and looked at Izayoi meaningfully: "If I remember correctly, most of this thing is in Danzo's hands, right? That guy, wasn't he killed by the Leader of Akatsuki? Izayoi-kun, do you really not know White Zetsu?"
"I don't know him, I found this at the Hokage Building." Izayoi was still lying without batting an eye, and smiled, "Thanks to that guy with the Rinnegan, if he hadn't destroyed the Hokage Building's sensory barrier and made a big fuss inside, I wouldn't have been able to sneak in and get the scroll of Wood Release Ninjutsu, and this thing."
"I see."
Orochimaru suddenly understood again, and finally knew why Izayoi, this Genius with Intergenerational Bloodline Awakening, knew Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees.
It wasn't inheritance, but stolen by sneaking into the forbidden technique library.
Sasuke Uchiha understood even more where Izayoi got those Genjutsu scrolls and Fire Release scrolls, as well as the Darkness Genjutsu forbidden technique.
Looking at the Hashirama Cell, and then at Sasuke Uchiha, who had the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, Orochimaru smiled, "It seems that Izayoi-kun knows a lot of things."
"Yes, so don't do anything funny." Izayoi showed a gentle smile and said words that made Sasuke Uchiha feel safe, "If I find out that you are doing anything funny, I will kill you all."
Although there was no Chakra aura erupting, Izayoi's words made the room, which was built underground and already gloomy due to the dim light, instantly become colder.
Especially Yakushi Kabuto, who was instantly killed, couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
He was able to maintain his confidence even in front of Kakashi Hatake and Tsunade.
Orochimaru also felt a strong sense of oppression.
He had only felt this kind of oppression from Itachi Uchiha and Deva Path Pain.
This kid is indeed fully fledged.
But on the surface, he also showed a gentle smile and nodded, "No problem, it's just a small matter."
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