Hidden Leaf Village forest, in an abandoned training ground, the four of them stared blankly at the young man in the field, his voice, like the whispers of a demon, constantly echoing in their ears.
"Defying fate..."
Hiruko subconsciously echoed, these words held a fatal attraction for him, like a moth to a flame, but a slight sense of incongruity made him react immediately.
"What's going on? Who exactly is this guy? Why is he here? Should we go get someone?"
Just as he was hesitating, Orochimaru took the lead in asking, "Excuse me, what is 'defying fate'?"
"Simple." Shin'yu said indifferently, "If your own Innate Potential is not strong, then find a way to snatch someone else's, turn someone else's power into your own, this... is the correct path to becoming stronger, and it is also the essence of 'Chakra'!"
"This... this is just too outrageous..." Tong Ren felt cold sweat all over his body as he listened. This was vastly different from the knowledge taught in school. Whether it was teachers or seniors, they all said that one could become stronger through cultivation, but what the person in front of him said was simply absurd!
"You mean, seizing the power of others for one's own use is the path to becoming stronger?" Orochimaru frowned and asked.
"Do you remember the black-faced man from back then?" Shin'yu asked rhetorically, "He was dismembered by me time and time again, why do you think he didn't die?"
Orochimaru was suddenly shocked. He had personally witnessed that mind-shaking, worldview-*overturn*ing scene back then, and it was still vivid in his mind.
Shin'yu answered his own question, "Because he has many hearts, each heart giving him fresh vitality. These hearts, of course, were all stolen. As long as he keeps replacing his hearts, he will never die."
The pupils of the four little ones trembled in unison. This way of survival was simply appalling, and the methods were extremely cruel.
"Of course, he's just a reference. There's more than one way to become stronger, for example..."
Shin'yu held up a finger, "Liberate the soul from its own weak body and transplant it into a stronger body. I prefer to call it 'Body Seizing'. If the flesh ages, then replace it with a younger one. Repeating this cycle, one can become an existence that even time cannot erode, constantly exploring the mysteries of eternal life in the eternal years;"
"Or, for example, start from the genetic level, using the body as a furnace, directly fusing and seizing more excellent genes, gathering all rivers into the sea, until transcendence. And these excellent genes, I would like to call 'Innate Potential'..."
He suddenly turned his head and "looked" at Nian and Tong Ren, "Certain Bloodline Limits are good choices."
Tong Ren sat down on the ground with a thud, not because of Shin'yu, but because he noticed that Orochimaru and Hiruko were both looking at him.
A deep darkness swallowed their figures, leaving only two pairs of golden lamp-like bright eyes. For a moment, their gazes were strange and cold, without the slightest emotion, as if they wanted to devour him alive!
"Lying... you're lying, right..."
He was sweating profusely, his eyes full of disbelief.
"If there's such a shortcut to becoming stronger, then what's the point of working hard to cultivate? No, that's not right! This method is inherently about seizing the good fortune of others, sacrificing others to complete oneself. Even if one becomes stronger, one will inevitably have blood on their hands along the way, it's too vicious..."
"Shortcut? Little Tong Ren, you're still too naive." Shin'yu spread his hands, "What I'm saying now is just conjecture and theory, only providing possibilities. How to actually achieve it is an incredibly long and lonely road, and those who dare to embark on this road not only need courage, but also effort and talent are indispensable."
"But..." Shin'yu revealed a mysterious smile. Orochimaru was stunned. From his perspective, this smile was a bit sly, with a familiar feeling, as if someone also often showed this expression.
"There's a saying that goes, 'Standing on the shoulders of giants, one can see farther.'" Shin'yu's voice was full of temptation, "Someone has already stepped over the threshold of this road in advance, and his research results are currently in Hidden Leaf Village..."
"What?"
Hiruko's heart skipped a beat. At this moment, he felt that his breathing was about to stop.
"Where?" He completely forgot his fear, quickly got up from the ground, and looked up at the god-like man, "Please tell me, where is this result?"
For some reason, he was very interested in the second conjecture the man had said.
Innate Potential... Innate Potential...
Gathering all rivers into the sea, forging eternity...
This crazy idea, like a seed full of vitality, took deep root in his mind, sprouting and growing wildly, almost breaking through his reason.
"Hiruko, have you ever raised birds?"
"Huh?" The sudden turn of events made Hiruko swallow his saliva. He looked up at the tall figure merging into the sunlight, his heart pounding. He even ignored the fact that the other party could directly call out his name.
"No, I haven't." He opened his mouth, his throat dry.
Shin'yu carried his hands on his back, his tone light, "If you keep stuffing food into the chick's mouth, even if it sheds its soft beak and its wings are full, it will still be a useless bird that only knows how to open its mouth and ask for food."
Hiruko swallowed his saliva, his face unsightly, and he understood Shin'yu's implication.
Shin'yu said leisurely, "I can only remind you that these things are related to a mysterious laboratory. The things inside, let's call them 'Treasure' for now. Finding it and bringing it to me will be considered my test for you."
Orochimaru took a deep breath. As intelligent as he was, he had already realized something.
"I just want to ask, what is the price for obtaining this 'Treasure'?"
"Relatives and friends see you as an enemy, Hidden Leaf Village sees you as a Rogue Ninja, the higher-ups issue endless pursuits against you, and from then on you become the target of verbal criticism in the village, even children hate you and discard you like worn shoes..." Shin'yu thought seriously for a moment, "That's probably it."
This news shocked a few people, and Orochimaru even took half a step back.
Only by defecting from the village can one become stronger?
Hiruko didn't speak, just silently lowered his head. No one saw the strange firmness flashing in his eyes.
Shin'yu said softly, "If you really have the courage to take this step and successfully obtain the 'Treasure', then I will naturally appear, sincerely accept you, provide you with a place to live, and cultivate you as confidants."
Orochimaru's expression was calm, "Perhaps, that's your purpose."
"I naturally have my needs too." Shin'yu said as a matter of course, "Remember the Innate Potential I just mentioned? It has nothing to do with strength. You few all have this potential. In my eyes, you are all considered good material, and you may be of great help in the future."
"Are there even things that you can't accomplish?" Orochimaru was a little surprised.
"A single tree doesn't make a forest." Shin'yu's tone revealed unfathomable depth, "Leave professional matters to professional people, it can save a lot of time."
Orochimaru was thoughtful, and suddenly noticed a gaze staring at him. He turned his head slightly and caught Hiruko's dodging eyes.
"A test...?"
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