Two weeks later.
Shingetsu was tinkering with something in Orochimaru’s laboratory when a faint rustling sound made him stop.
A slender white snake crawled onto the desk, opened its mouth, and spat out a scroll.
Shingetsu carefully wiped the damp fluid from the scroll with a towel before opening it.
“Shingetsu-kun, my saliva is tasteless and very clean.
Orochimaru-sama never minds.”
The little white snake did not leave.
Its childlike voice made it hard to tell whether it was male or female.
“Even if you do mind, at least don’t show it in front of me…”
Shingetsu glanced at it.
“Aren’t you leaving?”
The white snake sighed in an eerily human way.
“Because Shingetsu-kun doesn’t know the Summoning Technique, I spent an entire week crossing the war zone to deliver this valuable intelligence to you.”
“By the rules, you owe me at least two chickens.”
One of the conditions for the snakes of Ryūchi Cave to accept a summoning was that they received an offering each time they helped.
A snake like Manda, who required human flesh and blood, would only be summoned by Orochimaru on the battlefield.
Most other snakes only asked for animals.
But normally…
Shingetsu frowned slightly.
“Can’t you just ask Orochimaru-sensei for that?”
The white snake shook its head.
“Starting today, Orochimaru-sama has assigned me to follow you.
From now on, you’re responsible for my offerings.”
Orochimaru only had two white snakes like this, special ninja snakes he had raised since they were still embryos.
Anything one of them swallowed could be transported through space into the other white snake’s stomach.
Follow me…
No way.
Is Orochimaru-sensei so broke he can’t even afford to feed one snake?
Does it eat even more than I do?
The white snake clearly read the meaning in Shingetsu’s eyes and said in a muffled voice, “It’s not what you’re thinking…”
“Orochimaru-sama said you’d need me after reading the scroll.”
Shingetsu turned his gaze back to the scroll.
They had only just returned to the village when Sakumo received a summons to the battlefield, so Shingetsu had asked him to take the Earth Grudge Fear to Orochimaru for research.
It was not because he wanted to present something valuable to his sensei.
Rather…
He did not know how to charge the thing.
Without chakra over a long period, that mass of Earth Grudge Fear would die in his care.
He could not squeeze out his own chakra, and having Sakumo try had not worked either.
When Sakumo’s chakra touched the Earth Grudge Fear, the already sluggish Earth Grudge Fear twitched a few times and almost died on the spot.
He could not exactly go ask Kakuzu either.
If he made Kakuzu handle the after-sales service, the man would definitely fight him to the death.
Orochimaru did not let him down.
Even while on the battlefield, he solved Shingetsu’s problem.
[Based on my analysis, the essence of the Earth Grudge Fear is an altered fusion of chakra and flesh, a product of biological modification and life-plundering technology.
It differs from ordinary living beings.
Even ninja with a single elemental attribute possess trace amounts of other chakra attributes within their bodies, such as Yang Release, which makes up the body’s vitality, and Yin Release, which draws from spiritual energy.
This heart has been modified by the Earth Grudge Fear, so it can only contain Fire Release chakra through a specific method.
You need a Fire Release ninja to learn this Cursed Technique…
I have already replenished the Earth Grudge Fear’s chakra and sealed it inside the scroll.
You can have Shiro help you unseal it.
Next time, you will also need to find a ninja you trust to replenish its chakra.
Shingetsu, this technique does indeed have the potential to preserve vitality indefinitely, but it is far too sinister.
The heart that serves as its reserve core will need to be replaced.
If not for your special constitution, I would not want you to use such a forbidden technique.
I hope you remain true to yourself and do not become…]
I know you’re worried about me and afraid I’ll stray down the wrong path.
But hearing that from you feels oddly out of character…
Well, Nawaki is not dead yet.
Orochimaru-sensei, who has not become overly obsessed with ninjutsu, is still The Third Hokage’s most obedient student and the clear choice for Fourth Hokage.
…
“A reply from that kid?”
In a cave in the Land of Rain.
Tsunade stood with her hands on her hips and gave a light snort.
“Doesn’t he know you’re carrying out an important mission?
He’s still finding more work for you.
He really doesn’t know how to be considerate of his sensei!”
By the campfire, Orochimaru took the scroll from Shiro’s mouth and smiled faintly.
“Relying on one’s sensei is a good thing.
Sarutobi-sensei would say the same, wouldn’t he?”
“That old geezer…
tsk!”
The moment she thought of Hiruzen Sarutobi refusing her proposal to assign a Medical-nin to every ninja squad, Tsunade got irritated.
She was completely unaware that she had not been considerate of Hiruzen Sarutobi’s difficulties either.
She clicked her tongue and went on.
“Did you warn him that he needs to be careful with something like that?”
The three of them were operating together, and Orochimaru had even asked her for help during his research.
Without Tsunade’s involvement, they would not have solved the problem so quickly.
Compared with the Yin Seal taught by Grandma Mito, the Earth Grudge Fear’s technique for storing chakra was still a little crude.
“Yeah, that thing takes way too much chakra.
I still haven’t recovered.” On the other side, Jiraiya was grilling fish, his face slightly pale.
He was the one who had charged the Earth Grudge Fear.
Jiraiya’s chakra had far surpassed his peers’ ever since childhood.
Leaving aside special bloodlines and Jinchūriki, he could be considered top tier.
It was also because of that advantage that The Third Hokage had taken him as a disciple.
“Shingetsu is a good kid.
He won’t do anything extreme because of this technique.”
Orochimaru looked at the scroll.
On it, Shingetsu was asking him to agree to his early graduation.
The corner of his mouth curved slightly.
“Perhaps it won’t be long before he can carry out missions with us.”
“You like having disciples so much, why not go back and take Nawaki as your student too?
He’s always so noisy I can barely stand it!”
Tsunade said helplessly, “He won’t even accept an excellent sensei like me and insists on choosing you instead.
That brat has no taste!”
“That’s because you’re too fierce…
Haha, forget it, eat your fish!”
Jiraiya handed over the grilled fish.
Tsunade’s expression changed, and Jiraiya’s face paled at the same time.
Is she going to hit me over that?
She’s way too hot-tempered!
But it was not because of Jiraiya.
A slug crawled out from behind Tsunade, its gentle voice carrying a heavy note.
“Tsunade-sama…
something has happened.”
…
Konoha.
Shingetsu casually tossed the Earth Grudge Fear mask as he walked through the streets of the clan compound.
The fully charged Earth Grudge Fear is only enough for three big moves.
I should develop a few ways to use it that consume less chakra…
If hearts have an expiration date…
once this one is worn out, which Fire Release ninja’s heart would be suitable?
Aside from the Uchiha, the most famous Fire Release clan seems to be the Sarutobi Clan…
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s heart would definitely be top quality!
Hmm…
no, that won’t work.
It’s still too early to make a move against the Sarutobi Clan.
That guy’s strength isn’t something Kakuzu can compare to.
I’ll think about it later.
Maybe I’ll gain something on the battlefield.
Early graduation required a Jōnin’s sponsorship.
Orochimaru had mentioned it to him long ago, but Shingetsu had not wanted to graduate before.
Because he would have been assigned missions like catching cats and dogs, or escorting nobles.
He had no interest in that.
Now that war was about to break out, graduation meant heading straight to the battlefield, without those annoying chores.
As he was thinking, countless members rushed out at high speed from the Uchiha Police Force building not far from him.
What happened?
Shingetsu picked out one person, leapt over, and grabbed him.
“What are you…”
When he saw who had grabbed him, Fugaku shouted, “There’s no time to stop.
Follow me if you want to know!”
Shingetsu immediately let go.
As they moved, Fugaku’s expression was dark.
“The Land of Whirlpools…
has been destroyed!”