If it's the Cult of the Evil God, then creating an immortal body definitely tracks.
Even if Hidan—their most successful creation—hasn't been born yet, their experiments have certainly been ongoing.
The Cursed Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood... once you acquire your target's blood, you can establish a link, draw a ritual circle, and then curse them to death. It's the kind of technique that's almost impossible to defend against.
Such a bizarre and powerful technique naturally piqued Uchiha Kaien's interest.
If he could learn this jutsu himself, then whether he used a phantom beast to mimic the target or had a clone execute the curse, it could become a devastating trump card.
In other words, as long as Kaien could gather enough of his opponent's physical traces during battle—whether it be residual chakra or a strand of hair—and simulate their blood, their life would effectively be in his hands.
The only problem was: how would he acquire such a technique? After all, his current persona was that of a well-behaved, righteous youth.
And this wasn't some video game where you could just loot rare skills off defeated enemies.
So after a brief moment of fantasizing, Kaien brought himself back to reality.
At the end of the day, you have to rely on your own strength. Even without such strange and deadly jutsu, his personal power was already formidable.
Still... if Orochimaru got his hands on that cursed technique, his combat potential would skyrocket.
The combination of Orochimaru's body-switching jutsu and Death Controlling Possessed Blood... Kaien was intrigued by the possibilities. Hopefully, this trip to the Land of Hot Water would yield something worthwhile.
"So that's how it is, Orochimaru-sensei? Then let's get going!"
"Oh, and once we're back... could I ask you to speak with the Hokage about promoting me to Jonin?"
As soon as Kaien mentioned becoming a Jonin, a bright light lit up his eyes. His fists clenched with excitement, and the sight made Orochimaru chuckle softly.
Faced with his long-absent student's anticipation, Orochimaru wasn't about to discourage him. He raised a hand and ruffled Kaien's hair—it was still just as smooth and soft as before.
"Of course. We'll go see Hiruzen-sensei together. You've earned the promotion."
"But why are you so eager to become a Jonin, Kaien?"
"To break the record, obviously! No one my age has ever become a Jonin in Konoha yet, right, Orochimaru-sensei?"
"That's true."
At least, Orochimaru couldn't recall anyone that young ever achieving that rank.
Back when he was Kaien's age, he had the strength of a Jonin—but had never thought much about the promotion itself.
"Once I make Jonin, every newcomer after me will have to look up to me like I'm a mountain!"
It was such a pure, confident ambition. Orochimaru smiled even wider. He was genuinely pleased with Kaien's answer.
This was how a child should be—full of vitality, untouched by the pain of war or the burdens of life, not seeing peers as rivals, just moving forward according to his own goals.
[Affection from Orochimaru +3]
"Yes. When we get back, you'll become a Jonin."
That was Orochimaru's promise—and in a way, a validation of his own younger self.
This child reminded him so much of his own youth. Tsunade and Kushina. Jiraiya and Minato. Himself... and Kaien. It felt like history was looping once again.
Orochimaru lifted his gaze to the sky, a flicker of reflection in his eyes.
The sky remained bright and blue, the breeze gentle and constant, the sun rose every day without fail. This endless cycle—this fate—made him think deeper.
If one could live forever, they could learn all the ninjutsu in the world. See sights no one else ever had. The windmill doesn't always spin because of the wind... sometimes, it's the rain. The relentless, never-ending rain that builds into a flood and forces it to move.
Gazing into the unreachable distance, Orochimaru spoke softly. "Kaien... are you interested in exploring immortality with your sensei?"
"Immortality... you mean, to live on forever, Orochimaru-sensei?"
"Exactly."
"Then yes. That's been my dream since the beginning..."
Kaien reached out and clasped Orochimaru's hand. It wasn't rough like he'd expected—it was smooth and soft. The hands of a man devoted to research.
The image of "scientist Orochimaru" popped into Kaien's mind immediately. At the same time, he was carefully tracking the location of the black snake he had released earlier.
Orochimaru felt something stir within. Immortality might seem like a fantasy, but so many others longed for it too.
The problem was, most people gave up because the path was too unclear. But he refused to surrender. Even if there was no roadmap, as long as he kept researching, one day—there would be results.
Something shifted. Orochimaru could feel it—a subtle shackle in his mind quietly fell away. His body felt lighter. His spirit sharper. Everything in front of him suddenly felt clearer.
Legend says the White Snake Sage has lived for a thousand years. The Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku as well. Could the key be... natural energy?
He thought of Jiraiya, always going on about Sage Mode.
Maybe it was time he studied it seriously.
If natural energy could prolong life, then that was the true core behind Sage Mode—far beyond what Jiraiya ever realized.
Jiraiya, you're still trapped by that vague prophecy. You'll never become the wind if you keep believing in fate. Those who trust destiny are often its playthings...
While Orochimaru was caught in contemplation, Kaien hadn't been idle either. He'd long since released the black snake, now marked with the Flying Thunder God seal—the design based on the pattern of his Mangekyō Sharingan.
The black snake had already slipped past Kumogakure's borders and was speeding toward a distant village.
...
"It's time to teleport, Orochimaru-sensei."
As Kaien activated the Flying Thunder God technique, the seal on the snake began to glow.
A moment later, both Kaien and Orochimaru appeared outside the borders of Kumogakure.
Their escape was complete.
From there, Orochimaru led Kaien toward Yugakure in the Land of Hot Water.
As for the intel on the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, there was no need to report it to Konoha right away.
The major war was over. There was time to figure out how to deal with Jinchūriki in the future.
Besides, after enduring Kaien's genjutsu torture, Blue B likely wouldn't last much longer. Within the next six months, it was highly possible that the Eight-Tails would be assigned to a new host.
A weakened Jinchūriki whose spirit had already broken... wouldn't be able to contain a fully-restored Tailed Beast. Without Kaien's ongoing suppression, the Eight-Tails would no doubt be simmering with rage.
Kaien had confidence in his genjutsu. Even the Eight-Tails had no clue who that mysterious figure was—the one who came every so often to harvest its will.
That was the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, and the ability known as [Alluring Gaze].
But now, their main goal was to locate Uchiha Kagami, who was still in hiding somewhere nearby.
To avoid raising suspicion, Kagami had gone to great lengths to conceal himself—becoming a citizen of Yugakure and slowly gathering intel on the cult known as the "Evil God Church." This made him exceptionally difficult to track down.
...
"Hm? That's... a summoning signature?"
Kaien suddenly sensed a familiar chakra ripple.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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