Except for the Hyuga clan, even high-level ninjas would find it difficult to unleash their chakra to create a whirlwind-like explosion. Only the truly powerful could achieve this. From what Orochimaru knew, his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, could do it, and he himself could as well after performing the necessary hand seals.
But the person in front of him, this individual who could effortlessly unleash such immense chakra... Orochimaru went through his memories but couldn't recall any information about him. There were powerful ninjas in the shinobi world, yet none of them matched the person before him. Could he be someone from Konoha's hidden forces?
Orochimaru squinted his golden vertical pupils and chuckled, "Heh, you certainly have some strength. However, this is Konoha. If anyone knew of your existence, they wouldn't let you leave so easily."
Hyuga Mirai scoffed, "Don't waste your efforts. If you don't report me, no one will find out about me. I've come to make a deal. If you show hostility without even asking what technique I hold, and the deal fails, you'll regret it, Orochimaru."
As expected, he still didn't like the unmodified snakes.
"Such confidence. It's a shame you won't even reveal your name." Orochimaru's words were cut short as Hyuga Mirai threw a scroll toward him.
Swoosh!
Orochimaru instinctively threw out a snake from his sleeve, wrapping it around the scroll before retracting it to his hand.
"This person really doesn't follow the script." Before he could finish his words, Mirai had already thrown the scroll at him. Orochimaru used his senses and found no traps on it, so he slowly opened the scroll with narrowed eyes.
Edo Tensei!
It appeared to be an enhanced version of the Edo Tensei technique, with three methods of binding the summoned bodies listed within the scroll. However, the details were concealed by a sealing technique.
"Impressive sealing technique. Even in Konoha, there are few who could surpass you in this." Orochimaru chuckled hoarsely. This forbidden technique, even on Konoha's forbidden jutsu scroll, was something that could not be obtained. He had found a reference to it in the second Hokage's notes and had originally planned to collaborate with Danzo to acquire it. Now it seemed he could skip that partnership.
But why would this person have a forbidden technique created by the second Hokage?
With that thought, Orochimaru's suspicion toward Hyuga Mirai slightly decreased. If he was an outsider, Orochimaru would certainly find a way to kill him, no matter how strong his abilities were. However, outsiders wouldn't easily obtain and perfect such a forbidden technique. Furthermore, the enormous amount of chakra he held—everything pointed to him possibly being from the Senju clan.
"Then, what do you want to exchange for this technique?" Orochimaru asked. If it had been any other technique, he wouldn't have shown much interest, but Edo Tensei was different. Bringing the dead back from the pure land... there could be secrets about immortality hidden in it.
"Hashirama Cells and the Eight-Tails' horn," Hyuga Mirai said decisively. "I know you have both. Exchanging Edo Tensei for those will be a good deal for you."
"Looks like you know a lot about me." Orochimaru's mood darkened. This person seemed to have investigated him thoroughly. Except for the Senju clan, no one else could have such strong intelligence-gathering abilities.
After a moment of thought, Orochimaru agreed to the request. "Alright, I accept the deal. Please, follow me, Mirai-san."
Orochimaru had previously obtained the Eight-Tails' horn. He had hoped to use it to replicate a tailed beast, but it would take too long. By the time he was old, he might not have even been able to replicate half of it, so trading it away was no big deal. As for Hashirama Cells, he still had plenty. Trading some of them was fine. He was also curious to see what this suspected Senju would do with them—perhaps the Senju clan's research on Hashirama Cells would surpass his own.
After receiving the Hashirama Cells, Hyuga Mirai was ready to leave, but Orochimaru suddenly stopped him and asked, "Mirai-san, are you also studying Hashirama Cells? We could exchange research experiences; it would benefit both of us."
Hyuga Mirai immediately declined, "Forget it, Orochimaru. Right now, you're just taking a gamble with Hashirama Cell transplants. But if you agree to one thing, I'll tell you a much better method for transplanting them, one that's far superior to your methods."
"What is it? Mirai-san, after all, I'm a Konoha ninja." Orochimaru reminded him, indicating that while he might make small moves for the research, he would never agree to anything that put him in direct danger.
"Take Hyuga Mirai of the Hyuga clan as your disciple and teach him everything you know. If you can do that, I'll teach you how to use natural energy as well," Hyuga Mirai said.
"The Hyuga Mirai of the Hyuga clan?" Orochimaru was initially stunned. Hyuga Mirai—He didn't know much about the Hyuga clan. Apart from Hyuga Hizashi, he had only heard of a few of the branch family members.
This "Hyuga Mirai" was even more unknown to him, but he figured he wasn't a member of the main family. Orochimaru was somewhat familiar with the main family members, but he had never heard of a "Hyuga Mirai."
"If he's willing, I'll take him as my disciple, Mirai-san."
"Alright, I trust you, Orochimaru. Here is the method for transplanting the Hashirama Cells. Once you take Hyuga Mirai as your disciple, I'll also teach you how to use natural energy," Hyuga Mirai said as he threw a scroll, one he had prepared earlier, to Orochimaru. Afterward, he turned to leave, adding one last line before walking off.
"If you can't manage it, then get ready to run for your life."
"Heh, quite the tone," Orochimaru remarked lightly, but his wariness toward Hyuga Mirai did not fade.
His priority now, however, was to verify whether the experiment method was correct. If it was, then it would be a huge win for him.
"...Cultivating a new gene sequence, allowing the fusion of the two cells, eliminating segments through experimental research...there's even this method."
After reading, Orochimaru, integrating his own research ideas, quickly came up with numerous new ideas. He couldn't wait to rush back to the laboratory and test his thoughts. If the method worked, there would no longer be any secrets about the Hashirama Cells for him, and the same would go for the Uchiha's Sharingan.
And as for natural energy, that should be related to Sage Mode, right? Mirai-san even provided that; it seems he truly belongs to the Senju clan. After all, apart from the First Hokage, there probably isn't anyone else in the ninja world who can use Sage Mode as proficiently as he did.
Having been teammates with Tsunade for many years, Orochimaru knew a lot about the First Hokage. Coupled with his research into the Hashirama Cells, he was sure that Senju Hashirama had mastered incredibly powerful Sage Jutsu.
"Heh, Mirai… it should be Senju Mirai, right? I wonder why he asked me to take a Hyuga branch family member as a disciple. But if this Hyuga Mirai is special, I can study him closely," Orochimaru thought as he made up his mind.
He may have lost in the competition for the position of the Fourth Hokage, but he was still one of the Sannin. In terms of both strength and status, very few could match him within Konoha.
If Orochimaru decided to take a branch family member of the Hyuga clan as a disciple, even if Hiashi Hyuga learned of it, he would not stop him. After all, to make a fuss over a branch family member would only harm the Hyuga clan.
Having left Orochimaru's laboratory, Hyuga Mirai had no real interest in touring Konoha anymore. He had left a base behind in the form of 'Hyuga Mirai,' so for now, he would leave the village and find somewhere to stay.
Hyuga Mirai glanced toward a tree, where several crows with bright black eyes were staring at him.
"Ugh, so annoying."
Swish! He threw a few shuriken, piercing the crows' bodies without a sound. After quickly dispatching a few of the birds, Hyuga Mirai left the area. It wasn't long before Uchiha Shisui arrived, noticing the crows were dead. He frowned, realizing the person was long gone.
He buried the crows and immediately activated the Body Flicker Technique, rushing toward the Konoha building. A potential spy had infiltrated the village, and this was something that the Hokage must know.
The following morning, Hyuga Mirai suddenly jolted awake, staring at his hands in shock. He kept turning them over, as if trying to find something.
"That dream... it was so real, it's hard to believe."
Even he found it hard to believe that, in his dream, he had practiced the Gentle Fist all night long, moving from the Eight Trigrams, Two Palms to the Eight Trigrams, One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms, and even the Eight Trigrams, Heavenly Rotation and Air Palms techniques.
"It must have just been a dream, haha, looks like I'm just too eager to get stronger, even dreaming of training," he mused, trying to comfort himself. But the dream had felt so vivid that, even now, he could still remember the details clearly.
"I should have just been dreaming... just a dream."
Repeating these words to himself, he grabbed his toothbrush and began his morning routine. However, during his wash, he couldn't help but think back to the dream.
"Maybe... I should try practicing later, or ask Kiyo-sama about it."
(End of Chapter)