In the Ninja World, the existence of the soul is an undeniable truth. But what truly governs a person's memories—the soul or the brain itself? That's a question worth exploring.
Amemiya Kenichi was eager to investigate this. He wanted to test whether the habits he'd instilled in Yuki through rigorous training would remain effective even after his teacher, Orochimaru, underwent Immortality Reincarnation.
This was a serious scientific inquiry.
However, before Kenichi could even reach out, Orochimaru turned to face him, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"What are you doing?" Orochimaru eyed his disciple warily. As one of the Three Great Sages, he maintained a basic level of caution even toward his own student.
This wasn't about trust; it was simply a ninja's ingrained instinct.
"Teacher, I noticed a gray hair on your head," Kenichi said smoothly. He had genuinely spotted the gray hair using his Sharingan.
It was an excuse he'd prepared in advance, and now it proved useful.
It was a shame. Kenichi had been eager to test the Pavlov's dog theory in the Ninja World, and perhaps even investigate how the soul influences physical memory. But then his teacher, Orochimaru, had turned around.
Guess that's out the window.
"White hair?" Orochimaru paused, surprised. His current body was supposed to be young; white hair shouldn't be appearing yet. Could this be a side effect of the Immortality Reincarnation?
The thought sobered his expression.
"Pluck it out for me," Orochimaru instructed. He intended to examine the hair and determine its cause—whether it was a sudden change or something else entirely.
Orochimaru always approached matters related to his immortality project with utmost caution. If any issues arose, he needed to identify and resolve them promptly. That was the best course of action.
The Immortality Reincarnation technique was his own creation, still in its initial experimental phase. Naturally, there might be some kinks to work out.
Kenichi blinked, then felt a surge of excitement. He'd just been lamenting the missed opportunity for his test, and now the chance had landed right in his lap.
With lightning speed, Amemiya Kenichi reached out and plucked the white hair before his teacher could change his mind, casually patting Orochimaru's head in the process.
Hmm, just feels like patting a normal head—nothing special. And it's warm, so he's definitely alive.
Not that it was a surprise. Orochimaru could still refine chakra and eat normally; he couldn't possibly be dead.
Kenichi carefully observed his teacher, trying to gauge his reaction.
But Orochimaru seemed perfectly normal, showing no reaction whatsoever. Kenichi felt a twinge of disappointment. It seemed the prolonged lack of stimulation had allowed Orochimaru to break free from whatever hold that sensation had once had on him.
"Teacher, your white hair," Kenichi said, handing it over. Orochimaru took the strand and left to study it.
Watching his teacher's retreating figure, Kenichi scratched his head. Just before leaving, Orochimaru had casually entrusted him with a scroll, instructing him to deliver it to the Akatsuki in the Land of Rain.
It seemed another trip was in order. Before leaving, Amemiya Kenichi decided to pack his raw materials, planning to continue researching the optimal formula for his thermobaric explosive while traveling.
Kenichi felt a sense of urgency. War between Kumogakure and Konoha seemed inevitable, and when it broke out, countless ninja would be deployed. Kenichi's goal was simple: to test the destructive power of his thermobaric bomb in a real-world combat scenario.
What better testing ground than the battlefield itself? Kenichi couldn't think of a more suitable location.
Time was short, and the mission was critical!
After Kenichi departed, Orochimaru stared at the white hair in his hand, lost in thought.
When his disciple had plucked the strand earlier, an inexplicable numbness had swept through his body, leaving him puzzled.
Orochimaru was certain he didn't have any underlying medical conditions. It was probably just a natural reaction to having a hair follicle forcefully removed.
Dismissing it, Orochimaru focused on a more pressing question: Why was his newly transplanted body already showing signs of aging? White hair shouldn't be appearing on a ninja of his age.
"I wonder if Akatsuki has recruited any other ninjas yet," Amemiya Kenichi mused with a sigh. "But Kakuzu is absolutely essential. Without him, Akatsuki's progress would stagnate."
He was hurrying toward the Land of Rain, having rested only briefly the previous night before setting off again.
Few members were as dedicated to Akatsuki as he was—he was practically Akatsuki's version of Gin.
Fortunately, Akatsuki hadn't yet reached the point where Gin was surrounded by spies. The only openly known spy, Uchiha Itachi, probably hadn't even started perching on telephone poles yet.
And recruiting Kakuzu would be a major boon. Akatsuki simply couldn't function without him, any more than the Western world could afford to lose Jerusalem.
Lost in thought, Amemiya Kenichi slipped across the border into the Land of Rain.
There were fewer ninjas patrolling the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain now, but the patrol frequency had increased. Amemiya Kenichi understood why.
Konoha didn't want to have to watch their backs while they were already busy dealing with Kumogakure.
The Land of Rain probably wouldn't dare provoke Konoha, and thankfully, the war hadn't escalated. That was a relief.
"Life must be tough in the Land of Rain," Amemiya Kenichi murmured, watching the peasants toil in the fields to earn a living.
Even after Hanzō's downfall, life in the Land of Rain remained unchanged. The Akatsuki's presence had brought no improvement.
But in these times, simply living peacefully without the constant threat of war was probably happiness enough for them.
As the saying goes: "Better to be a dog in times of peace than a man in times of chaos."
While passing through a town, Amemiya Kenichi noticed a food vendor by the roadside. She was a woman of indeterminate age, with a few wrinkles but not many.
Her wares were intriguing: small, round, black cakes.
"Excuse me, what are these?" Amemiya Kenichi couldn't help but ask.
He hadn't eaten lunch yet, and while he could have a Soldier Pill, they didn't taste very good.
"Earth cakes," a calm voice replied.
It was Konan.
Amemiya Kenichi turned his head and immediately saw Konan standing next to a ninja.