Night fell over a silent underground laboratory.
A sealing formula lit up across the floor—and in the next instant, a figure appeared soundlessly.
It was Uchiha Yuan.
A faint hiss echoed in the darkness.
Dozens of vividly patterned venomous snakes slithered out from the shadows, drawn by fluctuations of chakra. Yet strangely, though they circled nearby, none reacted to Yuan's presence—as if they simply could not perceive him.
Yuan left the entry chamber and walked down a long corridor into a laboratory filled with instruments.
On a metal operating table lay a corpse—clearly a shinobi from the Hidden Sand, judging by the forehead protector. Data cables were inserted into various points of the body, connected to surrounding devices.
Standing beside the table was Orochimaru, meticulously performing surgery.
Next to him stood a bespectacled boy, assisting with practiced precision.
Neither man reacted to Yuan's arrival.
Yuan observed silently.
After a short while, Orochimaru suddenly formed hand seals. A translucent figure manifested above the corpse—a wandering soul—and began descending toward the body.
A soul…
Yuan's eyes sharpened.
Not Edo Tensei. The soul doesn't match the corpse's appearance… This must be his prototype of Living Corpse Reincarnation.
Suddenly, a distorted wave pulsed from the corpse. The spectral soul was violently expelled, its face twisted in silent agony before it shattered and vanished.
"Failed again."
Orochimaru's deep, magnetic voice broke the silence.
He set down his tools and turned to the boy.
"Kabuto. Have you recorded all the experimental data?"
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama."
The boy bowed respectfully.
Orochimaru then turned his gaze toward Yuan.
Seeing Yuan observing the boy, Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"This is Yakushi Kabuto. A clever child. He occasionally assists me."
Yuan naturally recognized him—Kabuto Yakushi.
Seeing him reminded Yuan of Nono Yakushi.
"It's been a long time since I saw Miss Nono," Yuan said lightly.
"At the frontline camp, her care allowed my wounds to heal quickly."
"She has left the village," Orochimaru replied.
"Danzo assigned her a classified mission."
Yuan showed a trace of regret.
"She once told me her greatest wish was to return and care for the orphanage children."
He looked at Kabuto.
"If she gave you her surname, she must cherish you deeply."
Kabuto's smile was pure and unguarded.
"I love the Director the most."
"Kabuto, fetch the materials Yuan-kun requested."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama."
Kabuto bowed and exited.
Orochimaru watched him leave.
"He inherited Nono's medical aptitude. He will become an outstanding medical ninja."
"If even you praise him so highly, I must pay closer attention to the child," Yuan replied.
He then examined the Sand shinobi's corpse.
After a moment, Yuan looked back at Orochimaru.
"I saw a soul earlier. Techniques involving souls are almost always forbidden. What exactly are you researching?"
Orochimaru's gaze deepened.
After a long silence, he smiled.
"Yuan-kun, do you know what I seek?"
"Immortality. You seek the meaning of life—freedom from death."
"And how do you believe immortality may be achieved?"
Yuan considered.
"In my view, there are two types: physical immortality, and spiritual immortality—the preservation of consciousness."
Orochimaru nodded approvingly.
"Physical preservation is exceedingly difficult. Even with Hashirama cells, the body inevitably deteriorates."
(Hashirama cells—derived from Hashirama Senju.)
"So I shifted focus to the soul. Inspired by the Second Hokage's forbidden technique, Edo Tensei, I conceived a new method."
"I would transfer my soul into a younger body."
"I call it Fushi Tensei—Living Corpse Reincarnation."
He watched Yuan closely.
"What do you think?"
"A genius concept," Yuan said sincerely.
Then he added—
"But I see a flaw in the approach."
Orochimaru's eyes flickered.
"Speak."
"You treat the soul as the true self—and the body as clothing."
Orochimaru inclined his head.
"However, the soul and body appear intrinsically synchronized."
"A child's soul reflects a child. An elder's soul reflects an elder."
"In other words, one's original body is the most compatible vessel."
"If a soul inhabits a foreign body—one that does not 'fit'—unforeseen distortions may occur."
Silence filled the room.
Orochimaru's brows furrowed.
Yuan had articulated something Orochimaru himself had vaguely sensed but not fully confronted.
"You may be correct…" Orochimaru murmured.
"Then what solution do you propose?"
Yuan smiled faintly.
"If your own body is the best vessel for your soul… then don't discard it."
"Instead—renew it."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
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