In front of the Konoha gate, an elegant woman with distinctive red hair registered at the guardhouse and then walked through the gate, gazing at the distant scenery and the iconic Hokage Rock, her gaze lingering for a moment on the stone carvings of the First and Second Hokage.
"Konoha is the same as the last time I came, nothing has changed."
Uzumaki Chigusa sighed, a smile appearing on her face.
I wonder if Miya has any new books!
If Miya releases a new book, it will definitely be supplied to the larger Villages first, right?
"Clan leader… Can't you wait for me!"
A young girl with a large scroll on her back ran breathlessly to the Konoha gate. Her bright red hair was tied into a bun and twin ponytails, her beautiful face, with fair and rosy skin, was glistening with sweat, which dripped down her cheeks. She looked resentfully at Uzumaki Chigusa, who slowly turned around.
"Little Naino, you're just too slow."
Uzumaki Chigusa smiled gently.
"You really dare to say that…"
The girl's fists clenched, but she dared not speak her anger as she walked to the guardhouse to register.
"Um, please…"
Feeling the resentment emanating from the girl, the two guards handed over the registration book.
The girl quickly wrote down her name, glared at the two guards who dared not breathe, and snorted.
"Is it that funny?"
"It's not good to take out your anger on others, Little Naino."
A hand pressed on the girl's head.
"Clan leader!"
The girl gritted her teeth, feeling the scroll on her back become much heavier, wishing she could swing the scroll and send Uzumaki Chigusa flying.
The two guards watched them leave.
"Clan leader, where are we going? To the Hokage Building to visit the Hokage? Or to see Grandma Mito?"
Uzumaki Naino followed beside Uzumaki Chigusa, chirping like a lively nightingale, completely devoid of her previous resentment and anger.
"First, we'll visit the Third Hokage, then we'll visit Lady Mito."
Uzumaki Chigusa watched Uzumaki Naino out of the corner of her eye, thinking that this child's temper came and went quickly.
News of the Uzushiogakure clan leader's arrival in Konoha quickly reached Danzo Shimura.
Danzo Shimura, who had finally finished dealing with reports and documents, had planned to go for a walk outside. He didn't need to supervise the Anbu's training. Upon learning that Uzumaki Chigusa, the Uzumaki Clan leader, had arrived, he abandoned his idea of going for a walk.
For no other reason than that he didn't get along well with Uzumaki Chigusa. No, it would be more accurate to say that he didn't get along well with anyone from the Uzumaki Clan, including Lady Mito, who had always disliked him.
The potential of Kikaichu is even higher than I imagined.
Is it because the Aburame Clan has cultivated them for generations, selecting the Kikaichu with the most superior genes through a process of natural selection?
Orochimaru pressed her hands onto a platform covered in jutsu formulas. The formulas glowed faintly as Chakra was infused, and the insect egg at the center of the formulas absorbed Orochimaru's Chakra, growing from smaller than a grain of rice to the size of a fist before stopping.
Bang—!
The insect egg burst open, splattering viscous liquid everywhere.
"Was I too impatient?"
Orochimaru didn't feel annoyed by the failed experiment, calmly analyzing the reasons for its failure.
She had simultaneously transplanted the genes of Desert Ant, Double-Tailed Scorpion, and giant centipede into the egg, then used Chakra to accelerate its maturation, hoping to create an insect with a massive body and formidable strength.
This was why the Kikaichu egg couldn't withstand the genes of the Desert Ant, Double-Tailed Scorpion, and giant centipede and burst.
The Kikaichu egg contained an unformed Kikaichu, which was extremely malleable. The transplantation of genes from three fierce insects, combined with my accelerated maturation, caused it to burst.
Perhaps it was the Kikaichu's innate nature to feed on Chakra, which caused the egg to absorb Chakra and hatch rapidly, leading to problems with the incompletely fused genes. The collapse of the gene chain caused the entire egg to explode.
In the next experiment, I can slow down a bit. First, I'll add the Desert Ant's genes to the Kikaichu egg. Once the Kikaichu fully adapts to the Desert Ant's genes, I'll proceed with the subsequent experiments... modifying the Kikaichu little by little.
Orochimaru jotted down her analysis of the failed experiment and the next steps in her notebook.
Wait, I didn't get Kikaichu from the Aburame Clan to cultivate insects!
Orochimaru suddenly remembered that she had acquired Kikaichu to research Chakra Poison, not to breed new species of insects based on Kikaichu.
Isn't this putting the cart before the horse?
No, it's not entirely putting the cart before the horse. I was going to research Kikaichu anyway, and now I have a certain understanding of them. There's still a long way to go to develop Chakra Poison.
This poison just needs to be developed before the Ōtsutsuki Clan arrives.
There's still a long time before the Ōtsutsuki Clan arrives, so Orochimaru has plenty of time to develop Chakra Poison.
Moreover, Orochimaru doesn't believe that just preparing Chakra Poison will be enough to face the Ōtsutsuki Clan. She needs to prepare more things that can threaten the Ōtsutsuki Clan; her trump cards are not enough.
What annoyed her most was the Ninja World War that was sure to happen next. Even if she told everyone about the future events she knew, who would believe her?
Tsunade and Jiraiya would believe her, and her subordinates would believe her, but besides them, who else?
They might even think she had overused her brain and gone mad.
Second Shinobi World War, Third Shinobi World War... Orochimaru felt a headache just thinking about the future Ninja World Wars. Participating in the Ninja World War was a complete waste of her precious time, but not participating wasn't an option either.
Whether the Ninja World War happened or not wasn't up to her. The Ninja World War was a game between great nations, friction between Ninja Villages, and a continuation of the First Shinobi World War.
During the Second Shinobi World War, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Konoha fought in the Land of Rain as if it were their own backyard, completely disregarding the impact on the Land of Rain. Even the samurai from the Land of Iron wanted to get involved.
This left the Land of Rain in ruins, with homeless refugees and orphans everywhere.
The honest Hanzou was enraged and declared war on the three great nations, and incidentally gave Mifune of the Land of Iron a good beating. Mifune returned home and immediately declared the Land of Iron's eternal neutrality, never to participate in any wars, otherwise, the Land of Iron would have been beaten again in the Third Shinobi World War.
It must be said that small countries caught between great powers easily become battlegrounds for the great powers and have little say, which is simply tragic.
Imu led people to clean up the room used for the Kikaichu experiment and asked, "Orochimaru-sama, are we still continuing the experiment?"
"Today's experiment ends here. Cultivate those Kikaichu well; I still have use for them."
Before leaving the Laboratory, Orochimaru dispelled her Shadow Clone, receiving its memories and fatigue. All her research projects were progressing, with the Caged Bird Curse Mark research being the fastest.
Once she thoroughly understood the Caged Bird Curse Mark, she would be able to develop new curse marks targeting ocular Ninjutsu based on it.
Eye Sealing Curse Mark—the name of this curse mark clearly indicated Orochimaru's purpose in developing it: to counter those overly outrageous ocular Ninjutsu.
Perhaps it could even be used against the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
In the original story, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya created White Zetsu through the God Tree, seemingly to deal with the Ōtsutsuki Clan. If she could dig Ōtsutsuki Kaguya out of the moon... Hmm... let's forget about that.
Orochimaru considered the disparity in strength; she couldn't even go to the moon now, let alone dig Ōtsutsuki Kaguya out.
No, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya should be in the Gedo Statue. Otsutsuki Hagoromo went to the moon precisely to guard the Gedo Statue. The Ten-Tails and Ōtsutsuki Kaguya were originally one.
After Otsutsuki Hagoromo extracted the Ten-Tails' Chakra and absorbed it into his body, becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, the remaining Ten-Tails shell was the Gedo Statue.
So, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya should exist within the Ten-Tails' shell.
However, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, revived in this manner, would not possess the ability to use Infinite Tsukuyomi because she would not be the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki and thus unable to activate the Rinne Sharingan.
If she could separate Ōtsutsuki Kaguya from the Gedo Statue, wouldn't she be able to experiment on her?
No, no, no, her blood would be enough. She could cultivate clones from her blood and experiment on the clones.
Orochimaru was still quite resistant to experimenting on living people. Clones without self-awareness, however, would be fine. With her research in cloning, she might even be able to attempt human cloning in a few years.
So, the question is, how can I meet Black Zetsu and convince him to allow me to separate his beloved mother from the Gedo Statue?
Orochimaru wrote her thoughts in her notebook, which was one of the few notes she wrote using Earth's script. To those who couldn't understand it, it would appear as a page full of codes.
Back home, Orochimaru tidied up her desk.
It was getting late; it was time to buy groceries for dinner.
Walking down the street, Orochimaru could feel many people looking at her, something she had long grown accustomed to.
There was nothing she could do; she was Konoha's celebrity now. If these people weren't able to control themselves, they'd probably swarm her for autographs.
"Orochimaru, where are you going?"
"Tsunade?"
Orochimaru looked at Tsunade, who seemed to be looking for her, and pointed a finger at the darkening sky, saying, "Buying groceries for dinner."
"Don't go buy groceries, come to my place for dinner tonight!"
Tsunade grabbed Orochimaru's wrist, and without allowing refusal, dragged her towards her own home.
Did you give me a chance to refuse?
Orochimaru grumbled inwardly, being pulled along by Tsunade.
Upon arriving at Tsunade's house, Orochimaru saw the person she least wanted to see.
Orochimaru's pupils slightly constricted as she watched Uzumaki Chigusa laughing and chatting with Grandma Mito.
My Six Paths Sage's hair!
Why was Uzumaki Chigusa at Tsunade's house?
Visiting Grandma Mito? Is it still too late for me to go home now?
Orochimaru's expression remained normal, trying her best not to show anything amiss.
"Tsunade, is this Orochimaru?"
Uzumaki Naino sized up Orochimaru, having heard of this big Konoha celebrity.
"Well, she's quite cute."
This Chakra... Uzumaki Chigusa looked at Orochimaru, paused, first doubting herself, wondering if her abilities were malfunctioning, then looked at Orochimaru more intently.
Miya-sensei's true identity... This, this can't be, right?
Uzumaki Chigusa's heart trembled. She couldn't believe that the cute and quiet girl in front of her could be Miya, the author who wrote such explosive adult novels.
She recognized me!
Orochimaru saw Uzumaki Chigusa about to speak and, thinking about Grandma Mito finding out about her writing adult novels, realized it wouldn't just be a matter of social death!
"Ah! It's you!"
Orochimaru quickly walked to Uzumaki Chigusa's side, placing her hand on her.
Swish—!
Orochimaru and Uzumaki Chigusa's figures vanished.
"The Chief is gone?!"
Uzumaki Naino looked in shock at where Uzumaki Chigusa had been sitting, scanning around, then looking under the table.
"This is Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Technique? Orochimaru really learned it?!"
Uzumaki Mito was surprised to see Orochimaru use the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Uzumaki Chigusa away.
Since Tobirama's death, no one else in Konoha had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique.
She hadn't thought much when she agreed to Hiruzen Sarutobi giving the Flying Thunder God Technique to Orochimaru. After all, the difficulty of learning the Flying Thunder God Technique was clear, even Hiruzen Sarutobi and his peers hadn't learned it. She hadn't expected Orochimaru to actually learn it.
Judging by the speed at which she activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, her mastery of it was quite good.
This child, Orochimaru, truly brings constant surprises!
Uzumaki Mito's face held a benevolent smile.
"Flying Thunder God Technique?"
Uzumaki Naino looked curiously at Grandma Mito.
Orochimaru can already use the Flying Thunder God Technique to travel?
This was Tsunade's first thought upon seeing Orochimaru use the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Uzumaki Chigusa away.
Orochimaru knows Chigusa-neechan? How did they meet?
This was Tsunade's second thought, and she felt an urgent impulse to find Orochimaru, yet didn't know where to look. She just felt like there was something between them that she didn't know.
Uzumaki Chigusa only felt the surrounding scenery instantly change, arriving at a lakeside. Looking in the direction of the flowing water, she could see the river diverted to fill the lake.
"Is this the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju's Flying Thunder God Technique?"
Uzumaki Chigusa realized that Orochimaru had used the Flying Thunder God Technique, developed by the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, to bring her here. She couldn't believe that at such a young age, she had mastered the extremely difficult Flying Thunder God Technique, an S-rank Space-Time Ninjutsu.
Other Ninjutsu might be S-rank in difficulty, but the Flying Thunder God Technique's difficulty was S-rank because it had already reached the peak; there was no higher difficulty above it.
If there were, the Flying Thunder God Technique would certainly be among them.
Which of Konoha's higher-ups hadn't tried to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique? Not one had succeeded.
"This is Training Ground Three, Chief Chigusa. I apologize for bringing you here."
Orochimaru felt she had been a bit too rash, and she was overly worried about Grandma Mito finding out she was writing adult novels.
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