Chapter 118: Uchiha Tsukasa, Become My Son!
What is a shinobi?
Upon hearing this question, Tsukasa instinctively wanted to pull out Jiraiya's answer from the original story and use it to counter Orochimaru.
He'd shout that a shinobi was someone who could endure anything.
Just like how he'd used outrageous rhetoric to manipulate Hidan and flatter Mangetsu, disguising himself as an ally of either good or evil, using borrowed, high-minded words to deliver psychological warfare on his enemies.
But when the words came to his lips, Tsukasa couldn't bring himself to speak them.
Orochimaru wasn't a hot-blooded fool like Hidan. Such words wouldn't break his opponent's resolve or deceive him. They'd be immediately exposed as hollow platitudes.
In fact, as the enemy's strength grew, the effectiveness of such psychological tactics diminished.
In his direct confrontation with Yagura Karatachi, Tsukasa had nearly been the one convinced.
Even Tsukasa himself didn't truly understand Jiraiya's philosophy.
Because all along, it was other people who helped him move forward and made choices for him.
So what exactly is a shinobi?
Contemplating this question, Tsukasa felt confused for the first time.
He never wanted to be a shinobi, nor did he ever think about what he would accomplish as one.
He was simply greedy for money and comfort, like a child who never grew up.
To the outside world, he was always full of lies, spouting grand and righteous nonsense that he himself didn't believe,
forcibly twisting his position, whitewashing his tricks, and deceiving in battle. Language became a weapon for him to reverse situations when he was at his weakest.
But at this moment,
under Orochimaru's intense gaze from so close,
Tsukasa couldn't help but avert his eyes slightly, his steps faltering as he gritted his teeth.
For a moment, he couldn't even give a decent answer.
Orochimaru looked down at the struggling expression on Tsukasa's face and couldn't help but let out a raspy laugh.
"Hehehehe, how refreshingly honest."
Hearing these words—like patting a child's head in mockery—
Tsukasa immediately flew into a rage.
His glare darkened, and with both hands he gripped the Kusanagi Sword's hilt and twisted it through Orochimaru's body, carving a large wound in his abdomen. Then, defensively breaking, he snarled:
"Stop mocking me!"
"Orochimaru, listen carefully! My ninja way is to flatten the entire shinobi world, sweep the old system into the trash, and rewrite all the tragedies of this world!"
"This is something I can't escape!"
"Really?"
Orochimaru scoffed, his lips curling upward.
He lowered his head and watched Tsukasa with interest, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth to his jaw.
Scarlet blood splashed onto Tsukasa's forehead,
and then Tsukasa heard the man's hoarse, mocking sneer:
"Do you need me to find you a mirror?"
"So you can take a good look at your eyes right now."
"The heart won't lie. In fact, you don't believe a word you just said."
"Hehehehe~"
Orochimaru sneered, leaned close to Tsukasa's ear, and said hoarsely:
"My student,"
"You actually don't have the answer at all."
"And there is no completely correct answer in this world, but as long as you're alive, you can find interesting things."
"Just as you've been trying to find answers in death, I found you in my pursuit of immortality."
A brilliant fanaticism suddenly blazed in Orochimaru's eyes!
He stared intently at Tsukasa, at the three tomoe-shaped "Curse Mark of Heaven" at the back of his neck.
Then, taking a deep breath, he spoke with intensity:
"Uchiha Tsukasa,"
"You simply lack a powerful guide to reveal your true desires!"
Orochimaru's tone suddenly grew urgent, his gaze hungrily examining Tsukasa's form,
studying every inch of this young man who had perfectly integrated his curse mark—
inheriting multiple forbidden techniques yet achieving an impossible harmony.
Such talent, such potential.
He was already far ahead of where Orochimaru had been at his age!
This brat undoubtedly possessed terrifying talent he himself was unaware of!
A gift capable of perfectly inheriting the very ninjutsu that Orochimaru so desired!
A cold, damp breeze blew past his ears,
sending an inexplicable chill through Tsukasa. He lifted his head slightly, looking at Orochimaru with shock and confusion, his eyes trembling slightly.
"Guidance?"
"And... what I desire?"
This was the first time in his life that someone had so deeply dissected Tsukasa,
analyzing his body and digging into his heart!
Then,
with unparalleled conviction, claimed he could tell Tsukasa what he truly desired.
Even Tsukasa couldn't help but tremble internally.
"Hehe." Orochimaru, observing Tsukasa's expression, felt even more satisfied.
However, he didn't elaborate further.
He calmly pulled the Kusanagi Sword from Tsukasa's grip, extracted it from his own abdomen, and then considerately wiped it clean with his kimono sleeve before sliding it back into the scabbard at Tsukasa's waist.
After this,
Orochimaru's abdominal wound had completely healed in a puff of white steam.
He turned and walked to the cliff's edge with his back turned,
standing quietly in the cold wind of the Land of Rain.
A pair of golden serpentine eyes gazed indifferently at the battlefield below.
Reeds grew wildly among the stumps and broken weapons, swords and kunai pierced the earth. From the gloomy sky, raindrops fell continuously like pearls.
For a moment, apart from the persistent, weeping sound of rain, there was complete silence between heaven and earth.
Thick, dark clouds churned, revealing a gap.
A beam of golden, sacred sunlight shone through the clouds, sweeping across the shattered world
before finally
landing squarely on the man standing atop the cliff.
Illuminating him, making him radiant!
Under this exceptionally dramatic, almost miraculous scene,
Orochimaru smiled, spreading his arms and speaking hoarsely:
"My student, as you can see..."
"Shinobi themselves are not noble creatures."
"Being stabbed will kill you, illness causes suffering, and aging leads to deterioration."
"A shinobi, as the name suggests, is simply someone who possesses ninjutsu."
"And only by mastering and utilizing every ninjutsu in the world can one become the ultimate individual!"
"Nothing more."
"And you—"
Orochimaru turned his head, his gaze sharp as a blade!
It sliced through all of Tsukasa's disguises, piercing his defenses, cutting open his heart, and stabbing into his spirit,
glimpsing a soul within that was even more obsessed and driven than his own!
A wild smile appeared on his face.
"You have unknowingly embarked on this path!"
"Master all the truths of the world, learn all ninjutsu, forbidden techniques, secret techniques—even Kekkei Genkai, Kekkei Tōta, and beyond."
"Ultimately, through unimaginable combat and research, integrate all of this!"
"Reach the ultimate realm and become the supreme being!"
Orochimaru licked his lips, his voice elevated and fervent, his conviction unwavering:
"My student!"
"This is your future!"
"This is what you've been ignoring!"
"This is what your soul longs for!"
"You are just like me!"
"You share my grand ideals!"
"Moreover, your talent far exceeds my imagination!"
"As you fight, your eyes can replicate your opponent's techniques!"
"Whether secret techniques or forbidden jutsu, they're all within reach before your Sharingan!"
Orochimaru turned completely around,
standing in the dazzling beam of light, staring at Tsukasa with enthusiasm.
His voice was rapid and hoarse, as if he'd thought of something even more exciting.
He gasped heavily, a feverish flush appearing on his face,
and then he stared at Tsukasa intently, swallowed, and said excitedly:
"This is simply miraculous!"
"It's a miracle far beyond the normal Sharingan, even surpassing the legendary Rinnegan!"
"Uchiha Tsukasa, you truly are the most suitable to be Orochimaru's successor!"
"Inherit my ideals, inherit my forbidden techniques, inherit my dreams!"
"So—"
"Whatever I have, I can give you!"
"Kusanagi Sword, Flying Thunder God, Living Corpse Reincarnation, Eight Branches Technique, Impure World Reincarnation, living Kekkei Genkai specimens, and even the one and only Kekkei Tōta in the entire shinobi world—I can help you obtain them!"
Orochimaru hurried forward excitedly, even stumbling slightly as he approached Tsukasa.
As his figure moved, the golden light in the sky followed like a spotlight on a stage.
It pierced the gloomy, weeping sky, illuminating the drizzling raindrops, passing over the silent corpses scattered across the battlefield.
Finally, it landed on the cliff,
illuminating Orochimaru's extremely enthusiastic face.
He raised his hands and placed them on Tsukasa's shoulders.
Unable to suppress his smile,
his golden serpentine eyes gazed deeply at Tsukasa, revealing his determination and sincerity.
Then Orochimaru spoke with deep, genuine intent:
"Come!"
"Uchiha Tsukasa, become my son!"
"Let us take everything into our own hands, and then we'll see what truth really is!"
Tsukasa blinked, suddenly snapping back to reality.
He stared at Orochimaru in horror.
What the hell?
I treat you as my cheap master, and you actually want to be my father?
"Orochimaru!"
"What the hell are you talking about?!"
Tsukasa yanked Orochimaru's arms off his shoulders and stepped back, the shock in his heart like an explosion in his head.
His mind froze instantly.
But seeing Orochimaru's expression, seeing the sincerity in his eyes...
He... He seemed to be serious?!
Only then
did Tsukasa truly experience
the chaos caused by the flapping of his butterfly wings,
and what it meant for the plot to completely derail.
For a moment, Tsukasa couldn't accept this absurd reality.
Contrary to his long-held belief that Orochimaru wanted to murder him, this Orochimaru actually wanted to be his father figure, to teach him all his techniques.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
"You want me to be your successor, to call you father? Orochimaru, you'd better give up on that dream!"
Tsukasa's face was grim. He suddenly drew his Kusanagi Sword and pressed it against his own heart.
If Orochimaru took another step forward, he'd end it himself!
"Hehe."
Orochimaru, seeing Tsukasa's reaction, let out a raspy laugh, his frenzied expression subsiding.
He resumed his 'cold gentleman' demeanor.
With a calculating gaze, he looked Tsukasa up and down, then sneered,
"It seems the timing isn't right yet."
"But do you think you can escape?"
"Don't forget—you're my student."
"During this Third Shinobi World War,"
"I'll constantly have you fight fiercely against powerful enemies, including myself, helping you master all sorts of techniques."
"In the end, you'll become exactly what I want you to be."
"Hehehehe,"
Orochimaru chuckled, turned, and walked back to the clifftop, quietly gazing out at the desolate battlefield.
His voice returned to indifference as he
coldly ordered,
"Go find Aburame Ryoma. Your mission will be announced soon."
"For the next battle, I'll withdraw all Konoha shinobi—"
"I'll leave you to face it alone!"
End of Chapter 118
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