"All the data is normal; I haven't found any difference between your physical structure and that of an ordinary person."
"If I had to point out a difference, your growth hormone levels are significantly higher than those of your peers, Ryoma-kun."
Our Orochimaru was currently completely focused on reviewing the research reports from recent experiments concerning Ryoma's body.
Ryoma was squatting in the corner of the room with a deeply resentful look on his face, watching Orochimaru.
He spoke up weakly as a reminder:
"Teacher Orochimaru, you said yesterday you would teach me a ninjutsu today."
Ever since following Orochimaru around, Ryoma had been starving nine times out of three days.
And when there was nothing else to do, he'd have to take a scalpel or two!
Ryoma had perfectly offloaded his learning tasks at the ninja academy onto his shadow clones.
Although he had done this before too, after joining Orochimaru, Orochimaru had become far too interested in his body.
He had directly made Ryoma stay in this laboratory for a full month.
The kind where he wasn't even allowed to leave the room!
Fortunately, the shadow clones at the school reported back the situation at the ninja academy daily,
allowing Ryoma to manage a two-pronged approach with Orochimaru and his classmates like Asuma without either interfering with the other.
During this month, Orochimaru truly used all the knowledge he had accumulated in his lifetime,
wanting to understand Ryoma's Kekkei Genkai.
Just drawing blood alone, he would take 2 or 3 tubes from Ryoma every single day.
Wake up and get blood drawn, have a free moment and it's training.
It got to the point where Ryoma's steps were a bit unsteady the past couple of days,
looking pale and drained, his body utterly depleted.
In these several consecutive days and nights of relentless experimentation, apart from concluding that Ryoma's physique was rather special, Orochimaru had gained no other progressive results whatsoever.
It made Orochimaru start to doubt whether his research direction was even correct.
But Orochimaru was not someone who gave up easily, especially not in his beloved field of scientific research.
Seeing Ryoma looking like a resentful woman confined to the inner chambers, Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"Don't be impatient, Ryoma-kun. Although the experiments during this period haven't been helpful for my research progress, they have given me a deep understanding of all aspects of your physical metrics. This will be of great help for your future training."
"I recall you said last time it was because your potential was stimulated during battle that led to the further development of your Kekkei Genkai."
"Understanding your current physical condition can help me better gauge the intensity of your training, making it easier for you to reach your limits and thereby break through yourself."
Listening to Orochimaru's explanation, Ryoma only felt that he had truly come to the right place.
It wasn't for nothing, damn it!
Just look at how he puts it, it's so damn scientific!
In this era where everyone cultivates by basically shouting and teachers can't really teach properly,
Orochimaru not only knows what it means to teach according to the student's aptitude, he even brings out scientific metrics and lays them out right in front of you.
Using scientific methods to formulate the most suitable training plan for you.
To be honest, for a moment there, Ryoma almost fell in love with Orochimaru...
Oh, no! Fell in love with science!
"Oh, right, Ryoma-kun's chakra natures are Fire and Earth, correct?"
The Nara clan's secret techniques actually fall within the scope of Yin Release, and Orochimaru, as a possessor of all chakra natures—Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, Water, Yin, and Yang—naturally also understands some knowledge concerning Yin and Yang Release at this point.
"Could it be that the Fire and Earth natures, combined with the characteristics of Yin Release, can develop this new type of Kekkei Genkai? I hadn't considered this direction before; perhaps this is the correct research path."
Orochimaru was lost in thought again.
Watching Orochimaru gradually talk himself into a corner like this, Ryoma thought to himself.
"Orochimaru, don't blame me for not telling you the truth. It's mainly because this thing doesn't even belong to this world. If you could actually research it out, then you'd truly be invincible!"
Orochimaru suddenly looked up at Ryoma and said.
"I recall Ryoma-kun mentioned that another reason your Kekkei Genkai suddenly erupted last time during battle was because you're actually somewhat afraid of snakes, correct? In that case, I'll first teach you my ninjutsu and see if such stimulation will cause any improvement in your Kekkei Genkai."
The corner of Ryoma's mouth twitched.
Orochimaru's methods were still so sharp.
He really knew how to "cater to one's preferences"!
Ryoma said reluctantly, "Teacher Orochimaru, can we use something else as a substitute?"
Orochimaru refused with a calm expression, "No, I only have snakes here."
Ryoma had no choice but to brace himself and agree.
"Before that, I need to teach you a ninjutsu first: the Summoning Jutsu. Learning it will make using my techniques much more convenient later."
"However, the prerequisite is that Ryoma-kun must sign the same contract as I have."
As he finished speaking, an enormous scroll thicker than Ryoma himself appeared in Orochimaru's hand.
It was painted with some incantations Ryoma couldn't quite understand.
Orochimaru explained to Ryoma:
"This is the contract scroll of Ryūchi Cave. After completing the contract, you can summon snakes from Ryūchi Cave to aid you in battle using the Summoning Jutsu."
After hearing Orochimaru's words, Ryoma unfurled the massive contract scroll.
He saw that the very last name on it was Orochimaru's.
Orochimaru leaned over at this moment and asked Ryoma, "So, will you sign the contract?"
Ryoma looked at Orochimaru and said without hesitation, "Of course! As your disciple, I naturally should use the same summoning creatures as you!"
Just kidding, even Sakura could sign a contract with the slugs of Shikkotsu Forest based on her master-disciple relationship with Tsunade. For him, Ryoma, who had latched onto Orochimaru's powerful influence, to sign a contract with Ryūchi Cave,
what was wrong with that!
Orochimaru nodded with satisfaction and said:
"In that case, Ryoma-kun, use your own blood mixed with chakra to sign your name on the contract scroll, then press your handprint. The summoning contract with Ryūchi Cave will be complete once you do so."
Following Orochimaru's instructions, Ryoma signed his full name on the contract scroll.
When the handprint was pressed, Ryoma felt a strange chakra seem to flow from the contract scroll into his body, gradually solidifying on his arm.
After this sensation passed, Ryoma found that a mysterious black symbol had appeared on his originally smooth right arm.
So cool~ A painless tattoo!
Watching Ryoma successfully sign the contract, Orochimaru didn't forget to offer a reminder: "Now you can summon ordinary giant snakes from Ryūchi Cave to help you in battle. However, I must still warn you, Ryoma-kun. Before you possess sufficient strength, do not think about summoning more powerful snakes. That could get you killed."
Ryoma naturally understood Orochimaru's meaning and hurriedly nodded in agreement.
If he accidentally summoned a progenitor like Manda right now,
he didn't have that heaven-defying eye like Sasuke.
In that case, the first person to become a snack between Manda's teeth would be himself.
Orochimaru began demonstrating as he spoke.
"The Summoning Jutsu consists of five hand seals, which are: Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram. The chakra flow pattern is..."
To tell the truth, Orochimaru's teaching ability was beyond doubt,
after all, anything from Orochimaru was guaranteed to be high-quality.
Whenever Ryoma didn't understand something and raised a question, Orochimaru could immediately pinpoint the exact error with sharp insight.
...
With a *poof*,
a cloud of smoke rose.
When the smoke cleared, an adorable little colorful snake appeared at Ryoma's feet...
It even affectionately rubbed against Ryoma's hand.
Well, Ryoma suddenly felt that maybe snakes weren't as terrifying as he had imagined~
Looking at the utterly non-combat-effective little snake, Orochimaru said to Ryoma:
"The chakra flow route is correct. You're just not proficient enough yet, resulting in insufficient chakra output during the final summoning. Naturally, you cannot summon according to your own wishes."
"Alright, you practice using the Summoning Jutsu here first. Once you've mastered it proficiently, I will teach you a new technique."
After saying this, Orochimaru returned to his laboratory bench and began a new experiment.
He even poked his head out to say to Ryoma, "By the way, come over later for another blood draw. I have a new research direction."
Ryoma was speechless once again.
This teacher was good, alright, but he was a bit rough on his disciples!