The sound of water dripping kept ringing in the passage.

There is an iron door at the end of the passage, and inside is a large, fully equipped laboratory.

The bottles were filled with animal limbs, placed neatly around them. There were many short and long tables arranged vertically and horizontally, and test tubes, distilling bottles and other equipment were placed on the tables.

There are also cables in the aisle, and the lights are a bit white and dazzling, making people squint unnaturally when they raise their heads.

In front of a table, a slender figure stood there, holding a notebook full of words, thinking about something.

She has long, silky black hair, and her skin is as transparent as a candle.

He opened his mouth with fangs like fangs and let out a magnetic, hoarse laugh that made his body tremble.

"It's still a little bit closer... It's still a little bit close to being finished..."

Exactly what was about to be accomplished, no one knew except himself.

"However, I also want to thank that guy Danzo for providing me with so many experimental subjects...it's a pity..."

He held the notebook, his mind no longer on it, and sighed softly.

"Sarutobi-sensei seems to be a little wary of me. There are still things that I haven't received yet... Should I wait a little longer? But... I don't have enough experimental subjects on hand anymore."

It is simply foolish to stick to human ethics.

But...can he really be cruel? The man began to ask himself.

Sarutobi-sensei, Jiraiya, Tsunade...the village that gave birth to him and raised him...

There were extremely complex colors in the man's eyes.

In the end, he just sighed quietly and said nothing.

At this moment, the laboratory door was opened.

A little head poked its head out from the crack in the door, looking for something in the laboratory with curious eyes.

She saw the man conducting research in the laboratory and walked in from the outside.

"Teacher Orochimaru, you are indeed here."

The person who was talking to the man was an eleven or twelve year old girl with a hearty smile on her face and looked like she was very familiar with the man.

"It's you Hongdou, have you finished the homework assigned to you?"

Orochimaru turned around and saw the girl, with a smile on his pale face.

The girl is his student, her name is Mitarashi Anko, she is a lively and cute child.

"The homework is simply done, Orochimaru-sensei."

The girl answered with a smile.

"Then why do you come to see me? I still have work to do here."

Orochimaru put down the notebook in his hand and said.

"Orochimaru-sensei, aren't you tired of staying here all day?"

Anko asked curiously.

"It's not boring at all. This is something you must experience when searching for the truth. If you can't stand this boring thing, you won't be able to pursue the truth."

"truth?"

"I want to become an immortal ninja and learn all the ninjutsu in the world, so I do various experiments."

Orochimaru said without any concealment.

There is actually nothing to hide about this matter, because his teacher, friends Jiraiya and Tsunade all know about his ideal.

It's just that they all regarded this matter as an unrealistic and boring fantasy from his childhood.

In their understanding, no one is immortal, and it is even more nonsense to learn all the ninjutsu in the world.

"Why do you, Orochimaru-sensei, have to do such a thing? In my opinion, Orochimaru-sensei, you are already very powerful."

Hongdou said.

Orochimaru shook his head and patiently answered Anko's question: "No, this power is not enough. There is no limit to the pursuit of truth."

"Really? I still don't quite understand."

Anko tilted her head, looking like she didn't understand.

Orochimaru didn't pay attention, and then he remembered something, looked at Anko and said, "Speaking of which, you are now a chuunin. Is there any gift you want?"

"Gift?"

"Yes, as a gift for you to become a chuunin."

Orochimaru smiled and stroked Anko's head.

"Is anything okay?"

Anko asked.

Orochimaru nodded: "As long as I can do it, I will fulfill your wish."

"I only have one wish. I want to go on a trip with you, Orochimaru-sensei."

Anko's eyes looked at Orochimaru, full of anticipation.

"travel?"

Orochimaru frowned slightly.

"Can't you, Orochimaru-sensei?"

"It's not impossible, but I can't leave the village for too long. When I go out to travel with you, I may be back in less than a week."

"That's enough. I will look forward to this trip, Mr. Orochimaru."

"Since you don't object, it's settled. We'll set off the day after tomorrow. Before then, it's up to you to choose the place."

Orochimaru

"Well, I understand. I won't disturb Mr. Orochimaru from your work. We will meet at the village gate the day after tomorrow morning."

Anko smiled and nodded, then left the laboratory.

"What a hothead..."

Orochimaru laughed and shook his head.

Then he turned around and looked at the notebook he had just placed on the table, his snake-like vertical pupils darkening.

"But, how long can this kind of peaceful life last? It's really exciting...eternal life..."

◎

When night comes, the streets are brightly lit and people are coming and going, making it very lively.

"I didn't expect you to return to the village first. Such a big thing happened, but that guy Tsunade didn't come back."

In a barbecue restaurant in the center of Konoha, Orochimaru accepted Jiraiya's invitation to dine with Jiraiya.

"You see, that woman went crazy somewhere. I haven't contacted her for a long time. If she hadn't been in regular contact with the village, I would have thought she was missing."

Jiraiya sighed helplessly and began to complain a little about Tsunade's behavior of not returning to the village.

"Maybe he doesn't want to see the village in such a state of desolation."

Orochimaru said.

He slowly poured himself a cup of hot tea and drank it without touching the barbecue on the shelf.

An intriguing smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, as if he knew something inside.

"Indeed, the village has changed very quickly recently. Although it seems that nothing has changed, I always have an ominous premonition that something else will happen."

"What do you mean? The person behind the Nine-Tails incident?"

Orochimaru played with the tea cup and looked at Jiraiya.

With the Nine-Tails Incident, it is an indisputable fact that Konoha's overall strength has declined.

If it hadn't been for the death of Namikaze Minato, the fourth Hokage, Kumogakure wouldn't have dared to restart the war with Konoha at this time.

On the surface, this incident has passed, but as the top ninja of Konoha, Orochimaru is very aware that the subsequent impact of this incident is not over yet.

The Hokage is directly under the ANBU and has been secretly investigating this incident.

It is said that the Uchiha clan is also involved, and the scope of the influence is too wide.

"Yes. There are rumors that it was Sakumo's three disciples who did it, but I think there is something fishy behind this matter, and it is not as simple as we thought."

Jiraiya looked serious.

Seeing Orochimaru become silent, he naturally changed the topic at the right time:

"Speaking of which, Sarutobi-sensei said that your recent behavior is a bit strange. Are you and Sarutobi-sensei having a conflict?"

"No. I have been doing research in the laboratory recently, but I don't have time to do anything else."
To be continued...