bookbashuk Page 161
Page 161
He barely escaped from the core of the devastating energy storm at the martial arts altar.
However, the explosion that erupted when Hashirama and Madara clashed...
A variety of energy residues with diametrically opposed properties, yet equally violent to the extreme.
Like a maggot clinging to his bone, it deeply invaded his body and continued to struggle and wreak havoc!
Each outbreak of energy conflict was like thousands of red-hot steel needles piercing and stirring inside his body.
It brings excruciating pain that tears your soul apart!
Even Orochimaru, who possesses "software modification" and powerful regenerative abilities, felt like he was living a life worse than death at this moment.
"Reincarnation of the Undead..."
A tempting idea was screaming wildly in his mind, which was in extreme pain.
Abandon this ravaged body and replace it with a young and healthy one, and all the pain will vanish!
However, when this thought came to mind...
A cold, handsome face, with the haughty air characteristic of the Uchiha clan, with black hair, appeared clearly before him—
Sasuke Uchiha!
Those Sharingan eyes that held immense potential, that body flowing with Uchiha blood!
This is the perfect container in his plan!
It is the key to his immortality and mastery of the power of all things!
For the sake of this perfect vessel, he absolutely cannot perform the Reincarnation of the Dead now!
Frequent reincarnation weakens the power of the soul, and...
He needs to be in top condition to welcome and take over that body!
Reincarnation now would only waste a precious vessel slot and could also affect the compatibility between the soul and the Sharingan!
"I must... endure it..."
Orochimaru gritted his teeth, his nails digging deep into the armrests of the seat, making a screeching sound.
He forced himself to endure this inhuman torture for the sake of that ultimate goal.
The heavy metal door of the laboratory was pushed open.
Wearing round-framed glasses and with a calm expression, the pharmacist Kabuto walked in.
His sharp gaze swept quickly across the chaotic laboratory—
Dark red bloodstains, not yet fully congealed, were splattered on the ground, and a corpse was curled up in the corner.
The strong smell of blood in the air made him frown slightly.
"Lord Orochimaru,"
The pharmacist pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting a cold light.
His tone was so calm it betrayed no emotion, as if he were merely reporting a trivial matter: "I just went out to prepare a new inhibitor, and you've made a mess of the room again. Should I arrange for someone to clean it?"
He pointed to the corpse in the corner and the bloodstains on the ground.
"Cut the nonsense!"
Orochimaru suddenly raised his head, his golden snake eyes bloodshot from the pain and agitation.
Like a venomous snake ready to devour its prey, he stared intently at Dou, his voice hoarse and filled with malice: "The person I asked you to find... have you found them?!"
He desperately needs someone to resolve the energy conflict within his body!
A person who possesses the most advanced medical ninjutsu and can even touch the essence of life!
Facing Orochimaru's predatory gaze, Kabuto showed no fear, but instead revealed a confident smile: "Although Lady Tsunade's whereabouts are as slippery as an eel, thanks to some scattered clues provided by informants, and by cross-referencing them with our own intelligence network, we have finally narrowed down the general area."
He walked to the control panel, quickly tapped a few keys on the keyboard, and brought up a detailed map of the Land of Fire.
One of the coordinates flashing a red dot was zoomed in: "Tataba Street. Her most recent reliable record of being there. And it seems she stayed there for quite some time."
"Short Book Street..."
Orochimaru chewed on the name, a ferocious and triumphant smile appearing on his twisted face.
It was as if a venomous snake had finally locked onto its prey: "That gambling addict... he really can't leave those kinds of places. Heh heh... very good!"
"However, Lord Orochimaru,"
Kabuto Yakushi changed the subject, his tone becoming cautious: "You know Tsunade-sama's whereabouts are unpredictable. Once her gambling fever is over, or she's lost all her money, she might leave at any time. If we rush over now, we might not be able to catch her in time."
He knew Tsunade's temperament and habits very well.
"How would you know if you didn't go?"
Orochimaru struggled to stand up from his seat, his body swaying slightly from the intense pain.
But the greed and madness in those snake eyes burned like will-o'-the-wisps, growing ever more intense.
He stuck out his long, snake-like tongue and licked his chapped lips, making a hissing sound.
"A gambler's biggest weakness is her gambling addiction! As long as the chips are enough to entice her to stay... or, make her lose everything... hehehe..."
A chilling laugh echoed through the blood-soaked laboratory, sending shivers down the spine.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with calculation. A plan to exploit Tsunade's weaknesses, and even to potentially drive her into a corner, was rapidly taking shape in his mind.
Orochimaru's voice carried an unquestionable command: "Prepare yourselves... We're setting off immediately for Tanabata! Take... 'that' thing with us!"
He was clearly referring to some kind of "bargaining chip" that could sway or threaten Tsunade.
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru."
The pharmacist bowed slightly, his eyes flashing behind his glasses, and quickly began to arrange the itinerary and necessary items.
One day later, in the Land of Fire, Tanabata Street.
This town, famous for its maple leaves and casinos, remains bustling and vibrant.
Gambling dens lined both sides of the street, their shouts, the clatter of dice, the wild laughter of winners, and the lamentations of losers all blending together.
It creates a unique symphony of everyday life.
Jiraiya, sporting panda eyes that hadn't completely faded, led Naruto and Sasuke through the bustling crowd.
He rubbed his throbbing ribs while making the most of his powerful "material gathering" ability—
It's basically about striking up conversations with various gambling den attendants, snack vendors, and even streetwalkers to extract information.
"Tsk, that woman, she runs really fast!"
Jiraiya received it from a woman dressed in a flamboyant manner...
"I think I saw a blonde, busty beauty gambling heavily at 'Golden Hall' a few days ago."
Upon receiving the news, they rushed there only to find it empty, and couldn't help but complain, "There are so many casinos on Tanabata Street, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack!"
However, compared to Jiraiya's lecherous gaze...
Naruto, meanwhile, curiously observed the bizarre casino signs and scantily clad women around him.
He was curious why these women wore such clothes. Were they for ease of movement?
But its defense is too weak! A single slap could seriously injure it.
It's not as good as the chainmail Hinata is wearing; at least it offers some protection.
Sasuke thought the guy was staring at the beautiful woman, so he quickly nudged him with his elbow.
Coming to his senses, Naruto muttered, "Perverted Sage, are you even capable? It's been two days and I haven't even caught a glimpse of a person."
Sasuke, on the other hand, was much quieter, spending most of his time resting with his eyes closed.
Simulate the practice of "stillness" in your mind.
"Hey, don't rush! The most important thing when finding someone is patience!"
"Tch! Sasuke and I are going to train then!"
It was clear that asking Zilai was of no use.
While Jiraiya was gathering information, Naruto and Sasuke found a relatively secluded abandoned courtyard.
Using the stone pillars and broken walls inside, they continued that arduous basic training—
It remains absolutely still on a very small support point.
The progress is visible to the naked eye.
At first, he couldn't even last a minute, swaying a few times like a drunkard before falling down in a sorry state.
Now, the two of them can sit cross-legged steadily on the uneven, even palm-sized, sharp corners of stone blocks and maintain their balance for more than a minute!
Although his body still swayed slightly involuntarily, like a reed in the wind, his eyes appeared somewhat dull due to intense focus.
But at least they could "nail" themselves to it! Sweat trickled down their foreheads, dripping onto the stones beneath them and leaving dark marks.
Each breath became long and steady, striving to approach the state of "stillness of mind" that Minato spoke of.
Naruto jumped down from a sharp rock, wiped his sweat, and although he was exhausted, his eyes shone with excitement.
"Sasuke! I felt... I felt like I could feel a tiny bit of wind blowing around the rocks! Even if it was just a tiny bit!"
Sasuke also landed on another rock, slightly out of breath, but his eyes were sharper and calmer than before.
He didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly.
He could sense that under that extreme focus, the Sharingan's perception seemed to become even sharper, able to detect special energy flows in the air.
Madara's cold snorts and occasional pointers (though mostly sarcastic) within the sealed space gave him a new understanding of power control.
Jiraiya watched his two apprentices make progress. Although his face was still sore, a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
He clapped his hands: "Alright, kids, rested enough, let's keep looking! Tsunade is definitely still in Tanabata Street, she hasn't gone far! I have a feeling the big fish is about to bite!"
The hustle and bustle of Tanabata Street remains unchanged, and the joys and sorrows of gamblers never end.
Chapter 182 Just how much does that person hate you?