Cherreads

Chapter 159 - Chapter 159 – The Snake’s Maze

Once again, I was led through a winding corridor by two Otogakure shinobi, both visibly nervous under Mitsue's curious gaze. Perched confidently on my shoulders, her tail gently coiled around my neck, the silver-and-white serpent studied every detail with playful interest.

Eventually, we reached a vast underground laboratory. In its center stood three containment cubes. The first was the one used during my original procedure—its scorched metal and structural scars still visible, warped from within. The second, slightly smaller and less crude, bore clear damage to its tubes and shattered sealing formations. The third was the smallest of the three. Its material was unfamiliar, but I felt Shinsei vibrate slightly in recognition—as if the blade itself remembered it.

The walls were covered in blueprints and schematics too complex for me to decipher, though certain repeated patterns formed a sort of coded log. It was obvious: they had tried to replicate my transformation. But this wasn't the lab where those attempts had taken place—this space was curated, arranged specifically for my arrival.

Amid the notes and charts stood Orochimaru of the Sannin, hands wrapped in bandages, calmly reading through a series of documents. Beside him was his ever-faithful shadow, Kabuto Yakushi, who adjusted his glasses as he acknowledged my presence.

"Hinata… or perhaps I should say Iron Princess. Since our last encounter, I must admit, I feel like a different man," Orochimaru said with surprising serenity and a glimmer of amusement in his gaze.

I had to admit—his aura now radiated something entirely different from the vile presence I'd first met. Whatever my father had done when severing his soul from the chains of immortality had purified him somehow, elevating him. Around his body and soul, I could see the white threads flowing freely, unbound. I had only seen something similar in Jiraiya… which meant Orochimaru had likely attained a form of senjutsu mastery. Surprisingly, Kabuto, too, seemed to possess faint traces of the same energy.

"You're right," I said, scanning the room. "You don't feel like the same man I faced before. This place… it references both our encounters—and perhaps attempts to replicate their outcomes?"

"Indeed," Orochimaru responded smoothly. "Kabuto and I were quite intrigued by the possibilities. After a few failed attempts, we realized the issue wasn't the procedure itself, but rather… something extra you introduced."

"Did someone… get hurt or die during those attempts?" I asked, fearing the worst.

He smiled, his soul momentarily revealing delight at my concern. "Don't worry. They were volunteers. The damage was minimal and both have since recovered. I'm not in the habit of wasting loyal subordinates—who would follow me otherwise?"

I believed him. As twisted as he was, Orochimaru's followers were fiercely loyal for a reason. He was more than a scientist—he was a visionary, and they believed in his vision.

Still, this place had clearly been prepared for me. The path here was intentionally long—just enough time to finalize whatever performance they'd planned. "Yes… I did something. But at the time, I didn't think it appropriate to share. Especially since for the second and final procedure, you had full control of the process. Why would I have warned you about a variable I kept to myself?"

Orochimaru's delight deepened. "Excellent. Then perhaps we can reach an agreement that benefits us both."

He paced slowly, speaking with deliberate calm. "Recently, I had an audience with the White Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave. According to him, after a period of deliberation among the three great Sage Lands, they've concluded something—or someone—is tampering with the world's natural energy. It's being siphoned. Drained. This imbalance, they claim, will bring terrible consequences."

I froze.

He paused, letting the gravity settle. "The phenomenon began seven or eight months ago… Coincidentally, that aligns with the emergence of an S-rank fugitive. The Silver Lady. A mysterious cult leader from the Land of Iron, whose influence is now spreading across the Wind, Fire, and Earth nations—and beyond. Attempts to capture her or even confirm her existence have been consistently thwarted. Reports of strange dreams, of a white world where she offers people a choice, have multiplied. A single word is shared among the whispers: Yumegakure."

It took all my self-control—every lesson from Maeko—not to reveal how deeply this account shook me. "It's heartening to know the Cult of the Moon has touched so many lives that people now protect its priestesses of their own accord."

He chuckled. "Oh yes. It's not difficult to deduce you are one of them. And I no longer doubt the cult's intentions. Your concern for even those influenced by your presence confirms as much. I can also see the traces of senjutsu within you—now that the White Snake has begun instructing me, the signs are unmistakable. Re-examining your samples, it became clear your regeneration is powered by a concentration of natural energy enhancing your vitality."

His insight struck deep.

Faced with the truth, I realized the world does not stand still. If I can see the white threads and read their motion… Why had I assumed no one else could? Orochimaru had pieced together a puzzle I hadn't even realized I'd left behind. He had prepared this conversation—prepared the setting—researched, studied me, and arrived at a near-complete hypothesis. He didn't have the full picture, but he had enough.

I was the mouse in the snake's maze.

And in his soul, I saw satisfaction at a trap well sprung. Readiness for confrontation. And expectation—for what comes next.

"Doesn't it amaze you," I asked, "what one can see when their soul is no longer haunted by the dead? This clarity has allowed you to begin understanding the White Snake's ways. Before, the noise was too loud to hear the world around you. Now that you know the risks of binding spirits—even willing ones—to your soul, will you continue?"

Orochimaru nodded slowly. "It's clear some paths must be reevaluated. Much like our... unique alliance. You see, I would never betray a worthy ally. So far, the Moon Cult has been nothing but a stabilizing force. All my findings point to you—and to the Silver Lady—as sincere. Perhaps unaware of the wider consequences. Knowing you, and your integrity, I trust you'll act to correct that. So here's my offer: I won't share any information with the Sage Lands about you or the Moon Cult. In exchange, you will explain what you did to restore your chakra during the procedure."

I nodded, slowly. "Very well... we have a deal."

Orochimaru seemed satisfied. Kabuto finally relaxed—his silent stare-down with Mitsue during the entire conversation having worn him thin. Mitsue, of course, remained unbothered.

"Then tell me," Orochimaru continued, as if resuming a casual discussion. "Why are you here in Otogakure? Surely not just for reminiscence."

I exhaled softly. "Perhaps not as fascinating as our earlier topic... but I promised Sasuke a duel once I recovered. This journey through the Five Nations gave me the chance to keep that promise."

He raised a brow. "Ah, yes. Your travels. Coinciding with the rise of the Moon Cult. Remarkable what you accomplished in Iwagakure. Though I'm even more intrigued by your skirmish at the Valley of the End. Someone leaked your route to the underworld, I believe... but I'm undecided on what's more impressive: the trap you laid, or the strength of your five samurai."

That comment stirred a memory. "Ah, Kabuto-sama. Speaking of which, might I request your medical expertise? Two of my samurai remain in recovery. It would ease my mind greatly to know someone of your skill is tending to them."

Kabuto, exhausted from Mitsue's passive aggression and overwhelmed by my graceful request, simply nodded.

"Excellent," I smiled. "That brings me peace."

<<<< o >>>>

Hinata left the chamber after a long and delicate exchange with Orochimaru. The silence that followed her exit lingered for a moment, thick with implication.

Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "You seem pleased with the outcome, Orochimaru-sama."

"Because I am," Orochimaru replied, voice rich with satisfaction. "That girl has grown into something extraordinary. Her composure, her insight… She's playing a game larger than she lets on. This duel with Sasuke—it's not just about a promise. There's more beneath the surface."

Kabuto's voice dropped to a more contemplative tone. "Do you believe her? About the dissonance between body and soul?"

"She admitted it's her own interpretation, derived from experience," Orochimaru said, pacing slowly. "But it aligns with what we've observed—an unusually powerful soul in a body that struggled to contain it. And now she has somehow used her spiritual strength to reinforce her physical shell. That's why her chakra seemed lacking—her energy was manifesting elsewhere. Her definitions of the stages of body and soul… compelling, even if speculative."

He paused, gazing at the equipment lining the walls. "Until now, my research has focused on bloodlines. But if there were a way to elevate the spirit as one does the body..."

Kabuto's eyes widened. "That would be… transcendental."

Orochimaru chuckled. "No. That would be catching up. She's already doing it, unconsciously perhaps, but the results speak for themselves. Her battle with Sasuke will be enlightening."

"You didn't tell her Sasuke was one of the test subjects, did you?" Kabuto asked.

Orochimaru's smirk returned. "Where's the fun in that? Let her discover it herself. Even without her level of results, he was our most promising candidate. The procedure enhanced him more than expected—as if it corrected flaws in his blueprint."

Kabuto allowed himself a rare grin. "Then it will be quite the fight to witness."

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