After the family banquet ended, Xu Ming bid farewell and left with Orochimaru.
On the way back, Orochimaru remained calm. He was unaffected by Akamichi's concerns, as he did not have a large family to carry forward. At only ten years old, he had a bright future ahead and only needed to think and plan for himself.
"Orochimaru, do you plan to continue developing this technique?" Xu Ming asked as they walked side by side.
"I do have that idea," Orochimaru nodded. "It feels like it suits me."
"I think so too."
"Oh?"
"But it's not the Doubling Secret Technique that suits you; it's the essential body transformation technique that does," Xu Ming said, turning to Orochimaru with a bright smile. "I have a feeling you'll develop something extraordinary from it."
A look of surprise flashed across Orochimaru's face. It had been a long time since he'd heard Xu Ming praise him like this. More importantly, Xu Ming genuinely believed this technique was suitable for him.
"Then I'll give it a try," Orochimaru said seriously, feeling an unexpected sense of hope and confidence.
"Actually, during your development, you should consider incorporating the Shadow Clone Technique," Xu Ming suggested as they walked slowly. "When we're inexperienced, using the Clone and Shadow Clone techniques often results in distorted figures—crooked eyes, twisted noses, and other deformities. Isn't that a form of body transformation?"
"You can freely experiment with your ideas using Shadow Clones. This essentially combines the Shadow Clone Technique with Transformation, just in a more complex way."
Xu Ming, having knowledge of the future, expressed his insights. In later years, Naruto utilized this very trick—turning a clone into a Fuuma Shuriken to deceive Zabuza. To Xu Ming, this move was simply outrageous.
Transformation could change a full-sized human into an inanimate object. Wasn't this, in essence, a powerful body transformation technique?
"That makes sense!" Orochimaru's eyes lit up.
"I actually overlooked that... Xu Ming, your understanding of jutsu is incredibly broad and deep, isn't it?" Orochimaru looked at him with curiosity.
It was rare for a ten-year-old to have such vast knowledge. Even for a genius, excelling in learning was one thing, but having such profound insights into jutsu was another.
Especially when considering the high-purity Yang Release that Xu Ming seemed to possess—it was as if he could replenish vitality itself. Was such a level of Nature Transformation even humanly possible?
Orochimaru couldn't help but wonder if Xu Ming was the reincarnation of the First or Second Hokage. Otherwise, how could he explain his exceptional understanding of ninjutsu?
But now, even that seemed unlikely.
Orochimaru started to believe that Xu Ming might be the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths himself.
Xu Ming noticed Orochimaru's hesitant expression and smiled, patting his shoulder. "Don't overthink it. One day, when the time is right, I'll tell you everything. Just remember—we're friends."
"Friends..." Orochimaru was silent for a few seconds before exhaling a breath of relief.
So be it. Friends were a good thing, after all.
Everyone had their own secrets. There was no need to pry too deeply.
Spring passed, autumn came, and winter arrived. The year was drawing to a close.
Six months had passed since Xu Ming arrived in the Naruto world.
"I've unknowingly grown accustomed to life here," Xu Ming muttered, standing in a corridor facing the backyard. He stretched out a hand.
A snowflake landed on his palm, slowly melting with his body heat and turning into a tiny drop of water.
"In a week, it'll be New Year's Day. And my birthday."
"What a coincidence—my birthday falls on the same day as the New Year."
Xu Ming smiled faintly, withdrawing his hand and turning his gaze toward Hokage Rock.
More precisely, toward the forest behind it.
At the same time, in the forest behind Hokage Rock, under a tall, dry tree standing twenty meters high...
Orochimaru exhaled a breath of white mist, looking down at his palm.
Hiss—
A small, jade-white snake lay in his hand, flicking its tongue. Its eyes gleamed with intelligence, appearing unusually perceptive.
"The 25th generation of this breed now has Genin-level chakra. It can understand simple commands and function as a Summoning creature."
Orochimaru observed the little snake, a smile forming on his lips.
"But more importantly..."
He placed the snake on the tree, allowing it to slither freely, then formed a hand seal.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, as a cold wind blew past, Orochimaru's face suddenly cracked—
Not from injury, but as if his skin had dried out.
The cracks spread from his cheek to his neck, branching into countless tiny fissures.
Orochimaru pressed both hands against the cracks and pulled forcefully to the sides.
Hiss—
His skin peeled away.
Like a snake shedding its skin, a thin outer layer of his body was discarded, revealing a fresh, undamaged Orochimaru beneath.
"More importantly, I've transformed the Doubling Secret Technique into something that truly suits me."
"Snakes inspire me."
"Their ability to contort their limbs, dislocate their jaws at will, develop robust muscle structures, and naturally shed their skin... Imagine applying these abilities to the human body. It would be incredible."
Orochimaru held up the shed skin, studying it closely.
His expression was one of deep admiration.
This was the unique Body Replacement Technique he had developed, originating from the Doubling Secret Technique.
Unlike conventional Body Replacement, this required no external objects. Instead, he could generate a layer of expendable skin and shed it instantly, allowing him to evade damage completely.
In emergencies, he could even accelerate the process using a large amount of chakra.
This was just the beginning of his new path.