At dawn, Orochimaru sealed everything useful into a scroll, then left the Root base and stepped into the misty forest, his figure quickly swallowed by the morning fog.
"I've really offended Danzo this time," he muttered.
The lamp spirit popped out beside him, glancing back into the thick mist. "Looks like it'll be hard for you to run experiments in Root from now on," he said with a grin.
Orochimaru, though nominally one of Danzo's subordinates and a member of the ANBU, had always functioned more as a collaborator. In exchange for helping Danzo with some of his more complex experiments, he received research funding. Now that they had parted ways, it meant losing a significant source of income.
"It doesn't matter," Orochimaru said casually. "I was planning to leave Root soon anyway. Danzo's support has been dwindling lately—he probably figured out that I funneled most of the funds into developing the Reanimation Jutsu."
Misappropriating funds for personal projects—classic behavior for any researcher, regardless of the world.
The lamp spirit chuckled. "Don't worry about money. If I'm right, it won't be long before we land ourselves a new sponsor."
Orochimaru nodded without asking who he meant. He had backup plans in place for this kind of situation—funding was essential for scientific research and the pursuit of immortality, but that didn't mean he enjoyed the hustle. If the lamp spirit was offering to handle it, he was more than happy to leave it in his hands.
"As for the new lab," the lamp spirit continued, "we've got options. After the Nine-Tails' attack, a huge portion of Konoha was destroyed. The higher-ups will probably use this as a chance to restructure the village and shift around where the shinobi live."
There was confidence in his tone, almost like he'd seen it happen already.
"At the reconstruction meeting after the Nine-Tails incident, the elders even took the opportunity to further isolate the Uchiha," he added.
Orochimaru paused beside a tall tree, thinking for a moment. "You're probably right. That does sound like something the old man would do," he said. "In that case, we'll hold off on any action for now."
Secrecy was the top priority when building a new lab. And if it had to be placed within the village, the more important concern was avoiding the eyes of those capable of uncovering its existence.
Take, for example, the Sharingan of the Uchiha, the Byakugan of the Hyuuga, and the insects of the Aburame clan.
The latter two, especially, are difficult to guard against.
Until Orochimaru could confirm the exact range of their surveillance activities, the location for the new laboratory would have to remain undecided.
With a faint smile, Orochimaru muttered, "So, I have nothing to do today?"
He no longer needed to worry about funding. With a new direction for his research and little interest in repeating failed experiments, there wasn't much to keep him occupied—at least, not until the boy with Wood Release and the promised hundred million ryō arrived.
For now, and perhaps until that moment, he was free. Too free. And for someone used to endless work, that felt a little... unsettling.
"It's a nice problem to have, isn't it?" the Djinn said with a sly grin. "You could go help your desperate old teacher and win some favor. Or maybe—just a thought—you could say thank you by demonstrating your ninjutsu. One by one."
Orochimaru ignored the jab, his smile unfading. "I'm curious—how exactly does your copying ability work?"
The question came suddenly. In this world, asking about another's unique powers was usually considered rude—dangerous, even. Many relationships had soured over less. He and Danzo were a prime example.
But Orochimaru was confident the Djinn wouldn't mind. They weren't the same kind of beings. From his perspective, Orochimaru posed no threat.
"That's a bit troublesome to explain," the Djinn replied, rubbing his chin. "But... you're familiar with computers, right? The shinobi world has machines close enough. So you'll understand this."
Orochimaru nodded.
"For me, the host's body is like hardware. Their abilities? Software," the Djinn said, spreading his hands. "All I do is record the information at the moment an ability is used—basically, I copy the 'software' and then install it onto the next host."
It sounded simple. Too simple.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. "Then to fully master an ability... wouldn't you need to record it multiple times?"
Take ninjutsu, for example. Vary the chakra input, and the technique's form or power might change. Shinobi constantly adjusted their jutsu depending on the situation. If the Djinn could only copy a single version...
"It seems inefficient."
"No," the Djinn said, shaking his head. "I only record a single standard sample."
That caught Orochimaru off guard. "Why?"
"Because I can't adapt it."
The Djinn spoke plainly. "It's up to the host to adapt and refine the technique. I just repeat the sample. Whether it can be learned or perfected... that depends entirely on the host."
"If they die in the process?" he added, smiling faintly. "I'll just lose a bit of time. And to someone immortal, time is the most abundant resource."
Orochimaru stared for a moment, then laughed. "That's... a ruthless answer."
"I just don't want you to get the wrong idea," the Djinn replied. "I'll help you—but rely on me too much, and you'll die."
The words hung in the air. Expected, perhaps—but still jarring in their honesty. Yet Orochimaru couldn't help but admire the Djinn's unshakable conviction. A being who did only what he pleased, never shackled by obligation.
After a long pause, Orochimaru asked, "Djinn, since you only need one standard sample to copy an ability... that means you're not constantly using your power, right?"
"Correct. What's your point?"
"In battle, techniques are often distorted by environmental factors. But a deliberate demonstration—calm and methodical—would provide a cleaner example."
Orochimaru smiled. "If I rehearsed every ninjutsu I've mastered, wouldn't that give you a better set of reference data?"
The Djinn nodded. "You're right. That would be very helpful for me."
Orochimaru's eyes glinted. "Then what would you pay me for doing that?"
The Djinn didn't hesitate. "That's an easy one. If you want to witness the power of another world... I'll show you."
He looked at Orochimaru meaningfully. "It seems you're finally starting to understand what this is all about."
Orochimaru grinned but said nothing.
Tonight, he had gained much—secrets of the Sage of Six Paths, ample funding, and a valuable sample of Wood Release.
It should have been enough.
But the Djinn clearly didn't think so. He seemed almost insulted by Orochimaru's limited ambition.
The greatest treasure was right there, waiting to be seized. And yet, Orochimaru had hesitated.
That hesitation made him feel a little ashamed—and gave him a clearer picture of who the Djinn really was.
Behind the calm voice and polite tone was a ruthless merchant.
He stoked desire, nurtured ambition, and pushed his "partners" to create value.
The Djinn wasn't afraid of wasting his own time—he was afraid of others wasting his.
But if this was a trap... the bait was too sweet.
Orochimaru licked his lips, his grin widening.
He couldn't resist.
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