Chapter 108 (Patreon)

“I am the darkness.”

Yujiro spoke with a faint smile.

Orochimaru drew a slow breath before replying, “There is always a limit to how far light can reach. Darkness, however, can surround it completely.”

His golden eyes narrowed.

“And darkness can devour light as well.”

Orochimaru’s lips curled into a thin smile.

“You, Lord Yujiro, possess the power to command that darkness.”

Orochimaru’s voice had fallen so low that even Kabuto, standing behind him, could barely make out his words. Kimimaro, meanwhile, looked completely bewildered by the exchange.

Yujiro laughed.

As expected of Orochimaru, one of the greatest researchers in the shinobi world. His way of thinking had long surpassed that of ordinary people.

Still, Yujiro had not come here today to listen to Orochimaru praise him.

“Orochimaru, there’s something I need your help with.”

Yujiro went straight to the point.

“What is it?” Orochimaru asked.

“Take me to Ryūchi Cave.”

“Ryūchi Cave?”

Orochimaru frowned slightly at the name.

It was not that he did not know how to reach the place. He simply had no desire to return there.

Yujiro immediately noticed his hesitation. It was most likely related to Ryūchi Cave’s unpleasant and dangerous trials.

“Don’t worry. You only need to take me as far as the entrance.”

Yujiro gave a quiet chuckle.

“I’m going there to speak with the White Snake Sage.”

Orochimaru took a deep breath before nodding.

“Very well.”

He turned around and gave Kabuto and Kimimaro several instructions regarding what they were to do over the next few days.

Yujiro’s gaze briefly passed over the two of them.

Kabuto Yakushi had already become Orochimaru’s devoted subordinate, while Kimimaro had also been taken in by him.

Kimimaro possessed the Shikotsumyaku, but Yujiro’s third-stage ability could not currently replicate it.

His simulated acquisition ability could only reproduce kekkei genkai created through the fusion of chakra natures.

Storm Release, for example, was formed through the combination of Lightning Release and Water Release. Scorch Release was created through the fusion of Fire Release and Wind Release.

However, Yujiro could not yet acquire kekkei genkai tied directly to a person’s physical constitution.

Otherwise, he would have already obtained a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan from the Uchiha clan.

Once Yujiro entered the fourth stage of the Limiter, overcame the first stage’s inner demon, and reached the intermediate level, he would be capable of freely rearranging and altering his own genes.

At that point, he could acquire any special constitution found within the shinobi world.

Even obtaining the Mangekyō Sharingan would require no more than a thought.

For now, however, his priority was Ryūchi Cave.

He intended to use it to increase the progress of his Limiter.

After Orochimaru finished giving his instructions, he left the hideout together with Yujiro.

“Although I don’t know why you wish to visit Ryūchi Cave, I’m certain your true objective is far more terrifying than anything I could imagine.”

After leaving Otogakure, Orochimaru began carefully assessing Yujiro’s strength.

However, no matter how closely he observed him, Orochimaru could no longer see through him.

That discovery shocked him once again.

“My objective is beyond anything you could imagine,” Yujiro replied with a faint smile.

The Limiter was something that far surpassed the conventional abilities and power system of the shinobi world.

Orochimaru nodded.

He had never been able to fully understand Yujiro.

“You came to find me without any guards,” Orochimaru suddenly said with a cold laugh. “Aren’t you afraid that I might kill you?”

His eyes gleamed with undisguised desire.

“You should remember that I chose you as my ideal vessel from the very beginning.”

“Can you kill me?”

Yujiro rested a hand against the black blade at his side and glanced toward Orochimaru.

Orochimaru’s expression stiffened for a moment.

“Then aren’t you afraid that I might seek revenge for what happened to Sarutobi-sensei?”

Yujiro did not even turn to look at him.

“Would you?”

“Interesting.”

Orochimaru extended his tongue and ran it across his lips, his eyes filled with intense fascination.

After that, he said nothing more.

The two quietly disappeared into the depths of the forest.

Half an hour after their departure, the ground beneath the trees began to shift.

A strange figure resembling a giant pitcher plant slowly emerged from the earth.

It was Black Zetsu.

As Black Zetsu rose from the ground, the space beside him suddenly twisted into a spiralling distortion.

Two figures emerged from the vortex.

“Madara, why didn’t you approach Orochimaru directly?”

The speaker’s voice was cold and emotionless. The Deva Path turned his gaze toward the masked man standing beside him.

“Because of the person who was with him,” Obito Uchiha answered solemnly.

The Deva Path paused.

“That boy?”

“Yes.”

Obito glanced toward Pain.

They had originally come here to recruit Orochimaru into the Akatsuki. They had not expected to encounter Yujiro.

The last time Obito had faced him was during the Nine-Tails’ attack on Konoha.

Had Obito not possessed Izanagi at the time, he might have died that night.

Until the Akatsuki had fully assembled its strength, provoking Yujiro would be far too dangerous.

The organisation had already begun expanding from the shadows, and its development was progressing even faster than it had in the original course of events.

“That black-haired boy possesses an enormous amount of power,” Obito said in a low voice. “I don’t know what method he used, but he even managed to subdue the Nine-Tails.”

“He also possesses extraordinary swordsmanship, and his speed is so great that even my Mangekyō Sharingan can barely follow him.”

“Even S-rank ninjutsu can be used by him as casually as ordinary C-rank techniques.”

Obito’s voice grew heavier.

“Perhaps only Pain is capable of fighting him now.”

The Deva Path remained silent.

“But this is not the time,” Obito continued. “The Akatsuki still needs time to complete its plans.”

After hearing his assessment, the Deva Path gave a slight nod.

“Black Zetsu, remain here.”

Obito turned his gaze toward the direction in which Yujiro and Orochimaru had disappeared.

“Orochimaru will not remain at Yujiro’s side. Two men with ambitions that great could never truly serve one another.”

“For now, their relationship is most likely nothing more than a temporary alliance.”

“Orochimaru will eventually return. When he does, approach him and inform me if he agrees to join the Akatsuki.”

“Yes, Madara-sama.”

Black Zetsu slowly sank back into the ground.

Obito then activated Kamui, drawing both himself and the Deva Path into the spiralling distortion before disappearing from the forest.

Yujiro and Orochimaru continued travelling for three days and three nights.

Without Orochimaru leading the way, even Yujiro might not have been able to locate Ryūchi Cave.

Its location was far too unremarkable, and the surrounding environment was exceptionally harsh.

Eventually, the two arrived at the valley containing the entrance to Ryūchi Cave.

“Lord Yujiro, I will wait for you at the entrance to the valley for one week.”

Orochimaru stopped outside the valley.

“At most, I’ll need half a day,” Yujiro replied with a faint smile.

Orochimaru did not argue.

Yujiro raised his gaze toward the towering cliffs on both sides of the valley. With the black blade at his side, he leisurely walked into the dense fog ahead.

Standing outside the valley, Orochimaru watched him disappear, curiosity gleaming in his snake-like eyes.

As far as Orochimaru could tell, Yujiro could have only two reasons for coming to Ryūchi Cave.

The first was to learn the senjutsu of the snakes.

The second was to obtain a powerful summoning animal.

Orochimaru was genuinely curious to learn which of those objectives Yujiro intended to pursue.

After all, neither one would be easy to accomplish.