Orochimaru's Research Base.
Jin dumped the three unconscious attackers onto the experiment tables.
"Jin-kun, why did you bring these people back?"
Orochimaru looked at Jin with interest from the side.
"If I use them as experimental materials, that guy Danzō won't let it go."
Although Root had now taken shape, not all clans approved of the way Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō were elected.
The impact of that was still present.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had raised the three Sannin to gradually win over the various clans, while Danzō's Root only had a few stray cats. Those who entered were civilian ninjas and some clan ninjas with poor talent.
These three were considered elites within Root.
Danzō wouldn't allow their loss.
However.
Orochimaru rubbed his chin. To send three Special Jonin for a single Genin, Danzō was really cautious.
Originally, he had planned to enter Root, but as his strength increased, the idea faded. Now, looking at Root's "elites," he completely cut off that thought.
They were just weaklings he could trample to death at will.
Jin glanced at Orochimaru, wondering what the other party was thinking.
Was he that reckless of a person?
"The jutsu I created can absorb other people's chakra, but I can't absorb these three's chakra at all. Let me see what's going on."
He had already used the absorption jutsu on the orange-haired man and the Aburame clan member codenamed Ming.
The results were the same. There was no effect whatsoever.
In that case, let alone Steel Tempest, even his Six Storehouses Immortal Thief would lose most of its utility.
However, hearing Jin's words.
Orochimaru cast a surprised look, as if he didn't understand why Jin didn't know.
Although Jin was puzzled by Orochimaru's reaction, the information inside these people's bodies was more important.
Soon, information about their physical condition was collected.
Watching the writing gradually appear on the scroll in his hand.
Jin suddenly realized.
He understood what was going on.
"It can actually be done like this."
No wonder Orochimaru looked at him with such strange eyes.
There were two seals in these three people's bodies. One was the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, preventing the subject from speaking any secrets about the caster.
This didn't affect chakra absorption.
What caused this effect...
Was the second one.
These three people had actually cultivated his Internal Cultivation and were still at the First Stage.
Theoretically, ninjutsu couldn't be used at this stage because chakra couldn't be expelled from the body. This was also the reason Jin couldn't absorb it.
But they shouldn't have been able to use ninjutsu either. Yet these three played with ninjutsu skillfully, completely unaffected by this restriction.
That was why Jin hadn't thought of Internal Cultivation.
Now looking at the content on the scroll, he understood the situation.
"Engraving ninjutsu into the surface layer of the body. When hand seals mobilize chakra, it is absorbed by the engraving and forcibly converted into ninjutsu."
Ninja tools in the ninja world were made using this method.
"I'm speechless."
This was the only way to use ninjutsu at this stage.
But while this method did allow the use of ninjutsu, every use would cause damage to the body.
One had to know that many ninja tools were damaged during use because the materials weren't up to standard.
If this was replaced with a human body, it would be even worse.
Do it too many times, and the whole person would be crippled.
"Truly a cruel method."
Sacrificing one's future for temporary ninjutsu usage... he couldn't do such a thing.
Orochimaru seemed to read Jin's thoughts.
"Those hidden under the roots of Konoha have no future to speak of."
Future?
Regarding Konoha's so-called Root and Danzō Shimura who took the blame for everything...
Jin sniffed disdainfully.
"Konoha's Root? I think they're more like bugs eating away at Konoha."
Orochimaru didn't agree with Jin's description.
"Root has contributed a lot to the village's development."
After all, Root members were a group of tools with erased emotions. Many extremely dangerous missions for the village were completed by Root.
And various intelligence from outside the village was desperately sent back by Root.
Although it was given to Danzō Shimura first.
But they had also stopped harm against Konoha many times.
Moreover.
Orochimaru knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi's glorious image existed because Root bore all of Hiruzen's darkness.
Even the Hashirama Cell experiments initiated in Hiruzen's name were completely carried out by Root. The Anbu didn't touch them at all.
Now the entire Konoha thought it was Danzō who bewitched Lord Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.
It was quite laughable.
"Perhaps." Jin had no intention of continuing the discussion. He injected a drug to induce coma into the people lying on the experiment tables.
Only then did he ask Orochimaru.
"Lord Orochimaru, how should we deal with these people?"
Orochimaru looked down at Jin's innocent smile. He looked just like a child who knew nothing of the world.
"Lord Orochimaru" when he needed something, "Orochimaru" when he didn't or was throwing a tantrum.
Truly pragmatic.
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
He liked pragmatic children.
"From now on, call me Teacher Orochimaru."
He was prepared to give Jin strict training, at least the skills to survive on the battlefield.
The taijutsu Jin showed off just now might not necessarily have a chance to be used in the future.
"I will handle them."
He would also "handle" Uchiha Jin properly.
Four months passed in a flash.
The white snow on the ground condensed into ice, becoming a plaything for many children. Of course, there were also unlucky ones who fell because the ice was slippery.
As the temperature rose, the ice began to melt again.
Many roads that were originally solid became muddy.
Trees sprouting new buds gathered into a forest.
A young boy wearing pitch-black casual clothes, with semi-long hair covering most of his forehead protector and a long sword at his waist, stood in the forest.
This person was naturally Uchiha Jin.
He looked serious, eyes closed, his right hand resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
The next moment, countless shuriken flew out from hidden corners of the forest.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
The shuriken collided in the air again, changing direction.
They shot towards Jin from a 360-degree angle.
Jin jumped up quickly, darting out through the gaps in the shuriken.
But the incoming shuriken collided in mid-air and actually changed direction again to rush at Jin.
Jin was in a suspended state. The sword at his waist was unsheathed instantly. The sword light turned into an airtight net, knocking all the shuriken away.
His figure fell downwards.
Just then, countless kunai flew over from all directions, with burning paper attached to their tails.
The faint sound of burning paper told Jin what they were.
Explosive Tags.
Jin's mouth twitched.
Orochimaru is really rich.
He formed seals quickly with one hand, took a deep breath, and exhaled forcefully.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" (Fūton: Daitoppa)
A strong wind blew most of the kunai away, accompanied by the continuous sounds of Boom! Boom! Boom!
But two kunai with tricky angles had already reached Jin's face, about to explode.
Shing!
A cold light flashed, and the two explosive tags were instantly severed.
Jin then landed safely.
From beginning to end, he kept his eyes closed without opening them.
Clap clap clap.
Orochimaru walked out of the forest, clapping his hands.
"Jin-kun is becoming more and more outstanding. The current you can be called a Special Jonin."
Only then did Jin open his eyes.
"Even like this, I can't be called a Jonin?"
The ninja world was accustomed to calling strength by ninja rank. Special Jonin only meant that one could fight and stall a Jonin, but had no chance of winning.
"Jin-kun underestimates Jonin too much."
Orochimaru smiled and shook his head.
"Every ninja who can be rated as a Jonin has experienced hundreds of battles and possesses extremely adept jutsu. If you understand the opponent's jutsu, there is a chance of winning."
"Intelligence is also an important factor of strength for ninjas. But in unknown circumstances, the strength a Jonin can unleash cannot be underestimated."
The difference between Uchiha Jin and those Jonin wasn't hard power. In terms of mastered ninjutsu alone, many Jonin were inferior to Uchiha Jin.
In taijutsu, he could also cause a certain amount of crushing pressure. As for chakra, he couldn't compare due to age.
But combat experience allowed these Jonin to use their strongest points to break Uchiha Jin's weakest points.
As long as the hard power gap wasn't too high, Uchiha Jin would lose against a Jonin.
"It seems I still need to work hard."
Jin sheathed the sword in his hand.
To this day, he still didn't understand why this world liked to call swords (single-edged) "Ken" (straight, double-edged swords).
The sword in his hand was Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword.
Jin formed seals quickly with both hands and pressed them on the ground.
Summoning Technique.
Poof!
A pure white snake that looked dopey glanced at Jin with beady eyes, wagged its tail quickly, and crawled over.
You are a cold-blooded animal!! Don't act like a dog!
Orochimaru fell silent looking at the scene before him.
He had let Jin sign a contract in Ryūchi Cave, but for some reason, the other party chose this most useless white snake.
Although he could summon other snakes, Orochimaru had never seen Jin summon them.
"Little White, the stuff."
Jin held out his hand.
Little White tilted its head and placed it on Jin's hand.
A vein popped visibly on Jin's forehead.
"I said the stuff in your stomach!!"
Little White suddenly realized, opened its big mouth, and spat out a scroll.
Looking at such a stupid white snake, Orochimaru couldn't help but persuade him.
"Jin-kun, maybe you should change it."
"It's fine. I'll cultivate it."
Jin refused with a smile that hid his embarrassment. Mainly because the others were too ugly.
He really didn't want to use them.
"Teacher Orochimaru, this is a gift from me to you."
He handed the scroll to Orochimaru.
"Thank you for your guidance during this time."
"Truly gentle, Jin-kun."
Orochimaru took it, his smile rarely possessing some of its former warmth.
"I just don't want to feel guilty when I take revenge on you later."
Jin responded with a smiling face.
The torture of these four months! I will definitely!! Take revenge!!
"Hehe." The corners of Orochimaru's mouth almost curled up to his eyes.
Truly a strange person.
"Then I'll wait and see."
Only then did he look at the scroll in his hand.
"Immortal Seal Method!" (Bùsǐ Yìnfǎ!)