Chapter 108: Mass-Produced Tailed Beasts? The God of Science, Orochimaru
Pirate Ren Arakawa bit down on that half-severed tail!
In that instant, his eyes widened, as if struck by a bolt of unprecedented deliciousness!
His eyes, originally slightly weary from the intense heat, instantly sparkled with dazzling light, as if he had discovered a treasure buried deep beneath the ocean.
How long had it been since he'd eaten a proper meal?
No.
He had never eaten anything this delicious in his entire life!
Pirate Ren Arakawa's eyebrows shot up, forming two crescent moons that trembled slightly with the rhythm of his chewing.
His nostrils flared rapidly, greedily catching the unique scent emanating from the tail. His lips tightly enveloped it, the corners of his mouth upturned, and his teeth rhythmically cut through its tissue, emitting a faint "crunching" sound.
His throat worked, swallowing mouthful after mouthful of the tail's essence. Each swallow was accompanied by a soft "gulp"!
A flush gradually spread across Pirate Ren Arakawa's face, not from the high temperature of this scorching hell, but from the intoxication and joy of this exquisite new flavor welling up from the depths of his heart.
At this moment, he finally understood that the expressions of the judges in *Cooking Master Boy* were not an act.
In this world, such delicious things truly existed...
Pirate Ren Arakawa licked his fingers, still wanting more, trying to scrape clean every last bit of the unique taste lingering on his fingertips.
However, just as he was immersed in this moment of aftertaste, a surge of intense pain suddenly washed over him like a torrent, instantly enveloping his entire body.
His face instantly turned deathly pale, beads of sweat the size of beans broke out on his forehead, and his teeth clenched tightly, emitting a painful groan.
His body swayed uncontrollably, his foot slipped, and his entire being tilted towards the scorching furnace below!
In this critical moment, he used all his strength, shot out his arm, and desperately gripped the scorching red railing beside him!
The searing hot metal burned his palm, but he was completely oblivious. Veins bulged on his arm as he struggled to pull his body back to a safe position.
Once he finally managed to stabilize himself, panting heavily, and before he could fully recover from the recent peril, he was horrified to discover strange changes occurring in his body.
An unknown power surged wildly within him, his muscles tensed, and his bones seemed to be subtly reshaping themselves.
Suddenly, a sharp pain erupted from his back, as if something was about to burst out of his body.
Immediately after, a brand new tail slowly grew out!
It was slightly shorter than the previous one, but it exuded an even more eerie aura.
At this moment, Pirate Ren Arakawa's eyes flashed with blood-red light, having entered a gluttonous state empowered by the Heavenly Cursed Seal. A powerful hunger and desire for slaughter surged within his heart, and his hands unconsciously trembled slightly.
After a moment, Pirate Ren Arakawa finally stabilized his body. He first chose the synchronization ability, then asked:
"How many tails do you all have now?"
Uchiha Ren: "Huh? What 'how many tails'? I only have half of a small tail now."
Pirate Ren Arakawa: "Alright, I thought we could infinitely farm tails, but it seems not."
Uchiha Ren then reacted: "You ate my tail and grew a new one?"
Stephen Fang: "Oh my god! Doesn't that make you a Two-Tails? Eat more, and you'll become a Nine-Tails!"
Pirate Ren Arakawa: "I'd like to eat more, but where can I get them?"
Stephen Fang: "Can't you get supplies from Main God Ren Arakawa? As long as you have Reward Points..."
Main God Ren Arakawa: "But I don't have Orochimaru here."
Underground laboratory of the Hidden Sound Village.
Orochimaru's yellow snake eyes scrutinized Uchiha Ren, feeling that the young man before him was becoming increasingly mysterious.
"You are aware that Anko Mitarashi from Konoha has a Heavenly Cursed Seal, right?"
"This way, Konoha can learn you're with me through Anko Mitarashi."
Orochimaru's snake tongue flickered, almost slapping Uchiha Ren's face.
"The Inuzuka Clan can also track you to my location based on your scent."
"However, little brat, your schemes are all petty calculations in my eyes."
The implication was that Orochimaru interpreted Uchiha Ren's action of teleporting the tail as an attempt to send a message.
Orochimaru smiled. "I said before, I don't need you as my vessel now. You're free to come and go; I won't restrict you."
Uchiha Ren felt Orochimaru's confident gaze. At this moment, he was somewhat impressed by the shrewd brilliance of this scientific madman.
Damn Sasuke! Orochimaru nurtured you for so many years and treated you well!
He said he'd help you get revenge, and Orochimaru taught you without holding anything back!
Your own father, Fugaku, only taught you one Fireball Technique!
How much did Orochimaru teach you?
To still betray him like this, you're truly an ungrateful snake!
"Orochimaru, putting other matters aside, could you research this?" Uchiha Ren said, fiercely tearing off the half-severed tail from the base of his body!
Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. "Who in the ninja world doesn't know that the pinnacle of science is represented by Orochimaru of the Sannin? If this tail could be mass-produced, it would be a blessing for all of humanity!"
Orochimaru, on the bed, took the tail Uchiha Ren handed him. He lightly pinched it with his fingers, assessing its rigidity.
A smile hung in the corner of his eye as he looked at Uchiha Ren. "Such a thing can indeed increase the combat power of a Genin, but for ninjas of Chunin-level strength or higher, its effect isn't very significant. It's far inferior to the enhancement brought by the Cursed Seal."
The implication was that there was no need for mass production.
"But..."
Orochimaru changed the subject. "Although I don't know why, you must really need this thing, right?"
"Of course, I need it very much."
Orochimaru looked at Uchiha Ren's blood-soaked clothes. "Then why did you pull it off?"
Uchiha Ren looked up. "Because I know for a fact that only you in the entire ninja world can make it exert its maximum effect. I have to take this gamble."
"Interesting little brat."
Orochimaru smiled, looking at Uchiha Ren's wings.
"If it's just a tail, there's not much need for research. If these wings of yours were available for research..."
Uchiha Ren's expression was firm. "I need to protect myself. Without my wings, I'll be killed by the Akatsuki."
Orochimaru was very surprised. "Oh? Why would the Akatsuki be targeting you?"
Uchiha Ren stretched his shoulders, and a blue mask with coiling black blood vessels appeared on his left arm.
Seeing this, Orochimaru, who had just remained perfectly composed as if Mount Tai were collapsing before him, revealed a look of astonishment!
"Where did you get that from?"
Uchiha Ren's expression didn't change, and a lie came easily to his lips. "I was being hunted by a black monster in the forest. In desperation, I used the power of the Heavenly Cursed Seal and took a bite out of it. I don't know what came over me; I just felt so hungry. After eating it, I ended up like this."
"Unbelievable!" Orochimaru sat upright, gently stroking the Jiongu mask. "In that case, I must study your tail carefully. To be able to absorb the abilities of Jiongu... such a mutation is something I never anticipated."
"Even Jugo hasn't undergone such a change."
"Phew!"
Having received the answer he most wanted, Uchiha Ren breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well then, I'll leave it to you, Lord Orochimaru. I'll come back to find you in a while."
"Wait!"
Orochimaru suddenly called out to Uchiha Ren. Uchiha Ren activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, his back still turned to Orochimaru!
If Orochimaru tried to make a move, he would immediately go all out, even if it meant mutual destruction!
However, a single sentence from Orochimaru made Uchiha Ren exceptionally excited.
"I want to study your wings. As for self-preservation, I can teach you a jutsu in exchange."
(end of chapter)