Chapter 441: A One-Man Show
"The guidance of destiny, or the guidance of the system?"
Masahiko sank into deep contemplation. Orochimaru's narrative truly sounded like the system was at work, but how could a system be transmitted through blood? You're acting like you're HIV...
"Wait, that's not right." Masahiko suddenly remembered something and looked up to confirm with Orochimaru: "Back when Obito succeeded as Hokage, you said you didn't receive any guidance of destiny?"
"Correct... It seems you are very clear about where the power of destiny in your blood comes from." Orochimaru licked his lips.
"I'm not clear!" Masahiko shook his head. If Orochimaru had truly obtained a simplified version of the system, there was no reason why he wouldn't receive 'guidance' for such a major event as the succession of the Fifth Hokage.
Following his Yin attribute scaling to level ten, which caused his IQ to leap forward, Masahiko felt for the first time in a long while that his brain was insufficient again...
"Sigh, I can't even ask Shikaku to help analyze this matter. What a drag, my blood is practically toxic." Masahiko let out a sigh and continued to question Orochimaru: "Aside from this, you don't want to tell me anything else? For instance... your strength?"
"After following the guidance of destiny, my strength has indeed progressed, but the increment is microscopic. If I hadn't already reached my limit before, I wouldn't have been able to perceive it at all. In other words, it helped me break through my physical limits, allowing my strength to improve further!"
Masahiko knit his brows. Is it truly a 'witnessing' effect?
"Furthermore," Orochimaru continued to supplement, "even up to this moment, your blood still occasionally guides me to take Kimimaro Kaguya as a subordinate, which has caused me quite a bit of trouble."
Masahiko's brow smoothed slightly. It cannot cause an 'alteration'? Pinning his gaze firmly on Orochimaru, Masahiko spoke after a long silence: "You wouldn't be trying to hoodwink me, would you?"
"How would I dare hoodwink you?"
Masahiko took a deep breath, finding this highly troublesome. For a moment, he didn't know how to 'dispose of' Orochimaru. Should he kill him? After acquiring a spiritual space, Masahiko could wipe out a soul, so it was highly unlikely that Orochimaru could escape from his hands... though one couldn't say for sure either.
"Killing intent?" Orochimaru licked his lips, completely devoid of nervousness: "It seems you indeed possess some incredible secrets."
Masahiko smiled and didn't deny it. Ever since his strength reached a certain level, he had never intentionally concealed his 'uniqueness'. Many people could guess that he had secrets...
But Orochimaru was different.
This scientist dared to research anything, and his research capability was maxed out. More critically, if the news that a portion of his secrets could be obtained from his blood spread out, wouldn't he become Tang Sanzang Uzumaki?
Presumably everyone would want to 'eat' him.
It is not a thief's theft that one fears, but a thief's constant plotting. That would truly leave him with no peace...
"Actually, you don't need to worry about me," Orochimaru spoke slowly. "I harbor no malice toward you. The one you should worry about more is the leader of that 'Dark Akatsuki'!"
Masahiko was startled, a hint of realization dawning on him.
"Right, the Sage of Six Paths said that bastard was a pitiful fellow who woke up from the Infinite Tsukuyomi for some unknown reason, originally a White Zetsu. As for the reason for his awakening..." Masahiko lightly patted his stomach, "that bastard Black Zetsu must have collected my blood!"
"No wonder that guy would play the role of the Six Paths of Pain back then to attack Konoha, repeatedly attack Nawaki, and kill... Orochimaru's parents!" Thinking up to this point, Masahiko abruptly raised his head.
Orochimaru, however, revealed a meaningful smile: "Is that truly the case? My father and mother were merely ordinary Chunin. I have always been puzzled as to why they became targets for execution by the 'Dark Akatsuki' leader. So... it was destiny!"
Masahiko paused, his eyes narrowing slightly, feeling a bit uncomfortable in his heart.
"Along with the version of me that went back a thousand years ago, it always feels like everything happens because of me. Why does it feel like I'm putting on a one-man show?"
After a long silence, the killing intent in Masahiko's heart slowly dissipated, and he spoke with a sigh: "I owed you a favor previously for the intelligence on Chiyo. I won't pursue this incident, so we can consider that favor repaid. You have no objections, right?"
Orochimaru nodded: "No objections."
Masahiko waved his hand: "Then that's it, go back and wash up to sleep. Don't let me catch you deceiving me in any way, otherwise... well, I'm not very good at making threats, it's enough as long as you understand it in your heart."
Orochimaru licked his lips: "Senior, I understand. Then what about the guidance to attack Teacher Hiruzen this time?"
Masahiko knit his brows slightly: "You still want to go? The current Konoha is not something you can mess with! And just because of these bizarre guidances, you're going to kill Hiruzen?"
Orochimaru shook his head: "No, I merely want to confirm whether destiny will still guide me to attack again after the assassination on Teacher fails. Regarding Kimimaro Kaguya, it has indeed caused me trouble."
"At the same time, I also want to confirm a hypothesis, or perhaps an intuition of mine—whether five milliliters of your blood will only provide me with five guidances."
Masahiko was startled: "You have that kind of intuition?"
Orochimaru nodded to confirm.
Masahiko pondered for a moment. Having a limit on the number of times... that was even better! Sweeping his eyes over the corpse of the Fourth Kazekage from the corner of his eye, he suddenly recalled another troublesome matter...
If Orochimaru didn't disguise himself as the Fourth Kazekage to go to Konoha, the news of the Fourth Kazekage's demise would spread out, and the Hidden Sand squad would probably withdraw and forfeit. In that case, the variables for the top eight contenders would be immense, and he would very likely lose money...
More critically, there were some things Masahiko also wanted to confirm. Letting Orochimaru off just like this still didn't put his mind entirely at ease... Of course, catching a few Witness Points along the way would be even better.
"You can go to Konoha Village, but you can only attack Hiruzen, not the rest of Konoha. When you attack Hiruzen, I will remain completely hidden nearby. If there is even a shred of extraneous movement, I will strike ruthlessly without mercy, and you will absolutely die there! Given that... are you still going?"
Orochimaru licked his lips, speaking without a shred of hesitation: "Deal. I truly have nothing hidden from you, you can rest assured."
It would be a miracle if Masahiko could rest assured; the hardest person to read in the Naruto world was Orochimaru. If he hadn't lived an extra seventy or eighty years and walked a saltier road, wouldn't he, as a transmigrator, be trembling with fear and treading on thin ice when facing Orochimaru?
Masahiko currently possessed absolute confidence that his strength held an absolute advantage, and no one could overturn the heavens.
"The Great Ancestor possesses invincible status to crush everything!"
After giving himself a wave of brainwashing, looking back at Orochimaru made Masahiko feel very comfortable...
"Senior, if there is nothing else, I shall go prepare first," Orochimaru spoke once more.
Masahiko nodded and vanished via teleportation.
Orochimaru's body paused slightly, and he stepped toward the corpses of the Fourth Kazekage and the Kazekage's security detail.
...
A dozen minutes later, Konoha Village.
Masahiko flickered and appeared beside Jiraiya. In the distance, Naruto was riding on Gamabunta, jumping up and down, putting on a great show of getting acknowledged by the 'Toad Boss'.
Seeing Masahiko appear, Jiraiya immediately spoke with urgency: "Senior, how is Orochimaru now? Exactly why did he defect?"
"He's fine. The reason for his defection... seems to be because of me?" Masahiko scratched his head.
"Because of you?" Jiraiya was dumbfounded.
Masahiko nodded, suddenly letting out a sigh: "Who directed this play? In this isolated role, the dialogue is always talking to oneself..."
Jiraiya: ???
How did he just start singing?
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