"It… spoke?"
Orochimaru landed beside Uchiha Gen, eyes wide with fascination, his expression like a scholar who had just stumbled upon a new universe.
A talking sword. That was no ordinary trick.
"Shizukamaru, there's no need to hide anymore."
The blade shimmered, and faintly defined features appeared on its silver-white surface, just below the hilt.
Orochimaru's lips curled into a delighted smile. "Tsk, tsk… alive. What sort of principle is this?" His pale fingers lingered near the blade, though his gaze quickly lifted back to Gen.
"My bloodline limit allows me to give souls to lifeless objects, bringing them to life." Gen's tone was calm, but his eyes held the spark of pride. He would need these living weapons, his Homies, on the battlefield, so better to explain now.
"Giving souls to the dead?" Orochimaru repeated, voice rich with intrigue.
"In theory, yes."
"Can you give one to a corpse?"
"No. Corpses don't work I've tried. It's never been successful."
Orochimaru tilted his head, studying the sword again. "So you can take the souls of your enemies… and infuse them into dead matter?"
"There's a transformation process. Once complete, the original consciousness is gone."
A sharp hiss of breath escaped Orochimaru. "Then they'd never even reach the Pure Land?"
Gen nodded. "Exactly."
"Mm… the shinobi who die at your hands truly meet a pitiful end. What a frightening gift you've awakened."
Gen chuckled softly. "No one really knows what the Pure Land is like. Perhaps it's paradise or perhaps it's just dust returning to dust."
Orochimaru's eyes glittered. "Tsk, tsk… ruthless. No wonder such a bloodline limit chose you."
Gen only shrugged. "I'm just being honest. The unknown is rarely as beautiful as people want to believe."
"Well, I'll confirm it myself... once I perfect Impure World Reincarnation."
"I'll be curious to hear your report when that day comes."
A sly smile tugged Orochimaru's lips. "Gen, tell me honestly, how have I treated you as your teacher?"
That tone… Gen almost winced. It reminded him of someone about to ask for a loan in his previous life. Still, despite their relationship beginning as a transaction, Orochimaru had never wronged him.
"Pretty well," Gen answered sincerely. "Without you, I could still have walked this path, but it wouldn't have been nearly as smooth."
That answer seemed to genuinely satisfy Orochimaru.
Even he disliked ungrateful students.
"Then... give me some of your cells for research."
Gen blinked, expression blank. Of course. He knew something like this was coming.
"Since you're giving anyway, give me plenty," Orochimaru added, voice amused.
"Sensei… are you researching cloning now?"
"Correct." Orochimaru nodded. "Reincarnating into a younger clone of oneself, it's promising."
Gen sighed. "Fine. When we reach the base, I'll prepare a batch of cells for storage."
"Good. And if anyone asks about your bloodline limit, I'll say it awakened with my help."
"Fair enough."
Neither of them minded the cover story.
For Orochimaru, it cost nothing. For Gen, it gave him a shield.
Orochimaru glanced at the brightening sky. "We've wasted enough time. We should move faster."
But Gen only smiled faintly. "Then let's try a different method of travel. Shuryu."
A flash of crimson ignited in the air. From it, a tiny flame-dragon burst forth, body rapidly expanding until it became a colossal serpent of fire, ten meters long, as thick as a tree trunk.
Orochimaru's golden eyes widened with shock, then delight. "An elemental creature?"
Gen leapt onto Shuryu's back, seating himself just behind the dragon's horned head. "That's right. Come, Sensei."
"Tsk, tsk… fascinating." Orochimaru climbed aboard, running a pale hand across the dragon's scaled body.
"Don't touch me or I'll burn you."
The fire dragon's head twisted sharply, flames snorting from its nostrils as its maw curled in a vicious grin.
"Shuryu," Gen said gently, stroking the dragon's head. "That's my teacher. Mind your manners."
Then he looked back apologetically. "Forgive him, Sensei. Shuryu has a temper."
Orochimaru only smiled, though his eyes gleamed. "It's fine."
Shuryu snorted again. "His hands are too cold. And the way he looks at me—I don't like it."
Gen chuckled. "Sensei, please restrain your eyes. Any creature with a trace of intelligence would feel uneasy under your gaze."
"Mm. I'll try." Orochimaru's smile remained, helpless yet intrigued. He truly couldn't help himself, this elemental life born of a bloodline limit was far too alluring.
"Alright, let's go."
At once, Shuryu snapped from hovering stillness into blistering speed. The sudden shift nearly threw Gen backward and he had to clutch the dragon's horns to stay seated. Orochimaru, less prepared, barely kept himself from tumbling off, twisting his body snake-like around the dragon to hold on.
"Shuryu! What was that?" Gen shouted over the roaring wind, frowning.
The dragon rolled its eyes and ignored him.
Orochimaru waved a hand. "Let it be, it was just a joke." His tone was calm, but his thoughts sharp. With a creature this temperamental, it was wiser not to provoke it further.
Gen's eyes narrowed. "Do it again, and I'll teach you a lesson."
He raised a hand and gave the dragon's head a firm but measured smack. Shuryu immediately tilted its head back, rubbing against him in appeasement.
The morning sun rose fully now, golden rays spilling across the horizon. Clouds blazed crimson and gold, a rainbow arcing faintly above.
Gen and Orochimaru both paused, eyes drawn forward.
From behind, it looked as though the two shinobi and their dragon were flying straight into the heart of the sun itself.