Chapter 61: The Return of Kuuchin
Except for Yahiko, the entire space was torn into countless fragments; it was the rift of "deleted" time.
In this dimension that only Yahiko could observe, Orochimaru did not stop. He was like a marionette who had lost its Soul, mechanically and without hesitation executing his original trajectory of fate—
That mangled body suddenly opened its mouth wide, and a slippery, brand-new "New Orochimaru" crawled out from the old husk, his body twisting like a snake as he lunged toward the newly formed swamp on the ground. According to fate, even if he only had 0.1 seconds, he would be able to burrow into the earth and escape.
"Unfortunately, I can see your trajectory perfectly clearly."
Yahiko, in a state of intangibility, moved indifferently through the flying debris and mud.
He didn't attack, because during this period of time, no attack could touch a physical entity. He simply strolled past Orochimaru's withering old skin and stepped precisely onto an empty spot above the swamp.
That was the path Orochimaru's "new body" was destined to pass through when it raised its head.
Yahiko slowly raised his right hand, spreading his fingers and suspending them in mid-air, as if waiting for a rabbit to crash into a tree trunk of its own accord.
"Time, resume flowing."
Orochimaru's consciousness completed that bizarre leap and retook control of his body.
"It worked!"
The moment his senses returned, Orochimaru was ecstatic. He felt his body lighten—a sense of relief after shedding his heavily injured old husk. The scent of earth filled his vision, and he was certain he had completed his molting. Just one more meter and he could completely vanish into the underground river—
However.
Crack.
A tooth-aching crisp sound.
There was no sensation of soil, nor the joy of escape. Orochimaru discovered with horror that his head, which had just emerged from the old mouth, had—with extreme precision—voluntarily crashed into a hand that had been waiting there all along.
"What?!"
Orochimaru's slit pupils instantly shrank to the size of pinheads.
In his perception, one second he was preparing to weave signs, and the next, he had indeed completed the Ninjutsu and moved his body.
But why... was this man standing at his landing point in advance? It was as if he had read the script, placing his hand there and waiting for him to deliver his own neck.
Yahiko's fingers tightened instantly. A pincer-like force gripped the fragile throat of Orochimaru's new body, lifting him forcefully from the edge of the swamp and suspending him in the air.
"Cough... cough cough!"
Orochimaru's hands clawed desperately at Yahiko's wrist, his legs kicking uselessly in the air, his face full of disbelief.
His Substitution Jutsu had succeeded, but his escape had failed. This logical disconnect nearly drove him mad.
"Are you looking for that future where you 'burrowed underground'?"
Yahiko's cold voice rang out inches away, his amber eyes reflecting Orochimaru's fear-stricken face.
"Your body is very honest. During those few seconds when your brain blacked out, it faithfully executed your escape plan."
"Unfortunately..." Yahiko tilted his head slightly, looking at the limp old skin of Orochimaru beneath his feet, a mocking smirk curling his lips. "I don't allow that future to happen."
Yahiko's fingers tightened suddenly, and a sense of suffocation instantly flooded Orochimaru's brain.
"In this world, no matter how much one struggles in the process, only the 'result' I permit will exist."
Boom!
Orochimaru's mind went blank.
It wasn't speed, nor was it a space-time Ninjutsu.
Instead, he had first predicted all his movement trajectories, then skipped that entire process to wait at the finish line!
What kind of unsolvable ability was this?
In this moment, the tower named "Reason" in the heart of the mad scientist Orochimaru completely collapsed. Facing this power that toyed with Karma, a power incomprehensible and irresistible, his habitually proud head finally slumped down powerlessly.
Resistance was futile.
Before this man, life and death were but a charity granted at his whim.
"Cough cough... I... lose..."
Orochimaru squeezed these words from deep in his throat, his voice as raspy as a broken bellows.
Thud.
Yahiko tossed him aside, throwing this S-rank rogue ninja who shook the Ninja World onto the ground like trash.
Orochimaru lay in the pile of rubble, gasping for air, but he no longer dared to make any move. That Pain Heavenly Dao Hanzou, who possessed the Rinnegan, blocked all his exits like a statue.
"Orochimaru, I know what you want."
Yahiko looked down at him from above, his tone shifting from murderous to a sort of nonchalant laziness.
"You pursue truth, you pursue immortality, you pursue the end of all techniques in this world."
Ding.
A simple ring engraved with the character "Sky" was tossed by Yahiko. It traced a parabola in the air and landed precisely by Orochimaru's blood-stained hand with a clink.
Orochimaru's pupils constricted as he stared at the ring.
"Put it on."
Yahiko's voice carried an unquestionable authority.
"Join the Akatsuki. I will show you the true 'truth'."
"Whether it's the secret of that 'Red and White Giant' from just now, or the scroll of seals you've dreamed of."
Hearing the words "Red and White Giant" and "Sealing Jutsu," a greedy light suddenly erupted in Orochimaru's dead eyes.
It was like an addict seeing the highest purity of drugs.
Fear remained, but the desire to explore the unknown instantly overwhelmed it.
If he could study that Stand that deleted time... if he could obtain that man's physical data... if he could unlock the mysteries of such power... for that, what did selling his dignity matter? What if he had to be a dog?
"Hehe... hehehehe..."
Orochimaru let out a low laugh. He reached out a blood-stained, trembling hand and grabbed the "Sky" ring.
The cold metallic touch instantly cleared his chaotic mind.
Without the slightest hesitation, he slipped the ring onto his pinky finger.
"Leader..."
Orochimaru struggled to his feet and knelt before Yahiko, bowing his head to reveal his slender nape in a show of submission. That pale face now wore a bizarre, satisfied smile.
"This ring... I shall accept it."
"Very well."
Yahiko nodded with satisfaction.
With this, the scientific research core of the Akatsuki finally took its place.
Sasori, Kakuzu, Orochimaru.
"Then, welcome to the job, Kuuchin."
Yahiko turned around, his red-cloud black robe fluttering in the airflow.
"Since we're family now, it's better to go through some procedures."
The voice coming from a distance made Orochimaru pause: "Procedures?"
Before he could react, a steady and oppressive sound of footsteps came from the entrance.
Thump, thump, thump.
Orochimaru instinctively looked back.
He saw a man wearing a mask with glowing green eyes walk in. He held a thick stack of sealing scrolls, staring intently at the expensive instruments, culture tanks, and precious Materials in the base.
It was Kakuzu.
Kakuzu ignored the mess all over the floor and walked straight to Orochimaru. That gaze made Orochimaru feel a sudden, inexplicable chill—it wasn't the look of a comrade, but that of a butcher looking at a fat pig waiting to be slaughtered.
In Kakuzu's dark green eyes, the light of an abacus flickered, and his voice was low and raspy.
"I heard you have a few more strongholds over at Otogakure Village? Please hand over the maps; I'll go 'take inventory' for you."
The smile on Orochimaru's face instantly froze.
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