The Suna-Konoha negotiations dragged on like the Land of Rain's incessant drizzle, stretching nearly three weeks.
But after showing his face on the first day, Hii Kōri didn't participate further.
When it came to securing interests, everyone racked their brains and exhausted every means. But watching a bunch of people glare at each other in meetings, acting aggrieved or impotently furious—there was simply no fun.
On the other hand, naturally, he needed to maintain his 'workplace newcomer' persona.
For such important affairs, a young'un like him just sitting in a chair drinking tea and zoning out was fine for the first day to see the world—showing up later would be inexplicable.
Better to use the time practicing Water Release in the Land of Rain's weather.
Of course, this thinking had some element of 'standing and talking without back pain.' When Hii Kōri himself went to the Third Kazekage for research funds, the process was unimpeded—his resume and fruitful results were the best pass. Techniques improving Suna residents' living conditions were even more important than mere ninjutsu inventions—something past ninjas neither understood nor cared to understand.
But even back then, before fully recognizing his original intention, still dragged by the inertia of his previous life, thinking himself fairly 'free from material desires,' Hii Kōri still enjoyed helping those around him get out of troubles.
Just like in his previous life, even knowing that bastard Gojō Satoru would surely come knocking to off him, he still left a cursed tool capable of stabilizing spatial structure—along with instructions—in the 'relic' prepared in advance.
Probably useful.
After all, those with slash/cut-type abilities always ended up developing dimensional slits—amply documented in countless games and manga.
Beyond that, his trading company continuously provided capital flow independent of village funding. Ahaha-kun, immediately grabbed and Refined upon graduation, he had been stuffed into the company, rising from accountant to head of the finance department, now incredibly busy.
'You like weekends and you like clocking out—so weekends AND clocking out would be heaven, right?.jpg'
His 'poverty' was poverty as an independent researcher. Faced with constantly emerging inspiration and research topics, money was never enough.
Rather, this was the common situation of somewhat 'talented' researchers.
But that didn't stop Hii Kōri from finding the protracted war of words utterly tedious.
And coincidentally, Orochimaru felt the same.
In the first few days of negotiation, he'd made a show of maneuvering with Chiyo.
Once he'd more or less gauged Suna's bottom line and confirmed intelligence that seemed useful yet hard to apply—like they might still have some big projects yet to be revealed—this sinisterly handsome man, without any psychological burden, dumped the follow-up wrangling on Konoha's actual person in charge. Shimura Danzō.
Orochimaru had no interest in spending time with a bunch of boring people playing word games and gathering intel—that scarred-chin old bastard was the true expert.
So, just as negotiations stalled, both sides arguing red-faced over some mining rights or trade route shares, the two 'deserters' met, seemingly by coincidence, in the courtyard corridor.
Indoors, various means of isolation could be dampness, but semi-open corridors couldn't enjoy such treatment.
Fine rain tapped on tiles, producing endless rustling, almost evoking Zen-like feelings, allowing one to ignore the unpleasant dampness.
Hii Kōri leaned against a pillar, a handmade herbal cigarette in his mouth, slowly blowing smoke rings. Seemingly admiring the rain-pattered pond, he was actually sinking into the body, meticulously adjusting the integration of cursed energy circuits and chakra meridian.
With spiritual energy, Yin Release, life force, and Yang Release reconciling, his control over quadruple Divided Thinking had notably improved—along with his acting.
Such meticulous operations, in the past, he couldn't have performed with such ease.
Just then, a highly distinctive chakra unhurriedly approached his perception. Hii Kōri didn't look up; his gray eyes still watched the pond's ripples.
"Oh my, quite the leisurely mood."
The magnetic, hoarse voice sounded in the corridor. Orochimaru's figure silently passed Amegakure ninjas, appearing from the other end.
His striking golden snake eyes rested unblinkingly on Hii Kōri, as if trying to penetrate clothing and flesh, explaining Hii Kōri's very soul.
"This Suna..."
But compared to his eager gaze, Orochimaru's words oddly paused. To this day, he genuinely didn't know this youth—seeming over a decade What is younger—actually called.
Couldn't exactly say 'Crimson of Agony', right?
"Hii Kōri."
Hii Kōri finally turned, looking up to meet those reptilian eyes, his tone flat: "I don't much like the name 'Crimson of Agony'."
"Orochimaru-senpai, your naming sense isn't great."
Despite these words, Hii Kōri quite casually took out a cigarette case from his wrist scroll, tapped one out, and offered it to Orochimaru.
"After all, Hii-kun was hiding himself before; the village had to give you a name."
Just as Hii Kōri didn't ask why Orochimaru approached or how he recognized him, Orochimaru didn't refuse the offered 'cigarette.'
Lighting a small flame between his fingers, Orochimaru—who'd never smoked—lit the cigarette packed with herbs and
soaked in alcohol, containing not a shred of actual tobacco. He took a clumsy puff, then coughed.
Even having discerned the approximate contents from the spreading smoke, its intensity still exceeded his imagination.
As a stimulant, this was excessive.
"Heh..."
Seeing Orochimaru's reaction—whether feigned or not—Hii Kōri's minor resentment over being named 'Crimson of Agony' dissipated like smoke.
"Quite the unique taste."
Orochimaru didn't mind the teasing; he found the smoke indeed potent. Instead of extinguishing it, he tentatively took another small puff, savoring each component's neural stimulation, then smiled with relief: "Needing this stuff even normally—no wonder Hii-kun's achieved such strength at this age."
"Just stimulation. Too many interesting things—time's never enough."
Hii Kōri looked away, blowing a gray-white smoke ring toward the pond, watching it slowly distort and dissipate in the humid air. Then, eyes downcast, he didn't hide his divided attention.
"Even knowing inevitable outcomes, tedious processes can't be skipped. So, might as well attach some value not completely wasted during this time."
"True enough."
Orochimaru nodded noncommittally—wasn't that why he'd dumped work on Danzō?
Only, the Amegakure guest quarters weren't exactly suitable for research—lack of equipment aside, even writing easily smudged. Pure mental contemplation, like Hii Kōri, was actually the superior solution.
"Katō-kun fell to you, didn't he."
Quickly adapting to the herbal cigarette, Orochimaru casually noting that in Suna's submitted prisoner exchange list, Tsunade headed the list, but elite jōnin Katō Dan was nowhere to be found.
Konoha had naturally searched for Katō Dan and his guard squad, finding almost nothing beyond initial combat traces.
Cross-referencing the scene, Orochimaru was quite determined—all this connected to the youth before him.
Hii Kōri wasn't surprised. Flicking ash, he casually said: "Katō-kun, as an elite jōnin, is quite valuable. Besides, he was the best bait for the Senju princess, wasn't he?"
But Orochimaru didn't buy it. A knowing smile curved his lips as he slowly shook his head: "Bait? Heh—Hii-kun, that explanation won't convince me."
On surface, plausible—surround-and-enforce-rescue tactics always work, using related persons to attract targets is common. Katō Dan and Tsunade's relationship fit perfectly.
Problem was: how did Hii Kōri know about their relationship?
Where did Suna's intelligence get deep enough spies in Konoha to overhear gossip? Those two even dated at the Martyrs Cemetery to commemorate old friends, discussing village reform—no way outsiders knew.
The logic that made sense: capture Katō Dan first, learn about Tsunade during interrogation, then attack her.
"Disappearing for months, lurking behind Konoha lines setting up so many contingencies, then exposing them all attacking Katō Dan—too wasteful."
Orochimaru's tone grew playful: "And two days later, Tsunade had to move against Suna's poison. If your goal was capturing her, such fanfare and preemptive action was unnecessary."
"Then what do you think I was after, Orochimaru-senpai?"
Orochimaru's intuition and logic were precise. Hii Kōri knew perfunctory wouldn't work, so he took a final puff, burned the butt with a small Scorch Release fireball, and blew the residue into the pond with Wind Release.
This seamless operation made Orochimaru's eyes flicker—such precision chakra control he could manage, but naturally integrating ninjutsu into daily minutiae—he'd never try.
"Spirit Transformation."
Not missing Hii Kōri's rhetorical question, Orochimaru licked his lips, attitude opening the skylight, directly pointing to his purpose.
Spirit Transformation's value needed no elaboration. If Suna truly mastered it, Konoha must prepare.
Moreover, he harbored inexplicable expectations—this young man's goals seemed beyond merely acquiring the technique.
"Can't hide it from Orochimaru-senpai."
Hii Kōri stopped beating around the bush: "Correct. Tsunade-hime was just a valuable add-on. Katō Dan's Spirit Transformation was my main goal."
Though the add-ons were indeed... moist.
Adding silently, he unconsciously rolled his shoulder, as if tooth marks from Tsunade still stung.
"More precisely, I wanted the technique's information. Spirit Transformation itself is meaningless."
"Oh? Meaningless?"
Orochimaru's expression shifted, his tone condensed: "Could it be you seek..."
"Yes. Resurrection techniques."
No point concealing. Knowing Orochimaru would later pursue self-applicable reincarnation, Hii Kōri didn't mind adding fuel to the fire now.
Looking down at his nails as if they'd blossomed, he calmly stated: "I want to resurrect my elder brother. Not like Impure World Reincarnation's cursed state—more sound, more perfect. Thus, soul-related information are essential."
"So Katō Dan died. Simple."
Nothing to hide—kids transmute their mother, he wants to resurrect his brother—what's wrong with that?
"That's all? You don't pursue further immortality?"
Orochimaru's heartstrings stirred slightly; his gaze toward Hii Kōri gradually softened.
"...Immortality, eternal life... Don't you think using such terms proves life still hasn't escaped death?"
"If one wants to exist forever, simply copy and store memories and consciousness, no?"
Hii Kōri clicked his tongue, giving an unexpected answer.
"Bodies can be transformed; souls also wear out. What proves one is 'oneself' if not memory and consciousness? Record those—isn't that essentially immortality?"
"But I think the immortality Orochimaru-senpai envisions isn't that—it's the immortality of a continuing individual."
"Pursuing 'human' immortality, continuing activity—not fearing death, but having unfinished business, no?"
"But isn't there another saying?"
"All things that can be done should be done."
***
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