"I need you to move your laboratory to the Wolf Ninja Village I established."
Yang Jiu turned around and looked down at him.
"Besides doing research, develop the Wolf Ninja Village."
Orochimaru was stunned for a moment.
Move to the Wolf Ninja Village?
He licked his lips, a trace of thought flashing in his golden snake-like eyes.
Yang Jiu looked at his expression, knowing full well what he was thinking.
The verbal "at your service" was just something to hear.
He never believed Orochimaru's promises.
He only believed in—
The faith infusion of the wolf god statue.
The soul-binding of the contract stele.
And...
His own absolute strength.
With these three things combined, even one of the Sannin would have to obediently become one of his own.
"Any problems?"
Yang Jiu asked indifferently.
Orochimaru snapped back to his senses, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
"No problem."
He answered crisply and neatly.
Yang Jiu nodded.
"Then it's settled."
"Within a week, I want your laboratory to be established in the Wolf Ninja Village."
"You should know where the Wolf Ninja Village is. If not, let the Root take you."
He turned around and transformed into a bolt of golden lightning.
"Orochimaru—"
The last sentence came from the lightning.
"I hope you keep your word."
The lightning dissipated.
Only Orochimaru remained on the Gobi.
He lay on the ground, looking in the direction where Yang Jiu had disappeared.
After a long time.
He slowly stood up, patted off the charred ash on his body, and looked down at his long hair, which had been curled by the electricity.
"Move to the Wolf Ninja Village..."
He murmured, a meaningful smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
"Interesting."
He stuck out his long tongue and licked the corners of his mouth.
"Just as well, it's time for my children to change places."
—
Half a month later.
On the edge of the Yufu Forest.
A massive procession was approaching.
At the very front was Orochimaru. His hair had returned to normal, and he had changed into a clean kimono. Aside from his face being paler than before, there was no trace of the crushing defeat from half a month ago.
Following behind him were over a hundred people.
There were old and young, men and women, but without exception, everyone's eyes held a strange light—a light called "fanaticism."
They wore various clothes; some carried massive scrolls, some hauled strange equipment, and some led bizarre Ninja Beasts.
In the middle of the procession were dozens of large carts pulled by summoned snakes, piled high with experimental equipment, research data, and sealing scrolls—the entirety of Orochimaru's assets from Otogakure over the years.
At the very back of the procession followed a group of children in their teens. They wore matching uniforms, had sharp gazes, and moved with steady steps, showing no signs of fatigue despite the long journey.
Those were the Ninja trainees of Otogakure.
Orochimaru's "children."
Outside the Wolf Ninja Village.
Kawajūrō stood at the Village entrance with a group of werewolf warriors, watching the approaching procession as his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
"Lord Orochimaru..."
He spoke with difficulty.
Orochimaru walked up to him and revealed a gentle smile—a smile that, in Kawajūrō's eyes, looked terrifying no matter how he viewed it.
"Just call me Orochimaru from now on."
He stepped aside and introduced the procession behind him.
"Otogakure, from now on, is merged into the Wolf Ninja Village."
"These people are all my people."
He paused and added:
"From now on, they are also the Wolf King's people."
Kawajūrō was stunned.
The entire Otogakure?
Over a hundred people?
And those children...
Orochimaru looked at his expression and smiled.
"Is there a problem?"
Kawajūrō snapped back to his senses and shook his head quickly.
"No, no problem!"
He took a deep breath, turned around, and shouted toward the Village:
"Someone, come! Arrange accommodations!"
"Prepare supplies!"
"Notify the kitchen, extra food tonight!"
The procession began to slowly enter the Village.
Those Otogakure Ninjas curiously looked around this unfamiliar Village, watching the Ninja Wolves lying about, their eyes filled with surprise and a hint of awe.
The children were even more excited, pointing at the Ninja Wolves and chattering incessantly.
And Orochimaru, standing at the Village entrance, watched this thriving Village with a trace of complex emotion in his golden snake-like eyes.
—
Inside the Beast King Hall.
Yang Jiu lay on the stone platform, listening to the news sent by Kawajūrō, a slight smile curling his lips.
"The entire Otogakure has moved here?"
He laughed.
"Orochimaru, you certainly know how to conduct yourself."
He stood up, his ten-meter-tall silver-gold body rising from the stone platform, golden arcs of electricity dancing lightly around him.
"Let's see our new villagers."
Swoosh!
He turned into a bolt of lightning and disappeared.
...
Wolf Ninja Village.
The newly designated West District, an area specifically set aside for Orochimaru and the people of Otogakure, was currently a scene of bustling activity.
Houses rose from the ground under the control of Earth Release Ninjas, with smooth walls and solid structures, their efficiency being astonishingly high.
In just half a day, what was originally an empty wasteland had gained a neat complex of buildings—residential houses, training grounds, and a sprawling research laboratory specially prepared for Orochimaru.
And at this time.
In a large courtyard, a group of people were gathered.
At the head was Orochimaru, sitting leaningly under the corridor with his eyes narrowed, a faint, indiscernible smile hanging on his lips.
Behind him stood his core team.
Yakushi Kabuto—wearing round-framed glasses, his smile gentle and humble, hands tucked into his sleeves, looking completely harmless.
The Sound Five—Tayuya, Sakon and Ukon, Kidōmaru, Jirobo, and Kimimaro—were either standing or leaning, their expressions varied, but all were observing this unfamiliar Village.
There were also Jugo, Suigetsu Hozuki, and Karin—three young faces standing at the back of the crowd, looking around curiously.
Kimimaro frowned and was the first to speak.
His voice was cold, carrying a hint of confusion and a trace of dissatisfaction.
"Lord Orochimaru, why did we move to this small Ninja Village?"
He glanced at the simple houses around them and then at the unfamiliar villagers passing by in the distance.
"This Village... feels even less powerful than our Otogakure."
The others didn't speak, but their expressions clearly showed the same confusion.
Although Otogakure wasn't large, it was at least a stronghold established by Orochimaru himself, with complete facilities and a mature system.
And here?
Except for those Ninja Wolves appearing somewhat interesting, other places are simply pitifully crude.
The strongest combat power was just those five Cloud Ninja thrown here to be teachers—one Jonin and four Chunin.
This kind of setup wouldn't even be worth looking at in Otogakure.
Orochimaru didn't speak.
He just narrowed his eyes, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening.
Yakushi Kabuto pushed up his glasses and spoke softly:
"Kimimaro, Lord Orochimaru naturally has his reasons for doing this."
"But—"
"Enough."
Orochimaru finally spoke.
His voice was hoarse and lazy, yet it carried an unquestionable tone.
Everyone immediately quieted down.
Orochimaru stood up, walked to the center of the courtyard, and looked toward the faintly visible wolf statue in the distance.
"You think this Village is weak?"
He smiled.
"That's because you haven't seen—"
He paused, a trace of complex light flashing in his golden snake-like eyes.
"The true master of this Village."
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