Chapter 134

Gambling, by nature, involves risk.

But Orochimaru was no fool—this wasn't recklessness. He had seen something unusual in the Third Kazekage's chakra-based spirit form.

The Spiritualization Technique could temporarily separate the soul from the body, allowing travel over great distances to attack. However, during this state, ninjutsu could not be used. At least, Kato Dan had never been able to manage it.

Yet, even after losing the chakra meridians of his human puppet body, the Third Kazekage was still able to use Magnet Release. Whether it was due to his bloodline or sheer strength of will, Orochimaru believed he was worth the gamble.

He licked his lips and smiled.

"How exactly this will be done... I'll leave that to you, Kazekage-dono. For now, I need you to return to the chakra core."

The Third Kazekage gave him a long, silent look before his spirit form condensed into a stream of light and returned into the metal sphere.

For now, he was under Orochimaru's control. There was no use resisting—not yet. He accepted the deal. But if Orochimaru broke their agreement, if he dared to summon him from the Pure Land again… then the Kazekage would show him what it meant to shatter like jade rather than remain whole.

Orochimaru caught the falling metal sphere. His smile twisted, his body trembling as though wracked with illness. He looked like a sickly child barely able to stand.

Moments later, a black seal began to form on his chest, flickering and unstable. It looked like it might collapse at any second. Slowly, it extended from his chest and crawled up his arm toward the metal ball.

Orochimaru gritted his teeth. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead as he watched his own hand.

This seal—unlike the refined curse mark he once placed on Anko—was incomplete. A failed prototype created during earlier experiments. It held fragmented pieces of his soul, making it unstable and a heavy burden to bear.

But it wasn't without benefits. For someone capable of containing it, it was much easier to control, and—most importantly—it wouldn't consume the user. It was perfect for this situation.

This was a gamble, yes. But Orochimaru had calculated the risks.

The Third Kazekage's form reappeared. This time, he was holding a glowing orb tightly in his arms, using every ounce of strength to keep it secure.

"You actually pulled it off," he said, his expression unreadable. Seeing a madman succeed left him visibly conflicted.

Orochimaru gave a strained smile. "It's still too early to celebrate. Now, Kazekage-dono... please be on your way."

The Kazekage gave a small nod. His translucent spirit body began to rise, as though drawn by some unseen force. Space around him distorted, rippling with strange energy.

But just before he vanished, the iron sand scattered across the ground surged upward, forming a barrage of black needles that shot toward Orochimaru.

Ka-ka-ka...

Orochimaru didn't flinch.

The metal sphere in his hand cracked violently and shattered, scattering to the floor in fragments.

"A petty heart," Orochimaru muttered with a trace of regret.

He had promised not to summon the Third Kazekage again—but this chakra core, made from the Kazekage's very body, might have served as a vessel for other Kage-level souls.

Of course, that would have just been another experiment. There was no guarantee the core would have been compatible with any other soul.

Still, at a time like this, making an enemy of the Third Kazekage had no merit.

I've done everything that can be done. Now, all that's left is to wait in silence.

Orochimaru had been feeling uneasy for a while. Subconsciously, he glanced at the Djinn—and froze.

"…Djinn, what are you—"

It wasn't obvious at first, but the Djinn was slowly shrinking.

"Don't make a fuss," the Djinn muttered, glancing at him. "I'm going to try something, too."

---

His vision blurred. When it cleared, he found himself in a vast, dark, and empty space.

After entering the Pure Land, Orochimaru's chakra spirit body had been released—or perhaps more accurately, let go—by the Third Kazekage.

Their two spirit forms, one large and one small, drifted forward. Neither of them had control over their motion.

The Third Kazekage had been dead for a long time. With no lingering regrets or obsessions, he didn't resist the pull of the Pure Land. His spirit moved faster and faster, carried effortlessly into the distance.

But Orochimaru was different. He wasn't here to die—he was here to explore. And so he resisted.

The distance between them grew quickly. Before long, the Third Kazekage had vanished completely from sight, leaving Orochimaru alone.

He didn't mind. He wasn't about to cling to an acquaintance just to avoid strangeness. With effort, he twisted himself around—and tried floating the other way.

Huh?!

No matter how he changed his orientation, the scenery ahead stayed exactly the same.

"…No way back," Orochimaru muttered.

"Don't bother," a familiar voice said from behind.

The Djinn appeared beside him again, as casual as ever. "There's no retreat on the road to the underworld. Not unless you can control space itself."

A strange sense of relief washed over Orochimaru. "You… How are you here?"

"It seems you split your soul enough times," the Djinn said with a shrug. "The system that governs me still registers you as Orochimaru. So as far as I'm concerned, you're the host."

"But I've created shadow clones with half my chakra before. They couldn't bring you along."

The Djinn raised an eyebrow. "You think a shadow clone is the same as a soul? No. There are deeper things—things that define your true self."

Orochimaru frowned instinctively, already analyzing the underlying principles.

"Stop overthinking," the Djinn warned. "And keep your mouth shut. The Sage of Six Paths rules the Pure Land. He may not be watching all the time, but if you're hoping to draw his attention just by chatting nonsense, you're wasting your breath."

Orochimaru's heart skipped a beat. He drew in a breath, calmed himself, and steadied his emotions.

He shouldn't have been so shaken—but this trip was nothing more than a thief testing the waters. And now he stood on the edge of legend, under the shadow of the Sage of Six Paths. Even if he hated to admit it, a small part of him was afraid.

And instinctively, he'd tried to soothe that fear through conversation.

But Orochimaru had weathered many storms. Fear would not sway him.

"What happens next?" he asked silently, through thought alone.

"Let yourself be pulled forward," the Djinn replied with a grin. "The Sage isn't some monster waiting to devour you. He won't bait you into a trap."

Orochimaru nodded. He stopped resisting the pull—and instantly, his speed increased.

After a short while, a bright light pierced the dark. Orochimaru's heart stirred as the sound of rushing water reached his ears.

The suffocating blackness began to fade.

A wide river appeared before him, shrouded in mist and stretching endlessly in both directions.

The water gleamed green, like a ribbon of polished jade. On the far bank bloomed a field of vivid red flowers—beautiful, but strange. No leaves. Just blossoms, endless and wild.

The names came to mind at once: Sanzu River. Red Spider Lilies.

The scent of the flowers was intoxicating. His spirit began to drift again—this time, toward the other side of the river.

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