Then Let Me Help You
"Betrayal?"
Orochimaru subconsciously repeated, saying blankly, "Actually, from the moment I accepted the Trial of the predecessor, I was destined to leave the Hidden Leaf Village, but I didn't expect... it would be so soon."
"Frankly speaking, since I learned everything that happened to my father, I have no expectations for this village." Uchiha Nen smiled at Orochimaru, the smile having a somewhat bitter taste.
"Stifling meritorious officials, dividing power, turning true heroes into victims of political struggles... If the higher-ups continue to be so corrupt, then in the near future, many people will follow in my father's footsteps. Orochimaru, I'm worried that person will be you."
Orochimaru looked at Nen, and from those unfamiliar eyes, he saw a familiar decisiveness and sorrow.
"Perhaps... the path that is truly suitable for me was never here from the beginning," he murmured.
"You and Hiruko are both people chosen by the predecessor, truly talented people. To be honest, I'm very envious." Nen pointed to Hiruko's forehead, "At first, I didn't know what the predecessor saw in him, but now I understand."
"Understand what?"
"This guy is exactly the same as me." Nen shook his head and chuckled, "Everyone thinks that what he desires is power, but that's not the case. Compared to power, what he really needs is recognition."
"Recognition of the heart of a strong person, recognition of unwillingness to be mediocre, recognition of his ability to work hard even in his humbleness," Nen said in a deep voice, "It was the predecessor who gave him the opportunity, isn't this also a kind of recognition?"
"So, Orochimaru, what do you truly desire?"
This time, there was no hesitation in Orochimaru's eyes, and a goal that had lingered in his heart for ten years blurted out: "Immortality."
Nen smiled slightly, "Then, as a close friend, let me help you! After all, helping you succeed is also my Trial!"
Orochimaru stared at him for a long time, his expression suddenly becoming unfathomable, "Perhaps, from the moment we met the predecessor in the Abandoned Training Ground six years ago, our fates were tied together."
...
Soon, hidden deep within layers of dense forest, next to that familiar bluestone, there were two more sneaky figures.
"Hey, Orochimaru, is that Nen really reliable?" Hiruko cautiously followed behind Orochimaru, asking in a low voice.
Obviously, Nen's Spiritual Body had been drawn out of his body.
"I can entrust my life to him," Orochimaru said lightly.
"Well, since you say so, then I can only go all out!" Hiruko tilted his neck, his delicate face showing some bared teeth, "But speaking of which, the feeling of being manipulated at will is really unpleasant! In the future, I can't let him use me a second time!"
Orochimaru glanced at him, "Don't say such useless things, do you remember the plan?"
"Of course, I remember." Hiruko licked his dry lips, "Uchiha Nen will create chaos in the village, attracting everyone's attention. We only need to wait for the passage to open automatically, then sneak in, get what we want, and then quietly leave the Hidden Leaf Village. Naturally, someone will be waiting outside the village."
"Well, that's about it." Orochimaru nodded.
"But I still have some questions. Since Uchiha Nen has the ability to create chaos, why not act with us? Secretly acting is better than causing such a blatant disturbance, right?" Hiruko was a little puzzled.
"He also has his pursuits. The Hidden Leaf Village higher-ups persecuted his father. The past cannot be undone, but the knot in his heart still needs to be vented." Orochimaru sighed softly.
"Very motivated. When I master power, I wonder if I will have the courage to declare war." Hiruko sighed, a little longing showing in his narrowed eyes.
"However, I didn't expect that this is the Second Hokage's Secret Research Institute from back then." Orochimaru said with some emotion.
Hiruko stared at the bluestone with bright eyes, "I am very curious how far the Second Hokage has gone on the 'path of evolution' that the predecessor spoke of."
Just then, a dazzling light lit up in the direction of the Hokage Building, and then, a violent explosion resounded throughout the Hidden Leaf Village.
The wind was noisy, shaking the leaves rustling, the two looked at each other, and both saw a hint of... excitement in each other's eyes.
"It begins!"
Three minutes ago, on Hokage Rock.
Uchiha Nen scaled the rock face, landing lightly on the head of the First Hokage's stone carving, like a nimble leopard.
The evening breeze, ruffling his hair, carried a faint chill. Nen felt inexplicably cold. From this angle, the once-vast Hidden Leaf Village seemed much smaller, as if he could grasp the entire village in his palm with a single reach.
He stood on the edge of Hokage Rock, the shadow of his forehead cast across his face, his scarlet eyes hidden deep, obscured by the shadows.
The lights of countless homes illuminated the dark night, and a peaceful atmosphere permeated the air.
The years were quiet and good.
But the heroes who desperately fought to protect this peace were nowhere to be seen.
"How laughable."
Nen gave a self-deprecating smile and was about to jump away, but a fleeting glance from the corner of his eye made his gaze suddenly freeze.
There seemed to be something at his feet, glinting with a faint, cold light in the moonlight.
He bent down and picked it up. It was a mottled, rusty Kunai, ordinary in shape, no different from those circulating on the market. The only difference was that this Kunai was engraved with a black ink mark, seemingly some kind of technique.
"Strange." He put it back where it was, then jumped up, leaping over the First and Second Hokage in succession, landing on Sarutobi Hiruzen's Hokage Rock.
This was his purpose today.
"The past is gone, but someone must bear the consequences of past sins."
He shook his hand and threw out a stack of Exploding Tags, using Shuriken to fix them in all directions on the Hokage Rock, then his figure disappeared, appearing on the Hokage Building.
But this time, before he could take out the Exploding Tags, seven or eight figures surrounded him.
These people all wore animal masks, but the colors were relatively simple, somewhat different from the Root Ninja he had fought three days ago.
"So this is the Anbu that Orochimaru spoke of?" Nen looked around, his gaze remaining calm.
"Stop! Who are you!"
"Who am I?" Nen tilted his head. "Just a vengeful, wandering ghost."
"Uchiha Nen???" Someone recognized him, and a pair of Sharingan shone from behind the mask. "Weren't you a defector? How dare you come back?"
"Shut up."
Nen suddenly shouted, a look of disgust flashing across his face. "I never belonged here, so how can I be a defector!"
The cold aura, like a winding serpent, snaked in all directions, his breath icy and bone-chilling.
"Attack!" The Anbu members cooperated with great tacit understanding. With just a look, they all launched into action.
Suddenly, in the shocked eyes of the crowd, a ray of light suddenly lit up, and a huge ribcage enveloped Nen's entire body, the orange-gold light shining brightly in the night!
Before the crowd could react, Nen raised his sword fingers, his eyes revealing a hint of pleasure, "Explode!"
In the next instant, Sarutobi Hiruzen's Hokage Rock was detonated, and the shockwave, carrying rubble, surged past, engulfing everyone.
The Anbu members were blown away like catkins in the wind, only Nen, clad in Susanoo, did not retreat a single step. He stubbornly stood in place, his widened Mangekyo Sharingan reflecting the image of the Third Hokage's face shattering inch by inch.
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