Human Modification

"Oh, Minato, you’ve got lofty ambitions too."

The Third Hokage was somewhat surprised, but also pleased. If possible, he hoped the Second Hokage’s ninjutsu could be passed down in Konohagakure.

In his view, neither Orochimaru nor Minato was without hope.

"Since Minato-kun has chosen this technique as well, we can exchange our thoughts on it more often in the future."

Jiraiya believed that he would have to leave the village for a while over the next few years and would be unable to look after Minato. Orochimaru was clearly planning to help guide the fourteen-year-old Minato in his stead.

The Third Hokage stroked his beard, watching the scene before him with considerable satisfaction. Nurturing Konohagakure’s tender sprouts—this was very much the Will of Fire.

In truth, Orochimaru knew that Minato would definitely master the Flying Thunder God Technique and wanted to see if he could gain some experience from Minato.

After leaving the Hokage Building, he called Tsunade over and went with Jiraiya to have a meal at an izakaya.

Neither Tsunade nor Jiraiya brought their disciples. They were all underage and could not drink.

After catching up and seeing Jiraiya off with Tsunade, Orochimaru returned home and began studying the Flying Thunder God Technique.

After studying it carefully, Orochimaru found that the Flying Thunder God Technique was indeed quite similar to what he had guessed.

It was somewhat like the Summoning Technique, except he was summoning himself. However, the range of that summoning was limited to his own Sensory Ability.

By modifying the Summoning Technique into a form suited to oneself, creating and inscribing a desired pattern, one could form hand seals and activate the technique after sensing one’s own formula within sensory range, thereby summoning oneself to another location.

It sounded simple, but the requirements were actually extremely high.

First came spatial sensory ability. Sensory abilities on the visual level, such as the Byakugan, would not work. Only sensory ability in regard to space could activate the technique.

Second, modifying a ninjutsu—especially transforming and upgrading a B-rank ninjutsu like the Summoning Technique, limiting its formula runes to a certain range—was no less difficult than developing an A-rank ninjutsu.

There were not many shinobi with that kind of talent.

Furthermore, to limit the formula to a certain range, one needed not only an extremely deep understanding of the technique and a clear direction for improving it, but also a solid foundation in Sealing Jutsu in order to miniaturize the formula.

The Flying Thunder God Technique imposed extremely high requirements on a shinobi in every aspect. Orochimaru guessed that the Third Hokage had failed at the hurdle of spatial perception.

Besides that, Orochimaru had also recorded a series of research notes on space-time that he had specifically requested from the Third Hokage, notes left by the Second Hokage.

These research notes were quite helpful for cultivating the Flying Thunder God Technique. The Third Hokage had given both Orochimaru and Minato a copy.

Most people in the Shinobi World understood space only in terms of length, width, and height. People in reality, after finishing high school mathematics, might use the three axes X, Y, and Z to represent it.

That was not wrong, but it was merely a description of three-dimensional space. None of it broke beyond the concept of absolute space and time.

What was rather outrageous was that the Second Hokage had actually done something Einstein had done—he introduced the concept of time. In doing so, he had formed the concept of four-dimensional space-time.

It was simply that the Second Hokage had not used an imaginary axis to describe time as Einstein had.

People often spoke of space-time, and Einstein believed that time and space were an inseparable whole.

Orochimaru explained his description of space, as well as the relationship between space and time, to Minato.

Minato was astonished. He had never even heard of such things before.

In the Shinobi World, even in relatively close relationships like that between a Team Leader Jōnin and the Genin under his command, such profound knowledge was rarely taught. To outsiders, it seemed that Orochimaru had no regard for sectarian boundaries and was raising Jiraiya’s disciple as though he were his own.

As for this knowledge, Kushina, who was listening from the side, felt that although she could not understand it, she was deeply shaken.

To show her gratitude, Kushina wrote a book about her own insights into Sealing Jutsu and gave it to Orochimaru.

She was actually very clever. Jiraiya was not in the village right now, and with a big figure like Orochimaru looking after him, Minato’s path would become much smoother.

Time passed swiftly. The Third Hokage sat in his office, indulging in women. Minato indulged in women and new ninjutsu—he and Kushina had already established a romantic relationship.

Orochimaru immersed himself in research at home, only occasionally getting in touch with his subordinates to maintain their relationships.

Until one person’s arrival shattered the peace.

"Orochimaru, do you… crave power?"

Danzo looked at Orochimaru before him and asked.

He did not know that Orochimaru had recently been cultivating the Flying Thunder God Technique, but seeing him stay cooped up at home every day, he was most likely practicing some ninjutsu or conducting some experiment.

He believed Orochimaru’s purpose in conducting experiments was the same as his own—for power. That was why he had come to his door, confident that he possessed enough bargaining chips to attract Orochimaru.

"No, I crave truth."

After saying that, Orochimaru prepared to close the door.

In this life, Orochimaru did not intend to become too entangled with Danzo. In the original timeline, Hiruzen Sarutobi had noticed that Shimura Danzō was becoming increasingly difficult to control, so he had sent his trusted disciple Orochimaru to Root as Danzo’s second-in-command to restrain him.

But it was obvious that he had miscalculated. He had never expected Danzo to lead Orochimaru into darkness in the end.

Danzo was somewhat dumbfounded.

"(°ー°〃)".

Why weren’t you following the script I set up?

Danzo extended his cane into the entryway, preventing Orochimaru from closing the door.

"Truth… Do you seek knowledge? Wait, Orochimaru! It won’t be too late to close the door after you hear this old man out. Whether it is power or knowledge, this old man can give you whatever you want!"

"Teacher Sarutobi, why are you here!"

Orochimaru looked behind Danzo, putting on an expression of surprise as he spoke.

Danzo was startled and turned around.

"Hiruzen, listen to this old man—"

"Bang!" The door shut.

Danzo left with a gloomy face. Orochimaru was too clever and highly vigilant, making him difficult to manipulate.

He planned to try another opponent who would compete with him for the position of Fourth Hokage and see whether he could find an opportunity to make a move.

Because Sakumo usually kept himself above reproach and was extremely powerful, leaving no weaknesses to exploit, Danzo needed to lie low for a while and wait for the right opportunity.

Orochimaru did not really need anything from Danzo right now. He had enough things to research, and Tsunade, that rich woman, had given him a large sum of money. It was enough for him to spend freely for a long time.

In Orochimaru’s home, in the basement.

A massive machine occupied half the room. Huge tunnel tubes circled around it, and the surrounding rooms had been opened up to house the rest of the tunnel tubes.

It was a Particle Accelerator. Orochimaru had spent tremendous effort building it.

He needed particles accelerated by electromagnetic fields to near-light speed to strike the Cosmic Cube, triggering its power before channeling it into his own body for modification.

At the center of the machine was a Cosmic Cube missing its center and a small corner at the edge. Orochimaru had reassembled it from fragments.

The surroundings were covered in Cursed Seals of Sealing Jutsu. To be honest, if the knowledge of Sealing Jutsu in Kushina’s gift had not allowed Orochimaru’s Sealing Jutsu to make a new breakthrough, he truly would not have been able to inscribe them yet.

"Lord Orochimaru, everything is ready."

Mito Uzumaki spoke to Orochimaru, who lay inside a human-shaped chamber. He was Orochimaru’s current deputy and also the trusted confidant Orochimaru relied on most.

It was worth mentioning that his wife had recently given birth to a daughter named Anko. He hoped that Orochimaru would accept her as a disciple once she grew up.

Orochimaru had already taught Mito Uzumaki how to operate the machine. He only needed to carry out a foolproof procedure.

At this moment, tubes were connected all over Orochimaru’s body. Some delivered nutrients, some contained drugs that would keep Orochimaru awake, and others transported energy into his body, among other things.

"Zixiao, begin," Orochimaru ordered.

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru."

After answering, Mito Uzumaki began operating the controls.

"The electromagnetic field has been activated."

"Magnetic field intensity confirmed."

"Electrons have been introduced. Acceleration in progress."

The electron beam accelerated continuously under the force of the electric field within the pipes, while the magnetic force constrained its direction. When its speed reached its peak, it shot out of the pipe and struck the Cosmic Cube.

With a deafening boom, the Cosmic Cube erupted with dazzling blue light. An endless stream of energy poured into Orochimaru’s body. Yet under the effects of the drugs, Orochimaru remained conscious.

Pain! Endless pain!

It was as though every vein in his body was being sliced apart by knives!

Remaining conscious under such circumstances was the most agonizing thing imaginable, but Orochimaru had to stay awake and use Chakra to guide this power as it continuously modified his body.

Cold sweat beaded across Orochimaru’s forehead. He felt as though his entire body was about to break apart.

Even for a shinobi with an iron will like Orochimaru, every second of the modification was torture.

Orochimaru’s screams rang out without end… until they finally stopped.

Orochimaru’s body had finally completed its modification, but the Cosmic Cube’s power continued to batter his body without pause.

"Zixiao… shut down… the machine…"

"Lord Orochimaru! The machine… has malfunctioned!"