Terms of the Deal

Aside from Hyuga Clan members, even Kage-level ninja found it difficult to unleash Chakra outside their bodies in an explosive burst, creating hurricane-like shockwaves.

Anyone capable of reaching that level was an exceptionally powerful ninja. As far as Orochimaru knew, his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, could do it, and so could he after forming hand seals and channeling his Chakra.

But someone like the person before him, who could so effortlessly unleash such immense Chakra… Orochimaru searched through his memories and still could not recall any information about him.

There were many powerful figures in the Ninja World, yet not one matched the person before him. Could he be someone hidden away by one of Konoha’s ninja clans?

Orochimaru narrowed his golden slit pupils and rasped with a laugh, "Hehe, you do have some skill. But this is Konoha. If anyone learns of your existence, they certainly won’t let you escape."

Hyuga Mirai snorted. "You needn’t worry about that. If you don’t report me, no one will find me. Besides, I came here for a trade. If you show hostility without even asking about the jutsu I possess, then should the deal fall through, you’ll definitely regret it, Orochimaru."

Sure enough, he still couldn’t bring himself to like this unmodified snake.

"Such confidence. What a pity you don’t even dare reveal your name—"

Before Orochimaru could finish, the person before him tossed over a scroll.

Whoosh!

Orochimaru instinctively flicked a snake from his sleeve, coiling its body around the scroll before retracting it and taking the scroll in hand.

"…"

This person truly refused to play by the rules. Orochimaru had not even finished speaking before the other party threw him the scroll. After sensing that there were no traps on it, he narrowed his eyes and slowly unrolled it.

Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu!

Moreover, it appeared to be an improved version of the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu. The scroll also recorded three methods for restraining an Edo Tensei Body, but Orochimaru could not see the details; they had been concealed by a Sealing Technique.

"An impressive Sealing Technique. Even in Konoha, there probably aren’t many who surpass you in this field."

Orochimaru gave a raspy chuckle. Even among the forbidden jutsu recorded on Konoha’s forbidden scroll, this was the kind that could never possibly be exchanged for. Orochimaru had found records of this Forbidden Technique in the Second Hokage’s notes. He had originally intended to cooperate with Danzo and obtain it through him, but now it seemed that cooperation would no longer be necessary.

But why did the person before him possess a Forbidden Technique invented by the Second Hokage?

And with that youthful face and such an enormous amount of Chakra… could he be from the Senju Clan?

After reaching that conclusion, Orochimaru’s wariness toward Hyuga Mirai lessened slightly. If he had been an outsider, Orochimaru would certainly have found every possible way to kill Hyuga Mirai, even if he was quite strong.

But an outsider could not have so easily obtained the Second Hokage’s Forbidden Technique, much less improved it. Coupled with that abnormally vast Chakra, all the clues pointed to the person before him being from the Senju Clan.

"Then, sir—"

"Just call me Mirai." There did not seem to be any ninjutsu in the Ninja World that could curse and kill an enemy through their name, so Hyuga Mirai revealed his name.

"Then, Mirai-san, what would you like to exchange this Forbidden Technique for?" Orochimaru asked. He did not have much interest in other jutsu, but the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu was different. Recalling the dead from the Pure Land might contain the secret to immortality.

"Hashirama Cells and an Eight-Tails Horn." Hyuga Mirai spoke decisively. "I know you have both. Exchange the Hashirama Cells and the Eight-Tails Horn for the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu. You won’t lose out."

"It seems Mirai-san knows me very well."

Orochimaru was deeply displeased. The other party had investigated him almost completely. Aside from the Senju Clan, outsiders should not possess such powerful intelligence-gathering capabilities.

After pondering for a while, Orochimaru agreed to the request. "Very well, I agree to the exchange. Please follow me, Mirai-san."

Orochimaru had acquired the Eight-Tails Horn some time ago. He had wanted to use the broken horn to replicate another Tailed Beast, but it would take far too long. Perhaps he would not even manage to replicate half a Tailed Beast’s body before growing old, so trading it away did not matter.

As for the Hashirama Cells, Orochimaru still had plenty on hand, so trading some away was no issue. Besides, he wanted to know what this suspected Senju Clan member would do after obtaining the Hashirama Cells. Perhaps the Senju Clan’s research into Hashirama Cells surpassed his own.

After obtaining the Hashirama Cells, Hyuga Mirai prepared to leave. However, Orochimaru suddenly called out to stop him and asked, "Mirai-san, are you also researching Hashirama Cells? We could exchange experimental experience. That would benefit both of us."

Hyuga Mirai refused without a moment’s thought. "Forget it, Orochimaru. Right now, you’re purely relying on luck to attempt Hashirama Cell transplants. But if you agree to do one thing for me, I can tell you a more complete method for transplanting Hashirama Cells—far superior to your experimental methods."

"What is it? Mirai-san, I am a Konoha Ninja, after all."

Orochimaru offered this reminder. For the sake of researching Hashirama Cells, he might be willing to make some small moves, but he would never agree to anything that endangered himself.

"Take Hyuga Mirai of the Hyuga Clan as your disciple, and teach him everything you know. If you can do that, I’ll also teach you how to use Natural Energy."

"Hyuga Mirai of the Hyuga Clan…"

At first, Orochimaru was stunned upon hearing that name. Hyuga Mirai and Mirai had exactly the same name. However, he did not know many Hyuga Clan members. Aside from knowing Hyuga Hiashi, he had only heard the names of a few Main Family members.

He knew even less about this Hyuga Mirai, though he presumably was not from the Main Family. Orochimaru was somewhat familiar with the few members of the Main Family, and there was definitely no one named Hyuga Mirai.

"If he is willing, I will take him as my disciple, Mirai-san."

"Good. I believe you, Orochimaru. This is the method for transplanting Hashirama Cells. Once you take Hyuga Mirai as your disciple, I’ll give you the method for using Natural Energy as well."

Hyuga Mirai tossed Orochimaru the scroll he had prepared long ago, then turned and left. Before departing, he left behind one final sentence.

"If you fail to do it, then prepare to flee for your life."

"Hehe, you certainly talk big."

Though Orochimaru sounded relaxed, his wariness of Hyuga Mirai had not diminished in the slightest.

But his most important task now was to see whether this experimental method was correct. If it truly was, then he would have struck it rich.

"…Cultivate a new Gene Sequence, allowing the two kinds of cells to fuse… use experiments to identify and remove redundant segments… There’s actually such a method…"

After reading it and comparing it with the direction of his own research, countless new ideas instantly sprang to Orochimaru’s mind. He eagerly turned and returned to the laboratory, ready to thoroughly test the ideas in his head.

If the method was correct, then Hashirama Cells would no longer hold any secrets from him. The Uchiha’s Sharingan would be the same.

And the use of Natural Energy—that should mean Sage Mode, shouldn’t it? He had not expected this Mirai-san to offer even that. It seemed he truly was from the Senju Clan. After all, aside from the First Hokage-sama back then, no one in the Ninja World should have been able to master Sage Mode so proficiently.

Because he had been teammates with Tsunade for over a decade, Orochimaru knew quite a bit about the First Hokage. Combined with his research into Hashirama Cells, he was absolutely certain that Hashirama Senju had once mastered an immensely powerful Sage Art.

"Heh heh, Mirai… it should be Senju Mirai. I just don’t know why he wants me to take a Hyuga Clan member as a disciple. Perfect—if that Hyuga Mirai is particularly special, I can keep him by my side and study him."

After pondering it for a while, Orochimaru made his decision.

He had merely failed in the competition for Fourth Hokage. He was still one of the Sannin, and few in Konoha could match him in either strength or status.

If Orochimaru said he wanted to take someone from the Hyuga Branch Family as a disciple, then even if Hyuga Hiashi learned of it, he would not stop him.

Otherwise, if the Hyuga Clan soured its relationship with Orochimaru over a Branch Family member, it would certainly be the Hyuga Clan that suffered the loss.

After leaving Orochimaru’s Experiment Base, Hyuga Mirai had no interest in sightseeing around Konoha.

He had left a marker on "Hyuga Mirai," so his next step was to leave Konoha and find a place to settle down.

Hyuga Mirai turned his head and saw several crows perched in a tree, their dark eyes watching him with unnerving intelligence.

"Tch, what a nuisance."

Whoosh!

Several Shuriken flew out, piercing straight through the crows’ bodies. They did not even have time to cry out.

After casually killing several crows raised by someone else, Hyuga Mirai left. Some time after he was gone, Shisui Uchiha arrived and found the dead crows that had served as his subordinates. He could not help but frown and sigh.

So much time had passed. That person had definitely already left.

Shisui Uchiha then buried the dead crows before immediately using the Body Flicker Technique to rush toward the Konoha administration building.

A Ninja suspected of being a spy had infiltrated the village. No matter what, Hokage-sama had to be informed.

The next day, "Hyuga Mirai" suddenly sat bolt upright in bed. He stared at his palms in astonishment, turning them over and examining them from every angle.

"That dream last night felt completely real. It’s unbelievable."

Even he found it hard to believe. While asleep, "Hyuga Mirai" had spent the entire night practicing the Gentle Fist. From Eight Trigrams – Two Palms to Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms, and finally the training methods for Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation Heaven and Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, he had dreamed of all of it.

"It was probably just a dream, hahaha. I must want to become stronger so badly that I’m training even in my dreams."

Though he comforted himself that way, "Hyuga Mirai" still found it extremely strange. The dream had been far too vivid. Even now that he was awake, he could still recall every detail.

The Gentle Fist training methods, the techniques of the Eight Trigrams Palms, and the Chakra usage for Rotation Heaven—"Hyuga Mirai" still remembered them all with perfect clarity.

"It was a dream. It was a dream."

After muttering those words repeatedly, "Hyuga Mirai" picked up his toiletries and prepared to brush his teeth and wash his face.

But while washing up that morning, "Hyuga Mirai" could not help recalling yesterday’s dream again.

"Maybe I should try practicing it later, or ask Kiyomi-sama."

I’m very sorry, this is the first update.

I finished up the project today, so updates will return to normal tomorrow.

As for a mass update, it should be on 5/15. Does anyone know how to participate in that event? I want to enter the drawing three times, but I can’t find the entry point.