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Chapter 232 - Chapter 232: Orochimaru Learns the Hard Way That Curiosity Kills Snakes

After Orochimaru entered Kazuki's mental space, the complex situation in his body left him momentarily stunned.

No, why are there so many?

The first thing that caught Orochimaru's eyes was the Nine-Tomoe Rinne Sharingan, hanging high in Kazuki's spiritual world, emitting an oppressive and destructive aura!

Beneath the Rinne Sharingan, the three clusters of tailed beast chakra from the Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and Nine-Tails were swirling, and beside them lay a pair of spiritual weapons—

The Totsuka Sword and the Yata Mirror!

Orochimaru also sensed two Uchiha chakras, not strong but incredibly sharp...

These were the ocular powers that Kazuki had pretended to display while toying with Senju Tobirama, playing the roles of Indra and Uchiha Izuna, respectively.

However, the moment Orochimaru entered Kazuki's inner world, he felt as if he was being watched by two immensely powerful Uchiha from behind. A faint chill crept up his neck, as if he could be beheaded at any moment!

"What is going on? This, this, this..."

Even the well-versed Orochimaru had to admit that he had never seen such a scene in his life.

Orochimaru had originally believed that there was only one Senju Tobirama inside Kazuki's body, and that he was in a dormant state, hidden deep within Kazuki's soul, subtly working to take over the body...

After all, since Kazuki was still in control of himself, Tobirama must have been in hiding.

Possession is a matter of life and death.

If Kazuki had been able to detect Tobirama's presence, the two would have already engaged in a ferocious battle, and only one of them would have survived.

From Orochimaru's perspective, Kazuki's depressed attitude and apparent resignation were precisely because he could not detect Tobirama within his body.

However, upon entering Kazuki's body, Orochimaru did not see Tobirama...

Instead, he saw something even more bewildering and terrifying!

Orochimaru fixed his gaze on the Rinne Sharingan. Even though looking directly at this sun-like divine entity caused him excruciating pain, he still stared at it with all his might.

Although Orochimaru did not fully comprehend what this was… A disparity in bloodline and status made him tremble instinctively—

This was the immortality he had pursued!

Though he had no idea why this ultimate existence resided within Kazuki's body...

Orochimaru was overcome with extreme ecstasy.

To be honest, even if he managed to take over Kazuki's body, he couldn't guarantee that he would reach the realm of true immortality.

While Kazuki's body was perfect enough, in the grand scheme of immortality, it was merely an entry ticket.

But who would have thought? Kazuki himself was the answer!

Obtaining this body meant stepping halfway into the path of immortality…

"What a beautiful, tempting, and engulfing power!" Orochimaru's viscous soul form cried out passionately within Kazuki's body: "I will take root here first and ascend to the highest peak within Kazuki's body, step by step!"

Orochimaru was about to merge into Kazuki's soul world when, in the next moment, a figure with white hair and red eyes appeared not far from him.

"Kazuki, so you're here after all..." Orochimaru laughed maniacally, a hint of madness in his eyes: "Since I'm already here, don't bother trying to drive me away! With so many tenants and secrets inside you, one more won't hurt, right?"

"Who do you think you are?"

The man with white hair and red eyes was not Kazuki, but Senju Tobirama!

A cold voice rang out as Tobirama crossed his arms and glared icily at Orochimaru: "You are Hiruzen's apprentice, aren't you? That monkey's choices truly infuriate me. First, there was Jiraiya, who blindly believed in toads, and now, there's a greedy venomous snake that preys on others…"

"How does he choose his disciples? Not a single one holds the Will of Fire in his heart. He is a failure as Hokage."

Orochimaru's pupils constantly dilated.

Can Tobirama move freely inside Kazuki's body?

What's going on here?!

 If someone subtly takes over a body, they won't reveal themselves until the last moment—just like how Orochimaru, in the original timeline, had to wait until Sasuke and Itachi exhausted their chakras before attempting to take over Sasuke's body...

Senju Tobirama's composed and unrestrained demeanor gave Orochimaru a strange illusion.

Could it be that Tobirama and Kazuki are on the same side?

Are the two of them like a Tailed Beast and its Jinchūriki, having reached a telepathic connection?

But what about the Nine-Tome Rinne Sharingan hanging high in the air?!

There's too much information, too many secrets—even Orochimaru's genius mind couldn't analyze the truth in such a short time.

"Second Hokage, there may be a misunderstanding..." Orochimaru spoke slowly, secretly mobilizing the chakra in his body.

At that moment, Kazuki's voice came from nowhere

"Leave him alive, Tobirama. After all, he worked for Konoha."

Hearing Kazuki's voice, Orochimaru shuddered all over. Was this an illusion created by Senju Tobirama to confuse him, or...

But then, Senju Tobirama slightly raised his fingers, and the tomoe in his eyes spun instantly.

In a flash.

Orochimaru only saw a figure passing by him—so fast that he couldn't react at all.

Senju Tobirama held a wine gourd in his hand and coldly stared at Orochimaru from behind.

"As expected of the Second Hokage, known as the fastest in the Shinobi World. You're so fast that I couldn't react at all, but such a slash is ineffective against me..."

Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth with his long tongue and mockingly said, "You underestimated me, Tobirama-sama."

But soon...

Orochimaru's smile vanished. He was pierced by the Sword of Totsuka, and his body began melting at an alarming rate under the piercing gaze of Senju Tobirama's Sharingan.

"The Sword of Totsuka... That wine gourd was actually the Sword of Totsuka all along..."

"Why? Why is this sword in your hands? What is your relationship with Kazuki? And what is that Rinne Sharingan?!"

"Tell me! Tell me! Tell me! I beg you to tell me!!"

Orochimaru howled miserably, but Senju Tobirama smiled coldly and sealed him within the Sword of Totsuka.

"You think you're worthy of knowing this? A being without the Will of Fire..."

After dealing with Orochimaru, Kazuki slowly appeared beside Senju Tobirama and shook his head with emotion.

"Tobirama, do you think this is human nature?"

"I've been kind to Orochimaru, haven't I? I granted him access to your forbidden book, gave him the resources of the Root, and even promised him power and respect. And yet, as a direct descendant of the Hokage, he still tried to take over my body..."

"It's ridiculous that someone so close to me harbored such darkness, Tobirama."

"To be honest, if the Infinite Tsukuyomi weren't tied to the Sage of Six Paths, I would think it was a good way to bring peace. Using illusions to cleanse the evil thoughts in people's hearts might actually be a viable solution."

Senju Tobirama was silent for a moment. After all that Orochimaru had done, words felt meaningless.

Kazuki was willing to sacrifice his life to seal the Sage of Six Paths—wasn't he allowed to voice such extreme thoughts?

It was just a complaint. Alas...

"Kazuki..." Senju Tobirama pursed his lips and spoke in a deep voice: "Don't mind the occasional termites in this world. Keep moving forward. I will accompany you."

Kazuki and Tobirama exchanged smiles and nodded.

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Senju Tobirama's eyes. He picked up the Sword of Totsuka and hurled the sealed Orochimaru toward the Rinne Sharingan...

Before it could even touch the Rinne Sharingan's entity, Orochimaru's sticky form vaporized.

Death.

'Kazuki, you're too kind. This kind of traitor must be killed,' Senju Tobirama silently thought. 'I know you can't bear to do it, so I will bear this darkness for you...'

In the barracks.

The White Phosphorus Snake lay lifeless in a pool of blood. Somewhere within the corpse, a small white snake hid, trembling.

But Kazuki still noticed it...

The red light in Kazuki's eyes flickered, and he secretly marked the little white snake with the Five Senses Control Technique. Then, he used Earth Release to dispose of the bloodstained remains in the barracks.

Under the cover of Earth Release, the blood and snake corpse vanished.

"It's like the birds have eaten all the food and flown back to the forest, leaving behind a piece of white earth—so clean..."

Kazuki whispered to himself, "Immortals and mortals alike follow this cycle."

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