novel-bin Chapter 422 Hidden Intelligence
Chapter 422 Hidden Intelligence
Surprisingly, even Orochimaru hadn't anticipated that the seemingly ordinary Tsunade would successfully inherit the mysterious and powerful life rule energy possessed by Hashirama Senju! Although this power currently appears incredibly thin, as weak as a candle flickering in the wind, it is, after all, a high-level rule power!
This higher-level power contains boundless vitality and life force, like a seed buried deep in the ground. Given sufficient sunlight, water, and soil, it can sprout and grow strong. Therefore, even though Tsunade is currently suffering from severe injuries to her soul and meridians, given enough time to recuperate and repair herself, these injuries will eventually heal completely.
Imagine, as time passes, the sparse life force energy within Tsunade will gradually coalesce into a surging torrent, flowing through her limbs and bones. This torrent will continuously nourish and repair her damaged soul and meridians, allowing them to regain their vibrant life. At that time, Tsunade will undoubtedly appear before the world in a completely new form, becoming an invincible being!
This astonishing discovery, like a dazzling ray of light streaking across the dark night sky, stirred a storm of emotions within Orochimaru, filling him with an overwhelming sense of envy. You see, he had racked his brains and exhausted every effort to comprehend the mysterious and profound rules of life. For years, he had devoted countless hours and energy, researching and exploring day and night, attempting to unveil the veil of mystery hidden behind all things in the world.
Furthermore, Orochimaru spared no expense in collecting a large number of precious Hashirama Senju cells as samples, hoping to gain a deeper understanding and learn the mysteries of life contained within them. However, despite possessing these unparalleled resources, he was unable to comprehend even the slightest trace of the rules of life. Each attempt was like a stone sinking into the sea, leaving him feeling incredibly frustrated and disappointed, but at the same time, it further fueled his deep-seated desire and obsession with mastering the rules of life.
However, Tsunade, this exceptionally talented woman, inherited Hashirama Senju's astonishing life-law energy from birth! This unique advantage made her shine like a dazzling pearl, standing out from the crowd. Compared to ordinary people, Tsunade seemed to possess an innate and profound foundation, destined to embark on a smooth path to power.
However, even when facing such a powerful opponent as Tsunade, whose innate advantages he possessed, Orochimaru did not feel discouraged or retreat in the slightest. On the contrary, these seemingly insurmountable gaps did not shake Orochimaru's firm belief; instead, they burned like a raging fire, further igniting the long-dormant determination deep within his heart.
Orochimaru knew that to carve out his own niche on this challenging and competitive path, he had to put in more effort and dedicate more energy to learning and understanding. This would only allow him to abandon distractions and immerse himself wholeheartedly in the ocean of knowledge, constantly exploring those mysterious and unpredictable laws of power, striving for greater breakthroughs on his path of cultivation.
After a thorough investigation and observation, Orochimaru was finally able to confirm that Tsunade was not in any real danger. This relieved him slightly, as he still harbored complex feelings for his former ally and rival.
Now that Tsunade was safe, Orochimaru turned his attention to another important goal of his trip to Konoha—to delve deeper into the mysterious and powerful force of rules that Pain had displayed at the end. The thought of that power ignited a burning desire in Orochimaru's eyes.
Recalling the power of Pain's rules he sensed along the way, the earth-shattering sensation remained vivid in his mind. Especially the power of rules Pain unleashed at crucial moments, seemingly capable of controlling the life and death of the entire world, which shocked everyone. Orochimaru knew that if he could master this power, his strength would be enhanced to an unprecedented degree.
However, truly understanding and mastering this power of rules is no easy task. It's like a treasure hidden in the mist, requiring Orochimaru to gradually unveil its mysteries. Therefore, Orochimaru decided to begin by gathering relevant information. He turned his attention to Naruto Uzumaki, hoping to obtain all information about Pain and that power of rules from him. After all, Naruto was the last person to come into contact with Pain and must have gathered a great deal of specific information about him.
Despite Naruto's intense hatred for him, Orochimaru remained unconcerned. He knew Naruto would definitely report the situation to Konoha. Orochimaru was quite confident in obtaining concrete information from Naruto. For Orochimaru, only by constantly challenging himself and pushing his limits could he become the strongest in the ninja world. And that mysterious power of rules might just be the key to his path to the top.
Orochimaru slowly raised his head, his long, narrow, and cold eyes scanning the surroundings like a snake's pupils. His gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on Naruto Uzumaki, where it lingered for a moment. For a fleeting instant, time seemed to freeze. Then, he finally broke the suffocating silence, speaking in a low, slightly hoarse voice: "Tsunade is out of danger, but she needs a considerable amount of time to recuperate before she fully recovers. As for exactly how long… to be honest, even I don't know for sure. But it shouldn't be too long, maybe a few months at most. During this time, you must ensure she gets sufficient rest and meticulous care, and absolutely no unexpected situation should interfere with her recovery. Otherwise, if anything goes wrong, the consequences could be unimaginable!"
A fleeting, almost imperceptible glint flashed in Nara Shikaku's usually calm eyes, but it vanished in an instant, like a shooting star streaking across the night sky—brief yet dazzling. He thought to himself that Tsunade's recovery from her severe injuries was undoubtedly fantastic news. After all, as the Fifth Hokage of Konoha, her leadership and prestige were irreplaceable. However, the grim situation facing Konoha at this moment filled Nara Shikaku with deep worry.
Konoha is currently in turmoil, the villagers are restless and anxious, and they desperately need the Hokage to step forward and reassure them, bringing them confidence and hope. However, Tsunade will need several months to recover, and her body may not be fully healed, making it impossible for her to fulfill the duties of Hokage in the short term. And what about himself? Although he is one of Konoha's high-ranking officials, he is not entirely confident that he can shoulder the heavy responsibility of maintaining Konoha's stability alone. Especially considering the potentially difficult months ahead, Nara Shikaku felt a heavy pressure welling up in his heart.
What troubled him even more was the presence of some stubborn factions within Konoha. These people had once held extremely high positions and power in the village, and now, seeing Konoha in trouble, they would likely seize the opportunity to stir up trouble and try to disrupt the current situation. Faced with such a thorny situation, Nara Shikaku knew that with his current abilities, it would be difficult to effectively suppress these once-powerful figures. Their intricate networks of relationships and powerful influence made resolving the problem exceptionally difficult. But regardless, Nara Shikaku understood that he had to do everything in his power to protect Konoha and wait for Tsunade to fully recover and lead everyone out of this dark period.
Orochimaru's cold gaze, like that of a venomous snake, slowly shifted to Naruto Uzumaki standing to the side. He narrowed his eyes slightly, a meaningful smile playing on his lips, then opened his mouth again, asking in a tone tinged with mockery and skepticism, "Kid, stop dawdling and tell me everything that happened afterward! Hmph, don't think you can just fool me. Based on my experience and intuition, I can easily sense that with your current meager strength, defeating Pain, who possesses the Rinnegan, is simply a pipe dream! Even if you've mastered the Sage Mode of Mount Myōboku, so what? In the face of a true powerhouse, it's nothing but child's play."
At that moment, everyone present was captivated by Orochimaru's sudden question. Their previously scattered attention instantly converged, all focused on Naruto's location. Although they were seasoned veterans, they struggled to accurately assess the power of Naruto's Sage Mode. Similarly, they knew very little about Pain's unfathomable strength. However, Orochimaru's question implied a series of events, far beyond their comprehension and even their own knowledge, that were likely to follow. This undoubtedly made the atmosphere increasingly tense, as if an invisible gloom had quietly settled over everyone's hearts.
It's important to understand that Orochimaru is no longer a member of the Konoha ninja community; he's now considered a notorious and universally hated traitor. How could such sensitive and crucial information be easily revealed to such a traitor? Moreover, Naruto Uzumaki has become an undisputed hero of Konoha! In this difficult time, Konoha desperately needs to use Naruto's heroic deeds to inspire the villagers' fighting spirit and boost the morale of the entire village.