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Page 318

　A figure flashed through the Forest of Death. Ye Chen, using the power of the Gravity Fruit, could levitate in the air like Pain, wielding the power of the sky like a god.

　"Huh, this chakra aura!"

　Because of the extremely wide range of Observation Haki, Ye Chen sensed a familiar aura fluctuation on his way back to the village.

　This is the Forest of Death. Unless it's for the middle school entrance exam or some kind of training, no ninja from Hiramoto would come here.

　Ye Chen wasn't in a hurry to return to Konoha. This chakra aura reminded him of someone, and a slight smile appeared on his lips as he searched for the source of the aura.

　After tracking all the way, we finally found our destination! It was a hidden cave, completely bare around the entrance, with not a single plant in sight.

　Ye Chen walked towards the entrance of the cave, encountering a small brown snake along the way, but pretended not to see it.

　The cave was dark, damp, and dimly lit, filled with a pungent medicinal smell; no wonder no plants grew around it.

　The medicine contained toxins, which had no effect on Ye Chen, but an ordinary person staying here for too long would likely be in mortal danger.

　Moreover, the passageways inside

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　It doesn't lead to the surface but underground, clearly indicating that someone has built a secret base here.

　Ye Chen walked calmly through the corridor. The construction here was very rough; even the surrounding rock walls were uneven, almost like a naturally formed place. It should be a temporary base.

　After walking for a while, a few points of light finally appeared ahead—oil lamps on the stone wall, their flames flickering.

　A figure seemed to have been standing there in the shadows for a while, and upon seeing Ye Chen's arrival, revealed a slightly sinister smile.

　"Night Lord, what brings you to my experimental base?"

　A hoarse, magnetic voice rang out, and Orochimaru, one of the Three Legendary Sannin, stepped out from the shadows, slightly shrugging. His expression was unreadable, and his words were undoubtedly meaningless.

　Seeing Orochimaru's pale face, Ye Chen wasn't surprised at all; in the entire Hidden Leaf Village, this guy was the only one who spent all his time doing scientific research.

　"Not welcome"

　Ye Chen looked at Orochimaru and asked indifferently,

　Orochimaru smiled and shook his head, saying, "Of course not. We are very happy to have you here as a guest, Night Lord. Please come in."

　As he spoke, Orochimaru stepped aside and gestured for him to come in.

　From an angle unseen by Ye Chen, Orochimaru's eyes flickered slightly. He had just built a secret base in the Forest of Death, so how did Ye Chen end up here? Wasn't it too much of a coincidence?

　This secret belongs to him alone; even the Hidden Leaf Village's Anbu are unaware of his actions.

　Ye Chen calmly glanced around, then walked into Orochimaru's laboratory.

　Although the laboratory was rudimentary, it was spacious, yet Ye Chen was still able to capture everything within it, taking it all in his sight.

　It was basically just those bottles and jars, containers filled with some unknown liquid, and even a corpse.

　After entering the laboratory, Ye Chen wasn't interested in most of Orochimaru's experiments; the only thing that interested him was Orochimaru's work on the Impure World Reincarnation technique.

　Ye Chen had read about this technique in the Book of Sealing and memorized it, but due to limited resources, he hadn't yet begun to study it.

　"Orochimaru, do you know you're conducting human experiments here?"

　Ye Chen asked casually, gazing at the person in front of him.

　Orochimaru's smile faded, and he slowly said, "Yoru-kun shouldn't report me, right?"

　Ye Chen smiled indifferently and continued to ask, "What direction are you currently researching?"

　"Impure World Reincarnation or Undead Reincarnation?"

　Upon hearing this, Orochimaru looked surprised and said, "It seems that Night Lord has read the Book of Sealing Techniques, but why do you assume that I would study these two techniques?"

　Ye Chen glanced at Orochimaru and said directly, "Because you're afraid of dying, Orochimaru."

　You think human lifespan is too short, and a few decades is simply not enough time to learn all the ninjutsu in the world. You need time, don't you?"

　"Hahaha, as expected, Lord Ye, you truly are my confidant!"

　Orochimaru scrutinized Ye Chen intently, his gaze burning.

　They're all the same kind of people!

Chapter 331 Sage Body and the Terrifying Wood Release Experiment

　This content was first published here (second update).

　Human life is finite, so it's impossible to learn all the ninjutsu in the world in just a few decades.

　To understand the truth of this world, to comprehend all its problems, one must have enough time.

　Orochimaru had experienced much, and the desire for immortality grew stronger in his mind each day.

　In addition, the Fourth Shinobi World War witnessed the deaths of countless shinobi, as well as the passing of loved ones.

　Orochimaru lamented the fragility of human life, believing that human potential and wisdom were limitless.

　However, the human body has limited their development. As time goes on, Orochimaru's desire for immortality has only grown stronger, and he has already begun researching it.

　As a student of the Third Hokage, it wouldn't be difficult for Orochimaru to learn the ninjutsu from the Scroll of Sealing Techniques.

　In the original work, Orochimaru frequently visited the Hokage's office.

　Hiruzen Sarutobi knew this, but he did not stop it.

　To some extent, among the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru was the ninja Hiruzen Sarutobi considered the most suitable to succeed him as Hokage.

　Of course, this is all predicated on the fact that Orochimaru's research was not exposed.

　"Ye Jun, I think we are actually the same kind of people."

　You seem to know me very well; isn't this a kindred spirit connecting with someone of the same kind?

　Orochimaru said half-jokingly, showing no panic despite having everything about himself exposed to Ye Chen.

　Although Yoruichi is a ninja, his loyalty will never be primarily to Konoha, but rather to himself.

　"Don't confuse me with you, but if your research is exposed, I'm afraid there will be no place for you in Konoha."

　Ye Chen said

　"hehe!"

　Orochimaru walked to a corpse whose clothing and clan crest bore the Senju symbol. Pointing to the body, he said, "Although the Impure World Reincarnation and Undying Reincarnation require a large number of human subjects for experimentation, I am not yet at the point of capturing living people for experiments. After all, I am also the inheritor of the Will of Fire."

　The test subjects in my secret laboratory are all from the failed experiments of Konoha's Wood Release and some criminals who have committed capital crimes in the ninja world.

　"Wood Release Experiment"

　Ye Chen examined the corpse of the Thousand Hands clan member; it appeared to be male, its body dull and decaying.

　Moreover, more than half of its body had turned into wood, and it even bloomed with strange flowers.

　The other part looked as if it had been drained of its life force; its skin was shriveled and only a layer of skin remained.

　Seemingly sensing Ye Chen's thoughts, Orochimaru proactively explained, "The Wood Release experiment plan was specifically established to suppress beasts, and you were also at that meeting, Ye-kun."

　The Senju clan has not produced a Wood Release bloodline limit to date, and is gradually declining.

　This sparked the participation of many Senju clan members, all striving to recreate the glory of the First Hokage.

　It's a pity that the Wood Release power within Hashirama's cells was too strong; ordinary ninjas couldn't handle it and were directly killed by the backlash.

　It's estimated that this experiment will be discontinued soon after the results are achieved!

　"Wood Release isn't that easy."

　Ye Chen shook his head, his face expressionless.

　Wood Release is arguably one of the most powerful elemental abilities in the Naruto world. Despite being a relatively weak elemental attribute, it became a crucial force for Hashirama Senju's dominance in the ninja world, even suppressing tailed beasts and destroying the Nine-Tails' Susanoo armor! Alternatively, it can be understood that the First Hokage's Wood Release was unique.

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　Unlike other Wood Release techniques, the most crucial factor is the influence of Ashura's power.

　"Night Lord seems to have some insight into this."

　Orochimaru, seeing that Ye Chen seemed unconcerned, assumed he understood something and couldn't help but ask...

　Upon hearing this, Ye Chen glanced at Orochimaru and then said, "The reason why the First Hokage's Wood Release swept across the ninja world was not only because of the Wood Release ninjutsu, but also because his body possessed a special physique that surpassed ordinary humans—the Sage Body, the most perfect physique! How could an ordinary person without a Sage Body accommodate Hashirama's cells, let alone activate the power of Wood Release?"

　"Immortal Body!"

　Orochimaru's pupils flashed with surprise, and he murmured, "I didn't expect you, Night Lord, to know about the Sage Body."

　"What, is it that strange?"

　Ye Chen countered with a question, feigning calmness.

　Actually, he deliberately revealed information about the Sage Body. In the current timeline, before the various overpowered characters appeared, very little was known about the Sage Body! Ye Chen estimated that even the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, himself didn't know about the Sage Body! But Orochimaru was special; Ye Chen was intentionally testing whether Orochimaru knew the secret of the Sage Body! Unexpectedly, judging from this situation, Orochimaru seemed to actually know something about it.

　"I wonder if you've ever heard of a type of energy, different from the chakra within us ninjas, that originates entirely from the outside world and can actually be utilized by humans?"

　When Orochimaru said this, his gaze was fixed intently on Ye Chen.

　Ye Chen was testing him, but wasn't he also testing Ye Chen?

　After all, none of us are exactly respectable people, and why would respectable people secretly develop human laboratories?

　However, Ye Chen remained outwardly calm, showing no emotion whatsoever.

　I was somewhat surprised. I hadn't expected Orochimaru to have already come into contact with the research of Sage Mode, but it seems that Orochimaru in the original work was unable to learn Sage Mode.