LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 32: Chapter 32
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Orochimaru's eyes suddenly flashed.
For someone pursuing immortality, he could easily understand Gensou's meticulous efforts to break free from his constraints and avoid returning to the underworld.
However, until now, he had thought the most Gensou could do was extend his time before the limitations of the Edo Tensei body ran out.
But when Gensou unexpectedly approached Tsunade seeking the Spirit Transformation Technique, Orochimaru realized he had underestimated his predecessor's ambitions.
"A true resurrection?"
Orochimaru licked his lips again, thinking excitedly.
Could such a thing succeed? Orochimaru had never heard of anyone being able to come back from the dead.
Even he himself could only achieve a form of "resurrection" by splitting his soul, leaving severe aftereffects.
Fundamentally, it wasn't true resurrection, as he wasn't truly dead.
Could Gensou achieve it?
Orochimaru pondered deeply about the Spirit Transformation Technique.
As the most advanced researcher in the current ninja world, he quickly deduced why Gensou needed the Spirit Transformation Technique.
"The Spirit Transformation Technique can separate the soul from the body. Gensou wants to break free from the constraints of the Edo Tensei body?"
Orochimaru frowned.
"The constraints from the underworld are more terrifying than imagined. Can the Spirit Transformation Technique succeed?"
"Even if it does, what about the body? Does he intend to become a wandering soul? Or merge with someone else's body?"
This was not an easy task.
The body's rejection of an unfamiliar soul would be intense.
The result would only be the disintegration of the body.
Having developed the Living Corpse Reincarnation, Orochimaru was well-versed in this area.
Even someone as talented as he took a long time to perfect the Living Corpse Reincarnation.
Even so, the Living Corpse Reincarnation had many limitations.
For example, each reincarnation had to be three years apart.
For example, even if the reincarnation succeeded, the body would still have varying degrees of rejection, preventing it from lasting long, necessitating continuous reincarnations.
As a ninja who delved into ancient secrets, Orochimaru had thoroughly researched the history of the ninja world.
He had never heard of Gensou studying or developing soul-related secret techniques like the Living Corpse Reincarnation.
So, what was Gensou relying on? Orochimaru couldn't figure it out.
He would never have guessed that before his death, Gensou had used a forbidden technique to preserve his body under everyone's noses.
With the famous Hashirama Senju certifying that Gensou's body was gone, who would suspect otherwise?
As night fell.
Gensou stood atop a tall utility pole, back to the bright moon, expressionlessly watching the bustling scene below.
As a famous spot in the Land of Fire, Tanzaku Town's prosperity was no less than Konoha's, despite the absence of ninja.
Bustling food streets, throngs of people, the constant cries of vendors, and the laughter of children playing mixed in.
Unfortunately.
The bustle belonged to them.
Not to himself.
Gensou sighed softly in his heart.
Don't misunderstand.
He wasn't antisocial or misanthropic.
Standing on a utility pole didn't mean he wanted to destroy everything below.
Gensou sighed because he wanted to enjoy but couldn't.
The Edo Tensei body was like a layer of hide blocking external sensations.
Though it had the advantage of being impervious to harm and always repairable, it greatly diminished a ninja's sensory abilities.
Don't be fooled by Edo Tensei individuals quickly regenerating lost limbs.
If possible, they'd rather avoid the attacks that cause such injuries in the first place.
Something they could do in life.
However, under Edo Tensei, their external senses were significantly dulled, making them slower to react.
For Gensou, no matter how delicious the food or strong the liquor, it all tasted like wax in his mouth.
"Food" was like this, and "color," forever out of reach, was the same.
So, for the sake of reuniting with his long-missed "little brother," he had to break free from the Edo Tensei body and achieve true resurrection!
Anyone who stood in his way would face his unyielding determination.
A sharp gleam burst from Gensou's eyes as he looked towards a busy izakaya in the distance.
Tsunade and Shizune hadn't left Tanzaku Town. Instead, under Tsunade's will, they had gone to an izakaya to drink.
After some inquiries, Jiraiya and Naruto found them there.
At this moment, the two old friends, reunited, were sitting together, drinking and playing cards, discussing the matter of the Fifth Hokage.
When Naruto exclaimed in disbelief that the Fifth Hokage was the young-looking woman before him,
Tsunade outright refused, bluntly stating, "Hokage is trash, only idiots would want to be one," immediately angering Naruto, who dreamt of becoming Hokage.
Thus, the duel outside the bar began.
"They're here."
Hidden in the darkness, Gensou watched Tsunade, reeking of alcohol, and the furious Naruto face off.
The result was as expected.
One move.
Naruto was easily taken down.
After that,
Faced with Tsunade's question about why he was so obsessed with the title of Hokage, Gensou soon heard Naruto's famous declaration.
"Because... being Hokage is my dream!!!"
Gensou's eyes moved.
Noticing the shock, nostalgia, guilt, and hope on Tsunade's face, he shook his head internally.
No need to observe further.
When Naruto voiced that familiar declaration Tsunade had heard countless times, she had already made her final decision without realizing it.
Orochimaru's confident deal was completely nullified.
"This is good, it allows my plan to proceed smoothly."
"Also, nice to meet you, Naruto. Your renowned persuasive skills are indeed extraordinary. I also have a novice mission involving you. I'll complete it all at once."
Leaving this thought, Gensou didn't watch further and vanished into the darkness.
The next second.
As Jiraiya, pleased with Tsunade's change of expression, glanced back into the darkness behind him,
"ANBU... no, Root operatives. What are they doing here?"
Thinking of the old man hiding in the shadows, Jiraiya frowned.
On their way here, he had noticed Root operatives trailing them.
But with Naruto being the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, he hadn't said anything despite his displeasure.
However, with Sarutobi-sensei gone, Danzo's sharp blade was becoming harder to balance.
So, he'd let Tsunade, with her fiery temper, deal with it.
He really wasn't suited for it.
(End of Chapter)