Chapter 296 A Subtle and Hidden Relationship
After taking Sakura Haruno to the hospital for treatment, Tsunade happened to need to see her, so Haruko went with her to her office.
After closing the door, Tsunade turned around and explained the situation to her.
"Your body is healthy, but you lack vitality. Vitality is both ethereal and real. If you want to restore your original physical condition, you must replenish your vitality."
"However, at present, the effects of both transmitting and transplanting life force are very shallow. Perhaps Orochimaru's research will find a solution."
“You know he’s been researching immortality. I’ve been asking him about it these past few days, and the answer is that there’s a chance.”
Seeing that Tsunade's confidence was genuine, Haruko Hayama couldn't hide her joy and said, "Really?"
Tsunade nodded, then her expression turned resentful and annoyed.
"But that guy told you to go find him yourself. What kind of time is this? He's still putting on airs!"
Haruko Hayama chuckled and reassured her, "It's okay, maybe he just wants to meet with me alone."
Seeing Haruko's ever-kind attitude, and recalling Orochimaru's unchanging sinister smile, Tsunade sighed inwardly.
She reached out and grasped Haruko Hayama's shoulder, pleading with each word distinct.
“Haruko, I don’t know the specifics of his research either. Perhaps this sounds a bit unreasonable, but I hope... you won’t reject his research. We all want you to get better.”
Don't reject it?
Haruko was a little confused.
Why did Tsunade specifically tell her this? Is there something strange about Orochimaru's research on immortality?
Thinking about it would only add to her tension, Haruko calmed down in the morning and neither refused nor agreed to what she said.
"I understand, thank you Tsunade."
Tsunade told her that Orochimaru's main research base was outside the village, and apart from a few important high-ranking officials, no one knew where it was.
However, Tsunade wasn't worried. Since Orochimaru had said so, he was confident that he could find Haruko Hayama.
So Haruko was urged by Tsunade to hurry up and go find it.
Standing at the village entrance, Haruko Hayama tried hard to search her memory for anything related to the base.
However, the memories revealed by her eye technique seem to lack any mention of her and Orochimaru's discussions about the base, and most of the scenes of their conversations show them in the village's laboratory.
Haruko couldn't help but feel annoyed; why did she have no memory of this?
Unbeknownst to her, in the shadows, a plain-colored bird perched on a branch, its dark eyes fixed on her without blinking.
Its appearance is so ordinary that no one would doubt that it is not a real bird.
The images transmitted back by the mechanical bird were displayed on a huge screen.
Orochimaru sat lazily in a chair, his white jade kimono with dark patterns ending at his smooth ankles, following his slender and graceful figure.
His long, smooth, black hair reached his waist, and a playful strand of black hair fell in front of him, which he twirled and kneaded with his fingers.
He still had an unnaturally pale complexion, but his elegant appearance made him seem noble, like a piece of jade that had been meticulously carved over a hundred years.
However, the other person present couldn't appreciate his blatant little scheme at all.
The projector placed to the left of the control panel projected Hiruko's appearance, a soft outline of an adult male.
"Ha, dressed so flamboyantly, do you think Haruko will be fooled by you?"
Orochimaru glanced at him indifferently and responded slowly.
"After all, it's the first time we've met in many years. Unlike some people who can only talk about sour grapes from afar."
Hiruko's lips twitched. This snake's mouth was as if it were poisoned, yet it was still so repulsive.
So, he changed the subject and used an innocent tone to directly hit Orochimaru's sore spot.
"It seems like Haruko doesn't remember how to get to your base at all. I guess some people shouldn't take themselves too seriously."
His provocation was effective; Orochimaru was no longer just watching from the sidelines.
The long, narrow golden snake eyes gleamed with a sharp light. The snake coiled on the chair straightened its body, and its lazy aura was completely replaced by a sinister and oppressive feeling.
A cold, low voice escaped his lips: "Even if she doesn't remember, I can still bring her back."
Hiruko frowned. "What are you going to do?"
Orochimaru didn't reply, but instead raised his hand and made a gesture.
The only luminous blue light screen in the dimly lit room flashed.
Hiruko then realized that someone was waiting quietly at the door, but the projection prevented him from having a full view.
After giving the order, Orochimaru rested his face on one hand.
He quietly looked at the black-haired girl on the screen who had already walked a distance in the opposite direction, a half-smile playing on his lips.
On the other side.
Haruko tried to piece together the path from her memory, but after walking for a while, she always felt like she was going in the wrong direction.
Just as she was debating whether to continue walking for a while or change direction, a powerful aura suddenly struck her.
Haruko's eyes sharpened as she assumed an attack stance.
There are five enemies, and they are quite strong.
"Is this weak... cough, is this woman the target?" A very irritating male voice came from the bushes.
Immediately afterwards, five people dressed similarly jumped to the ground, surrounding Haruko Hayama in the middle.
Haruko was somewhat stunned when she saw their faces clearly.
Aren't these the four villains Orochimaru sent to kidnap her from her memory?
Wait, why is there one extra?
Haruko looked closely and discovered that there were two men who looked exactly alike, both with short gray-blue hair and blue lips.
In her memory, these two, Sakon and Ukon, clearly shared one body, but now, they are two independent individuals, one on each side with one hand on their hip, looking at her.
Not only did the two of them change, but Kidomaru, with his dark hair and tanned skin, also lost his four extra arms.
The five of them stood together, looking no different from ordinary people, with no trace of experimental modification.
Displeased with her scrutinizing gaze, Tayu clicked her tongue and said, "Hurry up and take her back, she's a nuisance."
Jirobo coughed, clenching his fist to his lips, and whispered a reminder to her, "Tayuya, that person is watching, so be polite."
Remembering the covert surveillance, Tayu turned her head away unhappily, but thankfully didn't say anything more.
Ignoring Haruko's wary gaze, Kidomaru grinned and approached her. "Hey, come with us."
Zuo Jin let out a sinister laugh, "You don't sound like a good person at all."
Haruko Hayama: ...Actually, you guys don't look like good people.
"Are you Orochimaru's subordinates?" Haruko Hayama asked cautiously.
The most composed of the five, Jirobo, stepped forward. "Yes, Miss Haruko, the master sent us to pick you up and take you back to base."
The same scene, the same people, the same situation.
The meaning is completely different.
Previously, there were threats and violence; now, although their tone is still not very polite, it is much more courteous than I remember.
Furthermore, Haruko didn't detect any murderous intent from them. Compared to the madness and death aura they had shown when struggling in the abyss, they now seemed like real people.
Haruko glanced at the Konoha headbands they were wearing, which made them look like real ninjas.
"Then I'll have to trouble you."
After following them for a while, Haruko Hayama vaguely remembered that Orochimaru had led her along this path before.
Orochimaru only said that the scenery here was beautiful, but he never expected that his research base would also be located here.
Haruko thought about it seriously for a moment.
It seems Orochimaru truly loves this place; he even built his main base here.
Sakon, who was walking next to her, said, "But I'm really curious about your relationship with Lord Orochimaru."
On the other side, Ukon continued, "So there really is some kind of shady relationship between them, isn't there?"
Staring expectantly at by two identical faces, Haruko calmly accepted their words.
"More or less, he could become a savior for whom I am grateful."
Sakon & Ukon:...?
Is this the subtle relationship that's being widely discussed in the base?
Kidomaru put his hands behind his head and muttered, "Orochimaru-sama is also our savior, so why isn't the base treating us so politely?"
"What do you mean?" Haruko Hayama asked curiously.
Jirobo explained in a deep voice, "We are all children or orphans who survived the war. We were saved by Lord Orochimaru during his travels, and we are grateful to him and loyal to him."
Before Haruko could ask any more questions, the five of them led her to a laboratory and stopped.
Sakon and Ukon stood smiling on either side of the gate, opening it for her like a welcoming guest.
Similar voices overlapped: "Please come in."
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