The flames were still burning, but Shuimu and his group had already escaped from the purgatory cage.

The shadow clone stayed behind to clean up the battlefield and see if there was anything valuable. Mizuki didn't care about anything else, but there might be some valuable things in Orochimaru's laboratory under the Great Eastern Sand Dunes that he didn't have time to take away.

"After all the effort, he still escaped. He's seriously injured, and I don't know if he'll die from this!"

Although Tenzang was not seriously injured, his chakra consumption was extremely alarming. The battle did not last long, but the intensity was too high. The consumption in a short period of time was really beyond the ability of ordinary ninjas to bear.

"It should be hard to die!"

The teenage Obito's crushed half body came back to life. As long as he didn't die on the spot, it would be very difficult to kill this guy whose vitality was stronger than that of a cockroach.

"It's all in vain."

Tenzang looked at Mizuki's broken right arm with regret.

"Is the injury not serious? Should we give up on Orochimaru?"

Mizuki looked at the status of the three physical clones. The effect of using the Flying Thunder God Technique to transmit the fighting method to each other was good, but it consumed too much chakra. The recovery ability of the clones was much worse than that of the original body, and it was too risky to fight Orochimaru again.

As for Tenzo, he probably can't bear it after using the large-scale Wood Release so many times.

However, Uchiha Sasuke and the physical clone that finally intercepted Orochimaru must have already started to take action. It took too long here.

In terms of combat power, Shuimu's original body is more reliable. Unfortunately, his right hand is broken, so it is difficult for him to form seals. Some techniques are troublesome to use, like the Inorganic Reincarnation Technique, which he probably cannot use.

"There is still a complete clone in the Sand Village, go and replace him with someone!"

There are a total of seven physical clones, one is sealed as a backup; one is recovering from a serious injury; there is one in the Sand Village who is entertaining guests; three clones had just exhausted their combat power in dealing with Obito; and the last one is leading Uchiha Sasuke to intercept Orochimaru.

"Tenzo, you and the two clones stay here to recover your chakra. I plus the two clones should be enough."

Orochimaru is not in good shape and Mizuki's right hand is broken, but with the support of two clones, it should be enough.

The purpose of dealing with Orochimaru was not to do anything to him, but to complete Tsunade's mission and then bring Uchiha Sasuke back to report.

…

Orochimaru looked at the curtain walls of the barrier around him, and looked at the Mizuki clones opposite him with an inexplicable smile.

"The Sixteen Pillar Binding Technique, a thunder-earth compound barrier developed by the Anbu to deal with large summoned beasts and tailed beasts. It's been a long time since I've seen it. I didn't expect it to be used against me. But why did you lock yourself in there as well?"

"Some things are better said privately!" Shuimu's clone replied with a smile.

Orochimaru was not surprised either.

"That ANBU outside is Uchiha Sasuke, right?"

Mizuki nodded to confirm Orochimaru's guess. With the resonance of the Heaven's Curse Seal, it would be basically impossible to hide it from Orochimaru at a close distance.

"How daring of you to bring him to me like this."

"I'm sure you can't take him away."

“Really?”

Orochimaru didn't care whether Mizuki was bragging or not. Anyway, Sasuke would not be able to escape from his control unless the Heaven's Curse Seal was lifted.

"What is it you want to say?"

"As for the transaction, I hope it will happen immediately."

"So urgent?"

Orochimaru found it a little hard to understand.

"You haven't been practicing Sage Mode for long, right? It shouldn't be that urgent anyway."

"I don't want to wait any longer. It's too troublesome to find you, and too much contact would be too dangerous. I believe you are ready to trade at any time. Since we both need something, don't hesitate any longer."

"That's fine!"

Orochimaru agreed.

"I didn't expect that your real self would be so confident in leaving something important with you to trade with me."

"We are united, it doesn't matter who comes!"

"One heart and one mind?"

Orochimaru sneered.

"You're so eager to ask me for the Eight-Headed Technique, and yet you tell me such a lie, it's ridiculous!"

Shuimu's clone reminded unhappily: "It's useless to sow discord between me and my original body. We are not what you think!"

“Really?”

Orochimaru didn't dwell on this issue too much.

"Finally, let me confirm. What I want is asexual cloning technology. It must include methods for complete nucleus removal and nucleus injection in somatic cells, as well as methods for retaining activity without destroying organelles and cytoplasm. It would be best if it includes methods for forcibly activating recessive genetic traits during cell mitosis."

"The last one is impossible, but the previous ones are fine."

To activate recessive traits, Mizuki was cultivated directly with the all-purpose potion, so there was no need for this. It would be impossible to teach Orochimaru how to prepare the all-purpose potion, as that would be a huge loss.

Orochimaru said with a look of surprise: "You are too greedy to want to exchange for the Eight-Headed Technique and the Reincarnation Technique."

Orochimaru already has a relatively reliable technology for cultivating complete somatic cells into living organisms. Although it is not very mature, it is sufficient.

"I don't want reincarnation anymore."

Orochimaru smiled and said, "Don't be so anxious. I can give you the Reincarnation of the Corpse, but you must compensate me with the information about the leader of Akatsuki, Pain. You fought with him not long ago, right? You screwed the Hidden Rock Village!"

"Can!"

Mizuki was too lazy to ask Orochimaru how he knew it. No matter how much information the Akatsuki organization leaked, it had little to do with him.

"It's my turn to ask. What is the spiritual core of the Eight-Headed Art?"

"That's easy." Orochimaru replied disapprovingly, "The uniqueness of the spirit is the key!"

"Uniqueness?" Shuimu asked in surprise, "Shouldn't it be an unwavering will?"

These two things may sound similar, but when you look into it more closely, they are worlds apart.

"Human nature is changeable and cannot remain unchanged. The Yamata no Orochi is me, the White Phosphorus Serpent is me, the senjutsu chakra in the Heaven's Curse Seal is also me, and the one standing in front of you and talking to you is still me. There is only one Orochimaru in this world, regardless of good or evil, living or dead. As for the unwavering will you mentioned, I have seen one, the evil god who tirelessly wants to destroy all mankind. There is no other. Is this the one you are talking about?"

"It seems I misunderstood. Is this the difference between human nature and divinity?"

There is no point in abandoning sensibility and pursuing an eternal will. Every perception and experience constitutes the cornerstone of human nature. Trying to find some meaning to support one's spiritual soul is simply looking for fish in a tree.

It’s no wonder that a guy like Orochimaru, who is extremely self-confident, could avoid countless hardships and dangers and survive to the end.

"Thank you, I'm grateful for your advice."