This ninja in Naruto is unscientific

Chapter 79 Orochimaru's Soft Spot

Boom! ...

In Orochimaru's private laboratory, a loud bang shook the dust off the ceiling, followed by a violent coughing fit.

Amidst billowing smoke, Nishikawa Tetsu emerged from under the lab bench, his face covered in soot and his hair bristling from static electricity, half of the record board in his hand charred.

"Ahem... Lord Orochimaru, I told you there was something wrong with how that coil was wound, didn't I? Now look what happened, it's exploded. Luckily, there were enough barriers set up."

Opposite him, Orochimaru was elegantly using Wind Release to disperse the black smoke in front of him.

Although his hair was still smooth and flowing as if he had used Pantene, his pristine white lab coat had been stained with fashionable smoky ash, and there were two black marks on his face, making him look quite comical.

"Che-jun, this is a necessary trial-and-error process."

Orochimaru picked up a piece of sparking metal fragment and calmly said, "Moreover, the peak of that chakra burst just now was quite impressive, even though it lasted for less than a second."

"What's the use of such a short time? It's for killing enemies, not for being used as fireworks!"

Nishikawa Tetsu muttered helplessly as he threw the charred record board into the trash can.

"The conclusion is obvious: current energy storage media are like a sieve; we either need to build batteries the size of a house, or..."

Nishikawa Tetsu's eyes darted around, his gaze landing on Orochimaru with ill intent, a benevolent smile plastered on his face.

"Or, we could borrow some existing technology. For example... a sealing technique that can compress chakra to its limit and form a beautiful diamond shape on the forehead?"

Orochimaru paused in wiping his face.

He slowly turned his head, his golden vertical pupils narrowing slightly, his gaze as if he had seen through a weasel trying to steal a chicken.

"Are you implying the Yin Seal?"

"Oh dear, you noticed that." Nishikawa Tetsu rubbed his hands together, leaning closer with an expectant look. "That's Lady Tsunade's signature move. You see, you're her teammate and one of the Legendary Sannin, you have a deep friendship. If you were to ask her for advice, it shouldn't be difficult, right?"

Nishikawa Tetsuya was making his own plans.

Currently, Tsunade is in a volatile state, threatening to kill even acquaintances, due to the deaths of her younger brother Nawaki and her lover Dan Kato. Anyone who dares to provoke her at this time will at best be verbally abused, and at worst be physically executed by her monstrous punches.

This kind of life-threatening job should naturally be left to Lord Orochimaru to take the fall.

"Hehehe..."

Orochimaru let out his signature hoarse laugh, but he didn't move. Instead, he looked at Nishikawa Tetsu with an expression as if he were looking at an idiot.

"Che-jun, do you think I've damaged my brain by doing experiments?"

Orochimaru threw down the rag in his hand and sneered:

"Tsunade is a walking time bomb right now, she'll explode at the slightest provocation. Not only does she drink and gamble, but she also has a terrible temper."

"You want me to ask her for the secret technique?"

Orochimaru pointed to his head: "I'm seeking immortality, not a quick death. I'm already trying to avoid her, and you want me to offer myself up as a punching bag?"

"Tch, you didn't fool me."

Nishikawa Tetsu pouted, looking regretful: "I thought I was going to see a 'Sannin civil war' drama."

Recently, the two have been in close contact, and Nishikawa Tetsu has become quite familiar with Orochimaru. Orochimaru won't get angry if they make some harmless jokes. He is clearly more tolerant of geniuses.

Stop gloating.

Orochimaru rolled his eyes, then walked to the bookshelf, pulled out a dusty scroll, and slapped it on Nishikawa Tetsu's chest.

"Although it won't work with Tsunade, she's not the source of the Yin Seal."

"The history of the Uzumaki clan?" Nishikawa Tetsu opened the scroll, somewhat puzzled.

"Let's go find Lady Mito Uzumaki."

Orochimaru pointed in the direction of the Senju clan's territory, "That's Tsunade's grandmother, the first Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and also the user of the Yin Seal. She's still alive, and... she shouldn't be so old that she'd want to hit someone."

"Mito-sama?"

Nishikawa Tetsu's eyes lit up. That's right, Kushina hadn't become a Jinchūriki yet, and this ancestor was still alive. How come he hadn't thought of that before? He was only thinking about Lady Tsunade.

"That's a good idea! But..."

Nishikawa Tetsu closed the scroll and then cast that "why don't you go?" look at Orochimaru.

"Lord Orochimaru, since there's such a good way, why don't you go? You're the Third Hokage's personal disciple, visiting your master's wife... uh, your master's grandmother should be easy, right? I'm an outsider, I'm afraid I can't even get through the door."

The laboratory suddenly fell silent.

The relaxed, playful atmosphere just now seemed to have been suddenly severed by an invisible hand.

Orochimaru, with his back to Nishikawa Tetsu, froze in mid-air as he was tidying up the equipment.

After several seconds, he slowly spoke, his voice less playful and more somber and indescribable.

"I'm not going."

"Why? Are you afraid of the old lady nagging?" Nishikawa Tetsuya was still probing.

Orochimaru turned around, leaned against the lab table, crossed his arms, and stared blankly at the incandescent light on the ceiling with his golden eyes.

"Rope Tree...that kid died in my unit."

Nishikawa Tetsu's smile faded.

Nawaki, Tsunade's younger brother, is also Mito Uzumaki's most beloved grandson.

"That idiot, he clearly has no skills, but he insists on being at the forefront shouting that he wants to be Hokage."

Orochimaru's lips curled into a self-deprecating smile; it was the first time Nishikawa had ever seen this expression on the man's face.

"As a result, I stepped on an explosive tag trap, and by the time I got there... all that was left was the necklace that served as a symbol of the Senju clan."

"When I brought the news back, Lady Mito didn't say anything, she just stared blankly at the big tree in the yard."

Orochimaru took a deep breath, and that cold aura returned to him, as if his previous vulnerability was just an illusion.

"Since then, I have never set foot in the Senju clan's territory again."

"Looking into her eyes makes me feel...uncomfortable. This trivial emotion interferes with my judgment and hinders my scientific exploration."

Orochimaru waved his hand, as if shooing away a fly:

"So, you go. You're shameless, and you're on good terms with that kid Minato Namikaze. Isn't he always hanging out with that Uzumaki girl? If you really want to say you're a great-grandson of the First Hokage, with those connections, you should be able to get in."

"..."

Nishikawa Tetsu looked at Orochimaru's "you're definitely going to take the blame" expression and sighed helplessly.

Who would have thought that the reason why the dignified and cold-hearted Orochimaru didn't visit his master's grandmother was because of embarrassment and guilt?

"Fine, I'll go."

Nishikawa Tetsu grabbed the curling iron and tidied up his messy hair.

"But Lord Orochimaru, this counts as a work injury. If the old lady kicks you out, the compensation for emotional distress will be deducted from your salary."

"roll."

Watching Nishikawa Tetsu's departing figure, Orochimaru's cold face showed a hint of reminiscence.

He touched his neck, where the necklace used to hang from the rope tree.

"Life... is such a fragile and troublesome thing."

He shook his head and began to look through the research report.

"Dead people are more endearing; at least you won't feel guilty."