Orochimaru’s Magic Lamp

"Certainly."

Orochimaru licked his lips.

Togarihime appear to have lived for centuries, but in some ways, she was surprisingly easy to understand.

The power structure in Ryūchi Cave was simple. Beneath the White Snake Sage, there were three Snake Princesses. Even powerful figures like Manda were ranked slightly below them. With such a position, a little arrogance was expected.

Orochimaru used to think Togarihime was just another copy of the White Snake Sage—aloof, manipulative, treating her own kin as little more than reptiles.

Whether that mindset—seeing all things as disposable—was good or bad wasn't the issue. What was clear was that such beings were ultimately lonely.

Orochimaru understood loneliness well.

The three Snake Princesses, confined to Ryūchi Cave, had only each other for company. They couldn't express their true feelings. Unlike him, they lacked the discipline to control themselves. A hundred years of isolation, even for a snake, was enough to drive one mad.

Under those conditions, provoking a reaction from her was child's play.

"When I destroyed the puppet of the Third Kazekage, the look in your eyes said it all."

Orochimaru spread his hands with a half-smile.

"Unfortunately, achieving that kind of effect with sealing techniques isn't easy. I'm busy with the White Snake Sage's commission and can't help you. You'll have to figure it out on your own."

He wasn't worried about the consequences of giving Togarihime access to sealing techniques. At worst, a few souls she found amusing would vanish. Hardly a loss. They likely wouldn't provide him any value anyway.

"Are you underestimating me?"

Togarihime cast him a sharp glance, her annoyance clear.

Orochimaru's silence only deepened her irritation. Without another word, she vanished.

"A clumsy provocation," remarked Djinn, who had watched the entire exchange. "But surprisingly effective on that simple snake girl from Ryūchi Cave."

He smiled with some satisfaction, pleased with Orochimaru's manipulation. In the past, Orochimaru wouldn't have cared whether Togarihime could develop powerful sealing arts. Now, he had learned how to shape others.

"Whether they succeed or not doesn't matter much," Orochimaru replied indifferently as he turned to re-enter the building. "Just planting the seed is enough."

He reviewed the sealing team's research results, assigned new tasks, then returned to his underground lab to continue his work on Hashirama's cells and the white clones.

---

Meanwhile, in a shadowy cave...

A massive stone box was embedded in the wall. Its surface was etched with distorted, monstrous faces—resembling a sheep's skull, grotesque and half-alive. It seemed ready to leap out and consume anyone who stared too long.

"There's still plenty of chakra left."

The elder of Kusagakure wearing the sheep mask examined the box, then turned to the Akatsuki member beside him.

"We'll need at least four or five jōnin. How long will your Akatsuki take to capture them?"

Kakuzu stood emotionless, but inwardly scoffed. As the opening day of the Box of Bliss neared, the elders of Kusagakure had grown increasingly arrogant, treating the Akatsuki as lackeys.

Just as Pain had warned—they were poor partners.

"Jōnin aren't so easy to catch," Kakuzu replied calmly. "Sasori and the others still need time."

The cow, dog, and monkey-masked elders exchanged glances.

"Then why not sacrifice the Jinchūriki from Takigakure? Her chakra could easily equal ten jōnin."

Kakuzu's eyes narrowed.

"I've already said—she's off-limits."

Using the Nanao Jinchūriki would satisfy the box easily, but it would also kill her. That meant years of waiting for her Tailed Beast to resurrect—something the Akatsuki didn't want.

But the Kusagakure elders misread his refusal.

"Compared to opening the Bliss Box, what's one weak human?"

"Even a full Tailed Beast means nothing if it gets us what we want."

Kakuzu didn't respond. He simply stared at them in silence, making his disapproval obvious.

The elder in the sheep mask clenched his fists, a dangerous glint in his eyes—but he restrained himself. For now, they couldn't overpower Kakuzu. But once the box opened...

The cave fell silent again. A heavy, malevolent chakra pulsed from the box, pressing on everyone present. Even Kakuzu felt it.

The elders, however, were unaffected—sustained by sheer fanaticism. Kakuzu found that more disturbing than impressive.

Pathetic.

He sneered behind his mask.

---

Suddenly, footsteps echoed outside.

Sasori entered first, controlling the puppet Hiruko, its scorpion tail dragging an unconscious ninja. Behind him walked a tall man with black hair.

"Only one jōnin?"

The sheep-masked elder's voice was filled with irritation.

But he didn't dare blame Sasori. Instead, he turned his ire toward the black-haired man.

"Naoyan, why are you here? I don't recall assigning you to capture anyone."

Wuwei said nothing.

Kakuzu glanced over and said, "You're late."

"I don't recall agreeing on a time," Sasori replied coldly. "Convincing him took longer than expected."

The elders began to feel uneasy.

"Naoyan, what are they talking about… you—"

The elder's voice died in his throat.

At some point, the four monstrous masks of the Box Guardians had appeared behind the elders. Before they could react, their chakra was sealed. They couldn't move.

Kakuzu and Sasori weren't the kind to monologue. By the time they spoke, their poison had already taken effect.

Only Naoyan had taken the antidote. The other two had bodies resistant to toxins entirely.

"Traitor…"

"You… betrayed the village!"

Naoyan looked at them without a hint of emotion.

"No. I didn't betray the village."

"I only betrayed you."

_____________________

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