Chapter 402: Fat Sheep Snake Uncle

The undulating hills and gullies crisscrossed, the wind carrying the scent of earth, freely passing through the gaps between the hills.

Sunlight filtered through the clouds, shining on this hilly region; people bathed in the warm light, feeling the earth's bounty.

A passing traveler walked alone across this hilly region, as if touring the unique natural scenery here.

The visitor was none other than Yuzhibo Dongshilang; after parting with Ye Cang, he resumed his journey to collect tailed beast chakra.

His first stop was naturally Waterfall Hidden Village.

Using Impure World Reincarnation, he easily learned from several deceased Waterfall Hidden Village officials the identity of the current Seven-Tails jinchuriki.

The subsequent procedure went very smoothly.

Without alerting anyone, he directly obtained the Seven-Tails' chakra.

His current target, naturally, was Rock Hidden Village.

"Who's there?"

While admiring the scenery around him, Dong Shilang suddenly sensed something and turned his gaze toward a large tree beside him.

"Hehehe! Dong Shilang-kun, you're still as sharp as ever!"

As Dong Shilang's gaze locked on, from behind the tree that had seemed ordinary, two figures emerged—one tall, one short.

One of them, upon appearing, fixed his golden vertical pupils tightly on Dong Shilang's silhouette.

His gaze toward Dong Shilang was like that of a hungry poisonous snake, his eyes full of greed and desire.

"It's actually Senior Orochimaru—long time no see!"

Seeing him habitually lick the corner of his mouth, Dong Shilang's eye twitched uncontrollably.

"You stare at me with that look the moment we meet—looks like your Impure World Reincarnation is complete!"

With that look, he didn't need to guess what the other was thinking.

"He just wants my body, right!"

"But he really wanted to say to Snake Uncle, 'Boss, I've been waiting miserably; my forty-meter great sword is already thirsting for battle!'"

"Hey, this guy over there looks unfamiliar!"

Ignoring Orochimaru's gaze, Dong Shilang turned his eyes to the short figure beside him wearing glasses.

"This is my assistant, Dou!"

Hearing Orochimaru introduce himself, Dou pushed up his glasses and carefully examined Dong Shilang before him.

"Nice to meet you, Lord Dong Shilang!"

"Please look after me from now on!"

Out of instinct, Dou carefully sized up Dong Shilang, then slightly bowed his head, humbly offering a salute to Dong Shilang.

"It seems Senior Orochimaru has found a very capable assistant!"

Dou is still just a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old boy, his face retaining a hint of childishness, but through the glasses on his nose bridge one can see that his eyes lack any trace of the innocence or foolishness typical of his age.

Instead, there emerged a gloomy, deeply hidden darkness.

"Hehe! Dou is indeed a good helper!"

"With his help, I can successfully complete that Ninjutsu!"

Tilting his head slightly, Orochimaru glanced at Dou and felt fortunate to have brought him over from Danzo's hands.

His talent did not disappoint him.

"Speaking of which, tracking Dong Shilang's movements is really hard—he even made it to the border of the Land of Earth; without the organization's help, I truly couldn't have found his whereabouts!"

In the course of speaking, Orochimaru unintentionally uttered the two words "organization," then his eyes darted, fixed unblinkingly on Dong Shilang's every move.

It seemed he wanted to read something from the other's face.

"Nothing much, just been bored lately, out for a stroll."

"This idea came from a suggestion by Senior Orochimaru's good friend."

He laughed it off and brushed the topic aside.

Though his expression gave nothing away, he couldn't help wondering in his heart whether the Akatsuki Organization had found him.

Was this because he'd registered with Dai Tu over there, or just a coincidence? If the latter, fine; if the former, he'd need to heighten his guard.

"Is that so…"

Seeing no expression on Dong Shilang's face, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, beginning to ponder what his reaction signified.

Since Dong Shilang knows about the Rinnegan, he must know of Akatsuki; I just wonder how much he knows about Akatsuki's inner workings, and…

"I don't know… Senior Orochimaru, why did you specially come to see me? Is there something important?"

Looking at Orochimaru's flickering gaze, Dong Shilang asked knowingly.

"Well… naturally it's about conducting another trade… concerning the Rinnegan!"

After defecting from Leaf Village, he first found a place to settle, and incidentally turned Dou into his assistant.

He not only helped immensely with medical ninjutsu, but also proved adept at gathering intelligence.

With Dong Shilang's hint, he quickly found traces of the Akatsuki Organization and also learned that they truly possessed the Rinnegan.

When they followed his clues to his door, upon seeing the ripples in the other's eyes, he immediately conceived the idea of seizing that person's body, not even caring that his own Impure World Reincarnation was still imperfect.

Although the attempt failed, he nonetheless succeeded in joining that organization, secretly observing and gathering intel on the Rinnegan.

Now that he has completed the Impure World Reincarnation Technique, he can't hold back; he hurried to Dong Shilang to see if the latter possesses the information he wants.

The information came from him; the Uchiha clan is also an eye-technique family, so having such intel is only natural.

"A trade?"

"Great, a trade!"

Dong Shilang's mouth involuntarily curled upward.

He loved trading; the other, being one of the Legendary Sannin, a master of forbidden techniques, had plenty of good stuff, while his own information was essentially profit without cost.

How could he not lose!

I indeed have information related to the Samsara Eye, but this price…

Just as Orochimaru later craved Sasuke, Orochimaru now craves the Samsara Eye; with this bargaining chip, how could Dong Shilang not open his lion's mouth wide?

Hehe~

As Dong Shilang named one ninjutsu and secret technique after another, Orochimaru merely gave a hehe laugh twice.

Lord Dong Shilang has quite an appetite!

Moreover, I never expected that, as an Uchiha, you would actually be interested in the power of the First Hokage! That really surprises me!

After licking his lips again, Orochimaru's expression turned slightly unsightly; the other's demeanor was just like when Gangshou stepped into the casino, and those gamblers looked at her—this made him very displeased.

Moreover, the other party was overly greedy, actually listing the names of several secret ninjutsu at once, including the Flying Thunder God Technique, Impure World Reincarnation, and the First Hokage's cells, among others.

Is he treating him like a fat sheep? He wants to slaughter him with a vicious blow!