"I passed. Sister, I passed Genya-sama's test!"
Senju Hayashi excitedly danced around, sharing his joy and excitement with Hikari.
He had finally earned Genya-sama's approval.
In truth, he didn't know that from the very beginning, Genya had already approved of him, but Senju Hayashi was too insecure and kept trying to prove himself in front of Genya.
At this moment, he carefully took the mask Genya handed him and examined it in his palms.
It was a very delicate mask. Only the eyes were exposed, and the mask was decorated with the image of a grotesque Ox, with two cute, bulging horns sticking out. It was a little unusual!
He gently rubbed it, feeling content and excited.
"From now on, you are a member of Atsukara, and you will represent Atsukara in the Ninja World!" Genya said calmly. "Your title is 'Ox!'"
"Ox?" Senju Hayashi mumbled the title, his tone a bit surprised. He softly complained, "Just one word? It's not even as good as 'Wood Ox!'"
"If you like the name 'Wood Ox,' then go ahead and use it!" Genya didn't oppose it, but he didn't deny it either.
The name "Wood Ox" suited him, considering his unique Wood Style abilities. It was a fitting title for him.
"Tomorrow, you'll go out. First, head to the Bounty Station to complete three missions to make Atsukara known in the Ninja World, and then go find Orochimaru!" Genya began assigning tasks to Senju Hayashi.
"Complete missions? Go find Orochimaru?" Senju Hayashi had no objections to the missions since completing them would help Atsukara's reputation.
But why go find Orochimaru?
He had already heard of Orochimaru's reputation, but now that Orochimaru was a rogue ninja of Konoha, why would Genya want him to find him?
Genya didn't seem to have any urgent business with Orochimaru!
However, he only thought about it, unconditionally following Genya's orders, even if it meant going to his death.
"I know you don't understand why I went to find Orochimaru, but trust me, Orochimaru can do a lot for us!" Uchiha Genya said calmly, with a hint of regret.
Orochimaru could be called cold-blooded, emotionless, and obsessed with immortality, conducting human experiments, but he was also a formidable figure in the ninja world.
As for the human experiments,
Didn't Danzo continue his research after Orochimaru left?
Moreover, the Third Hokage was always aware of Orochimaru's experiments, but in the end, the Third abandoned him, publicly revealing the experiments and driving Orochimaru out of Konoha.
Perhaps the reason for driving Orochimaru out was that he was the only one who could threaten the Hokage position.
After all, at that time, Tsunade, among the Legendary Sannins, was no competition for the Hokage position, but Orochimaru was different.
Orochimaru was the only one capable of competing for the Hokage seat, and Genya was certain that Orochimaru's defection from Konoha was part of a plan by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Especially after Orochimaru left, Danzo continued his research, and if anything, it was even more intense.
What Danzo was researching was clear to Sarutobi, yet he allowed it in secret. However, in the end, he abandoned the genius that was Orochimaru.
If Orochimaru had stayed in Konoha, the village's research would have produced even more results.
This was also why Genya looked down on the Third Hokage. He always spoke about Konoha, about the Will of Fire, but in the end, he used the name of the Will of Fire and mercy to further his own interests.
In comparison, Genya had a better impression of Danzo than that old fox, Sarutobi.
"Genya-sama, why do you want me to find Orochimaru?" Senju Hayashi scratched his head, asking in confusion.
"Borrow someone from him!" Uchiha Genya looked at the pillar, speaking seriously. "A boy with white hair, whose bones can extend. I think his name is Kimimaro!"
Kimimaro was the only boy with the Kaguya Kekkei Genkai, the Shikotsumyaku. Genya always believed that if this Kekkei Genkai was fully developed, it would be incredibly powerful.
Unfortunately... he fell too early.
Perhaps Orochimaru only saw him as a future vessel and didn't have the right to properly train Kimimaro.
After all,
If Kimimaro became too strong, taking over his body would be much more difficult.
This limited the growth of Kimimaro's abilities.
If properly trained, Kimimaro's potential would definitely be top-tier, especially if the Shikotsumyaku was fully developed. It could even lead to more miraculous and unique abilities.
The reason Genya wanted Kimimaro was to obtain his bone cells, so he could create a cell-enhancing drug!
Right now, his cells and body were incredibly strong. If his bones became even tougher, it would lower the burden of opening the Eight Gates, and in the future, he might even be able to open the Eight Gates without harm.
That's what Genya was thinking.
"White-haired boy, Kimimaro?" Senju Hayashi murmured softly, seemingly trying to remember the name.
Suddenly,
He thought of something. "What if Orochimaru refuses? After all, he was one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha!"
Hayashi believed that if his Genya personally asked for the boy, Orochimaru might be forced to comply.
But he wasn't sure if Orochimaru would actually release him, considering that Orochimaru wasn't exactly a kind person and was very strong.
Genya weighed his options again and said, "If Kimimaro doesn't show up, take a bone from him and escape!"
"A bone?" Senju Hayashi looked confused, still not understanding Genya's plan.
"You'll understand once you face him," Genya didn't elaborate further. Some things needed Hayashi to experience them himself. He added a warning, "Remember, if battle can't be avoided, don't get too entangled with Orochimaru, and don't trust a single word he says!"
Orochimaru has a natural obsession with those who possess Wood Release.
If he found out that Hayashi is a natural Wood Release user, with potential to rival Hashirama himself, he would be ecstatic!
Even if Hayashi was captured, Orochimaru wouldn't kill him immediately—at most, he'd keep him alive as a container.
Genya still had a chance to save Hayashi, and that was why he allowed Hayashi to engage with Orochimaru. He saw it as a test for Hayashi.
"Got it!" Hayashi nodded.
"By the way, there's one more thing," Genya thought for a moment and added, "If you have the chance, look for the whereabouts of Jūgo. If you see him, tell him I might be able to help him control the energy that's constantly running wild in his body!"
Jūgo, Genya murmured his name, feeling a bit of longing.
Jūgo's physique was half-sage, and with the cursed seal, it was precisely because of his half-sage body that he couldn't suppress the energy inside him, causing it to go out of control constantly!
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