134 By the River of Three Crossings, Before the Higanbana

A gamble, naturally, contains the element of a gamble.

But Orochimaru was not reckless; he had discerned that the Third Kazekage's chakra spirit was unlike that of ordinary people. The "Spirit Transformation Technique" allows one to temporarily detach their soul from the physical body to travel great distances and slay enemies, but during this process, one cannot use ninjutsu—at least, Dan Kato could not.

Yet, even after losing the meridian system of his human puppet, the Third Kazekage’s soul was still able to manifest Magnet Release. Whether this was due to his bloodline or his own immense power, it was worth a try. Licking his lips, Orochimaru smiled. "As for the specifics of how to proceed, I must trouble you, Lord Kazekage, to return to this chakra core first."

The Third Kazekage gave Orochimaru a deep, piercing look before his spirit transformed into a stream of light and flowed into the metal sphere. Being at the mercy of another, he did not mind being pragmatic and accepting Orochimaru’s deal. However, if Orochimaru thought he was easy to bully and intended to break his word later by daring to drag him from the Pure Land again, he would show Orochimaru what it meant to "rather be a shattered jade than a whole tile."

Catching the metal sphere as it fell from the air, Orochimaru smiled—a twisted expression, as if he were enduring excruciating pain. His body trembled slightly, and he stood unsteadily, like a sickly invalid. After a long while, a black seal finally coalesced on his chest. It was extremely unstable, appearing as if it might collapse at any moment, but after some time, it slowly crawled down his arm and onto the metal sphere.

Orochimaru gritted his teeth, staring at the changes in his palm, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. Unlike the one left on Anko, the curse mark condensed this time was a semi-finished product from his earlier development. Because it contained a significant fragment of a soul, its stability was poor, placing a heavy burden on the host. But it was not without its benefits; for those capable of bearing it, it was easy to control and would not cause erosion, making it perfect for the current situation.

It was a gamble—not quite an all-in, but Orochimaru had still staked a great deal.

The Third Kazekage manifested his form once more. Compared to before, he was cradling the sphere, as if using all his strength to keep it from slipping away. "You actually managed to do it." Seeing a madman succeed, the Third Kazekage’s expression was complex.

Orochimaru managed a strained smile. "It is still too early to say. Lord Kazekage, please, be on your way."

The Third Kazekage nodded. His pale, translucent body began to float, as if pulled by some unknown force, and a strange spatial fluctuation appeared in the air. In the final instant before he vanished, the iron sand on the ground suddenly erupted, forming black needles that pierced straight toward Orochimaru.

*Clang, clang, clang...*

Orochimaru did not move, but the metal sphere in his palm shattered, falling to the ground as mere debris.

"A petty heart."

Orochimaru looked somewhat regretful. Although he had promised not to summon the Third Kazekage again, with this chakra core as a vessel, he might have been able to attempt summoning other Kage-level powerhouses. Of course, that was just a trial; after all, this metal sphere was crafted using the Third Kazekage’s body as material, and it might not be compatible with other souls. At such a critical juncture, there was no need to make an enemy of the Third Kazekage over it.

Everything that could be done had been done; now, there was nothing left but to wait in silence. For the first time in a long while, Orochimaru felt a hint of unease. Subconsciously, he glanced at the Genie, his gaze sharpening.

"Genie, what are you..." Though not very obvious, the Genie was shrinking.

"Quiet." The Genie shot him a glance. "I’m trying something, too."

...

With a flash before his eyes, his vision cleared to reveal a vast, gloomy, and dim space. Upon entering the Pure Land, Orochimaru’s chakra spirit was released by the Third Kazekage. Or perhaps, "dropped" would be a more fitting term.

The two, one large and one small, drifted one after the other. Their spirits drifted uncontrollably toward the distance. The difference was that the Third Kazekage had been dead for a long time and held no great obsessions or regrets, so he did not resist this pulling force, drifting faster and faster. Orochimaru, however, had many thoughts. He had not come to the Pure Land to die, but to explore, so he resisted.

The distance between them grew, and soon, the Third Kazekage left Orochimaru far behind, disappearing from sight. Orochimaru did not mind; he had no desire to cling to an acquaintance in an unfamiliar place. He exerted all his effort and finally managed to twist his body around. Then, rather than moving backward, he continued to drift forward.

"Eh?!" Orochimaru stared at the identical scenery before him, stunned, and tried again. Yet, no matter how many times he changed his posture, the scene before him remained unchanged.

"Don't waste your effort. There is only entry and no retreat on the Road to the Underworld unless you possess a technique to manipulate space."

The Genie emerged from behind him, as usual. Orochimaru actually felt a sense of security and asked in surprise, "Why are you here?"

"It seems you have separated enough soul fragments that, within the Genie’s ultimate judgment, you also count as Orochimaru." The Genie shrugged. "The Genie cannot leave the host, but since you count as a host, there is no problem."

"But my shadow clones also possess half of my chakra, yet you couldn't do it then." Habitually, Orochimaru frowned in thought, trying to find the essence of this phenomenon.

"How can a shadow clone compare to a soul? There are things more essential within that characterize your existence." The Genie glanced at Orochimaru. "Stop overthinking it, and stop speaking aloud. The Sage of Six Paths controls the Pure Land. While he may not be watching every moment, if you keep babbling, there is no guarantee he won't notice."

Orochimaru felt a chill. He took a deep breath, immediately adjusting his emotions and returning to his usual calmness. He shouldn't have been so flustered, but this trip was essentially an act of a thief scouting for a heist, and he was facing the Sage of Six Paths, a legendary figure. Even if he didn't want to admit it, he had felt a flicker of fear, instinctively wanting to use words to alleviate it. But Orochimaru had weathered many storms; he would not be swayed by such emotions.

Orochimaru asked in his mind, "What should I do next?"

"Just follow the pulling force forward." The Genie smiled. "The Sage of Six Paths is not a flood or a savage beast, nor is he waiting ahead with his mouth wide open for you to walk into his trap."

Orochimaru nodded. His spirit no longer fought the pull, and his forward speed immediately increased significantly. Before long, a glow began to emerge from the gloomy dimness, and Orochimaru’s heart stirred as he heard the rushing sound of water.

The dark mist before him gradually dispersed, revealing a great river blocking his path. Water mist billowed, vast and boundless. The river water was as clear and green as jade, like a cyan ribbon. On the other side of the river, countless bewitchingly red flowers were in full bloom—flowers without leaves, captivating the soul.

Breathing in the scent of these flowers, his mind seemed to become intoxicated. Orochimaru’s eyes grew hazy, and his spirit drifted uncontrollably toward the far bank.