137 Who Will Train Aoi?

Inside the underground laboratory, the Genie projected an image, relaying the experiences of the soul fragment in the Pure Land.

"...The restoration of the soul fragment is on track. Once it reaches its limit, I will notify you to retrieve it."

"How long will this process take?" Orochimaru licked his lips, his impatience evident. It wasn't just about healing the trauma to his soul; he was driven by a desire to understand the Pure Land more deeply. After all, even the most detailed account from the Genie could not compare to the memory of firsthand experience.

"It shouldn't take too long. The Pure Land has accumulated thousands of years of pure soul energy; its concentration is exceptionally high," the Genie said, rubbing his chin with a grin. "If not for the Sage of the Six Paths forbidding the spirits from fighting and devouring one another, I suspect a second powerhouse of his caliber would have already emerged. As for simply healing those injuries, I believe two months will suffice."

"Two months..." Orochimaru frowned slightly. Seeing the Genie’s matter-of-fact demeanor, he immediately realized he had underestimated the severity of the spiritual damage. "Very well. I shall use this time to instruct Shizune."

...

A month passed in a flash. While his soul remained divided and his body was in a weakened state, Orochimaru devoted his time to teaching his disciples. Anko, Shizune, Guy, Kabuto... when the mood struck him, he would even offer pointers to Kakashi, Minato’s student. It had to be said that compared to his other disciples, the outsider Kakashi possessed a talent and temperament quite similar to his own.

Setting aside the standard five-element ninjutsu, he had taught the Breathing Style to three students. Kakashi’s mind was the most agile; he was already on the verge of evolving the "Water Breathing" into a "Lightning Breathing." While its effectiveness compared to the original had its own merits, it was undoubtedly the most suitable technique for Kakashi.

On the other hand, Guy’s training path was diametrically opposed. He practiced with the most diligence and made the fastest progress, but he followed the instructions rigidly and lacked flexibility; his lack of insight was truly a headache. Yet, the boy possessed incredible resilience—a stubborn perseverance that could "break through a stone wall." While the others adjusted their training to find a balance between their own nature and the original Breathing Style, Guy simply copied it entirely, step by step, transforming his own physique into that of a practitioner of the original "Water Breathing." Though this was unconventional, it was a viable path, and one that fit his personality perfectly.

Orochimaru hesitated for a time, but ultimately dismissed the notion of adjusting Guy’s Breathing Style. Much like the practice of Sage Mode, where those unable to harmonize with natural energy might choose to abandon their human form and practice the White Snake style, the Water Breathing was a natural attribute. If Guy could achieve the "Demon Slayer Mark" through it, his future would be limitless, and he would have few rivals in the ninja world. Not everyone was destined for perfection; Kakashi’s new style might not necessarily surpass the original in achievement, as it all ultimately came down to the level of effort. On that point, Guy was the one person he never had to worry about.

Compared to the growth of his disciples, however, things had reached a stalemate with Shizune. She was indeed self-aware, and she truly lacked the talent to master the "Spirit Transformation Technique."

"Lord Orochimaru, I am sorry. I have disappointed you." In a ward at the Konoha Central Hospital, Shizune offered a sheepish smile. Since her recovery, Orochimaru had poured immense effort into teaching her over the past month, explaining the "Spirit Transformation Technique" in such excruciating detail that it was embarrassing. She had tried her best, but some things simply could not be achieved.

"Orochimaru, are you satisfied now?" Tsunade, wearing her white medical coat, glared fiercely at him. She had seen for herself how much effort Orochimaru had invested, but from another perspective, Shizune had been put through so much for a technique she never wanted to learn in the first place.

"Rest assured, today is the last time," Orochimaru said with a slight nod, his expression devoid of frustration. He had realized half a month ago that Shizune lacked the aptitude and had already abandoned the idea of a successful outcome. However, he had shifted his approach: if he could not find the traits for success in Shizune, he could at least document the reasons for failure—even if the latter was ten times more troublesome.

"Aoi, how is her body?" Orochimaru glanced at the monitoring equipment before turning his gaze toward Tsunade. Tsunade had officially returned to the village, taking direct control of the Konoha Hospital as its director, managing all medical-nin. For an ordinary ninja to parachute into such a critical position would usually provoke a massive backlash from subordinates. Much like when Danzo was kicked out and Orochimaru took hold of the Root, such things could not be suppressed by mere strength. It was only because Tsunade possessed not only exquisite medical skills but also an extensive political background that she was able to suppress the dissent so quickly and ignore the underlying conflicts of interest. With her current power and status, using public resources for Aoi’s private care was a trivial matter.

"You don't need to worry about that. Aoi has fully recovered; she is in an even better state than before," Tsunade said, marveling at the data on the monitor. "After giving birth to Karin and having her bloodline drained so continuously, anyone else would have died. Yet she was only suffering from malnutrition, and there are almost no lingering health complications. It didn't take much effort to restore her health; the vitality of the Uzumaki clan is truly extraordinary." As a medical-nin, Tsunade was naturally curious about such a constitution, but she was not Orochimaru; out of consideration for Aoi’s feelings, she kept her thoughts to herself.

"That is good." Orochimaru licked his lips, preparing to move on to the next phase of his plan. Beside him, Tsunade frowned slightly but remained silent. With her and Jiraiya keeping watch, she figured Orochimaru wouldn't dare go too far.

...

In a training ground within the Konoha forest, Orochimaru brought Aoi and pointed to the bowl-cut youth in the center. "From today on, you will train with him."

Before Aoi could speak, Guy cried out, "Master Orochimaru, you want me to teach her? That won't do!" Though he didn't care about the opinions of others, Guy knew how unique he was. *If the world were to follow my path, it would be akin to falling into the path of demons!*

Orochimaru shook his head. "I am not asking you to teach her to be a ninja. I only want her to follow your physical training regimen." He only required Aoi to develop the potential of her Uzumaki bloodline; he did not expect her to have any combat capability. Ninjutsu, taijutsu, shurikenjutsu—everything else could be set aside. Pure physical exercise was notoriously dull and difficult to sustain, and in this regard, Guy was the most experienced and suitable candidate.

As he spoke, Orochimaru pulled a detailed schedule from his robes and handed it over.