The snakes and toads, however, are growing ever larger.

The meal was decent enough—homestyle cooking, nothing fancy—but then, Orochimaru was never one to be particular about food. His discerning tastes were reserved for another kind of sustenance, so the meal was over quickly.

Ninja, by nature, ate with brisk efficiency, and Orochimaru made no effort to slow his pace. Influenced by him, Anko finished her lunch just as swiftly. After clearing the table and returning to the kitchen to tidy up, Anko caught Orochimaru’s thoughtful gaze, his eyes reflecting a trace of contemplation.

When Anko reentered the living room, he spoke. “Anko, you’ve met Yamato already, haven’t you?”

The delight on Anko’s face faltered, and she answered listlessly, “Yes.”

Not only had she met Yamato, she knew he possessed Wood Release—the same hereditary power as the First Hokage. Orochimaru’s newly recruited subordinate weighed heavily on her.

Noticing the shift in her mood, Orochimaru continued, “You must also know that I have accepted Guy as my apprentice.”

Anko bit her lip, nodding with a hint of grievance. Yes, she knew, but she couldn’t understand. It was one thing for Yamato to have inherited the Wood Release, but for Guy—a man who relied solely on taijutsu—what had he done to deserve such a distinction?

Anko didn’t look down on Guy, but her reverence for Orochimaru was absolute. Having Guy as a comrade was acceptable, but as Orochimaru’s disciple? That, she could not accept.

Orochimaru shook his head. It was near impossible for a child of her age, especially one with her biases, to appreciate Guy’s talent and potential. He had no intention of wasting words.

“Come with me. I’ll teach you a new ability.”

He rose and stepped outside, leading the way to the spacious courtyard. Upon hearing this, Anko’s face lit up. She wiped her hands vigorously on her apron, removed it, and hurried after him.

Orochimaru held nothing back, teaching Anko the ‘Breath of Water’ technique in its entirety. At this stage, the ‘Breath of Water’ had no accompanying sword forms; Orochimaru had tested and refined it, retaining only the breathing method’s training regimen.

Apart from the anomaly that was Guy, ordinary ninja were ill-suited to the “one technique to conquer all” approach. On the contrary, ninja relied on every tool at their disposal: ninjutsu, taijutsu, sealing techniques, weapon throwing—nothing was off-limits.

To Orochimaru, reducing ‘Breath of Water’ to merely a combat skill would be a waste of its potential.

Ninja combined physical and spiritual energy to produce chakra; though training was said to improve this, one’s innate talent was the deciding factor. Breath techniques, however, were different. In the world of demon slayers described by the Lamp Spirit, those who hunted demons knew from the start that their bodies could never rival a demon’s. Instead of inwardly demanding the impossible, they strove outwardly, harnessing natural energy to strengthen themselves from the outside in.

The Transparent World was the ultimate pursuit of demon hunters. In this regard, the ninja world lagged far behind. For thousands of years, the only art related to natural energy—Sage Jutsu—remained jealously guarded by the sacred lands. The snakes and toads had grown ever larger, yet ninja understanding of natural energy was still woefully lacking.

The existence of breath techniques might well break the sacred lands’ monopoly on natural energy. Lost in thought, Orochimaru jotted down key data as he observed.

When it came to Anko, her aptitude could only be described as average—not just as a ninja, but in terms of her mind as well. If Kakashi and Guy represented perfection, Anko was a seventy at best, above average but nothing exceptional.

Yet precisely because of this, she was a valuable subject for observation. Orochimaru could gauge whether breath techniques had the potential he envisioned, and whether they were worth widespread dissemination.

If the Lamp Spirit was expanding its business, there was no reason for Orochimaru to lag behind. The fields of Konoha were still too small—unable to yield the returns he sought.

“Exhale…”

Under the fierce afternoon sun, Anko’s brow was beaded with sweat as she stumbled through several cycles of the breathing technique. In theory, she had grasped the basics.

Orochimaru halted her before she pushed herself further, offering a faint smile. “This is a new taijutsu method I’ve developed. Practice it diligently, and it will enhance your abilities, narrowing the gap between you and the true prodigies. You must persist.”

“I will! I’ll surpass Kakashi and the others!” Anko was slightly out of breath, but her expression radiated excitement—Orochimaru still believed in her.

Then Orochimaru’s tone shifted. “However, I must reclaim your Cursed Seal.”

Anko’s expression changed. Instinctively, her hand flew to her neck.

Setting aside all else, she was reluctant to part with the Cursed Seal solely for the boost in chakra it provided.

“Don’t overthink it. The Cursed Seal was never perfected at the time of its creation, and I’ve recently discovered many limitations.” Orochimaru saw right through her hesitation, a sly smile playing at his lips. “Or is it that you have no confidence without the power I gave you?”

Stung by his challenge, Anko lifted her head at once. “Of course not! I won’t let you down.”

Orochimaru smiled, placing a hand on her neck. With ease, he dispelled the Cursed Seal, reclaiming his chakra and fragment of soul.

As the chakra was abruptly withdrawn, Anko’s eyelids drooped, and she collapsed—only to be caught in time. After settling her down, Orochimaru returned to the courtyard, where a semi-transparent screen unfolded before his eyes. He noted that the soul strength indicator remained unchanged and frowned.

“Don’t be impatient, it won’t happen so quickly,” the Lamp Spirit drawled lazily. “If you have time for this, you’d be better off researching how to enter the Pure Land.”

Orochimaru shook his head. “Whether that goes smoothly depends on whether the old man is willing.”

The notes on the Second Hokage’s Impure World Reincarnation were something Orochimaru was determined to obtain. In the past, whatever the Third Hokage’s answer, he always had a backup plan. But now, unwilling to give up Konoha’s fertile fields, the more aggressive methods were no longer an option.

Given the security of the classified archives, he needed the Third’s approval—but that was the problem. Even after leading Konoha’s ninja army to repel the Hidden Cloud, he had no confidence in this matter.

Impure World Reincarnation was unlike any other forbidden technique; it desecrated the ninja’s dead, and even the Second Hokage’s use had been highly controversial. The Third was unlikely to permit it again.

“What’s the big deal? It’s nothing major,” the Lamp Spirit said with a sidelong glance at Orochimaru, a smile in his voice. “If you want to open a window in a room full of people, someone might object. But if you threaten to tear off the roof, suddenly the window doesn’t seem so unacceptable.”

“In the end, it’s just a matter of presenting a bad choice and a worse one—he’ll have no choice but to accept.”

Orochimaru’s eyes lit up at these words, as if a new spring had burst forth inside him, his mind brimming with devious schemes.