"I can offer all my research findings from the past few years to the village for free. In addition, I can build several machines with mental stimulation effects for the Uchiha.
But the Uchiha will have to provide the materials themselves.
I can guarantee that the machines I create will only have mental stimulation effects and won't harm the brain. They would be perfect for the Uchiha."
"I can also—"
Yan raised his hand and interrupted Orochimaru:
"To be honest, I'm not very interested in your offers because the secret I've discovered is enough to shake the entire ninja world."
Enough to shake the entire ninja world?
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. His curiosity grew stronger. He had to uncover this secret.
"I won't say I didn't give you a chance. Sasuke is already here—train him well. When he grows stronger,
you will naturally discover the secret I'm talking about.
I can tell you clearly—Sasuke has the potential to become the second Uchiha Madara."
So, by raising Sasuke, I'll learn this secret?
Interesting.
Orochimaru admitted he was tempted. Training a student took time and effort, but those were the things he had in abundance.
He couldn't stir up trouble. He was afraid of getting caught if he defected again, so he had no choice but to stay in Konohagakure.
If there was one thing Orochimaru wasn't lacking, it was time and energy.
Seeing that Orochimaru had agreed, Yan stood up and walked toward the exit:
"Don't get any funny ideas. If you're interested in Uchiha blood, create a body yourself when you get the chance."
"Can I collect your cells for cultivation?"
"..."
Yan stopped in his tracks. His Three Tomoe Sharingan spun coldly as he stared at Orochimaru.
If you're not afraid of dying, you can try.
Just kidding, don't take it seriously.
Orochimaru grinned:
"Then I'll take Obito's cells. But if his Sharingan gets damaged—"
"Just don't mess it up. That thing is still useful. Also, I'll allow you to cultivate bodies with Uchiha blood, but don't go doing any forbidden experiments.
Know your limits.
Oh, and increase Sasuke's training intensity. Make it darker if needed. That kid needs some pressure.
Compared to his talent, his growth is too slow."
"I see, but I need some prisoners."
Orochimaru grinned with excitement. Yan had really given him a surprise.
Sasuke needs to grow through hardship and darkness?
That was something he excelled at.
"Alright, take them under my orders. But they must be death row prisoners, and not too many. Also, these prisoners are for Sasuke's growth, not for experiments. Understood?"
"Understood!!"
Orochimaru was so thrilled he could barely contain himself. He wanted to rush to the prison immediately.
"Well then, Sasuke, I'll be counting on you from now on."
"???"
What does he mean by that?
Sasuke was confused. Yan reached out and ruffled his hair.
"From now on, Orochimaru will be your teacher. I'll inform your school teachers, so you only need to show up for exams.
Every day, come here. Orochimaru will train you. If you want to get stronger, then prepare yourself."
Sasuke was the type who needed to be pushed and challenged.
The more he was pushed, the faster he grew.
Yan figured... it was necessary to give him another shove to speed up his growth.
Once Sasuke grew stronger, Naruto—driven by competition—would enter his own explosive growth phase.
Yan didn't want them wasting time at the ninja academy any longer.
Orochimaru is going to be my teacher?
As Sasuke followed Yan out of the lab and back to the Uchiha compound, his mind was still spinning.
When he finally got home, Itachi saw his younger brother's bruised and swollen face and instantly understood.
"You fought Naruto because of Sakura?"
"Yeah! Naruto, that idiot! And Sakura too!!"
Just thinking about them made Sasuke grind his teeth in frustration.
One was a complete lunatic who kept provoking him all the time, and the other was just a hopeless fangirl who wouldn't stop pestering him about eating together.
"Aren't you supposed to be at work today, Brother?"
Sasuke remembered that Itachi was always busy. It seemed odd for him to be home now.
Hearing this, Itachi's smile froze for a moment before quickly recovering. He helped straighten Sasuke's clothes.
"There was something I needed to take care of, but it's all settled now."
Sasuke didn't notice the helpless look in Itachi's eyes. Instead, he curiously asked, "Brother, is Orochimaru really evil?"
"?"
Why is he suddenly asking that?
Itachi led Sasuke inside and took his backpack, thinking for a moment before answering.
"Not really. Ever since the elders brought him back to the village, he's been keeping a low profile. He hasn't done any forbidden research, and things have been peaceful these past few years.
Maybe he's changed."
"Why are you bringing up that person?"
Sasuke puffed up his cheeks and looked up.
"Because the elders took me to see him today. They said he'll be my teacher from now on, and I don't have to go to the ninja academy anymore. I just need to take the exams, and the rest of the time, I'll be training with Orochimaru."
Hearing this, Itachi's eyelid twitched slightly. His emotions wavered for a moment.
It seemed like Sasuke becoming Orochimaru's student hit him harder than being used as a pawn for the clan's political marriages.
After quickly analyzing the situation, Itachi smiled.
"The elders must have their reasons for this. Just focus on learning from Orochimaru properly. Trust the elders. Alright, go wash up and put some medicine on your wounds."
"Mom will be back soon. Don't let her see you like this, okay?"
"I'll go right now!!!"
Sasuke dashed upstairs.
Watching his little brother disappear around the corner, the gentle smile on Itachi's face slowly faded.
He decided to ask Yan about this personally, even if it meant upsetting him.
Even if it led to punishment, he wanted to get to the bottom of it.
After all, Orochimaru was too dangerous.
With that thought, Itachi immediately left home and headed straight for the Hokage's office.
Before Itachi could arrive, Yan was already stopped by Shisui.
"Advisor, this is the current situation with the tutoring classes. More and more parents are sending their kids over. We're way over capacity, and we can't keep up with the demand."
Compared to a few years ago, Shisui had completely grown into his role as a teacher.
To connect better with the kids, he even stopped wearing his Jonin vest and Uchiha combat uniform. Instead, he dressed in simple clothes and wore glasses.
An Uchiha wearing glasses… Honestly, Shisui was quite the character.
Wait, now that he thought about it, in Boruto, Sasuke's daughter also wore glasses.
Yan had always wondered—did the Uchiha really need these?
"Shisui, the tutoring program is just that—a tutoring program. It can never replace the ninja academy. If we're reaching our limit, then stop accepting new students."
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