Chapter 94
Orochimaru placed the gun components on the experimental table beside him, his golden eyes narrowing as he examined the data logs. Something was off—one of the recorded values didn't match expectations. He planned to reanalyze the parts to pinpoint the exact issue.
Her long, dark hair cascaded behind her like a veil of midnight, disheveled from hours of work. Spots of motor oil marred the white coat she wore, staining it like ink splatters on a blank canvas. Fatigue weighed heavily on her delicate features, dark circles nearly eclipsing the purple eyeshadow around her eyes. But despite her exhaustion, those golden irises still gleamed with insatiable curiosity, a hunger for the unknown.
(TL: He is a she here.)
Standing behind her, Kabuto remained silent, scribbling into his notebook with practiced ease. Over the years, he had become little more than a living data recorder, meticulously documenting every observation. In the past, he could indulge in grave digging to unwind, but opportunities for such pastimes had dwindled. He had grown noticeably thinner, worn down by the relentless pace of research.
"Lord Orochimaru, we've been buried in research here for years. Are you truly not considering leaving?" Kabuto finally spoke, his voice laced with restrained frustration. The isolation was suffocating. For the past four years, their village had remained sealed off from the world. Besides the occasional exchange of necessary supplies, no one was allowed to leave. It was a place of secrecy, cut off from the outside.
"There's no rush. I'll leave when I've unraveled every mystery here," Orochimaru replied without looking up. "These firearms are the pinnacle of science. How could I walk away without fully understanding them?"
Kabuto sighed, having expected this answer. Still, he found himself longing for a change—something, anything, to break the monotony. His mind drifted to Zixu and the others, prompting him to continue the conversation.
"Speaking of which, the ones around Zixu have grown a lot these past few years."
"The girl from the Hyuga clan has been diligently refining her Byakugan. She even sought me out once, wanting to understand the difference between the Byakugan and the Sharingan. She must've learned about my research through Zixu."
"And did you tell her?"
"I shared what was necessary," Orochimaru smirked. "I'm curious to see if that little girl can evolve her Byakugan. Wouldn't that be fascinating?"