Chapter 153
Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed outside the village, its shockwave powerful enough to be heard clearly even within the hidden research laboratory. Orochimaru, who had been focused on his work, glanced toward the source of the disturbance. The vibrations caused by the blast made the reagent bottle in his hand tremble slightly, the light blue viscous liquid within splashing against the glass walls.
With meticulous care, he placed the reagent into a complex reaction device, a contraption equipped with various extraction and purification instruments. No one knew what he was attempting to create. Only after securing the device did he remove the gas mask covering his face. Even someone as proficient in poisons as Orochimaru—akin to a master chemist—took such precautions, a testament to the danger of his experiment.
Brushing aside the long black hair that had been obstructing his vision, Orochimaru took a small blade and severed a portion of it. The newfound lightness made him feel more agile and refreshed.
"Kabuto, back up the data, then destroy the originals. It's time to leave," Orochimaru ordered, his golden eyes narrowing as he shifted his gaze toward the center of the test bench. Sitting atop it was a Devil Fruit—Mawaru no Mi (Spinning Fruit). As he poured the reagent over it, the liquid initiated a series of complex reactions. Soon, a deep red apple, its surface adorned with an intricate swirl pattern, formed on the tray.
Kabuto nodded, unfazed. He had rehearsed this procedure countless times. When the moment arrived, carrying it out was second nature.
There were no blaring sirens, no flashing warning lights. Everything proceeded in eerie silence. The data was erased, leaving only the most valuable equipment behind in the laboratory.
"What about these machines?" Kabuto hesitated, reluctant to abandon the devices that had been instrumental to their research. The thought of destroying them with his own hands left him uneasy.
"Leave them. We may need them again in the future," Orochimaru replied casually, unwilling to dismantle something only he could operate perfectly. Whether Uzumaki Zixu would destroy it, however, was another matter entirely.