Naruto, my father's name is Uchiha Madara.

Page 192

Why must it be Uchiha Sasuke in Chapter 216?

In another part of the ninja world, deep within an underground base far more gloomy and damp than the Akatsuki's stronghold.

The laboratory was filled with the pungent smell of medicine and various unidentified biological specimens, and the lights were stark white.

Orochimaru's true form was lying on a cold laboratory table.

At this moment, he appeared completely different from the cold and sinister figure displayed in the lantern; he looked extremely disheveled and weak.

His entire body, including his head, was almost entirely wrapped in thick, white bandages soaked in medicine.

Only a pair of his signature snake eyes, gleaming with a cold, golden light, were visible.

The exposed skin on the neck and parts of the arms was covered with new, pink granulation tissue, which looked extremely fragile.

Every tiny breath seemed to aggravate the wounds all over his body, bringing waves of excruciating pain.

He was struggling to lift his bandaged arm.

"Master Orochimaru!"

Kabuto Yakushi pushed open the door and entered. Seeing Orochimaru's actions, he immediately stepped forward.

His tone carried a hint of reproach and concern: "Your body still needs to adapt to this new container, please don't move around!"

"Forced movement will tear apart the new tissue and slow down the recovery process!" He was also holding a tray of new ointment and bandages.

Orochimaru's cold, serpentine eyes turned towards Kabuto.

A hoarse, low voice came from his throat, like sandpaper scraping: "It's nothing... this little pain... is nothing..."

He eventually lowered his arm, allowing Kabuto to carefully examine the wound beneath his bandages.

Not long ago, in the valley outside Tanabata Street, Naruto delivered his devastating attack—Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.

It almost completely pulverized and annihilated his body.

The violent, microscopic wind blades cleaved through almost all of his organization.

If he hadn't transferred his soul core to a small white snake that was hidden underground in the distance at the last moment, he would have been completely destroyed.

Using the secret technique of "reincarnation," he forcibly seized the body of a relatively healthy experimental subject in the base, thus enabling him to "resurrect."

However, this hasty, forced reincarnation while the soul is in a damaged state comes at a great cost.

The rejection reaction of the new body and soul is extremely intense, and the recovery process is painful and lengthy.

Worse still, this reincarnation has had a significant impact on the origin of his soul, making it impossible for him to use the "Reincarnation of the Corpse" technique again for the next three years!

This means that in these three years, he lost his biggest trump card for changing his body and avoiding death.

He had to carefully protect this hard-won new vessel, which was far less robust than his original body.

"Hmph...three years..."

A sinister glint flashed in Orochimaru's snake-like eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a morbid obsession: "...Fine. Anyway...Uchiha Sasuke...hasn't come looking for me yet...I still have time...to wait for him..."

Kabuto skillfully changed the ointment on Orochimaru's arm.

He casually opened his mouth and asked a question that had troubled him for a long time: "Lord Orochimaru, I have a question, but I don't know if I should ask it."

"Speak." Orochimaru closed his eyes, seemingly enduring the pain from changing his dressing.

"Why... are you so obsessed with Uchiha Sasuke?"

Kabuto adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses probing: "The Uchiha clan still exists in Konoha. Although few clan members possess the Sharingan, Sasuke is not the only one."

"For example, his older brother, Uchiha Itachi, seems to have even greater talent and strength than Sasuke. Why are you specifically targeting Sasuke?"

Orochimaru slowly opened his snake eyes, the golden light appearing exceptionally deep in the dim laboratory.

Instead of answering directly, he asked, "Kabuto, do you know the essence of the 'Heavenly Curse Seal'?"

Kabuto thought for a moment and replied, "It is a special seal formed by you highly condensing and purifying Jugo's Sage Chakra, and incorporating your spiritual will and some fragments of your soul."

"It can grant the recipient great power, but the failure rate and corrosiveness are extremely high."

Orochimaru's voice carried a hint of fanaticism: "'The Cursed Seal of Heaven' contains a violent power close to natural energy and a corrosive effect on the soul."

"It places extremely high demands on the recipient's physical strength, mental resilience, and especially bloodline compatibility!"

"Ordinary ninjas, and even most ninjas with bloodline limits, will only suffer one result if they force themselves to endure it—genetic collapse, their souls being devoured by the cursed seal, and turning to ashes!"

He paused, a greedy glint in his snake-like eyes: "The Sharingan of the Uchiha clan is indeed precious, but not all Uchiha can withstand my 'Heavenly Curse Seal'."

"Before I met Sasuke, I had secretly tested the 'Heavenly Curse Seal' on several talented Uchiha clan members..."

Kabuto's pupils contracted slightly; he was unaware that Orochimaru had conducted such an experiment.

"……result,"

Orochimaru's voice was cold and cruel, as if he were stating irrelevant experimental data: "Without exception, they all died."

"The fastest ones explode and die the moment the cursed seal is activated, and the slowest ones can't even survive the first stage of the cursed seal's backlash."

"Their bodies could not contain that violent energy, and their minds could not resist the erosion of the will contained in the curse."

"It seems that not all of their Uchiha bloodlines possess that special 'vessel' aptitude."

Kabuto instantly understood: "So... Uchiha Sasuke..."

Orochimaru's eyes blazed with intense longing: "Until I met him in the Forest of Death! That age, the potential in those eyes... More importantly, after being imbued with the cursed seal, during our battle, the power of the cursed seal subtly resonated with him in a special way!"

"And he not only endured the initial pain, but also demonstrated amazing adaptability and potential in subsequent battles!"

"His body, his spirit, his Uchiha bloodline... he is simply the perfect vessel to bear my 'Heavenly Curse Seal' and ultimately contain my soul!"

He let out a deep, satisfied chuckle: "Young, exceptionally talented, possessing powerful potential in his eyes, and most importantly—he can withstand the 'Heavenly Curse Mark'!"

“This is unique! Uchiha Itachi? Hmph, he may be stronger, but he's already set in his ways, his mind is deep and difficult to control, and more importantly…”

"I can't be sure if the 'Curse of Heaven' can perfectly corrupt an existence like him; the risk is too great."

"And Sasuke... he's like a rough gem, uncarved yet containing the potential for perfection! Waiting for me... to carve it, to possess it!"

Kabuto finally understood the root of Orochimaru's almost obsessive nature.

This is not just for the Sharingan, but also for an ultimate vessel that can perfectly contain his power, will, and ambition for immortality!

A container that has been selected by the curse seal and proven to possess unique qualifications!

"No wonder..."

Kabuto muttered to himself, "Right after the Chunin Exams, you immediately ordered me to closely monitor all of Sasuke Uchiha's movements, gather all his intelligence, and assess every step of his growth..."

"Of course we should pay attention."

Orochimaru closed his eyes again, his voice carrying an undeniable resolve: "He is my hope... the most perfect 'vessel' on my path to eternity... three years... I will wait for him..."

Under the harsh white light of the laboratory, the figure wrapped in bandages exuded an eerie aura that blended weakness with a mad obsession.

The mystery of the sealing technique of the Land of Waves was temporarily put aside, and the desire for the perfect vessel once again became the most blazing flame in the serpent's heart.

Chapter 217 When there is no danger, you are the danger.

Inside the Uchiha mansion, the soft morning sunlight streamed through the gaps in the paper sliding doors, casting warm dappled patterns on the floor.

The air was filled with the faint scent of tatami mats and the fresh fragrance of herbs and trees wafting in from outside the window.

Naruto opened his eyes groggily.

The azure pupils first focused blankly on the unfamiliar wooden beams on the ceiling.

Then I glanced at the room's simple yet elegant furnishings—

A screen painted with ink wash landscapes, a flower arrangement in the corner, and a soft, comfortable bed beneath you.

This... is not his messy little house covered with expired ramen coupons!

"Where am I...?"

Naruto sat up abruptly, and the thin blanket covering him slipped off.

He subconsciously touched his right arm, memories flooding his mind like a tidal wave—

The valley outside Tanabata Street, the raging Manda, Gamabunta the toad boss, the destructive energy gathering in his palm, and...

The moment the Rasenshuriken was slammed into Orochimaru's back!

And afterwards, the intense pain and exhaustion that swept through my entire body.

Orochimaru! Fight!

Naruto exclaimed in surprise, looking around warily, his body instinctively adopting a defensive stance.

"you're awake."

A cool yet familiar voice came from the doorway.

Naruto turned his head sharply and saw Sasuke leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed.

He was wearing a dark blue casual kimono, his black hair was a little messy, obviously he had just gotten up, but his eyes were as sharp and calm as ever.

"Sasuke?!"

Naruto saw the familiar figure, and his tense nerves instantly relaxed.

Instead, he was filled with immense confusion: "What... happened to me? I remember fighting that bastard Orochimaru, how did I end up here?"

"This place looks...so familiar?" He scratched his messy blond hair, feeling a sense of familiarity with his surroundings.

"This is my home."

Sasuke shook his head helplessly and then went into the room.

He sat cross-legged on a cushion not far from Naruto's bed: "As for Orochimaru..."

He paused, as if organizing his thoughts: "...He was indeed hit head-on by your ninjutsu. I watched with my own eyes as his body was torn apart and pulverized by that devastating wind-style chakra."

"Really?!"

Naruto's eyes lit up instantly, and his face beamed with immense joy and pride.

His previous weakness seemed to vanish instantly, and he excitedly pumped his fist: "Haha! Great! I knew it! My ultimate technique, Naruto Uzumaki's ultimate move, is the strongest! That perverted snake demon is finally defeated!"