OBS Chapter 744 Improvement in Swordsmanship
Chapter 744 Improvement in Swordsmanship
"Zhang Hai, your swordsmanship seems to have improved quite a bit." Orochimaru's voice, hoarse and full of admiration, rang out in the dimly lit space.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Hai sheathed his sword, a faint smile appearing on his face. Looking at the man he had subdued, he respectfully said, "Uncle, we meet again. I must thank you for not intending to kill me; otherwise, I wouldn't have dared to use the Sword-Breaking Technique in mid-air." He knew that Orochimaru's attack, though fierce, hadn't truly used a killing move. Otherwise, given Orochimaru's strength, he wouldn't have been able to subdue him so easily.
Orochimaru still wore that eerie smile. With a casual wave of his hand, the sword on the ground was instantly sucked into his sleeve by an invisible force and disappeared. He turned and walked deeper into the base, while extending an invitation to Zhang Hai: "Follow me."
Following Orochimaru deeper into the base, a heavy stone door slowly closed behind them, isolating them from all outside noise. Upon entering the secret chamber, Zhang Hai's expression instantly turned serious. The laboratory here was far larger than he had imagined, even more magnificent than any secret laboratory in Konoha. Countless beds were neatly arranged, each holding different experimental subjects. Some were immersed in formalin, some had various tubes inserted into their bodies, and others were bound by chains, emitting low growls.
The air was thick with the pungent odor of formaldehyde, blood, and an unknown drug, causing Zhang Hai to frown. Seeing these test subjects, he couldn't help but sigh: it seems Orochimaru has truly let himself go since leaving Konoha. In his pursuit of immortality and power, he has completely abandoned any moral principles befitting humanity. Zhang Hai even wondered if, had he not blocked Orochimaru's sudden attack, he too might have become one of those test subjects, his throat mercilessly slit by Orochimaru.
Orochimaru seemed quite pleased with the surprise on Zhang Hai's face. He led Zhang Hai on a tour of the entire massive experimental base, from the gene research lab to the human modification lab, from the poison concoction room to the puppet making workshop; every area was filled with a chilling eeriness and madness.
After the tour, Orochimaru spread his arms wide, a sickly smug look on his face, a chilling smile appearing on his pale face: "How was it? Zhang Haijun, how did you feel?"
Zhang Hai suppressed his shock and sincerely exclaimed, "Impressive. To be able to build such a massive base all by himself in such a short time, Uncle Orochimaru's abilities are truly admirable." He knew that this was not just about piling up money and resources, but also required extraordinary wisdom and skill.
Orochimaru's vertical pupils narrowed slightly upon hearing Zhang Hai's praise, revealing a satisfied smile. He cut to the chase: "Alright, enough with the pleasantries. Zhang Hai-kun, you didn't come here just to visit my lab, did you? Tell me, what can I do for you?"
Zhang Hai also dropped the flattery on his face, his eyes turning serious. He frankly said, "Uncle, my 'Zero' organization is expanding, and the base in Takigakure Village is no longer suitable. I need to find a more secluded and strategically important base to develop my organization. In this regard, you are undoubtedly the best choice."
Orochimaru smiled coldly upon hearing this, a sly glint in his golden vertical pupils: "Oh? You actually trust someone outside the organization like me to discuss such an important issue as the location of a base? Aren't you afraid that I will leak your organization's information?" His words carried a hint of probing and a touch of amusement.
Zhang Hai's expression remained unchanged, devoid of any emotion. He looked directly into Orochimaru's eerie eyes and calmly replied, "I have complete trust in Uncle Orochimaru." He knew in his heart that although Orochimaru was cunning and treacherous, as long as his bottom line wasn't crossed and his research wasn't affected, he wouldn't easily betray his allies. Moreover, Orochimaru needed him, needed his power to balance Konoha, and might even need to rely on Orochimaru's power to fight against other major powers in the future. As for his true thoughts, that remained unknown.
Orochimaru looked at Zhang Hai's expressionless face, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. He said nothing more, turned, and took an ancient map from the bookshelf behind him, laying it flat on the lab table. His slender fingers moved slowly across the map, finally stopping at an inconspicuous little place in the center—the Land of Hot Springs.
"What do you think of the Land of Hot Water?" Orochimaru raised his head, his eyes filled with a profound look, and asked Zhang Hai for his opinion.
Zhang Hai's gaze followed Orochimaru's finger and landed on the Land of Hot Springs on the map. His eyes flickered almost imperceptibly as he began to analyze the situation rapidly. Although he knew something about the Land of Hot Springs, he wasn't entirely clear on its unique geography and politics. He looked at Orochimaru and asked, "The Land of Hot Springs? What's so special about it?"
Orochimaru was very satisfied with Zhang Hai's reaction. He explained in detail, "The Land of Hot Water has weak ninja villages within it, earning it the nickname 'the ninja village that has forgotten war.' This makes it easy to conquer without encountering much resistance." He paused, his tone becoming more serious, "More importantly, its geographical location is very special, situated at the intersection of the three great nations: the Land of Fire, the Land of Lightning, and the Land of Earth. This means that no matter which direction your organization wants to develop in the future, it will have a geographical advantage, facilitating operations and intelligence gathering."
As he spoke, Orochimaru looked at Zhang Hai with a profound gaze, his golden vertical pupils gleaming with anticipation for the future. He was clearly not just providing Zhang Hai with a base, but rather laying an important piece for Zhang Hai's future, and even for his own.
After listening to Orochimaru's analysis, Zhang Hai fell into a brief moment of contemplation. He couldn't help but admire Orochimaru's vision and strategic planning. The Land of Hot Springs was indeed an excellent choice. Not only was it easy to conquer, but its geographical location was also superior, encompassing all five great nations within its sphere of influence. Whether it was intelligence gathering or the future infiltration and expansion of the organization, it would be twice as effective with half the effort.
He looked up, his eyes filled with agreement and gratitude: "Uncle Orochimaru, you're right. The Land of Hot Water is indeed an excellent choice, and it can also complement my current base in Takigakure, perfectly covering the five great nations and making it easier for us to gather intelligence. This trip has definitely been worthwhile, thank you for your guidance, Uncle!" His trust in Orochimaru deepened even more; at least on a strategic level, Orochimaru's mind was unmatched.