Orochimaru thought of this and couldn't help but feel a headache. He had bought a lot of research equipment these past few days to study the technology Zero gave him.
Now, to make him give up all that, it was inevitably a bit painful. After all, some equipment couldn't be bought with money. He had spent a great deal of effort acquiring these research instruments from various channels, it was very difficult.
Now, hearing that Leaf Village people were coming here, it only added to his headache.
As a wanted criminal of the Leaf Village, perhaps Hiruzen Sarutobi, out of their teacher-student relationship and the friendship among the Sannin, wouldn't actively pursue Orochimaru.
But if Orochimaru openly showed himself, the Leaf Village would definitely capture him, as Orochimaru was a rogue ninja.
Zero looked at the troubled Orochimaru, smiling inwardly. This was her goal. When she led 1000 special robot soldiers to the Land of Rice Fields, although they moved quickly, they didn't particularly hide their tracks.
This was precisely to let the Leaf Village discover Orochimaru in Otogakure, and then force Orochimaru out of Otogakure. This way, Zero could openly invite Orochimaru to join the Mechanical Empire's research institute.
These past few days were enough for the Leaf Village to react. Although the Leaf Village's strength was much weaker now, its overall combat quality was still very high.
According to the mechanical surveillance reports near the Leaf Village, the Leaf Village had already sent people to investigate. As for whether they were heading to the Land of Rice Fields, it no longer mattered.
The Leaf Village's investigation would eventually lead to the Land of Rice Fields, and this was a situation Orochimaru didn't want to see.
"Orochimaru, if you have nowhere to go, you can come to our Mechanical Empire. I have enough scientific research technology for you to study. Consider it."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, then he looked up at Zero's eyes and said word for word, "No need. I lack nothing but bases. I have plenty of bases."
Actually, Orochimaru strongly suspected that Zero deliberately exposed the Land of Rice Fields to the Leaf Village, wanting him to join the Mechanical Empire.
However, while Orochimaru was angry, he wasn't overly emotional. After all, in this world, it was either you trick me or I trick you. Even if the Mechanical Empire didn't trick him now, he would trick the Mechanical Empire in the future.
But smart people wouldn't show all their cards.
Hearing Orochimaru's reply, Zero wasn't disappointed. After all, this was within her expectations. There was a possibility he would come to the Mechanical Empire, and a possibility he wouldn't, with the latter being more likely.
"I understand. If you need anything, contact me. If you ever can't handle the Leaf Village's pursuit, you can come to our Mechanical Empire."
Zero said, about to close the communicator, but before doing so, she added, "Don't forget about the operation in a month."
Then the communicator's screen turned black and disappeared.
Orochimaru watched Zero disappear, wondering what the Mechanical Empire's true purpose was.
To recruit him? It shouldn't be. If they wanted to recruit him, they would inevitably have to confront the Leaf Village.
If it was just an organization, it would be one thing. After all, if you can't beat them, you can hide. But from what he knew, the Mechanical Empire was a country. It couldn't confront another country just for one person.
To eliminate him? That shouldn't be it either. If they wanted to eliminate him, they wouldn't have notified him this time. And the people the Leaf Village sent wouldn't be strong enough to kill him.
Orochimaru thought for a moment, but couldn't come up with anything valuable, so he stopped thinking about it and instead focused on how to leave.
"Kimimaro, call them in and pack up the things."
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru."
Kimimaro heard Orochimaru's order and went outside to call the Sound Four to come in and move things.
As the five of them continuously moved things, the items in the underground laboratory gradually decreased. Actually, there wasn't too much, just Orochimaru's own research equipment.
As for Orochimaru's data reports and such, he organized them himself.
A short while later, everything was packed. After Orochimaru put away the sealing scrolls, he looked at the empty laboratory, filled with emotion.
As he was walking out, Orochimaru suddenly thought of a possibility. He then told the Sound Four to leave and re-entered the office himself.
He opened the communicator. A moment later, Zero's avatar appeared on the screen.
As Zero's avatar just appeared on the screen, a voice also came from the screen, "What's wrong, Orochimaru? Changed your mind? Want to come to the Mechanical Empire?"
Orochimaru looked at Zero with a dark expression. Did she really want to get him into the Mechanical Empire that badly?
However, Orochimaru said nothing, just pointed to the sealing scrolls.
"I'm leaving Otogakure now. Otogakure will soon be abandoned. Are you interested in taking over Otogakure?"
Yes, that was Orochimaru's idea. Although he was wanted by the Leaf Village, the Mechanical Empire was not.
If they were careful, no one would find anything out, and they also had the strength to manage Otogakure well. It just depended on whether they wanted this detached territory.
And he could also trade Otogakure for something to make up for his losses.
Zero was stunned when she heard Orochimaru's words. She hadn't expected Orochimaru to sell Otogakure.
After all, in her mind, Orochimaru would retreat himself, but he shouldn't withdraw all his subordinates. He should leave people here to support Otogakure. After all, the Leaf Village hadn't confirmed that Otogakure was created by Orochimaru, so supporting a proxy would work.
Actually, Orochimaru had his own reasons for doing this. If the Leaf Village noticed Otogakure, Zetsu from the Akatsuki would also notice Otogakure. And if Zetsu noticed Otogakure, Orochimaru might be exposed. Orochimaru was confident in Zetsu's scouting abilities.
And if Orochimaru was exposed, the Akatsuki would definitely send people to hunt him down.
Although Orochimaru wasn't afraid of the other members, he was afraid of the person who called himself a god. In Orochimaru's comparison, he was still no match for that person.
Zero thought for a moment, then decided this plan was feasible. The Mechanical Empire also needed territory now.
Originally, in Kisuke's plan, he was to occupy the Land of Whirlpools within this month.
Since the Land of Whirlpools was annihilated by the Land of Water and the Land of Lightning together, very few people lived in the Land of Whirlpools now. The Land of Whirlpools was originally a country as a whole, without villages.
And after the Land of Water and the Land of Lightning annihilated the ninja of the Land of Whirlpools, it was equivalent to completely annihilating the Land of Whirlpools.
This idea was also proposed by Shirage. For him, this would allow them to reclaim their homeland and expand the Mechanical Empire, which was very suitable.
Moreover, the Land of Whirlpools was currently rarely noticed, making it very suitable for the Mechanical Empire's secret activities and occupation.
If Orochimaru wanted to sell Otogakure, the Land of Rice Fields was also a good territory to occupy. For the Mechanical Empire, there was never too much territory.
"Alright, I agree to this deal. What do you want?"
Orochimaru heard Zero's reply and finally smiled, saying, "I want more knowledge. Specifically, I want knowledge about psionic energy."
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