"Simu-kun, I will come looking for you again."
Before his death, Orochimaru uttered these eerie words.
Simu retracted the black wings that resembled two giant steel swords from behind him. He looked at Orochimaru's corpse and frowned slightly.
Furthermore, although he could confirm the body was dead, he did not sense Orochimaru's soul within it.
Combining this with the information he had gathered about the Shinobi World, he deduced that this thing was likely just a clone.
After all, the Shinobi World had Earth Clones, Water Clones, and Shadow Clones.
It did not seem impossible for there to be a Snake Clone as well.
Considering a mere clone could exert such power, it seemed Orochimaru's strength was even greater than he had imagined.
Simu narrowed his eyes.
Being targeted by such an existence was certainly not a good thing.
Conversely, it was not entirely a bad thing either.
After all, Simu was very interested in the abilities Orochimaru had displayed, especially that Living Corpse Reincarnation.
Simu gave his glasses a gentle push. All the crows scattered instantly, and the Black Beetles lurking everywhere pulsed out like ripples. With Simu as the center, they continuously scouted the surroundings.
A few minutes later, Simu slowly opened his eyes.
He found no enemies within twenty kilometers.
Despite this, there were still some traces left behind.
"In any case, I'll recycle this thing first."
Simu gave the giant snake's body a light kick. Subsequently, a massive swarm of Black Beetles surged from every corner, enveloping it like a tide.
Before long, this clone of Orochimaru was delivered intact to the Blood Pool for analysis.
Elsewhere, deep within a valley on the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth, Orochimaru, who felt the death of his clone, slowly opened his eyes.
The tip of his crimson tongue flicked over the corner of his mouth. A hint of obsession actually surfaced in Orochimaru's eyes.
"Simu-kun, I will definitely have you."
With that obsession, Orochimaru picked up a scalpel and entered the operating room.
Soon, blood-curdling screams echoed from within.
At the same time, Mori Shiraishi, located in Mizuo Village, also woke up.
At this moment, his white hair was like pale snow. His body was emaciated, practically just skin and bones.
If Simu had not wished for this test subject to perish and injected him with a special nutrient solution before leaving, Mori Shiraishi would have reached his "Game Over" long ago.
Although his body and spirit were superior to ordinary people, he could not withstand repeatedly surrendering his life to his Kagune to go berserk!
Hearing the movement coming from inside the room, the person guarding outside immediately pulled open the door.
Gentle, bright sunlight poured through the crack in the door and then occupied the entire room.
A cute little girl with long hair came in, pushing a wheelchair.
"Rin?"
Mori Shiraishi looked at the girl. Surging memories rushed out instantly and then quickly settled.
Having passed through that kind of baptism, he was no longer the ignorant child he once was.
Even though he was only twelve years old now.
Sunlight spilled onto the blanket over the girl's knees. A hint of fragile beauty actually surfaced on her small, tender face.
"Your legs..."
Rin Shiraishi gave a faint smile. "They were crushed by a collapsing beam that day."
Seeing the look of guilt on her brother's face, she immediately pushed her wheelchair to his side and took his hand.
"It is very lucky that brother and I survived, isn't it?"
Feeling the warmth coming from her palm, Mori Shiraishi opened his mouth but could not speak for a long time.
After a while, Mori Shiraishi spoke with some confusion. "How long was I unconscious?"
Seeing the hesitation in her brother's eyes, Rin Shiraishi gripped his hand tightly.
"Brother has been unconscious for five days."
"Five days..."
Mori Shiraishi let out a sigh and continued. "Tell me about what happened during these days."
"Mhm."
Rin Shiraishi blinked and began to tell him everything that had happened over the past few days in detail.
Through his sister's narration, Mori Shiraishi finally understood the current situation.
At that time, after he entered a berserk state, forcefully killed the Hidden Steam Village ninja, and found his sister, he had lost consciousness.
Afterward, the surviving villagers and the Ghouls who escaped from the Sakamoto Company spontaneously united, using that cruise ship as their base.
The surviving villagers of Mizuo Village, in particular, placed the root of all their hatred on the ninjas and the nobility.
If not for the ninjas of the Hidden Steam Village and aristocratic merchants like Sakamoto, Mizuo Village would not have suffered such a catastrophe. Their relatives would not have perished in the sea of fire.
Having killed Sakamoto and the Steam ninja, Mori Shiraishi naturally became the hero of the village.
"Brother is now the village hero."
Stars twinkled in Rin Shiraishi's clear eyes, filled with the colors of admiration.
"A hero..."
Mori Shiraishi gave a self-deprecating smile.
Recalling the scenes from that night, he did not consider himself any kind of hero.
"What kind of hero is he?"
A sudden commotion came from outside.
Rin Shiraishi's face looked somewhat unnatural. Her fingers lightly pinched the corner of her clothes as she said anxiously, "Brother, don't misunderstand, this is..."
Mori Shiraishi raised his hand, signaling his sister not to continue.
He could roughly guess what was going on.
Although he had taken down the Steam ninjas, he had also caused irreparable damage to the village in that state. It was normal for someone to have a grievance against him.
Just as he tried to stand up, a middle-aged man burst into the room.
The two younger men beside him were clearly unable to hold him back.
Seeing that Mori Shiraishi had already stood up, the man snorted coldly. "Finally decided to get up?"
The two young men next to him immediately frowned. "Uncle Ajō, Mori got hurt for the sake of the village after all..."
"For the sake of my ass!"
The middle-aged man became agitated instantly.
"For the sake of the village? How could he destroy half the village for the sake of the village! Even my child, he..."
Uncle Ajō covered his head. His eyes instantly turned pitch black, and countless bloodshot veins spread out from within.
He, too, had become a Ghoul.
"I want revenge for him!"
A thick, purple centipede-like Bikaku suddenly grew from Uncle Ajō's back, lunging toward Mori Shiraishi.
"Brother, watch out!"
Rin Shiraishi pushed her wheelchair in front of her brother almost without thinking, but she was easily caught by Mori Shiraishi.
The lunging Bikaku brought a gust of air that lightly blew Mori Shiraishi's snow-white hair.
In the next second, he instantly entered Ghoul mode. His eyes were covered by darkness and gore. With just a single look, Ajō trembled all over, unable to move.
This scene stunned everyone present.
This included the two young men who supported Mori Shiraishi.
Although they knew how strong Mori Shiraishi was, they had not expected him to subdue another Ghoul with just a gaze.
"Bring Uncle Ajō along. I have something to say."
Mori Shiraishi walked toward the door, his words carrying an undeniable aura of authority.