Naruto Dream Fulfillment Master

Page 257

They had never seen such an expression on Orochimaru's face before!

Especially when Nawaki firmly stated that he would not take lives lightly, Orochimaru did not object; instead, he nodded in agreement!

Is this still the cold and cruel Orochimaru they know?

Tsunade felt a mix of emotions welling up inside her.

The changes brought about by Rope Tree's survival in her dream filled her with both relief and sorrow.

If his younger brother hadn't sacrificed himself in real life, would Orochimaru have avoided that path of no return?

The thought made her chest tighten slightly, unable to tell whether the scene before her was a beautiful dream or a cruel mockery of reality.

Jiraiya was particularly moved by this.

Many years ago, during the Second Shinobi World War, when the three members of their team were trapped in a collapsing cave due to their own serious injuries, Orochimaru's first reaction was to kill him, claiming that this would lessen his suffering.

At the time, dust was flying and boulders were constantly falling from the collapsed cave.

Jiraiya still vividly remembered Orochimaru's cold and ruthless suggestion.

He clearly remembered Orochimaru pulling out a kunai and walking towards him, his expression frighteningly calm.

If Tsunade hadn't intervened and angrily rebuked him, Orochimaru might have actually killed him with his own hands...

With such memories still fresh, Jiraiya could only find it unbelievable to see Orochimaru in his dream at this moment.

What surprised him even more was that the Orochimaru in his dream was willing to slow down his research for the sake of the test subjects' lives.

This is clearly completely different from the Orochimaru in reality, who would even dare to harm ordinary ninjas in the village in pursuit of forbidden techniques and truth.

The biggest difference between the dream and reality is that Rope Tree is not dead.

Jiraiya glanced at Tsunade with surprise.

Just because Nawaki didn't die, does that have such a big impact on Orochimaru?

Just then, a suppressed, slight noise came from the side, as if someone was trying their best to control their emotions.

Jiraiya turned his head alertly in the direction of the sound, and saw in the shadows of the audience not far away, Kabuto Yakushi had his head down, his fists clenched, and his whole body trembling slightly.

In the dim light of the screen, one could see the veins on his forehead throbbing, his face dark and distorted, clearly indicating that he was experiencing intense and turbulent emotions.

[Ding! Kabuto's emotional fluctuations have been detected! Emotional value +1000!!]

At this moment, Kabuto Yakushi felt that today's dream was utterly ridiculous—absurd!

The man acting strangely on the screen could absolutely not be the Orochimaru-sama he admires!

In particular, the almost benevolent expression on Orochimaru's face just now deeply pierced Kabuto's heart.

When has Lord Orochimaru ever treated anyone with such a gentle expression?

When have I ever agreed with someone else's naive ideas in that tone?

He had never seen or experienced it.

Kabuto Yakushi considered himself the person who understood Lord Orochimaru best, yet after following him for so many years, he had never seen Lord Orochimaru show him even the slightest bit of such tenderness.

That smile shouldn't appear on Orochimaru's cold face, and it certainly shouldn't be given to anyone else!

He tried to calm himself down, but his fingernails were already digging deep into his palms.

An uncontrollable rage was burning in my chest, along with a bitter bitterness called jealousy.

I'm jealous of that boy named Nawaki, who actually received such special and gentle treatment from Lord Orochimaru!

At that moment, Kabuto Yakushi felt his breath catch in his throat and almost couldn't help but want to growl out.

……

On the screen, the dream sequence continues to unfold.

In a ward at the experimental base, Orochimaru and Tsunade had followed Nawaki to a hospital bedside.

At that moment, the young volunteer was fast asleep due to the effects of the medication, and Rope Tree gently nudged his shoulder.

Rope Tree excitedly explained her purpose: "Wake up! Quickly show your strength to your older sister and teacher!"

The young man opened his eyes and saw Orochimaru and Tsunade in front of him. He immediately prepared to get out of bed and pay his respects.

Tsunade waved her right hand, stopping him: "Stop dawdling! Nawaki said you've mastered Wood Release? Show us!"

Upon hearing this, the young man sat cross-legged on the hospital bed, closed his eyes and focused his mind, slowly bringing his hands together in front of his chest.

As chakra gathered, his expression showed signs of strain.

Tsunade and Orochimaru watched him intently, holding their breath. The ward was so quiet that only the faint hum of the medical equipment could be heard.

A moment later, with a soft "whoosh," a tender light green sapling sprouted from the volunteer's hand!

Orochimaru looked at the tiny sapling in front of him, which was not even as thick as his little finger, and couldn't help but shake his head.

He did indeed awaken Wood Release.

However, this intensity...

too low.

It's more accurate to call this Grass Release than Wood Release.

This level of strength is far superior to even the child he abandoned back then, let alone Hashirama Senju.

Unlike Orochimaru's dissatisfaction, Tsunade, who witnessed this scene firsthand, widened her eyes in an instant, unable to hide her surprise and excitement: "They actually... really mastered Wood Release!"

She couldn't help but step forward, bend down, and carefully examine the new sapling that had sprouted from the soil.

Although the sapling in front of me looks no different from weeds, the wood-style chakra fluctuations it contains are incredibly real.

"Wood Release is Wood Release, no matter how you look at it, there's no doubt about it!"

Upon hearing Tsunade's praise, the volunteer was flattered and gave a simple, honest smile, repeatedly saying, "You flatter me, sir..."

He was overjoyed that he had successfully obtained the Wood Release power he had always dreamed of.

Seeing his sister so happy, Rope Tree couldn't help but proudly tilt his head back, put his hands on his hips, and laugh, "See? I told you! It proves that Master's experimental process was completely correct!"

Seeing this, Tsunade chuckled, then feigned anger and flicked Nawaki's forehead with a finger: "Alright, alright, I know! Is it really necessary to be so smug?"

Rope Tree winced and covered his forehead, muttering aggrievedly, "I'm Master's assistant! I deserve some credit for this!"

After saying that, she pouted at her sister, her face showing both dissatisfaction and mischief.

Seeing her younger brother like this, Tsunade couldn't help but smile, her eyes full of doting affection.

After the laughter subsided, Tsunade quickly noticed that Orochimaru, who was standing to the side, had a strange expression on his face.

Orochimaru shook his head slightly, his golden snake eyes revealing not much joy, but rather an undisguised disappointment.

He even sighed softly, seemingly dissatisfied with the results.

"Orochimaru, what's wrong?" Tsunade frowned and asked, puzzled. "Why are you shaking your head? The experiment was a success, aren't you happy?"

Rope Tree, standing to the side, looked at his master with a puzzled expression and couldn't help but ask, "Yes, Master, why do you have that expression? Are you not satisfied with the result?"

Faced with Tsunade and Nawaki's questions, Orochimaru was taken aback at first, then a faint smile appeared on his lips.

He waved his hand, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "No, it's nothing."

After a relieved laugh, he didn't explain anything further and simply avoided the topic.

However, the barely concealed disappointment in his eyes still made Tsunade vaguely realize something was wrong.

Orochimaru wasn't as happy as she had imagined.

In Orochimaru's mind, this outcome was practically no different from utter defeat.

However, Tsunade and Nawaki, the master and apprentice beside him, were immersed in joy, and he didn't want to dampen their spirits.

To be honest, Orochimaru didn't have high expectations for this experiment, and the result was within his expectations.

He already knew it.

The research into Wood Release was destined to fail.

It was precisely because Orochimaru understood this point that he ultimately gave up his research on Wood Release.

Back then, in reality, he secretly conducted research for many years and had found an experimental subject that was a perfect match for interstitial cells—

An ideal candidate who can perfectly use Wood Release without going berserk or suffering backlash.

However, even the child on whom he placed such high hopes could not match the power of his Wood Release techniques compared to the former "God of Shinobi," Hashirama Senju.

The most powerful element is never Wood Release itself, but the person who uses it – Hashirama Senju.

Unless one can replicate Hashirama Senju's talent, no matter how successfully one transplants Hashirama's cells, it is impossible to reproduce even one-tenth of his legendary power.

……

Before we knew it, the night had passed quickly.

As the first hint of dawn appeared on the eastern horizon.

In a secret room somewhere in the underground base of the Sound Village in the Land of Rice Fields, in the northern part of the Land of Fire.

The surrounding area consisted of cold, thick rock walls, and in the corner, the indicator lights of a few instruments flickered with a dim green light.

The occasional faint beeping of the medical monitor echoed in the deathly silence.

In the center of the room was a metal hospital bed, on which lay a white-haired man.

His face was as pale as paper, and his handsome features had lost their color due to years of illness. His thin body was covered with various life-sustaining IV tubes and monitoring catheters.

His forehead and cheeks were sealed with sealing spells, covering his eyes and most of his face, revealing only his thin chin.

This dying man was none other than Kimimaro, the leader of the Sound Five.

Although he was still in a deep sleep, one could vaguely discern a resolute look in his handsome features, and his long, silvery-white hair lay quietly on the pillow like a thin layer of frost.

Beside the hospital bed, a silver-haired young man wearing glasses leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

At that moment, as a sliver of dawn light pierced through the ventilation shaft, Kabuto's eyelids twitched slightly, and he abruptly awoke from his dream.

Yakushi Kabuto suddenly opened his eyes, sat up abruptly in his chair, his chest heaving rapidly, and his forehead covered in cold sweat.

The scenes from his dream were still vivid in his mind, leaving him somewhat dazed for a moment.

Several seconds passed before he looked around blankly.