Since his hands had lost their souls, Orochimaru could only rely on his "sensory link" with Kabuto to conduct research and develop various ninjutsu.
After all, Kabuto was a medical ninja, and when it came to chakra control, he had a natural advantage.
That's why Orochimaru could use Kabuto to carry out experiments.
Otherwise, even if Orochimaru handed all his research notes to Kabuto, it would take him a lifetime to understand them, and he still might not fully grasp everything.
Without Orochimaru personally guiding and teaching him, there was no way Kabuto could inherit Orochimaru's "legacy."
Even if the knowledge was placed right in front of him, he wouldn't be able to handle it.
Knowledge isn't something you can just stuff into your brain.
People tend to overlook this—they think that as long as they get access to resources, they'll automatically be able to succeed.
This kind of thinking is most obvious in some novels, where the main character picks up a martial arts manual and, before long, becomes the strongest fighter in the world. Or they find some rare treasure and suddenly gain immense power.
In reality, this makes no sense at all. Because at the end of the day, the real factor is the person themselves. It's not the tool that's powerful—it's the person using it.
To put it in simple real-life terms, a university library has tons of books, and nobody is stopping you from reading or learning from them.
All that knowledge is right there, but how many people actually reach the top and become true experts?
The ninja world is the same. Take Uchiha Fugaku, for example. He had the same Mangekyou power, yet in real combat, he barely made an impact in Konoha.
That's the difference between people.
Most belong to the majority, while a few become the exception.
Orochimaru just happened to be one of those exceptions.
"But to make a deal with Shanks, I need something valuable to offer."
Orochimaru closed his eyes.
Although Konoha had records about the Dragon Vein, Orochimaru was sure that information wasn't publicly available.
Otherwise, there was no way he wouldn't know about it.
Finding the real intel among all the classified information in Konoha wasn't something he could rely on luck for.
The best option was to trade with Shanks.
Meanwhile, Shanks and Shisui, having obtained what they came for, were preparing to leave the Uchiha clan's territory.
Behind them, Yakushi Kabuto suddenly sat up.
His whole presence changed. The air in the shrine grew cold as layers of curse marks spread from the back of his neck, covering his entire body in an instant.
Shisui and Shanks, just about to leave, stopped in their tracks.
"Orochimaru?"
Sensing the shift in Kabuto's energy, Shanks quickly understood—Orochimaru really did have a lot of backup plans.
"If you're looking to undo the seal on that thing, I can help."
"Help?"
Shanks didn't believe a word of it. Orochimaru was ambitious. Someone like him could make deals, but he would never offer help for free.
"To be precise, I want to trade."
"I'll break the seal for you. In return, Shanks, all you have to do is tell me where the Dragon Vein is."
A cold smile spread across Kabuto's face—the signature grin of Orochimaru.
"That's not enough. An unbalanced trade doesn't interest me, Orochimaru."
Shanks replied indifferently. He had no interest in this deal. Worst case, he could just hand the thing over to Madara later.
After all, they already had what they came for.
With that, Shanks and Shisui turned and left.
As the strongest person in the ninja world, Shanks wasn't lacking in anything. It wasn't that he couldn't make trades, but rather that most people in the current ninja world simply weren't qualified to negotiate with him.
Shanks stood at a level too high.
At this point, he had almost transcended the ninja world itself.
Only if the old legends of the past were dug up again would anyone even have the right to "trade" with Shanks.
And Orochimaru, clearly, wasn't there yet.
"How about this—I'll also help Shisui get his eyes back."
Orochimaru's voice echoed once more.
He might not have the qualifications to negotiate with Shanks, but Shisui was a different story.
Hearing that, Shisui frowned, visibly annoyed.
"No need. I can see just fine."
Shisui didn't appreciate being manipulated, and even less so by someone like Orochimaru.
He didn't trust him at all.
Shisui turned to leave, but the next moment, Shanks' hand rested on his shoulder.
"Shanks!"
Shisui turned back.
The two stood beneath the Gecko, in the ruins of the Uchiha clan's district, with only the sound of insects filling the silence.
Shisui looked at Shanks, trying to open his eyes, but with his sight long gone, they refused to budge.
The deep scars across his face had sealed his vision in eternal darkness.
"I… I can see!"
Shisui's body trembled. In that instant, he seemed to understand something—this man before him, his only weakness was his comrades.
Even someone like him, a companion Shanks hadn't known for long, was no exception.
Uchiha Shisui had never been a burden to anyone.
He had boarded Shanks' ship because… he wanted to witness this new era alongside him.
He had accepted Shanks because, in him, he saw his own hope.
Things he could never do—Shanks had done them.
Things he never dared to try—Shanks had already achieved them.
Dreams he only saw in his sleep—Shanks was living them.
It was because of Shanks that he found the courage to step out of that valley.
Shisui's fear had never been of Konohagakure—it had been of this era itself.
But at this moment, that fear returned.
Because in this man, the strongest in the shinobi world, he saw a weakness—his deep care for his comrades.
And Shisui… he didn't want to be Shanks' weakness.
Even if it meant dying, he would never allow himself to become that so-called "weakness."
He would never let himself be a burden to this man.
Shanks looked at Shisui. Though Shisui said nothing more, Shanks understood what he was thinking.
Shanks' face darkened as he pulled his hand away, a self-mocking smile forming on his lips.
"You fool…"
"Who do you think I am, Shisui?!"
"I am the strongest man of this era—the Red-Haired Shanks, one of the Four Emperors!"
"Even my greatest weakness is something that countless warriors in this world could never even hope to touch."
"What the hell are you so worried about?"
"I… am your captain!"
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