The burning sensation of natural energy gradually subsided, and Xue Wu slowly circulated the chakra within his body.
"This feeling..."
His ice release chakra, once his pride, was as obedient as an undeveloped child before the cursed seal planted by Orochimaru.
Submission, assimilation...
Simultaneously, under the dominion of natural energy, the power within Xue Wu's body grew increasingly formidable.
Xue Wu lowered his head and spread his palms. The power flowing from the cursed seal on his neck caused strange black markings to appear on his skin, covering his entire palm.
He clenched his fist lightly, and an unprecedented surge of power rose from the depths of his heart.
"My strength has nearly doubled compared to before!"
A searing light flashed in Xue Wu's eyes.
Holding a sharp blade, killing intent arose!
The sudden surge of power caused a sliver of ambition to quietly sprout in Xue Wu's heart, which had originally decided to submit to Orochimaru's intimidation.
"Perhaps..."
Xue Wu slowly raised his head, meeting Orochimaru's half-smiling gaze.
"Hmph!"
"Have you forgotten who gave you this power?"
Orochimaru snorted coldly, his thoughts stirring. The soul power lurking within the cursed seal erupted, and the black markings that had covered Xue Wu's body, amplifying his strength, instantly tightened.
"Ah!"
"Crack!"
Xue Wu let out a pained howl, his body instantly shattering into a shower of ice fragments under the sudden backlash of the cursed seal.
A circular mark on Orochimaru's brow pulsed with light. The powerful yang release energy gathered the body of the Third Mizukage, which had been splattered everywhere, and reformed it into a body entirely composed of ice crystals.
"Unless the Six Paths Sage himself intervenes to remove this cursed seal..."
"Your life and death are but a thought away for me!"
"Do you understand?"
Orochimaru's icy voice struck deep into Xue Wu's heart like a steel knife.
Xue Wu's eyes widened in terror as the agonizing sensation of his soul being torn apart flashed repeatedly in his mind.
The complete despair, the inability to resist, completely devoured the last shred of ambition in his heart.
"Yes!"
"Your subordinate understands!"
Ice release chakra flowed, and Xue Wu's body, gradually regaining human form, knelt deeply, offering his submission to his new master with the humblest posture.
"Hmph!"
Orochimaru nodded calmly and sat back down in his chair.
"I said before that I only need obedient subordinates."
"Therefore..."
"There can only be one will in Kirigakure from now on!"
"My will!"
Orochimaru's voice coldly set the tone for Kirigakure's future.
"Get up!"
"Go and summon those kekkei genkai clan members! So that they may know how to interact with my spokesperson from now on."
"Yes!"
Xue Wu responded, stood up, and created several ice release clones. The clones immediately turned and passed through the ice prison to find the clan heads of the kekkei genkai families.
Xue Wu's true body stood respectfully beside Orochimaru, obedient and humble.
...
"Hehe..."
"Lord Mizukage, it's so cold!"
The first to arrive at the Mizukage's office was the young head of the Hōzuki clan, responsible for safeguarding Kirigakure's seven ninja swords, Hōzuki Mangetsu.
Having just been brought into the ice prison by the Third Mizukage, Hōzuki Mangetsu was immediately frozen by the extreme cold filling the office, his teeth chattering and his body showing signs of being frozen.
Although ice release was not the most effective against the Water Transformation Jutsu, the cold emitted by an ice release ninja of Xue Wu's caliber was still a bit too much for the current novice Hōzuki Mangetsu.
"Wait patiently, and don't speak!"
Xue Wu's ice release clone glanced at Orochimaru, who was seated at the head of the table, and quietly instructed Hōzuki Mangetsu. Then, it dissolved into a pile of ice crystals, and its consciousness returned to the main body.
"Child of the Hōzuki clan..."
"What is your name? And what is your relationship with the Second Mizukage, Elder Hōzuki Gengetsu?"
Orochimaru looked at the shivering child and casually waved a stream of warm yang release chakra, dispelling the cold from him.
Hōzuki Mangetsu let out a comfortable groan and flashed a defiant smile at Orochimaru with his sharp, pointed teeth.
"Hōzuki Mangetsu, young head of the Hōzuki clan, administrator of Kirigakure's seven ninja swords."
"Hōzuki Gengetsu is my grandfather!"
"And who are you?"
Beside them, Xue Wu's expression tightened, and he quickly signaled to Hōzuki Mangetsu.
Orochimaru did not seem to mind the child's insolence. He waved his hand at Xue Wu, indicating that it was fine. He looked at Hōzuki Mangetsu intently for a moment, then smiled and nodded.
No wonder he looked familiar; he was Suigetsu's older brother!
"Do you have a younger brother named Hōzuki Suigetsu?"
Hōzuki Mangetsu was startled and slowly shook his head.
"No."
"But the name Suigetsu is quite good. If I have a younger brother, I might consider asking Father to give him a name like that."
"Right, you still haven't said who you are?"
"I see you wearing a Konoha forehead protector and daring to sit in front of the Mizukage's seat, so you must be a powerful ninja, right?"
"Can you spar with me in swordsmanship?"
Orochimaru was amused by the somewhat simple-minded boy and gently shook his head.
"Swordsmanship is not something I excel at."
"However, if you wish to learn, I can find you a very powerful swordsmanship teacher."
"Interested?"
Mangetsu's eyes lit up, and the defiance on his face instantly vanished.
He darted forward to Orochimaru and, to Xue Wu's horrified gaze, grabbed Orochimaru's hand.
"Really?"
"Who is it? Where is he? How strong is he? Who has he defeated?"
A series of questions made Xue Wu's scalp tingle.
He was afraid Orochimaru would get annoyed and simply use particle style to vaporize this kid Mangetsu.
Orochimaru, however, suddenly saw a hint of Nawaki in this child, Hōzuki Mangetsu. The same straightforwardness, the same...
Lack of brain...
"The White Fang of Konoha, have you heard of it?"
Orochimaru smiled, withdrew his hand from Hōzuki Mangetsu's grasp, and couldn't help but pat his head of white hair.
Indeed, apart from his slightly longer hair, when Hōzuki Mangetsu wasn't opening his mouth and revealing those sharp teeth, his appearance bore some resemblance to the all-white hair of the Hatake clan.
"From Konoha?"
Hōzuki Mangetsu was taken aback and shook his head with some difficulty.
"That might not be good?"
He secretly glanced at Xue Wu, then leaned close to Orochimaru's ear and whispered.
"Lord Mizukage doesn't like people from Kirigakure leaving the village..."
Orochimaru chuckled and his gaze towards Hōzuki Mangetsu became even more amiable.
"This kid..."
"If you truly wish to learn swordsmanship in Konoha, I don't think your Lord Mizukage would object."
"Really? Why?"
Hōzuki Mangetsu looked astonished, and couldn't help but turn to glance at the Third Mizukage.
"Of course it's true!"
Orochimaru glanced at the Third Mizukage, who looked somewhat embarrassed, and explained with a smile to Hōzuki Mangetsu:
"Before you arrived, your Third Mizukage formed an alliance with Konoha. From now on, our two villages are family."
The Third Mizukage breathed a sigh of relief, finally avoiding the embarrassment of losing face in front of a junior. He gave Orochimaru a grateful look, a stiff smile tugging at the corner of his lips, and nodded at Hōzuki Mangetsu, who was looking at him.
Seeing that his Lord Mizukage had agreed to the notion of 'family', Hōzuki Mangetsu's eyes lit up, and he turned to run out.
"Then wait for me here for a moment, I'll go get something and then go to Konoha with you."