Chapter 8 I am the man who change the destiny.

The wood clone, while a clone technique, bears a closer resemblance to the shadow clone technique in terms of its autonomy and independent thought.

The underlying principle is straightforward. In the original work, Yamato was able to revert the wooden clone back into a seed. This seed, intriguingly, possesses the capability to establish chakra resonance with the main body, generating an effect similar to that of the shadow clone technique.

In the darkness of Orochimaru's courtyard, Natsume moved cautiously, his senses on high alert as he scanned the surroundings. There appeared to be no one in sight.

With a sense of trepidation, he pushed open the entrance to the hall.

Meanwhile, in the underground laboratory, Orochimaru wielded a scalpel, deeply engrossed in dissecting a corpse. After a while, a white snake glided towards him, its long tongue flicking out as it emitted a hissing sound.

"An uninvited guest has arrived," the snake conveyed in its own tongue. "A peculiar ninja with an unusual aura."

Orochimaru, who understood the language of snakes, was suddenly intrigued.

He cast a quick glance at the lifeless ninja's body, tossing the scalpel aside in the process.

This corpse belonged to a ninja who had met a bloody end.

After the tragic death of his apprentice, Naoki, Orochimaru had been forced to confront his own limitations. His pursuit of immortal reincarnation and the quest to break the boundaries of blood inheritance had proved to be incredibly challenging endeavors.

Yet, despite his relentless efforts, Orochimaru had made little progress in these experiments thus far.

In light of the unexpected visitor, Orochimaru remained unhurried. He left his underground laboratory and made his way to the hall.

When he laid eyes on Natsume, Orochimaru's narrow snake-like pupils seemed to narrow further. There was something about this encounter that felt irregular, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.

Orochimaru licked his lips, raising his hand with a swift, sinister motion. Several venomous snakes slithered out of his sleeves, swiftly entwining Natsume. His intent was clear - he needed to immobilize this intriguing figure and prevent any possibility of escape.

For Orochimaru, diplomacy and gentle words had no place in his methods. He preferred the thrill of capturing his prey, piece by agonizing piece, and then meticulously studying it.

However, what happened next left Orochimaru genuinely surprised. The snakes entwining Natsume suddenly found themselves ensnared by several branches that emanated from Natsume himself. In an instant, a complex pattern emerged, resembling a game of 'you pester me, and I pester you.'

Orochimaru stood frozen in astonishment. Driven by his insatiable desire to master all forms of ninjutsu, he promptly recognized the technique Natsume employed—a Wood Clone jutsu.

Orochimaru and Shimura Danzo had once teamed up for a rather unusual experiment involving Wood Release and Hashirama's cells. Essentially, they tried to transplant Hashirama's cells into ninjas or babies to give them the Wood Release power. Unfortunately, due to severe rejection issues, all the subjects of this experiment met grim fates. Orochimaru and Danzo had to abandon the project altogether.

Now, out of nowhere, a ninja who could slip through their grasp had emerged.

You can imagine just how taken aback and bewildered Orochimaru was.

"Is this how Orochimaru, one of the legendary three ninjas, treats guests?" Another Natsume walked in through the door and expressed his disappointment.

Orochimaru's face darkened slightly, but he didn't make any aggressive moves. He recognized that this new Natsume emitted a similar aura to the previous one – clearly another Wood Clone.

"Let me take a guess at what's going on in your head," Natsume said, casually grabbing a chair and seating himself as though he owned the place.

Orochimaru couldn't help but notice the expression in Natsume's eyes—unfazed, without the fear or reverence that most ninjas exhibited in his presence. Clearly, this visitor exuded an unusual level of confidence.

"Are you pondering why, despite the failures of all Wood Release experiments, someone like me can wield it?" Natsume inquired slowly. "Am I on the right track?"

Orochimaru was caught off guard, his thoughts racing. How could Natsume possibly know about the failed experiments? Only a select few were privy to such information. Could it be Shimura Danzo?

"Who are you?" Orochimaru's eyes betrayed a dangerous glint. This unexpected turn of events was pushing him to the brink of fury.

"It doesn't matter who I am; what matters is that I can offer you something valuable," Natsume calmly continued, lifting a teacup. "For instance, I can help you achieve your deepest desire."

"My desire?" Orochimaru scoffed, sounding skeptical. "Do you even know what my desire is? Just claiming you can fulfill it won't convince me."

"Immortality and all-encompassing knowledge," Natsume replied with a slight smile. "I'm privy to many secrets."

Orochimaru could no longer contain his astonishment. It seemed impossible! How could anyone be aware of his most concealed desires? No one should know them but himself. Had he unintentionally revealed them?

"Who are you?" He repeated the question, now with a different tone and a growing sense of unease.

Orochimaru was growing increasingly uneasy. The idea of a stranger being privy to all his secrets was deeply unsettling. Natsume couldn't help but chuckle at Orochimaru's disquiet.

"This is the advantage of information gaps," Natsume remarked enigmatically. "I am Destiny, lurking in Destiny, hunting the people of Destiny. Do you comprehend?"

In reality, this sentence was inspired by a phrase used by the two male protagonists in "The One Who Wants to Become a Shadow."

Orochimaru tilted his head, thoroughly confused.

But Natsume was telling the truth. He possessed the Holy Ring of Destiny and had intentions of hunting so-called destinies.

"It appears I don't quite grasp it," Orochimaru responded, detecting a tone of bitterness in Natsume's voice.

Orochimaru, in a rare display of irritation, couldn't help but wonder if this mysterious figure could actually converse like a regular person.

"It's fine if you don't understand. Let's move on," Natsume continued, holding up two fingers. "I want Hashirama's cells. In exchange, I'll offer you two secrets."

Orochimaru's narrowed eyes revealed that Natsume, while enigmatic, wasn't infallible. This proposition made Orochimaru realize that the person before him had his own set of vulnerabilities.

Orochimaru's excitement surfaced as he licked the corners of his mouth, a telltale sign.

"The value of Hashirama's cells is undeniable. But how do I know if your 'secret' is worth such a price?" Orochimaru inquired skeptically. "Perhaps you could reveal a minor secret first, and after the deal is finalized, you can provide the major one."

Natsume was well-prepared and responded calmly, "You're a shrewd trading partner. We could potentially maintain a long-term cooperation. What do you say?"

Orochimaru frowned slightly. Frankly, he wasn't fond of partnering with someone who understood him yet didn't comprehend him fully. However, Natsume's knowledge was a double-edged sword, and Orochimaru was eager to investigate him. Cooperation seemed like a practical approach.

"It all hinges on the value of your secret," Orochimaru asserted. "If it proves worthwhile, then there's no harm in collaboration."

Then, Natsume dropped a bombshell: "There was a survivor from the Wood Release experiment conducted between you and Shimura Danzo, and he awakened the Wood Release."

"What?" Orochimaru couldn't hide his surprise. He couldn't believe that Danzo had deceived him!

"The survivor, codenamed 'A,' is at the root of it all," Natsume continued, referring to Yamato. The name 'Yamato' had been given to him by the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Now, Yamato's fate was about to take a dramatic turn. Natsume was curious about what would unfold in Yamato's future if he followed Orochimaru. While most time travelers avoided altering the plot, Natsume's destiny-altering plug-in compelled him to do so. To become stronger, he was willing to diverge from the plot because, ultimately, strength trumped all else.

Orochimaru took a deep breath and conceded, "I will verify your claim. If it holds true, then our deal is sealed."

"Here's to a happy partnership," Natsume said with a smile. He then stood up, releasing the ninjutsu in front of Orochimaru. Natsume wouldn't be directly involved in Orochimaru's experiments; instead, he would occasionally act as the leader of a mysterious organization.