Chapter 113

Orochimaru nodded and dismissed the kneeling figure without a word, walking directly into the lab.

Nestled at the foot of a remote mountain, this place was secluded and difficult to access, but the surroundings were surprisingly scenic. Orochimaru had chosen this location in the Land of Rice Fields during a previous mission. He had stored all relevant details about this place in his memory, and later implanted them into the mind of his clone, Yoru, to set up an experimental base here.

The Land of Rice Fields had no ninja village of its own, and with Yoru's strength, no one could oppose him. So, the lab was built without any issues.

As Orochimaru stepped inside, he found it largely empty. Only a few basic pieces of scientific equipment were present, items Yoru had managed to gather himself.

"How many experimental pods do we have?" Orochimaru asked, his tone calm but expectant.

"Eighteen in total," Yoru replied.

"Eighteen?" Orochimaru frowned. "That's far too few, but it'll have to do for now."

With that, Orochimaru waved his hand, and suddenly, *clang, clang, clang* a host of scientific research equipment appeared out of thin air. There were DNA scanners, computers, generators, experimental benches, everything one would expect from a cutting-edge lab. These were items he had either stored in his personal system or smuggled from a hidden chamber near Konoha. Here, far from prying eyes, he could use them freely without concern.

The only issue was that, aside from Yoru, there was no one to assist him.

When it came to clones, one had to consider their thinking capabilities. Most mass-produced clones were little more than automatons, barely able to think beyond the most basic of tasks. They could fight, but their slow mental processing and lack of independent thought made them unsuitable for more complex work.

However, Yoru was different. Orochimaru had crafted him with a greater degree of independent thought, making him capable of tasks like building the lab on his own. Some might say that giving clones independent thinking was a flaw, as they could develop their own emotions and potentially rebel against their master, much like how even the most brainwashed subordinates in Root could still turn against Danzo.

But Orochimaru wasn't worried.

His method of brainwashing was far more advanced. He didn't just alter the clone's thoughts, he erased entire memories and implanted new ones. The clones he created believed that Orochimaru was everything: their provider, their creator, and their reason for existence. For him, they would gladly sacrifice their lives.

Just like Kimimaro, Guren, and Kabuto had in the original timeline, Orochimaru's followers were fiercely loyal, even competing for the privilege of serving him.

Rebellion wasn't a concern. Still, clones were clones. If they were too independent, they might develop unwanted emotions when they saw others like them, leading to complications.

For now, Orochimaru had two options: either erase Yoru's ability to think independently or clone someone new. Since he didn't have the time to capture new subjects, he decided to temporarily suppress Yoru's independent thought. He had backups of all his techniques, and restoring Yoru's mind would only cost him a few days at most.

Eighteen experimental pods weren't enough, but Yoru had limited funds, and much of it had gone toward acquiring other necessary equipment. Orochimaru couldn't worry about that now. First, he'd cultivate clones from the available pods, and then he'd expand the base.

Once he had more personnel, things would move more quickly.

With that in mind, Orochimaru set to work.

---

Six months later, Orochimaru's first batch of clones was complete.

Thanks to the meticulous technical data he had on hand, failure was practically impossible. After all, everything was controlled by high-tech computers.

Nineteen clones in total, including Yoru. All of them had the same features: black hair, black eyes, dressed in dark uniforms.

In the meantime, the number of experimental pods had been increased to 100, the maximum capacity this base could handle. From this point forward, the lab could produce 100 clones every six months. It wasn't the fastest rate, but it was more than sufficient for Orochimaru's purposes.

Now that the first batch of clones had been created, they began helping Orochimaru with routine tasks: observing, recording, cleaning, standing guard.

"Nine of you will stay here and manage the lab," Orochimaru said, surveying the black-haired clones standing before him. "The rest of you, take this."

He handed the remaining ten clones strange-looking devices—mineral detectors.

In addition to his genetic experiments, Orochimaru had a new focus: mining.

His research into human cloning was progressing well, but he was already looking ahead to the next stage: artificial humans and cell regeneration.

Artificial humans were a step beyond clones, capable of true independent thought, making them fully autonomous beings. Cell regeneration, meanwhile, would allow for advanced healing and biological repair, similar to techniques like Tsunade's "Creation Rebirth".

Both of these techniques were incredibly complex and would take a long time to develop. So for now, Orochimaru decided to pause his genetic research and shift his attention toward weapons technology.

Most of the system's weapons tech revolved around firearms and explosives. Orochimaru knew that standard guns were little more than faster shuriken, useless against most trained ninjas. However, the more advanced weapons might prove valuable. But to build them, he needed metals, smelting facilities, and factories.

Before any of that could happen, though, he needed the approval of the daimyo. Even in a relatively weak country like the Land of Rice Fields, creating weapons without official approval would raise too many red flags. If the authorities decided to investigate, it could lead to unnecessary complications.

---

"What? You want to build a village?" The daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields was completely stunned when Orochimaru appeared before him with this proposal.

In an era as chaotic as this, the idea of founding a new village was absurd. Wouldn't such a village be destroyed by one of the major powers as soon as it was established?

Orochimaru, ever the calm and persuasive figure, placed two large boxes in front of the daimyo.

"Yes," he said with a smile. "As long as you agree, this twenty million ryo will be yours. And I can personally guarantee that your country will no longer suffer from rogue ninjas or bandits. Please, take your time and consider my offer carefully."

The daimyo stared at the boxes in front of him, eyes wide. Twenty million ryo and a promise of peace.

How could he refuse?