### Chapter 194

The meat was so tender it practically melted in his mouth. Not bad at all.

Shinki poked a small piece of venison with his fork, inspecting it. After confirming it was indeed venison, he pulled out a clean kunai and cut into it. 

Tsunade's evaluation of Orochimaru's cooking was spot on—the barbecue was excellent. 

As Shinki savored the meal, he casually asked, "How long does it take to cultivate a summoning beast?"

Orochimaru, who was also eating the grilled venison, paused before answering. 

"It will take a few months. I need to ensure the experimental body grows steadily and in a benign direction."

Shinki nodded, satisfied, and continued eating. 

When it came to experiments, Orochimaru was trustworthy. Despite his eccentricities, his credibility was solid. 

If it had been Jiraiya in charge, Shinki would have had serious doubts.

---

### A Genius Worth Training

"By the way, how is the genius I captured?" Shinki asked. 

"Not bad. Still under interrogation, but there's a high chance they'll defect from the Sand Village," Orochimaru replied. 

"Worthy of training?" Shinki's tone carried genuine curiosity. 

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow in surprise. He knew Shinki's standards were extremely high. Most of the so-called "promising" talents in the village didn't catch Shinki's attention. The only one who had was Namikaze Minato—and Nawaki, but that was due to Tsunade's influence.

Shinki rarely saw potential worth cultivating. Was Pakura an exception?

After thinking for a moment, Shinki nodded. "Yes. Scorch Release isn't common, and its potential ceiling is very high."

Orochimaru was intrigued but waited for Shinki to elaborate. 

"There's another, more important reason," Shinki added with a faint smirk. 

"And what's that?" Orochimaru asked, his curiosity piqued. 

"She's beautiful," Shinki said with a grin.

Orochimaru froze mid-bite. For a moment, he thought he misheard. Beauty? That was the deciding factor? 

Orochimaru couldn't help but feel bewildered. While he was focused on strength, power, and the mysteries of life, Shinki was factoring in appearances. 

Beauty didn't matter to Orochimaru. To him, it was a trivial concept. If anything, it seemed like a distraction. He would much rather spend his time unraveling the secrets of immortality than pondering over someone's looks. 

---

### A Philosophical Query

"Shinki," Orochimaru began, "do you think the most important part of a being is the body or the soul?"

The sudden shift in topic caught Shinki off guard. He paused, wiping his mouth thoughtfully. 

"Orochimaru, this question doesn't hold much meaning for me. A beautiful body is important, but an interesting soul is indispensable."

"...."

Orochimaru stared, clearly unimpressed. Could they even have a serious conversation anymore?

Shinki's response was unexpected. A balance of aesthetics and character? That was hardly the answer Orochimaru anticipated.

"Birth, aging, illness, and death are integral parts of the natural cycle," Shinki continued. "But remember one thing, Orochimaru—when you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you."

Orochimaru's expression shifted slightly. He repeated the phrase quietly to himself: *When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you.* 

It was a profound warning, one he found both intriguing and unsettling. 

---

### The Evening Ends

Shinki decided to end the discussion on immortality. After finishing the venison, he leaned back, patting his stomach. 

"Thanks for the meal," he said, a clear signal for Orochimaru to leave. 

Orochimaru, ever perceptive, gathered the tray and stood. Though Shinki didn't interfere with Orochimaru's experiments, he also didn't want to be involved in them. The boundaries were clear. 

"I'll take my leave. See you tomorrow, Shinki," Orochimaru said tactfully, leaving with the tray. 

While Orochimaru hoped for collaboration, he was content with Shinki turning a blind eye. As long as Shinki didn't interfere, Orochimaru could carry on his experiments in peace.

---

### Trouble in the Bear Country

Meanwhile, in the Bear Country, tension hung heavy over the Konoha team. 

With her left hand wrapped in a bandage, Utatane Koharu sat grimly. Across from her, Mitokado Hamura looked equally disheartened. Both had come to a harsh realization—they had been fooled. 

The "reinforcements" they had been promised? Nonexistent.

For two days, they had circled the Bear Country, trying to elude the Third Kazekage while waiting for backup. 

But the reinforcements never came. 

Not a single sign of support.

"Koharu," Hamura began, "there must have been an incident in the village. Reinforcements aren't coming. Worse, we're running out of supplies." 

It was a grim truth. Food was manageable—they could hunt prey in the forest. But ninja tools and essential supplies? Those were nearly depleted. 

They had spent everything they had trying to delay the Third Kazekage. Now, they were cornered with no help in sight.

Koharu let out a bitter laugh, her voice tinged with hysteria. 

"I shouldn't have trusted Hiruzen," she muttered. "He's failed us."

Her laughter sent chills down Hamura's spine. Koharu's faith in Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, had been shattered by the harsh reality of their predicament. 

---

>>>>>

200 Chapters ahead available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)

Gimme power stonesssss

Also, leave a review please and check out my new story

[Naruto: The Tale of an Otsutsuki]