Naruto: Starting with Creating a Genius Persona

Chapter 167 Orochimaru smelled the scent of his own kind.

Konoha Headquarters, Command Center.

The curtain was lifted, and Shinichi stepped inside.

Under the white lamplight, a huge map was spread out on the central table, several advisors were marking something on the map, and several messenger ninjas were quietly waiting for instructions.

When Shinichi lifted the curtain and entered, everyone looked up, their eyes filled with amazement, curiosity, and even more respect.

The message has been sent back.

Shinichi Higashino led the Fourth Independent Combat Battalion deep behind enemy lines and successfully destroyed an important supply depot on the front lines of Kumogakure.

More importantly, the previous generation of the Cloud Village AB duo, "Bi"—Ichiya Tsukihi, was personally killed by Shinichi Higashino.

Orochimaru stood in front of the map, his long shadow stretched out by the light. Hearing footsteps, he slowly turned around, his signature golden snake eyes landing on Shinichi, a smile curving his lips.

"very good."

"You did a fantastic job, Shinichi."

"Not only did they successfully complete the mission of destroying the Cloud Village's supply warehouse, but they also killed Yotsuki Bige, who was present at the time. This is a real big fish, Shinichi-kun. The strategic value of this achievement and the blow to the morale of the Cloud Village far exceeds the destruction of the warehouse itself."

"Your mission has relieved a lot of pressure for us going forward."

At this point, Orochimaru took a step forward, looked the calm young man who had just returned up and down, and couldn't help but lick his lips.

"Shinichi-kun always surprises us like this, hehe... It makes me increasingly curious about Shinichi-kun's limits. Where exactly are they? How many more unknown surprises are waiting to be discovered? Hehe..."

Again!

Shinichi frowned inwardly, but didn't show it on his face, only bowing slightly.

"Lord Orochimaru, you flatter me. The mission was accomplished thanks to the concerted efforts of the entire team. The credit belongs to every member of the Fourth Independent Combat Battalion."

"Hehe...Shinichi-kun, you're still so humble and proper, so impeccable." Orochimaru chuckled softly, his snake-like eyes lingering on Shinichi for a moment before he reached out and picked up a pre-prepared document from the table beside him, waving it gently in his hand.

"Afterwards, I will personally report to Sarutobi-sensei for your commendation. Shinichi-kun has already made so many outstanding achievements at the very beginning of the war, which is enough to shut up those people in the village who still doubt that you are too young."

At this point, Orochimaru's smile deepened: "Perhaps, after this war ends, you'll become the youngest Jonin class leader in Konoha's history, or even further... It's not impossible, hehe. After all, Sarutobi-sensei is getting old, and Konoha's future ultimately needs a new, powerful pillar to support it, doesn't it?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire tent fell into an eerie silence.

The pens in the hands of the staff officers paused simultaneously, then they continued to wander across the map as if nothing had happened, as if they hadn't heard anything. The messenger ninja in the corner lowered his head, staring at his toes, wishing he could shrink into the shadows.

Orochimaru, as a direct disciple of the Third Hokage, could say such things, and even casually make jokes about them.

They can't even think about it, let alone listen to it.

Even thinking about it is wrong.

Shinichi stood still, his expression unchanged, calmly meeting Orochimaru's snake-like eyes that seemed to be smiling but weren't, and bowed slightly: "Lord Orochimaru is too kind. At present, I only want to do my best to share the burden of the village and the Hokage, so as not to fail the cultivation and expectations of the Hokage and the village."

"Hehe, Shinichi-kun is indeed an interesting person."

Orochimaru did not continue the topic, but simply put the documents in his hand back on the table.

"Go ahead and get some rest. I'm looking forward to more surprises from Shinichi-kun."

Zhenyi bowed, turned around, and just as his hand touched the tent flap, that lazy yet magnetic voice sounded again from behind him.

"Oh, right."

"What's your opinion on my invitation to Shinichi-kun?"

Upon hearing this, Shinichi turned around, pretended to ponder for a moment, and then said, "I am deeply honored by Lord Orochimaru's high regard. However, the war is currently very intense, and I am truly unable to spare the time. Once this war is over, I will certainly seek guidance from Lord Orochimaru if the opportunity arises."

Orochimaru stared at him for a while, his eyes revealing little emotion, only the ever-unfathomable interest.

Then he chuckled softly, the sound echoing in the tent, carrying a certain pleasure.

"hehe....

'

"certainly."

Orochimaru didn't say much, as if the conversation had just been mentioned casually.

"Go."

Shinichi didn't say anything more, lifted the curtain, and went out.

The command center fell silent again.

Orochimaru stood still, his gaze fixed on the slightly swaying curtain, and remained motionless for a long time.

"What an ambitious child..."

"7

His voice was so low it was almost inaudible; only he himself could hear it.

Orochimaru recalled the boy's image in the village: diligent, humble, gentle, reliable, caring for his companions, and loyal to the village—so perfect that there was almost no flaw in him.

A perfect genius.

The perfect hero template.

The perfect inheritor of the Will of Fire.

Even a perfect... mask.

His actions were absolutely correct. Every choice, every statement, every action, and even every risk and sacrifice seemed to be the result of the most meticulous calculations, maximizing the benefits to the extreme.

His humility effectively dispelled jealousy, his impeccable loyalty earned him trust, and his decisiveness precisely won him prestige and popular support. Everything was progressing in the right direction, and he was rapidly accumulating an astonishing network of connections and capital.

But from the first time he saw the child, he keenly sensed a kindred spirit in him.

Orochimaru licked his lips, a playful look in his eyes.

That kind of ambition, hidden beneath a perfect mask, is an almost insatiable thirst for power, knowledge, and higher views, and is willing to use all wisdom and means to seize and climb them at all costs.

This is precisely what Orochimaru finds interesting about him: a fellow human being who is good at disguising himself, knows how to be patient, and has enough ability to realize his ambitions is far more interesting to him than a simple, hot-blooded genius or hero.

However, Orochimaru still couldn't understand how this child could be so skilled at disguise at such a young age.

They even go so far as to deepen their disguise to the point of being almost instinctive?

Based on the intelligence I've gathered, if it's truly an act, this child has been playing a role since he was just learning to speak and walk, or even earlier.

This was absolutely impossible, but Orochimaru's ability to recognize the aura of his own kind made him quite certain that the child had been faking it all along.

Perhaps it is precisely this contradiction between the impossible and the certain, this captivating contrast and mystery formed by the perfect appearance and the dangerous nature, that is what attracts Shinichi Higashino to Orochimaru the most?

"hehe....

'

Orochimaru chuckled, withdrawing his gaze from the tent flap and refocusing it on the map.

Perhaps the truth will be revealed when he comes into contact with that thing?

hehe...

On his way back to his camp, Shinichi had no idea what Orochimaru was thinking. If he had known, he would have just scoffed.

Does a tiny, primitive cell deserve to expose his true nature?

The price is far too low.

However, Shinichi was also pondering the First Hokage's cells at this time, thinking about how to use them if he really accepted Orochimaru's invitation to enter that laboratory after this war ended and obtained the First Hokage's cells.

A thousand hands and a monk, they make a good match.

Shinichi thought to himself.

The Senju clan, from its clan name, the names and forms of its ninjutsu, to its various stories and legends, is closely related to Buddhism. Even the name of their ancestor, Ashura, is derived from a guardian deity in Buddhism.

Hmm... I'll try to get a pair of Sharingan, or even Rinnegan, when the time comes.

After all, the cycle of rebirth in the six realms is a core concept in Buddhism.

The names of the protagonist's kaleidoscope and Rinnegan are slightly different, as they are derived from Buddhist deities and stories. To be more precise, they are all related to the Buddha.

However, with the example of Daikokuten (though not Sharingan or Rinnegan) preceding it, it doesn't feel too out of place.