In Naruto as Zhongli-Chapter 63: INAZ - 62

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He had exhausted himself trying to get Shinji to come cook for him; how could he just let Shinji and Jūgo snatch away the fruits of victory?

"Lord Shinji, what is this?" Jūgo suddenly pointed to a pot on the table and asked. This seemed like something he hadn't seen before.

"This is sake. But you can't drink it yet. This is something I specifically brought for Lord Orochimaru," Shinji said with a smile, then picked up the sake bottle, opened it directly, and poured a cup each for Orochimaru and himself. Instantly, a rich aroma of sake filled the entire room.

"Good sake!" Smelling this aroma, Orochimaru couldn't help but remark.

"Naturally. This is the special medicinal wine of the Nara clan. It's quite beneficial for the body," Shinji placed the sake cup under his nose and sniffed gently. This sake was the payment Shikaku Nara gave Shinji when he came to the All-Purpose Shop before. And Shinji also took this out to drink.

"So it's the fine wine of the Nara clan. This is their signature," Orochimaru picked up the sake cup. Usually not much of a drinker, he also began to taste this special medicinal wine of the Nara clan. For a time, cups were raised and exchanged in the room, quite merrily.

...

...

Early the next morning, Shinji opened his eyes. Last night, he and Orochimaru drank a full four bottles of medicinal wine. This caused some eager reactions in Shinji's body. Mmm, of course, Shinji suppressed these reactions.

Opening the door, Jūgo was already waiting outside. Last night, while Shinji and Orochimaru chatted late into the night, Shinji had let Jūgo go to bed early.

Coming to the outer living room, rather than a living room, this place was more like a huge laboratory. And within a small room, Shinji heard sounds coming from inside. Opening the room door, Orochimaru was already at the experimental table, conducting some experiment.

"Morning, Lord Orochimaru. Did you not sleep all night last night?" Shinji looked somewhat curiously at Orochimaru. After all, judging from the state of the experimental table, Orochimaru's experiment had been ongoing for some time.

"Boss Shinji, it's not that I didn't sleep. I still took a nap for an hour," Orochimaru didn't turn his head, just continuing the experiment.

"Truly worthy of Lord Orochimaru," Shinji sighed with some emotion. This really was a science fanatic.

After a long time, seeing Orochimaru showed no intention of stopping the experiment, Shinji turned directly and walked outside.

"Lord Shinji?" Jūgo looked at Shinji coming out, asking somewhat curiously.

"Jūgo, let's go outside and take a look." Subsequently, Shinji walked through the damp passage he came through yesterday and arrived outside. At this time, in the small village, villagers had already started farming in the fields.

Children were running around happily in the fields, playing. In the village, shops large and small had begun to open. Although these people didn't seem to live very well, at least their faces still held some genuine smiles. It seemed this place was like a paradise-like enjoyment for them.

"Jūgo, do you think they are truly happy?" Shinji walked through the mountain village, suddenly stopped, and spoke to Jūgo behind him.

"Lord Shinji, although they look somewhat poor... their emotions seem quite happy. But... there seems to be a trace of confusion," Although Jūgo didn't know why Shinji suddenly asked him, he still expressed his feelings. As the possessor of the Sage Body, he could perceive the true emotions within these people.

"Jūgo is still amazing, able to perceive things ordinary people cannot," Shinji patted Jūgo's small head and said with a smile. Jūgo seemed to enjoy this action from Shinji very much, his eyes even starting to squint slightly.

"Their happiness is built upon the current calm times. Or perhaps the Daimyō of the Land of Rice Paddies gave them some confidence, or perhaps Orochimaru gave them some confidence. As for the confusion... perhaps they still don't know what the future development trend of this village will be," Shinji said after thinking for a moment.

This matter seemed simple but was actually complex. Human hearts undergo emotional changes when faced with choices. The Daimyō of the Land of Rice Paddies positioned this small mountain village as a new ninja village.

Under Orochimaru's suggestion, he sent a portion of the Land of Rice Paddies' citizens to this place. And the explanation given to these villagers was also the same. Therefore, harboring the hope of having a ninja village, and living within a ninja village, represented hope for this first batch of villagers! And the confusion was that these villagers didn't know if this matter could truly come to fruition.

And... they still didn't know if this ninja village could actually be successfully established. But they had already come here, harboring the vision of letting their children become ninjas. They came to this small mountain village as family units. If things could really be as the Daimyō said... their family's hope rested in this place.

"Hope, sometimes it's a seed, sometimes it's a sharp sword. I hope Orochimaru can understand this principle..." Shinji turned his head back and looked at the small village.

Looking at Shinji's profile, Jūgo felt a sense of half-understanding. After all, the things Shinji was talking about now weren't so simple for a child to understand. But regarding the correctness of Shinji's words, Jūgo had no doubt at all. The current Shinji was the most correct thing for Jūgo. No matter what Shinji said or did, anyway, the meaning was just one: Shinji didn't do wrong, nor did he say wrong.

"Fufufu, what Boss Shinji said is indeed the truth~" Just as Jūgo was carefully pondering Shinji's words, Orochimaru arrived nearby with his signature laughter.

"Finished the experiment? Lord Orochimaru?" Shinji chuckled lightly. There was nothing in these words that couldn't be heard by Orochimaru. On the contrary. Shinji wanted to instill this concept into Orochimaru.

"Yes. Just finished and heard Boss Shinji's series of golden words. I will practice them well," Orochimaru chuckled lightly, following Shinji's gaze towards the mountain village behind them. Smoke curled upwards; everything seemed so desirable.

"So, my proposal yesterday, you could still listen to it, right?" Shinji glanced at Orochimaru. The current Orochimaru, after all, still had some humanity in him. Not yet the crazy experimenter of later generations who could drag the entire world into his experimental field for research.

"Yes. What Boss Shinji said is very right. I already understand what to do next. But, regarding personnel recruitment..." Orochimaru looked somewhat hesitantly at Shinji. After all, his time wasn't abundant. There were still so many experiments needing him to do. And in a few days, Shinji would take Jūgo away together. Shouldn't he take advantage of this time to collect more sage chakra from Jūgo?

"I can help somewhat, but mostly it's Orochimaru's own matter," Shinji suddenly spoke up.

"Naturally. But Boss Shinji, regarding this matter, I think... I want to partner with you," Orochimaru suddenly looked very seriously at Shinji. He had thought about this idea many times before. Shinji's abilities and intelligence sources were things Orochimaru had to take seriously. Moreover, Shinji could also cook excellent food. This made Orochimaru constantly think about it. Who could refuse a partner who could make delicious food?

"Partner? Lord Orochimaru, shouldn't your partner be the Daimyō of the Land of Rice Paddies?" A smile appeared at the corner of Shinji's mouth. So Orochimaru was waiting for him here.

"The Daimyō of the Land of Rice Paddies? No, no. That's just an ordinary person with money, land, and people," Orochimaru clearly felt somewhat disdainful towards the Daimyō of the Land of Rice Paddies.

"If I'm not mistaken, the current Daimyō of the Land of Rice Paddies is already under Lord Orochimaru's control, right?" Shinji looked somewhat amusedly at Orochimaru. Based on his understanding of Orochimaru, he would definitely eliminate an obstacle like the Daimyō of the Land of Rice Paddies. And the most suitable method to eliminate obstacles was to make him 'voluntarily' become one of his own. Of course, whether by controlling the Daimyō with genjutsu or killing him and putting a substitute...

Shinji leaned more towards the former. The risk of a substitute was still somewhat large. After all, unlike replacing the Third Kazekage during the Chūnin Exams just for the short duration of the Konoha Crush plan. This Otogakure needed more time for planning. So, to avoid being discovered with other clues, Shinji felt it was more fitting for Orochimaru to control the Daimyō of the Land of Rice Paddies with genjutsu.

"Fufufu, indeed nothing can be hidden from Boss Shinji. Correct. The current Daimyō of the Land of Rice Paddies is indeed controlled by me using genjutsu. Otherwise, it would be difficult to achieve such a scale in just half a year," Orochimaru directly admitted. Remember, attacking a Daimyō itself was a great crime, yet Orochimaru directly admitted it to Shinji.

"Then, so now the Land of Rice Paddies and Otogakure are actually one person's world."

"Yes. So I now formally invite Boss Shinji to come here and become my partner. Of course, I will reserve the best location in Otogakure for you to use as a new All-Purpose Shop address," Orochimaru licked his lips, his yellow pupils reflecting Shinji's image.

"Then... partnerships are always two-way. What do I need to give, and what can I get?" Shinji sneered slightly.

"What Boss Shinji needs to provide is intelligence and spending a few days each month stationed at the All-Purpose Shop here. If I'm not around, Boss Shinji needs to make decisions regarding Otogakure matters. Also, the future development of Otogakure requires Boss Shinji's advice," Orochimaru flicked his tongue. He had actually considered this matter for a long time. So, taking advantage of this time, Orochimaru directly brought the matter out into the open.

"Then, what can I get?"

"One point was already mentioned: a new All-Purpose Shop in the best location here. Also, all year-end dividends of Otogakure will include a share for Boss Shinji. All institutions under Otogakure require Boss Shinji's approval. Of course, you also have veto power over some of my matters."

"What I get seems more like another responsibility."

"Of course. I also have one greatest benefit I can give to Boss Shinji," Orochimaru suddenly held up one finger.

"What benefit?"

"I can let all the people in Otogakure come to the All-Purpose Shop once a week for consultation and give payment. I will cover this expense separately," Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, looking at Shinji.

"Why say that?"

"Boss Shinji... actually, the transaction rate of the All-Purpose Shop is also very important to you, right?" Orochimaru looked as if he saw through everything. Almost like: Boss Shinji, you wouldn't want the secret of the All-Purpose Shop to be known by Hiruzen Sarutobi, right? Be good... Ahem.

"Oh? Why does Lord Orochimaru think so?" Shinji looked at Orochimaru with a half-smile, something else already appearing in his eyes.

"I was just thinking. Whether it's true or not, I don't know. But the proposal for partnership, Boss Shinji?" Orochimaru avoided Shinji's gaze, instead turning his head to look towards Otogakure's location.

"The partnership proposal... seems quite interesting. Alright. But let me clarify first, I won't necessarily come here for many days each month," Shinji gave a heads-up first.

"No problem with that. Then, happy cooperation?"

"Happy cooperation."

[Ding]

[Congratulations Host for completing the mission]

[Mission: Orochimaru's Contract]

[Mission 1: Fulfill the contract with Orochimaru. Reward: Zhongli Roleplay Progress +0.3%!]

[Mission Progress: Completed]

[Mission 2: Become Orochimaru's partner. Reward: 1000 Points!]

[Mission Progress: Completed]

Just as Shinji agreed to this matter, dinging sounds immediately echoed from the system. Shinji himself had almost forgotten about this mission to become Orochimaru's partner. But getting 1000 points was still quite good.

[Ding]

[Triggered follow-up mission]

[Build Otogakure into one of the Six Great Shinobi Villages of the ninja world]

[Mission Reward: Zhongli Roleplay Progress +5%, Permanent Roleplay Card Usage +1]

Looking at the follow-up prompt in the system, Shinji's eyes narrowed slightly. This mission reward was very rich. Let alone just 5% Zhongli roleplay progress, just the +1 usage count for the permanent roleplay card was an incredibly rare good thing.

After all, no matter how much Shinji increased Zhongli's roleplay progress now, remember, each roleplay duration was only a short 30 minutes. Besides those time-extending blue pills in the system, Shinji still needed some other roleplay cards to expand his new ability duration. Therefore, after considering this mission, Shinji still accepted it.

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