[Pirate] I! Orochimaru! I will never split! Chapter 099

Moriah snapped back to reality, his eyes fixed on Orochimaru’s shadow clone, his voice growing sharp: “You… you, someone who hasn’t even stepped into the New World, know Kaido?! Not only that, you even know about what happened twenty-three years ago! Who exactly are you?”

Orochimaru’s clone sighed helplessly, wondering if people in this pirate world had no brains. He couldn’t be bothered to argue with Moriah, so he simply pulled a newspaper from his pocket (from the system) and casually tossed it over.

“Don’t you know there’s something called a newspaper in this world?” Orochimaru said indifferently.

Moriah looked at the newspaper from 23 years ago, his eyes dark, even carrying a hint of sadness, but these thoughts quickly dissipated. A sneer appeared on his lips, and his gaze became increasingly unbridled, openly sizing up the person on his shoulder.

“Hehehehe… It’s fine if you don’t show this newspaper, but don’t you know that this kind of newspaper is only sold in the New World?” Moriah observed Orochimaru carefully, suddenly recalling his first bounty poster, and smiled meaningfully, “Ninja? Wano… Noble!!”

Orochimaru’s clone looked at the middle-aged, overweight shut-in in front of him with a headache, sighing inwardly. Sure enough, knowing too much wasn’t good; one lie required countless others to cover it up. However, he didn’t pay attention to Moriah’s erratic behavior, merely watching him silently.

Moriah, seeing that he was ignored, felt bored and began to ramble again: “What, do you want to get your captain’s shadow back? Let me tell you, with this shadow, I can create the strongest zombie! Then, as long as I can defeat Kaido! I’ll quickly become the Pirate King! Hehehehe…”

Orochimaru’s clone listened to Moriah’s confident words about Luffy’s shadow and couldn’t help but feel speechless. If Kaido saw Luffy now, Orochimaru was afraid Luffy would be pulverized by one hit from Kaido, shattered into pieces, so much so that Orochimaru doubted he could save him.

As for Moriah’s talk of using Luffy’s shadow to create the strongest zombie, that was pure fantasy.

Orochimaru’s clone said mockingly, “I don’t intend to save him, do as you please. I just want to see your so-called great masterpiece. After all, it’s an honor that you think so highly of my captain. But I don’t think your wish will come true. With your bloated figure, let alone Kaido, you can’t even beat Luffy.”

The three people inside Kumashi’s body watched Orochimaru and Moriah chat, anxious to run over. All they could think was, “Hey… clone… don’t forget you’re with us… are you a talkative type of clone (it’s said that every shadow clone has a different personality)… don’t say so much, hurry up and cover us! And where did your main body run off to again! Not in the box!”

———Dividing Line————Orochimaru’s Main Body———

Meanwhile, Orochimaru’s main body, during Moriah’s recent conversation, suddenly thought of a very serious problem: with Luffy’s current strength, even if he was stronger than before, it was far from enough. He frowned, his eyes sharpening, as he pondered inwardly.

He carefully recalled the memories of that Blue Star person, and the images of Kuma on Thriller Bark and the two years of training experiences surfaced in his mind.

He realized that Kuma also clearly knew that the current Luffy was not yet capable of fighting against the powerhouses of the New World. So… was a destined separation inevitable? This question lingered in his mind, plunging him into deep thought.

Orochimaru couldn’t help but recall his own past, having gone through countless partings and challenges to reach where he was today. Perhaps, this was an inevitable path for growth. However, for Luffy, would such a choice be too cruel?

Orochimaru’s heart was filled with contradiction and worry. He didn’t know how to face it, how to explain it to Luffy, and he certainly couldn’t pretend not to know and watch Luffy despair…

At this moment, Orochimaru felt an invisible pressure enveloping him. He needed to seriously consider how to proceed. After all, he knew that Luffy and his crew’s goal was not just to survive and find Laugh Tale, but to become the Pirate King and achieve their dreams. And in this process, there would inevitably be battles and trials awaiting them.

Orochimaru frowned, intending to go and ask Kuma himself. After all, he and Kuma still knew each other. He recalled the memories in his mind; it seemed Kuma had reached some kind of agreement with the World Government, but what exactly was it? This gave him a headache.

Although Luffy didn’t know that Dragon occasionally led the Revolutionary Army back to the East Blue to handle affairs, due to Dragon’s identity needing to be kept secret to prevent others from knowing his relationship with Luffy, Luffy had never met Dragon.

However, Orochimaru didn’t need to worry about such things. Many members of the Revolutionary Army had seen Orochimaru when Sabo was rescued back then, and most of those people were now core members of the Revolutionary Army.

Orochimaru met Dragon in the name of Sabo’s brothers, so no one suspected him. Kuma was one of the few who knew about Luffy and Dragon’s relationship.

According to the Blue Star person’s memories, Kuma should have arrived at Thriller Bark by this time, probably near the coast. Orochimaru flew in the sky, searching.

As expected, in a corner of Thriller Bark, Orochimaru found that tall figure. Kuma held a Den Den Mushi, listening intently to the voice on the other end. When Kuma saw Orochimaru, he hung up the phone.

“The Five Elders, huh?” Orochimaru looked at Kuma’s expression, which was a bit subtle. He had just learned everything about this person from the Blue Star person’s memories, and he had to admit that such a person was both admirable and annoying.

“Mm… I received orders to eliminate the Straw Hat Pirates,” Kuma knelt down, looking at the young man in front of him. He had grown so much, yet he was as small as Ginny once was.

“So… you plan to feign compliance, sacrifice yourself, suffer in silence, and die unknown?” Orochimaru’s voice became low here, even carrying a hint of imperceptible anger.

Kuma lowered his head slightly, saying nothing, but the firmness in his eyes indicated his decision.

Orochimaru looked at the person in front of him, took a deep breath, and tried to control his emotions: “That’s it??? Can’t you say a few more words?!!”

Kuma raised his head, his eyes calmly meeting Orochimaru’s, and slowly said, “I promised Saint Saturn I would undergo Vegapunk’s experiment to erase my consciousness, so I will not eliminate the Straw Hat Pirates. However, I will help Monkey D. Luffy test if his comrades are qualified.”

Orochimaru looked at this person who was beating around the bush: “We don’t need your so-called help! And our comrades don’t need your test, or… have you already undergone part of the experiment?”

Kuma nodded, still expressionless: “The test is necessary… And with their current strength, they won’t be able to survive in the New World. So, if you want to travel, where do you want to go?”

Orochimaru laughed in anger at these words, thinking that Kuma in front of him was utterly foolish. However, Kuma was not affected by Orochimaru’s mockery. He merely looked at Orochimaru calmly, repeating his question: “So, if you want to travel, where do you want to go?”

Orochimaru took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions, but the anger in his heart was still difficult to quell. He suddenly thought of the burning Vivre Card he had just discovered. That idiot, everyone in this world was an idiot!! Orochimaru gritted his teeth, looking at Kuma, and said, “Loguetown.”

“Loguetown????” Kuma was stunned, completely bewildered. Was Orochimaru going back to visit relatives? But that didn’t seem logical; normally, he should return to Foosha Village. Kuma was momentarily confused.

“Are you sure??”

“Confirmed!” Since he couldn’t stop it, he could only deal with the other matter first. However, he still hated people who sacrificed themselves like this, so Orochimaru decided to do something.

A wicked smile played on his lips as he said to Kuma, “Are you done asking? If you are, stand up for a moment and unbutton your clothes.”

Kuma nodded blankly, stood up, and obediently unbuttoned his clothes, looking at Orochimaru with a puzzled expression.

Orochimaru bent his five fingers, and something resembling a bluish flame appeared at his fingertips. An incomprehensible pattern appeared on his palm. Orochimaru slapped Kuma directly on the abdomen. A spiral pattern and some incomprehensible characters instantly appeared where he was struck. Kuma looked at the pattern, a bit dazed.

“What is this?”

Orochimaru clapped his hands maliciously, “I won’t tell you.”

For the first time, Kuma felt… this child seemed a bit annoying.