Deep within one of his many hideouts, Orochimaru was immersed in an almost feverish fervor. Diagrams, ancient scrolls, and biological samples littered his laboratory table.
The image of Satoru Gojo never left his mind, the sensation of his Limitless technique stopping his attack still fresh.
"Incredible... absolutely incredible," he murmured to himself, his fingers drawing complex symbols on a scroll. "His energy is not chakra. It is pure force, a manipulation of space and reality itself. A power unparalleled in this world."
Kabuto, his loyal assistant, approached cautiously. "Have you found anything, Orochimaru-sama?"
"Much, Kabuto," the Sannin replied, his amber eyes glowing with a maniacal light. "This 'Gojo Satoru' is not of this world. And his 'Limitless'... is the key. An ability that defies existence itself, a singularity that could take my research to new heights. If I could unravel its workings... if I could replicate it..."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "But, Orochimaru-sama, your power is so vast. You seem invulnerable."
"Invulnerable for now," Orochimaru hissed, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "But everything has a weak spot. And Gojo Satoru, for all his arrogance, has it. He's young, confident, maybe even a little... boring. We need to lure him out, study his technique closely. And then, that power will be mine."
Orochimaru's obsession had refocused. No longer was Sasuke Uchiha the primary target; now, Gojo Satoru represented the ultimate prize, the pinnacle of knowledge and power he had always yearned for.
Meanwhile, in Konoha, boredom had reached critical levels for Gojo. He had devoured all the Dimensional Ramen, and the remaining options at the Level 1 Dimensional Shop weren't all that exciting.
"Old Hokage!" Gojo exclaimed, bursting into Hiruzen's office unannounced. "I'm bored! There's nothing fun to do in this village! Don't you have exciting missions? Dragons to slay? Villains in ridiculous costumes?"
Hiruzen, who was about to dive into a mountain of paperwork, sighed. "Young Gojo, ninja missions aren't always glamorous. There are D-rank missions, C-rank missions..."
"Ugh! How boring!" Gojo interrupted. "I need something with action. Something to give me an excuse to use my powers. Come on, give me something!"
Just at that moment, a chuunin bustled in. "Hokage-sama! We've received an urgent report! A team of rogue ninjas from Waterfall Village is wreaking havoc near the border, attacking merchant caravans and small towns."
Gojo's eyes lit up. "Ah! That sounds promising! Rogue ninjas? Are they using fancy water jutsus? Maybe explosions?"
Hiruzen looked at him, processing the options. Sending Gojo was a risk, but also an opportunity to contain a threat. And if Gojo was bored, things could get worse.
"Very well, Gojo," Hiruzen said. "It's a B-rank mission. We usually assign it to jōnin-chuunin teams. Their objective is to neutralize the renegades and secure the trade route. There are no confirmed hostages yet."
"Excellent!" Gojo said, stretching his arms. "A tour of the battlefield! Perfect for stretching your legs and maybe finding a good candy stand!"
Thus, Gojo Satoru joined a mission. To the surprise and dismay of the jōnin team who were supposed to "escort" him (but were actually trying to keep an eye on him), Gojo went ahead, his figure disappearing over the horizon in the blink of an eye.
The boredom was over for the blind sorcerer, and the ninja world was about to receive a lesson in what it meant to be "the strongest."