Poaching Orochimaru's Talent

He was even a little baffled. Had such a foolish decision really been made by the wise Mizukage?

No matter how he looked at it, it did not seem likely!

Could they really continue to command respect and loyalty after doing this?

Yuan Long was utterly perplexed, but he did not have the courage to question Yagura, so he could only withdraw.

He did not know that after he left—

The masked man appeared behind Yagura once more and said coldly, "As long as I am here, Kirigakure can forget about producing a single genius!"

"This is my punishment for your Kirigakure. You are destined to sink into decline and will never prosper!"

Ye Liangnai probably had no idea that his outstanding performance had earned him a dangerous package deal.

At that moment, he hurriedly put on his clothes and headed outside.

Mei Terumi was somewhat confused by this. What was going on? Why was he so worked up?

Ye Liangnai hurried through Kirigakure with a face full of regret!

He blamed himself for forgetting something so important.

"Kimimaro, Kimimaro, you must not go with Orochimaru!"

"It would be such a shame for a precious talent like you to leave Kirigakure!"

Only after returning home and soaking in the bath for a while did he remember that Kimimaro Kaguya had always been imprisoned as a monster.

That meant he definitely had not participated in this war.

Since that was the case, failing to bring such a genius under his wing would be an enormous waste.

If he wanted to revitalize Kirigakure, talent was indispensable!

Kimimaro was one of them!

Kaguya Clan compound!

When Ye Liangnai arrived at the Kaguya Clan compound according to his memories of the original story, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Kimimaro was still there, still locked in a cage. He was even holding a flower and carefully tending to it!

"Who are you? Leave now, quickly!!!"

"Otherwise, I am afraid I might lose control and kill you!"

To be honest, although Kimimaro was still young, he had fair skin and a pretty—

Cough, cough, cough. Fair skin and handsome features, a living, breathing beautiful young man.

Even though he was baring his teeth and growling lowly at Ye Liangnai, Ye Liangnai simply could not associate him with a monster.

If one had to ask why, it was because good looks were justice!

"My name is Ye Liangnai! Kimimaro, let's be friends!" Ye Liangnai cleaved open the cage and let Kimimaro out.

"Friends? Is that really okay? Aren't you afraid I'll lose control and kill you?"

Upon hearing Ye Liangnai's words, Kimimaro Kaguya's eyes immediately lit up, filled with hope.

All this time, his clansmen had treated him like a monster and avoided him at all costs.

Yet now, someone was actually willing to be his friend. His heart trembled for no reason.

"I'm not worried! I believe I have the strength to stop you. Besides, I believe you would never lay a hand on your own friend!"

Ye Liangnai smiled, then gave Kimimaro a Might Guy-style smile. "Simply being alive has no meaning in itself."

"But if you keep living, perhaps you will encounter interesting people and interesting things. Just like how you encountered that flower, and how I encountered you!"

"Kimimaro, come on. A greater New World is waiting for you ahead!"

Hearing this, Kimimaro's gaze gradually became resolute. Then he said, "Mm, you're right! I want to live, to live for a friend like you!"

Hearing that, Ye Liangnai was immediately overjoyed.

Kimimaro Kaguya successfully lured in!

As for his bloodline disease, it was not impossible to treat.

Ye Liangnai had once read relevant materials.

In a certain small country, there was a medicinal herb called the Twin Blossom Fruit. It had an exceptionally good therapeutic effect on Kimimaro's illness.

He believed he could extend Kimimaro's life.

Of course, he definitely could not bring Kimimaro Kaguya back to Kirigakure right now.

Bringing him back at this moment would be no different from courting death!

He told Kimimaro to wait for him for three years at most, and then he would welcome Kimimaro back to the village.

Before then, Kimimaro would have to endure wandering around the Land of Water for a while.

Kimimaro had no objections to this decision.

However, sometimes the surprises Heaven bestowed were simply too generous.

While Ye Liangnai acted cautiously to avoid running into Orochimaru.

He actually encountered another orphan from a clan that Kirigakure had exterminated.

The cross-dressing master, Yuki Haku!

Although Ye Liangnai could not understand why Haku, whose surname had never been mentioned in the original story, had become a member of the Yuki Clan.

Since that was the reality, he naturally chose to accept it.

Haku was also someone who did not know why he was alive, and even doubted whether being alive was a mistake.

As for this kind of "lost" youth, the warmhearted student Ye Liangnai naturally "reasoned with him and moved him with emotion."

Then, Yuki Haku was successfully lured in!

Uncle Ye Liangnai truly lived up to his reputation!

And after suddenly gaining another companion, both Kimimaro Kaguya and Yuki Haku were happy for each other.

Especially since they were both fallen souls at the ends of the earth!

"Phew, finally done. Obito Uchiha probably didn't notice, right? If he did, it would be over!"

Only after sending Kimimaro Kaguya away did Ye Liangnai think of this, and he could not help wiping away the cold sweat that had frightened him onto his forehead.

Getting two living people out really had been a little difficult.

Fortunately, his Anbu identity gave him permission to enter and leave through another gate.

In addition, the Kaguya Clan had just been exterminated, and there were too many matters to deal with. Hardly anyone paid attention to a small fry like him.

However, Ye Liangnai did not know that there had originally been an eighty percent chance that his little actions would be discovered.

After all, this small place called Kirigakure was entirely under the control of Obito Uchiha, the masked man.

But Orochimaru, who had infiltrated Kirigakure today to take advantage of the chaos and gather some resources—and whose prospect Ye Liangnai had poached—helped hold off the masked man.

Thus, Ye Liangnai completed everything without incident, despite the scare.

After all, compared to a small fry like him, Orochimaru was far more threatening.

At that moment, near another gate of Kirigakure, Fourth Mizukage Yagura and a group of Mist Ninja were confronting Orochimaru, one of the Three Sannin.

"Orochimaru, you really have some nerve, infiltrating Kirigakure."

"Since you're here, don't even think about leaving! Come with me, capture Orochimaru!"

Although Obito Uchiha had controlled him with genjutsu, Yagura's strength as a perfect Jinchuriki was beyond question.

Even in a one-on-one fight, he was more than capable of matching Orochimaru.

Not to mention that he had a group of Kirigakure elites assisting him.

Even Orochimaru could only retreat in a sorry state.

It was unrealistic for a single ninja to fight an entire ninja village.

"Pass down the order: strengthen the defenses at every entrance. This must never be allowed to happen again!"

"As one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, how can Kirigakure allow others to invade so easily?" Yagura said in an extremely cold tone.

"Yes!" the Mist Ninja answered in unison.

But there was a reason Yagura gave such an order.

Because—