Orochimaru, the Most Cautious Man in the Ninja World!

"Given the current situation, if we were to clash with Senior Orochimaru, the lives of these Iburi Clan members would be difficult to preserve."

The emotions in Yuzuru Hyuga's eyes beneath his mask were impossible to discern, but the Iburi Clan members who heard his words couldn't help giving this mature young man—so at odds with his appearance—complicated looks.

Great interest flickered in Orochimaru's snake-like eyes. Having already calculated the distance of the pursuing forces, he did not mind spending a little time to seize this rare opportunity to speak with Yuzuru Hyuga.

"To be honest, the moment Senior Orochimaru appeared, I had Kakashi cancel his summoning technique, using that to alert the other ninja hound and have it raise the alarm. If nothing unexpected happens, Konoha's reinforcements should arrive in about ten minutes."

The instant those words were spoken, Orochimaru's cold snake eyes swept over the Iburi Clan members nearby. Yet he found not the slightest trace of doubt or surprise in their eyes. Instead, they seemed greatly reassured, glaring at him with defiant resentment.

So it was true?

Tch. What a cautious junior.

After pondering for a moment, Orochimaru decided not to waste any more time.

"Tell me your terms." He fixed Yuzuru Hyuga with a cold gaze, unwilling to exchange any more pointless words.

Kakashi remained silent. His Sharingan slowly turned as he vigilantly watched Orochimaru's every move, inwardly shocked—this guy really had some nerve.

Yuzuru Hyuga had never sent Kakashi to notify any other Konoha shinobi. He had already decided not to let Konoha get involved. All of it was merely an extension of his lie. Yet the Iburi Clan members, whom he had already deceived once, had now become one of the pieces of evidence that made Orochimaru believe him completely.

"Senior Orochimaru wants to use a blood-sucking secret technique to obtain this group's temporary smoke-form kekkei genkai, doesn't he?"

"Yukimi, the Iburi Clan's only girl at present, is probably Senior Orochimaru's target."

"Without harming her life, Senior Orochimaru may drink her blood and leave."

"What do you think?"

Yuzuru Hyuga's proposal made Orochimaru hesitate. The first thought that sprang into his mind was to take this opportunity to kill Yuzuru Hyuga first.

If this brat kept growing, he would sooner or later become a towering pillar of Konoha—especially if he were used by the Third.

But Orochimaru quickly abandoned that thought.

If he were at full strength, he would at least test Yuzuru Hyuga's mettle first. If he could end things quickly, he would kill him.

But after using a Shadow Clone to probe Yuzuru Hyuga and Kakashi's strength, he had a rough understanding. If those two risked their lives to hold him back, then in his current state, it would be difficult for him to end the battle swiftly.

If he used certain forbidden techniques to preserve his life, complications might arise during his escape afterward. And if things came to mutual destruction, the Iburi Clan members would die as well. Without their smoke-form bloodline, he would find it difficult to escape the pursuing forces along his planned route.

After briefly weighing the pros and cons, Orochimaru made his decision—preserving his life was more important.

He was not someone swayed by emotion. Staying alive was his only goal.

There was no need to add unnecessary risks, was there?

"A fine deal. Where is that little Iburi Clan girl now?"

Orochimaru licked his lips and gazed deeply at Yuzuru Hyuga's mask. In those eyes that showed no ripples, he seemed to foresee an interesting future.

This fellow did not look like someone the Third could easily control.

He would leave him alive to give the Third a headache.

It would be even better if he could turn Konoha upside down.

Yuzuru Hyuga did not hesitate. He turned and nodded, and Kakashi let out an almost inaudible sigh. Bringing his hands together, he activated the summoning technique. When it took effect, a ninja hound appeared beside them.

The forehead protector-wearing ninja hound lay on the ground with an uncomfortable expression. After a while, a wisp of green smoke drifted from its nose. Yukimi Iburi, her eyes full of hatred, took human form. Then she clutched the curse mark on the back of her neck and snarled, "I'll definitely kill you, Orochimaru!"

Orochimaru smiled noncommittally. He could not even be bothered to give such an immature little thing a proper look, merely watching Yuzuru Hyuga calmly. "When we meet again, let's have a proper talk."

His snake eyes stared coldly and deeply at Yuzuru Hyuga. His neck stretched out, and like some monster, his head shot forward and bit into Yukimi Iburi's neck.

Yukimi Iburi could not resist at all. The curse mark left her entire body stiff, and she could only cry out in unbearable pain as she fixed Orochimaru's eyes with a venomous glare.

So fragile.

Orochimaru merely thought it was dull. The life and death of the girl before him rested on a single thought of his. For such a weak existence, whether hatred or adoration, both were useless things as fleeting as illusions.

If he bit her to death right now, the expression on that brat called Yuzuru Hyuga's face would surely be wonderful.

As he drank her blood, he watched Yuzuru Hyuga and let out an eerie, terrifying chuckle. Yet when the forbidden technique was complete, he still obediently pulled his head back.

As he had said, survival came first.

Even after obtaining the Iburi Clan's bloodline, he could not become immune to the fatal flaw of their ability. If he transformed into smoke and was dispersed, he might be unable to fully recover his human form.

To ensure he could retreat safely before Konoha's people arrived, he would rather rein in his "perverse amusement" for now.

"Not a bad flavor." Orochimaru licked his lips and deliberately looked at the powerless Iburi Clan girl sprawled on the ground, curling his lips. "What a pity."

He glanced at Yuzuru Hyuga and wasted no more time.

"The deal is complete." Orochimaru leaped up, transforming into smoke as he passed through the opening above the tree hollow.

As the most cautious man in the ninja world, Orochimaru never hesitated when it was time to run.

Yuzuru Hyuga's Byakugan remained fixed on Orochimaru's chakra mass until he had completely gone far away. Only then did he glance at the Iburi Clan members, who were trying hard to suppress their curse marks but still struggled to regain their strength, and nod to Kakashi.

His Byakugan was not afraid of any smoke-form ability. So long as there was chakra, he could see it no matter what it transformed into. That was the power of the Byakugan.

Moreover, as he quietly looked at the system text appearing before his eyes, Yuzuru Hyuga was rendered speechless. That worked too?

You defeated Orochimaru. Free Experience +2171!

This was an outstanding battle in which the weak defeated the strong and ingenuity broke the deadlock. Victory was achieved without drawing blood. Free Experience +1021.

Could this count as his victory, even if Orochimaru had only been severely wounded, even if he had merely defeated one of his Shadow Clones, and then relied entirely on words to force him back?

This free experience... As expected of one of the Sannin!

If he could have a fierce, all-out battle with Orochimaru at his peak, that one man alone would probably provide at least ten thousand points of free experience, wouldn't he? Training alone would likely take months of hard work to match that.

Kakashi merely pulled his mask back over his Sharingan without expression, then formed hand seals. "Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu."

A small dog appeared beside him, tongue hanging out.

"I'm counting on you. Go inform the ANBU comrades that Orochimaru has acquired the Iburi Clan's kekkei genkai and escaped from here in the form of smoke."

The ninja hound nodded and ran off. Only then did the members of the Iburi Clan raise their heads in stunned disbelief and stare at Yuzuru Hyuga.

Wait.

Weren't you already...!?

Yet Yuzuru Hyuga merely acted as though he knew nothing. "Are you all right?"

He crouched down and touched Yukimi Iburi's neck. Fortunately, traces of smoke lingered within her blood. The smoke around her neck writhed and rapidly filled the wound—the blood she had lost could not be recovered, but the bleeding could at least be stopped.

It had to be said that if this clan's bloodline could be developed and no longer went out of control so easily, then paired with suitable ninjutsu developed around it, they would absolutely leave their name in the ninja world.

Gota Iburi struggled to stand upright. Although the Cursed Seal of Heaven had gradually stabilized after Orochimaru left, having witnessed Orochimaru's merciless actions and his naked killing intent toward them, there was no doubt that their faith had shattered.

There was no hope left.

The cursed seal was fake. The so-called treatment had been fake as well.

Everything they had hoped and longed for vanished like smoke at that moment. The flame of hope abruptly went out, leaving only the darkness of despair to spread, as if they had fallen into an abyss in an instant.

PS: I looked into it carefully and discovered that after the Third Great Ninja War ended, Iwagakure, like Kumogakure, was still constantly having small conflicts with Konoha.

There isn't much specific information, though. I could only find scattered bits from Kabuto's parts in the manga. If any of you have detailed information, feel free to tell me, or just let me know where I can find the material.

Were there any notable figures in Iwagakure during this period who could take part in the war?