Greed! The Thirst for Power!

Secret underground research base.

"Chidori!"

Amid flashing thunder and birdsong, a bolt of lightning streaked past. Inside the base, Uchiha Yoru's Two-Tomoe Sharingan emerged in his eyes. With one hand, he completed a Chidori thrust, but the figure he struck turned directly into yellow mud. In an instant, the straight sword at his waist was already drawn.

Clang! Clang!

His straight sword struck a kunai in an instant. The next moment, Uchiha Yoru charged forward like lightning without letting up. His exquisite swordsmanship flashed, leaving behind nothing but a sheet of icy light.

Within that cold gleam stood Orochimaru. He wore a casual expression and an unsettling smile, gripping a kunai in both hands as he continuously blocked the attacks.

"Your swordsmanship is not bad. If your mastery of Lightning Release were a little stronger, and you grasped chakra nature transformation, only then would you be able to display this sword's true power."

As Orochimaru gave his fair assessment, the blade flashed past him. In the next instant, Orochimaru turned into a Mud Clone once more. Seeing this, Uchiha Yoru could not help but cry out in surprise. The Sannin truly were terrifying—their hand seal speed was not inferior in the slightest. After all, Orochimaru's hand seal stat in the records had reached the maximum value.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

With a sudden shout, Orochimaru appeared overhead at some unknown point. Forming hand seals with one hand, he suddenly expelled a powerful gale from his mouth.

By the time Uchiha Yoru noticed, it was already too late. Facing the raging wind sweeping toward him, he could only hurriedly assume a defensive stance.

Rumble—

In an instant, the ground split apart. The gale tore through the area, even ripping up a layer of earth.

At last, amid the swirling dust and smoke, Orochimaru slowly landed. He smiled at the figure within the haze, his hoarse laughter echoing out.

"Heh heh, is this the terror of Kekkei Genkai? Lord Yoru, it seems your talent has been unlocked alongside the advancement of your Kekkei Genkai. In the mere two months since then, your Chakra talent—in both quantity and circulation control—has already surpassed that of ordinary shinobi."

With a hoarse smile, Orochimaru stared at the silhouette in the thick fog with a bizarre gaze, as though admiring a work of art. Finally, he let out a low chuckle.

"Interesting. Far too interesting. The human body truly possesses endless treasures."

It was not only Kekkei Genkai families. Some ordinary shinobi were unremarkable in the early stages, but after reaching a certain threshold and breaking through later on, they would suddenly become exceptionally gifted in a particular field.

Kekkei Genkai seemed even more obvious in this regard. Whenever one awakened or advanced, the body would undergo a very noticeable enhancement. The most typical example was Haku. After fully awakening his Kekkei Genkai, he instantly killed everyone. Before fully awakening it, he had been very weak.

As the dust dispersed, Uchiha Yoru emerged coughing repeatedly. His entire body was filled with stinging pain, and he grimaced as he walked out. Looking at Orochimaru in the distance, who wore that eerie smile, he gave a bitter smile. "Teacher Orochimaru, that was far too ruthless."

That C-Rank Ninjutsu had been like a hurricane in Orochimaru's hands. Of course, he had held back, but when the gale swept directly over him, Uchiha Yoru had clearly felt as though he could barely breathe. As the hurricane engulfed him, it was as if he had entered a space of crushing gravity, while his entire body felt as though it had been scrubbed raw with Steel Wire.

It hurt like hell!

Looking at his cheap disciple, Orochimaru revealed an eerie, hoarse smile. "Heh heh, Yoru, your recent progress has been quite good."

After saying that, Orochimaru's body suddenly burst into a puff of white smoke. Uchiha Yoru, standing in the distance, could only smile bitterly. The Shadow Clone Jutsu? It was absurdly powerful.

Without truly facing it, one could not understand the terror of Kage-level strength. It was simply not on the same level. Uchiha Yoru now muttered to himself that he truly could not comprehend how terrifying it was for Uchiha Itachi, after awakening the Mangekyo, to defeat Orochimaru in an instant.

A genius? Even geniuses came in different grades.

Looking at his clothes, which had already been shredded, Uchiha Yoru went aside with an aching heart to change out of the tattered outfit the hurricane had ruined. He could not help muttering, "These clothes are so expensive."

With a creak, he pushed open the door and entered. In the laboratory, Orochimaru was carefully mixing test tubes. Uchiha Yoru had already changed into brand-new clothes, and after entering, he familiarly picked up the documents at the side.

Looking at the materials in his hand, Uchiha Yoru began taking notes. At the same time, he said to Orochimaru, "Teacher Orochimaru, the Konoha Military Police Force's Seventh Division will obey your orders from now on."

Orochimaru, who was intently watching his experiment nearby, showed a distinct flicker of emotion upon hearing this. Then he revealed a hoarse smile.

"Heh heh, I have received the Uchiha's sincerity. I simply wonder, under what circumstances would this so-called obedience apply?"

Uchiha Yoru smiled directly at those words. "Teacher Orochimaru, I am the squad leader of the Seventh Division. Naturally, it will follow your orders."

In other words, although I am an Uchiha, I am now completely bound to you, Teacher.

Hearing this, Orochimaru revealed an evil smile and slowly put down what he was holding. He turned to look at his cheap disciple and immediately laughed.

"The Seventh Division seems to have become a sieve already."

As expected! Uchiha Yoru was secretly startled. He had known that Orochimaru had likely already investigated Konoha's recent movements thoroughly.

Although the Seventh Division was the Uchiha Clan's gesture of goodwill toward Orochimaru, it had likewise been infiltrated by various forces. After all, great clans never placed all their bets on a single option.

"Heh heh, Teacher, rest assured. The Seventh Division still has an elite unit from the Uchiha Clan."

That meant: Teacher, rest assured. The Seventh Division would handle certain troublesome Root missions. After all, he still had that elite unit in his hands. Clearly, he was referring to Shisui's elite unit.

"Heh heh, Lord Yoru, do you know what I saw in your eyes the first time I met you?"

Orochimaru suddenly revealed an eerie smile. Seeing this, Uchiha Yoru also became curious and could not help asking, "Please tell me, Teacher."

As for being wary of Orochimaru? With the vast gap in their strength, no amount of caution would be of any use.

Especially after spending this period of time together, Orochimaru's unique personal charm was indeed captivating and reassuring—especially toward those with value to offer. More importantly, Orochimaru had not yet developed a morbid obsession with the Sharingan.

Orochimaru stuck out his tongue and wickedly licked his lips, staring at Uchiha Yoru as he gave a hoarse laugh.

"Heh heh, Lord Yoru, your eyes are filled with greed, as well as an endless thirst for power!"

Greed! The thirst for power!

Uchiha Yoru was merely stunned for a moment by that assessment before smiling. He had never concealed any of it. In this dangerous Shinobi World, could even a Jōnin truly claim to hold his own life in his hands? Let alone him, an Uchiha. All his greed paved the way toward power.

"Then, Teacher Orochimaru, do you have any plans for the current situation?"

Everything Konoha had done was plainly laid out in the open, yet Orochimaru seemed to have accepted it. Not only did he not resist, he instead hid in the shadows. That was what he found difficult to understand.

Thanks to brother 'Book Friend 20220317101836342' for the 100-point reward, and to 'Book Friend 20180828083750703' for the 100-point reward. Thanks to all brothers for your support.