For the Uchiha! I'm Sorry, Elder!

The Orochimaru before him was still wearing Konoha's jonin green vest uniform, with long black hair, golden vertical pupils, purple eyeshadow extending to his nose, and pale skin. At this moment, he was watching the two Uchiha with keen interest, licking his lips as he spoke in that hoarse yet magnetic voice: "I've received the Uchiha's goodwill. Someone will arrange things for you once you head down."

The Orochimaru before him still wore the green jonin vest of Konoha, with long black hair, golden slit pupils, purple eyeshadow extending to his nostrils, and pale skin. He now gazed with interest at the two Uchiha before him, licked his lips, and spoke in that hoarse yet magnetic voice: "I've received the Uchiha's goodwill. Someone will arrange things for you once you go down."

Uchiha Yoru watched Orochimaru before him. The man never cared about others' opinions—if human experimentation could be excused as a pursuit of power or personal interest, then later casually transferring into a woman's body showed he was truly open-minded.

Uchiha Yoru watched Orochimaru before him. If human experimentation could be excused as a pursuit of power or personal interest, then the way he later casually switched into a female body showed that this man truly had an open mind.

Uchiha Shisui smiled upon hearing this, as if the Uchiha's intent had been perfectly delivered and his mission was complete. He nodded respectfully and said, "Thank you, Lord Orochimaru."

Uchiha Shisui smiled at these words, as if the Uchiha's intent had been perfectly delivered and his mission was complete. He nodded respectfully and said, "Thank you, Lord Orochimaru."

Shisui nodded respectfully and was about to leave when he noticed Uchiha Yoru hadn't moved. He wanted to take him along, but Yoru gave him a look, and after a moment of hesitation, Shisui left first.

Shisui bowed respectfully and was about to leave when he noticed Uchiha Yoru hadn't moved. He was about to take him along, but Yoru gave him a look, and after a moment of hesitation, Shisui departed first.

Now only Uchiha Yoru remained in the tent. Orochimaru let out a hoarse laugh of keen interest, a sound that might have been shaped by years of snakes slithering through his throat.

Now only Uchiha Yoru remained in the tent. Orochimaru let out a hoarse, intrigued laugh—whether from years of snakes slithering through his throat, no one could say.

"Heh heh, does Yoru-kun have something else to discuss?"

"Heh heh, does Lord Yoru have something else?"

Orochimaru was undeniably polite. And though Uchiha Yoru knew the course of history, having lived in this world for so many years, he understood that his current strength was only that of a chunin, unable to change anything. For now, he could only strengthen himself and, within his means, try to steer the two Uchiha traitors back on track.

To be fair, Orochimaru was extremely polite. And though Uchiha Yoru knew the course of history, having lived in this world for so many years, he understood that his strength was only that of a chunin—he couldn't change anything yet. For now, he could only strengthen himself and, within his means, try to steer the two traitors of the Uchiha back on track.

"My lord, Uchiha Yoru comes on the orders of the elders."

"My lord, Uchiha Yoru comes on the orders of the Elder."

With these words, he declared his stance. Just now, Uchiha Shisui had represented the goodwill of the entire Uchiha clan; now, he was acting on the elders' orders.

This statement made his stance clear. Earlier, Uchiha Shisui had represented the goodwill of the entire Uchiha Clan. Now, he was here on the Elder's orders.

"After the village endured the Nine-Tails' rampage, the Third Hokage returned to power to stabilize Konoha. Lord Orochimaru is the widely expected Fifth Hokage."

"The village has endured the Nine-Tails' Rampage. The Third Hokage has retaken power to stabilize Konoha. Lord Orochimaru is already the widely expected Fifth Hokage."

As he spoke, Uchiha Yoru respectfully observed the early-stage big boss before him. That sinister smile was always so composed, exuding a unique personal charm.

As he spoke, Yoru respectfully observed the early-stage big boss before him. That sinister smile was always so composed, exuding a unique charisma.

Orochimaru was now studying the Uchiha chunin with keen interest—or rather, he wanted to hear what this Uchiha elder's envoy had to say. After all, it was quite interesting, wasn't it?

Now Orochimaru was even more intrigued, studying the Uchiha chunin before him—or rather, he wanted to hear what this Uchiha Elder's intentions were. After all, it was quite interesting, wasn't it?

"Lord Orochimaru is in the prime of your life, yet you are blocking the schemes of those in the shadows. If you ascend as the Fifth Hokage, those hidden figures will have no hope in their lifetimes. Moreover, the Sarutobi clan does not want the Third to step down again, nor do the village's higher-ups."

"Lord Orochimaru is in the prime of your life, and you are currently blocking the schemes of those in the shadows. If you ascend to the position of Fifth Hokage, those in the dark will have no hope in their lifetimes. Moreover, the Sarutobi Clan does not wish for the Third to step down again, nor do the village's higher-ups."

After saying this, Uchiha Yoru respectfully admired the legendary ninja Orochimaru. Orochimaru was startled at first, then a smile spread across his face, and he licked his lips, letting out that unique hoarse laugh.

After saying this, Yoru respectfully admired the legendary ninja before him. Orochimaru was startled at first, then a smile spread across his face. He licked his lips and let out that uniquely hoarse laugh.

"Interesting, interesting. I didn't expect Yoru-kun to be not only an Uchiha genius but also a confidant of the elders."

"Interesting, interesting. I didn't expect Lord Yoru to be not only an Uchiha genius but also the Elder's confidant."

At fourteen, a chunin who had just awakened a single-tomoe Sharingan—a genius, yes, but a mediocre one in Orochimaru's eyes. Yet he had caught the attention of the Uchiha elders, which piqued Orochimaru's interest.

At fourteen years old, a chunin who had just awakened the One-Tomoe Sharingan—though a genius by normal standards, in Orochimaru's eyes, he was merely an average one. Yet this boy had caught the Uchiha Elder's attention, and that piqued Orochimaru's interest.

A fourteen-year-old chunin was decent, especially with a bloodline limit awakened; the future held promise. Asuma Sarutobi became a chunin at twelve, Kurenai Yuhi at thirteen, Anko at twelve. (Recorded data.)

A fourteen-year-old chunin was decent, especially with a bloodline limit awakened—promising for the future. Sarutobi Asuma became a chunin at twelve, Yūhi Kurenai at thirteen, and Anko at twelve. (Recorded data.)

Seeing that Orochimaru, one of the Three Ninja, wasn't moved by the information he'd provided but instead took an interest in him, Uchiha Yoru felt a chill of dread. Damn it, don't let that happen.

Seeing that Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, wasn't moved by the information he'd provided but instead took an interest in him, a chill ran down Yoru's spine. Damn it, don't let it be that.

"Because of this face!"

"Because of this face!"

Uchiha Yoru quickly explained, not wanting any misunderstandings. If something went wrong, it would be too late.

Yoru quickly explained. He didn't want any misunderstandings—if something went wrong, it would be too late.

"Face?" Orochimaru, though a genius, was momentarily puzzled by this statement. Uchiha Yoru forced a friendly smile and nodded: "It's because of Lord Orochimaru's disciple, Anko. Anko and I were in the same class."

Face? Though Orochimaru was a genius, he was momentarily puzzled by this statement. Yoru put on a friendly smile and nodded. "It's because of Lord Orochimaru's disciple, Anko. Anko and I were in the same class."

At this, Orochimaru's keen expression stiffened. It wasn't that he wasn't smart—he just hadn't made the connection. His interest waned by three parts, and he let out a laugh tinged with boredom and even a hint of disdain.

Hearing this, Orochimaru's intrigued expression stiffened. It wasn't that he wasn't sharp—he just hadn't connected the dots. His interest waned by three parts, and he let out a laugh tinged with boredom and even a hint of disdain.

The methods of a major clan—after all, they excelled at such manipulations. Ninjas thrived on deception, and a handsome face could be used to deceive some, especially female ninjas. Seduction wasn't unheard of; there were plenty of cases. Some for missions, some for espionage, and some for political marriages—all for profit.

The methods of Konoha's great clans—they excelled at such games. Ninjas were deception, and a handsome face could naturally be used to deceive others, especially female ninjas. Seduction wasn't unheard of; in fact, it was common. Some did it for missions, some for espionage, and others for marriage alliances. In short, it was all for profit.

Seeing Orochimaru's waning interest, Uchiha Yoru breathed a silent sigh of relief. As long as he lost interest in his body, that was fine. But he couldn't lose interest entirely—though it was contradictory, he still needed to leverage some intel for his own gain. Silently, he apologized to the elder.

Seeing Orochimaru's apparent loss of interest, Yoru breathed a silent sigh of relief. As long as you lose interest in my body, that's fine. But he couldn't afford to lose his interest entirely—contradictory as it was, he still needed to use some intel to gain benefits for himself. He silently apologized to the Elder in his heart.

"Lord Orochimaru!"

"Lord Orochimaru!"

Uchiha Yoru's face turned serious, and his single-tomoe Sharingan flickered in his eyes as he glanced around. Seeing this, Orochimaru's interest was piqued again. He licked his tongue and laughed hoarsely: "Yoru-kun is quite cautious. Don't worry, no one is here—not even my people."

As he spoke, Yoru's face turned serious, and his eyes revealed the One-Tomoe Sharingan. He glanced around the surroundings. Seeing this, Orochimaru's interest was piqued once more. He licked his tongue and laughed hoarsely. "Lord Yoru is quite cautious. Don't worry, no one is here—not even my people."

As the frontline commander, Orochimaru naturally had subordinates. Having been a strong contender for the Fourth Hokage, he had a loyal following in the village, including sensory-type ninjas.

As the frontline commander, Orochimaru naturally had subordinates. Especially as a strong contender for the Fourth Hokage, he had a loyal following in the village, including sensory-type ninjas.

Uchiha Yoru breathed another sigh of relief at Orochimaru's words. This time, he was about to drop a bombshell. He needed to achieve two things: first, make Orochimaru believe he was a confidant of the Uchiha elders; second, showcase the Uchiha's intelligence capabilities.

Hearing this, Yoru breathed another sigh of relief. This time, he was about to drop a bombshell. He had to achieve two things: first, make Orochimaru believe he was the Uchiha Elder's confidant; second, showcase the Uchiha's intelligence capabilities.

"Human experimentation!"

"Human experimentation!"

After spitting out these four words, Uchiha Yoru fell silent, and the air grew heavy with tension.

After Yoru uttered these four words, he fell silent. Even the air seemed to grow heavy with tension.

After a long pause, Orochimaru's hoarse laugh echoed through the tent, carrying an air of indifference, as if he had never feared being discovered.

After a long pause, Orochimaru's hoarse laughter echoed through the tent, carrying an air of indifference, as if he had never cared about the panic of being discovered.

"Wood Release!"

"Wood Release!"

When those two words were uttered, Orochimaru's pale golden pupils sharply contracted. A flash of killing intent cut through the air, sending a cold sweat down Uchiha Yoru's back and making every hair on his body stand on end.

When those two words were spoken, Orochimaru's pale golden pupils sharply contracted. A flash of killing intent cut through the air, sending a cold sweat down Yoru's back and making every hair on his body stand on end.

"Heh heh, it seems the Uchiha behind Yoru-kun know quite a lot."

"Heh heh, it seems the Uchiha behind Lord Yoru know quite a lot."

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, analyzing internally. Impossible. Human experiments might not escape the notice of keen observers, but Wood Release was known only to him and Danzo in all of Konoha, plus a few Root members. He never considered Root—Danzo's methods were no joke.

At this, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, analyzing silently. Impossible. Human experimentation might not escape the eyes of the observant, but Wood Release—only Danzo and he knew about it in all of Konoha, along with a few Root members. He had never considered Root, after all, Danzo's methods were no joke.

Given Danzo's hostility toward the Uchiha, there was no way he would leak it. That left only one possibility: the Uchiha's covert intelligence capabilities far exceeded his imagination. A smile spread across his face, and his interest reignited.

Given Danzo's hatred for the Uchiha, there was no way he would leak it. That left only one possibility: the Uchiha's covert intelligence capabilities far exceeded his imagination. A smile spread across his face, and his interest surged.

Guess what it would take to win over Snake-sama and earn a place in his eyes.

Guess what kind of benefit it would take to move Snake Uncle and earn a place in his sights.