Trading Kou for Teacher Orochimaru

Inside the Konoha Frontline Camp.

Orochimaru stuck out his crimson tongue and stared at him with an intensely perverse gaze. Excitement gleamed in his eyes, as though he were saying that this was not enough—tell him the Uchiha Clan's intelligence and let him see what it really was. As for threats? He had never even considered them.

Threatening one of the Sannin? Were they not afraid he would turn around and join forces with Danzo and all of Konoha against the Uchiha Clan? No one was stupid.

Seeing that Orochimaru's interest had been piqued, Uchiha Yoru secretly rejoiced. Fortunately, he knew how this world would unfold. With information from the future in hand, he was not worried about failing to fool him.

"According to reliable intelligence, one of Lord Orochimaru's Wood Release Experiment Subjects survived by chance and even awakened a Kekkei Genkai. He is currently in Root, codenamed 'Kou.'"

After saying all this, Uchiha Yoru felt even more pleased with himself. He refused to believe that Orochimaru, who had studied all kinds of Konoha records, did not know the true power of Wood Release. Now that he had learned Wood Release had reappeared in the world—and that it was something which had slipped through his fingers—would he not be shocked?

Trading information he had no use for, merely something he knew, for benefits—now that was a worthwhile deal. As for Yamato, the future wood style ninja whose existence he had exposed, what did that have to do with him? Since he knew what would happen in the future, naturally he had to maximize his own interests.

Sure enough, when Orochimaru heard that one of his former Test Subjects had survived and awakened Wood Release, his expression shifted. Yet in only a moment, he suppressed the stirring in his heart and raised his head with interest to look at the Uchiha clansman before him.

"Hehe, it seems the Uchiha Clan's intelligence network is not as rudimentary as I imagined. You can even uncover information from Root."

Orochimaru would have been lying if he said he was not shocked. Root's shinobi had almost all been branded with the Curse Mark of the Tongue. In terms of intelligence secrecy within the Shinobi World, Root certainly ranked among the best, yet the Uchiha Clan had managed to reach into Root.

It was not that the Uchiha Clan lacked the strength. As Konoha's foremost Noble House, its power was beyond doubt. But this was intelligence, not strength.

Just as Uchiha Yoru had expected, Orochimaru credited everything to the Uchiha Clan. After all, not to mention a mere One Tomoe Chūnin like him, even a Three Tomoe Elite Jonin would have been impossible.

"Hehe, Lord Yoru, you are quite impressive. Others only know that you used your appearance to approach Anko and achieve your objective. Most of them have instead focused on another Uchiha Elite Squad. Hehe, yet they do not know that Lord Yoru is the Uchiha Clan's confidant."

Beneath Orochimaru's smiling expression, he had already figured it all out. The Yoru before him was a trusted confidant within the Uchiha Clan. Although his strength was not much to speak of, that was precisely why he could transmit intelligence more effectively.

On the surface, he had used his appearance to approach Orochimaru's student Anko and achieve some objective. In reality, he had been directly delivering intelligence and establishing contact with him. They openly repaired the roads while secretly marching through Chencang—this move by the Uchiha Clan was truly slick. It even delighted him somewhat. He had truly underestimated the Uchiha Clan.

"Then, Lord Yoru, you will form a squad with Anko tomorrow. You can be her teammate."

With a hoarse chuckle, Orochimaru had decided to first grow closer to the Uchiha Clan and see just how much unexpected intelligence they possessed, and how many surprises they could give him.

Upon hearing Orochimaru's arrangement, Uchiha Yoru immediately put on a professional smile, though inwardly he cheered. His objective had finally been achieved. As long as he could quickly get the one million the elders had promised him, he would be one step closer to his plan.

"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru. I only discovered the above intelligence by accident. It seems even the Third does not know of this matter, and this intelligence was investigated under a secret order from the Fourth Hokage."

Uchiha Yoru nodded gratefully and directly shifted the blame once more. The Fourth Hokage was already in the Shinigami's belly, so Orochimaru certainly had no way to verify it. In any case, it had nothing to do with him. He was merely an intelligence courier, and Orochimaru absolutely had to ensure the safety of his line.

Upon hearing this, Orochimaru immediately showed a look of realization. So that was it. No wonder. That explained everything.

Although Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze had only held the position for one year, he was still the Hokage and naturally had to become involved in struggles over power. Moreover, this was the first time in Konoha's history—and even since the founding of shinobi villages—that two Hokage had existed at the same time.

Normally, the former Hokage would either die in battle before the latter succeeded him. When had there ever been such a situation? Naturally, problems arose. The Third was still alive and had not died in battle, so he would naturally retain some of his authority. That was the Anbu directly under the Third's command.

(In the anime, during Nine-Tails Night, someone clearly exclaimed, "It is the Third's Anbu." From this, it could be inferred that the Fourth Hokage also had his own Anbu.)

Thus, Minato needed to cultivate his own people. But cultivation took too long, so the faster method was to win others over. The neglected Uchiha Clan was the best target for recruitment.

Thinking of this, Orochimaru could not help but sigh. No wonder Minato had been so close to Fugaku back then, and even the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had been so close to Mikoto Uchiha. So that young brat from back then had already grown into a qualified politician. Orochimaru had underestimated him.

As the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze stood at the center of power and could naturally investigate certain intelligence more easily. On top of that, he had the elusive Flying Thunder God.

Thinking of this, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. Minato had discovered the existence of a wood style ninja, but lacked sufficient manpower to investigate. The Uchiha Clan had thus become the best choice. It was both reasonable and logical.

If Uchiha Yoru had known Orochimaru's deduction at that moment, he probably would have given him a big thumbs-up. Yes! Exactly, that is what you think happened.

"Lord Orochimaru, the Uchiha Clan will give its full support in helping you become the Fifth Hokage."

At that moment, Uchiha Yoru expressed his loyalty with a respectful, fervent expression, while Orochimaru let out his distinct hoarse laugh.

"Hehe, Lord Yoru, Anko is my student. I will personally lead this squad."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Yoru immediately showed an excited expression. He bent at the waist in a full ninety-degree bow and shouted, "Teacher Orochimaru."

Forget about pride, and forget about Orochimaru's future defection. The immediate benefits were what mattered most. Besides, Orochimaru would defect because of Human Experimentation. If anyone truly tried to settle accounts, who knew how many shinobi supported him? The law could not punish everyone.

Besides, he had the Uchiha Clan behind him. According to his deductions, Orochimaru would defect at the earliest two years from now. Since he could not stop it when the time came, he might as well profit from it.

Stop him? Orochimaru was not interested in the Uchiha Clan now only because he had not yet suffered the beating of the Mangekyo. If he truly became Hokage, heh, the Uchiha Clan might not be exterminated, but they would definitely become regular visitors to Orochimaru's laboratory.

Therefore, he would not stop him. Instead, he would seek enormous benefits from this. Otherwise, when would he ever gather enough coins to buy the Mangekyo?

Orochimaru's defection was even easier to determine. Uchiha Yoru sneered. The Fourth Hokage had just died, and the border was unstable. Anyone with eyes knew that once the Border Instability settled, it would be time to select the Fifth Hokage.

The Border Instability would take at least a year and a half to settle, and Orochimaru's defection was probably not merely Danzo's doing. It was caused by politics.

As long as Danzo still wanted to become Hokage, he would not want a young man like Orochimaru to take office. Then there was the Third's political faction. Even if Sarutobi did not want this, the Sarutobi Clan and families such as Ino-Shika-Cho would quietly accept it for the sake of their own interests.

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