A few days later, outside Kumogakure.
Evening.
Hizashi Hyuga occupied a high point, veins bulging around his eyes.
Though visibility was extremely poor in the dim light, the Chakra within the enemies' bodies shone like lamps in his vision.
"Seventeen patrolmen to the southwest... Lord Danzo, their shift-change strategy hasn't changed."
"But one enemy has an exceptionally high Chakra level. He should be one of Kumogakure's Ninja Heads."
A Ninja Head was Kumogakure's distinctive title, roughly equivalent to an elite among Jonin.
As Hizashi Hyuga spoke, he marked the enemies' patrol routes on the tactical board in his hands.
"I'll handle the Ninja Head." Shimura Danzō's tone was icy.
But upon seeing Hizashi Hyuga's precise mapmaking, he still nodded slightly in approval.
A promising talent.
Though he had only joined the Anbu a few days ago, he had mastered every necessary skill and rule with a diligence that even Shimura Danzō found astonishing.
Shimura Danzō patted Hizashi Hyuga on the shoulder.
He had wanted to say, "With your talent and the darkness in your heart, the Anbu is a waste. You should join Root."
But then he remembered that Root no longer existed...
And Hizashi Hyuga was an opening Hiruzen had personally carved out of the Hyuga Clan. His loyalty to the Hokage was practically written on his face.
"What's wrong, Lord Danzo?"
"Nothing. Focus on your work." A complicated feeling welled up in Shimura Danzō's heart.
At first, he instinctively felt irritated. Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi had promised him fair competition for the position of Hokage, without the authority to build a private army, he could only watch helplessly as such fine talent slipped away...
But then, he secretly and strangely found himself applauding Hiruzen Sarutobi.
If he were Hokage, could he tolerate having a Root beneath him?
Absolutely not!
Ever since Hiruzen Sarutobi had reminded him to view matters from the bigger picture, from a Hokage's perspective.
He had witnessed Hiruzen Sarutobi establish his authority at the training ground, reclaim Root, organize an assassination squad for the Jinchuriki, teach him the way of the Hokage while constantly keeping him in check...
It seemed Hiruzen had also done some major things he didn't know about.
Shimura Danzō increasingly felt that this was what a Hokage should be like in his heart.
And this Third, this Hiruzen, made him all the more eager to defeat him!
I will do everything well, learn everything you know! I will become the strongest Fourth Hokage... Shimura Danzō muttered to himself, his excited palms tingling slightly.
Meanwhile, within Kumogakure.
Orochimaru, who had used the Vanishing Facial Copy Technique to replace a Kumogakure physician, handed Blue B a dose of medicine specially concocted by Tsunade, mixed with Ibuse and other substances.
"Today's dose will help you. Keep at it."
Blue B forced a smile. "I hope so."
After he left, Orochimaru, dressed as a physician, flashed his eyes and spoke with a faint smile. "Come out."
A toad hopped out from the shadows and stopped before him, opening its enormous mouth.
An arm emerged from within. It was Jiraiya's arm.
Then Kurama Genshin emerged as well.
"Well? My toads are endlessly useful, aren't they?" Jiraiya lowered his voice and bragged.
Kurama Genshin looked utterly speechless.
He had previously heard that Orochimaru possessed a move called Snake Spits Me Spits Snake Spits Me, which had already been horrifying enough.
This toad trick was no less disturbing!
The Third's disciples truly each had their own extraordinary skills.
He should have known to sneak in with genjutsu. Coming out of a toad's mouth was really not a pleasant experience.
"Let's synchronize the operation plan."
"I'll control the Jinchuriki, Genshin will control the Tailed Beast, and after Jiraiya sets up the Barrier, he'll clear out the surrounding enemies and rendezvous with us and Danzo's group."
Several tiny, hidden snakes slipped from Orochimaru's sleeve and slithered toward Blue B's residence.
"Understood." Jiraiya's expression instantly turned serious.
"Understood." Kurama Genshin took a deep breath.
The village really didn't do things halfway. Once it made a move, it went this big...
"My snakes tell me Blue B has taken the medicine, and no one is on the route." Orochimaru's eyes flashed as he said coldly, "The operation begins!"
Under the night sky, the three figures moved like ghosts.
Inside the bedroom, Blue B drank the medicine the physician had prescribed for him that day.
"Sour and sweet. It actually tastes pretty good..." Blue B's brows eased slightly, and he felt somewhat touched.
The village still valued him greatly. Had they even adjusted the medicine's flavor?
It wasn't as awful as before.
Blue B lay on the bed, waiting for the medicine to take effect as he contemplated his future.
Could he successfully become the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki?
His father and uncle had both died during Tailed Beast rampages. Though he could communicate with the Eight-Tails to some extent, they were still locked in a stalemate, and the future was as indistinct as fog.
"The Tailed Beast's terror, its repeated rampages... They make those around me unwilling to approach me."
"Even Sealing Jutsu can't stop the Tailed Beast's violent will..."
Blue B muttered, "I really hope they can bring that Uzumaki Clan ninja from Konoha to the village..."
Whether it was the emptiness in his heart that made his mind fragile, or the objective flaws in the Sealing Jutsu...
Improving either one would be good!
Useful intelligence. Orochimaru's heart stirred. This would help Konoha's Jinchuriki.
He lightly tapped Kurama Genshin.
Kurama Genshin immediately understood and formed hand seals.
"My body feels so relaxed... No! Why is it so numb?!" Blue B's eyes snapped open, only to find a hazy fog before him. He couldn't see anything, and his body could not move.
"You're tired. Be free..." A dreamlike voice, impossible to identify as male or female, echoed in Blue B's heart.
Orochimaru crouched atop Blue B's chest, a chilling gleam flashing in his eyes as he pressed a hand against the Iron Armor Seal.
Having set up the Isolation Barrier, Jiraiya swept toward the retreat route.
Orochimaru calmly dismantled the Iron Armor Seal. Tailed Beast Chakra bubbled out, and the Kusanagi Sword slowly emerged from his mouth.
He intended to try taking some of the Eight-Tails' cells.
And with Jiraiya's Isolation Barrier in place.
Kumogakure's Sensory Ninjas did not detect the Tailed Beast Chakra.
Kurama Genshin pushed his genjutsu to its limits.
This was part of the battle plan.
The moment the Eight-Tails broke free from its Jinchuriki, it had to enter a complete rampage.
If it were merely an ordinary loss of control, it would not intimidate those brutes effectively.
They had to create an air of mystery, making them feel as if an unseen hand could send the Tailed Beast into a rampage at any moment...
Fine beads of sweat formed on Kurama Genshin's nose as he pushed his Chakra to the limit. This is such a good opportunity, a chance for Lord Hokage to notice the clan. I have to seize it!
"Lord Orochimaru, it's ready!" Kurama Genshin reported a moment later.
"Good!" Orochimaru grinned viciously. "You leave first, Genshin!"
Kurama Genshin nodded and quickly retreated.
His constitution was relatively weak. Once the Tailed Beast Chakra went berserk, something unexpected might happen.
A moment later, Orochimaru completely undid the Iron Armor Seal.
Eight-Tails Chakra surged out like a tide. A massive octopus threw back its head and roared, its eyes filled with rage as it bellowed violently:
"Blood for blood! Kumogakure must pay in blood!"
Before you continue