Following Karin's directions, Youhu found Orochimaru, who was lying low in the mountains.
Orochimaru had delicate features. His snake-like eyes studied Youhu, making him look like a mad scientist ready to destroy the world at any moment.
In truth, that was exactly what he was like, even if Orochimaru himself had no plans to destroy the Ninja World.
But Orochimaru's successor, Kabuto Yakushi, used an improved version of the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu to harness the power of the dead and brazenly launch the Fourth Great Ninja War.
As Youhu observed Orochimaru, Orochimaru was observing Youhu and Karin as well.
A few days earlier, when passing through Kusagakure, he had discovered Karin, an Uzumaki Descendant. However, Jiraiya had been hot on his heels.
Because of that, he hadn't come forward to take Karin away. He had planned to wait until he'd completely shaken Jiraiya off before returning for her.
With the Uzumaki Descendants on the brink of extinction, Karin was undoubtedly of tremendous research value.
Yet after shaking off Jiraiya and returning to Kusagakure, he was surprised to find that someone had already taken Karin away. The one who'd taken her was one of the Old Man's Anbu—or, more precisely, the mysterious Uchiha boy standing before him.
This Uchiha boy wasn't Uchiha Itachi, the one Orochimaru had his eye on, but an Uchiha he'd never heard of before.
He seemed to be called Uchiha Youhu.
Youhu had the strength to drive off Kakuzu, making him an undisputed Top Performer among Konoha's Jonin. The only ninja who could firmly suppress him were probably the leaders of the great Ninja Clans, aside from those who were on par with the Five Kage.
A Uchiha boy this talented should have been on Orochimaru's radar.
Had he misjudged things back then?
Aside from Yamato,