You, Orochimaru, Even Blocked the Bridge

In Konoha 50, the Minato Squad destroyed the Shen Wubi Bridge, severing a vital supply hub for the Stone Village and single-handedly reversing Konoha's disadvantageous position in the war.

In that same battle, 13-year-old Uchiha Obito was killed in action.

That same year, Uchiha Ryobu defected after being exposed for conducting unauthorized human experiments and researching forbidden life techniques!

Land of Grass, Shen Wubi Bridge.

Within the dense forest, branches and leaves intertwined. Amidst the dappled light and shadow, three Anbu wearing beast masks wove through the trees like ghosts.

Their black combat uniforms brushed against the thick trunks of ancient trees as shuriken flew like swallows, cutting through the stagnant air of the forest with lightning speed.

The person fleeing ahead wore black, his frame lean and his features obscured by a lowered hood; the only notable detail was the Uchiha Gunbai crest on his back.

The man moved with agility, as if he had eyes in the back of his head to track the incoming shuriken, dodging them with a few deft rolls.

The cold voice of an Anbu arrived after the fact.

"Uchiha Ryobu, you have researched forbidden techniques and murdered a village compatriot. You are now a rogue ninja with a bounty on your head. Stop immediately and surrender."

Uchiha Ryobu gave a disdainful laugh, then turned and stood atop a tree branch.

The three Anbu stopped instantly, hesitant to act rashly.

Rumor had it that Uchiha Ryobu suffered from a kekkei-genkai illness and had remained a mere chunin for over thirty years, but the fact that he had escaped from Konoha all the way to the Land of Grass proved those rumors false.

The Anbu had been tracking him for a long time without success, all of them wary of the trump cards he might be hiding.

Ryobu suddenly sneered: "Murdered a village compatriot? I killed Hiruko, and he was no good man. You should be thanking me for ridding Konoha of such a scourge."

The Anbu's voice was as sharp and cold as a blade: "Do not quibble. We care not for Hiruko's background; killing a compatriot is unforgivable."

"Come back with us. Hokage-sama, considering your many years of service at the Leaf Hospital and your distinguished contributions, will deal with you leniently."

Ryobu spat: "Distinguished contributions? If my contributions were so distinguished, why am I still a chunin? It is nothing more than the Konoha High Command refusing to let an Uchiha interfere with the Leaf Hospital!"

"As for you three, you have chased me for three days and three nights. Are you pursuing me so diligently because you want to take my immortality technique back to claim the credit?"

The Anbu pointed at Ryobu and shouted: "Slander!"

Ryobu had no desire to waste more breath on the Anbu: "Hmph, enough talk. I have now resolved my physical hidden dangers and completely severed one set of shackles. You still want me to go back and have the shackles of the Will of Fire placed upon my head?"

"Ridiculous!"

As he spoke, Ryobu began to weave hand seals.

Rat-Ox-Dog-Horse-Monkey...

The ninja who specialized in Fire Style narrowed his eyes, clearly recognizing Ryobu's technique.

"Not good, it's the high-level Uchiha Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation! Dodge!"

The other two Anbu immediately used Body Flicker to escape upon hearing this, though they felt a flicker of doubt.

"Isn't Great Fire Annihilation a B-rank ninjutsu? Is that something a chunin can perform?"

Generally speaking, B-rank ninjutsu were at the level of a jonin, though some chunin with outstanding strength and special talent could perform them.

But that did not include Ryobu.

"That's right, Uchiha Ryobu has suffered from a kekkei-genkai illness since childhood. He once developed a seal-less technique called the Rasengan that shocked Konoha, but other than that, he has never performed any Five Elemental Ninjutsu."

"Damn it, we've been tricked!"

Ryobu laughed heartily, threw a smoke bomb, and vanished into a long trail of smoke, fleeing toward the other side of the mountain.

"You can't catch me, because... I am the Agile Dog of the Mountains!"

"Haha..."

"Damn it!"

The three Anbu were suddenly exasperated; he truly was a slippery Uchiha.

Shen Wubi Bridge.

The once-magnificent bridge had been reduced to a crude suspension bridge that could only accommodate two people at a time.

Thick hemp ropes stretched from the Land of Grass side to the Earth Country side, swaying slightly in the valley and emitting a pained, creaking sound.

Ryobu's figure appeared at the edge of the bridge, feeling a sense of melancholy as he looked at the dilapidated Shen Wubi Bridge.

He didn't even know what he was feeling melancholy about, but it felt right to be melancholy anyway.

The newly repaired suspension bridge was likely the work of the Grass Village; after all, the commercial activities between the Land of Grass and the Earth Country still required this bridge.

The Battle of Shen Wubi Bridge had birthed two heroes of the Sharingan: one was Kakashi of the Sharingan, who was currently hacking away on the Mist Village battlefield.

The other was Uchiha Obito, who the Anbu had confirmed as killed in action, though in reality, he was currently recuperating in Madara's base.

With the Third Shinobi War dragging on, Konoha had run out of available personnel, to the point where even chunin like Obito were being sent to the battlefield to shoulder the burden.

The fact that Ryobu, a mere chunin, could defect from Konoha was also due to the weakness of Konoha's defenses; the one guarding the gate was just an old man.

Ryobu began searching for his contact by the bridge.

Liao Wu did not head to Shen Wubi Bridge in the Land of Grass on a whim; he had been in contact with someone there for a long time.

Failing to find his contact, Liao Wu grew anxious, ready to drop his package and retreat across the bridge.

Suddenly, a cold, raspy voice like a poisonous snake slithered into his ears: "Liao Wu, my good classmate, where do you think you're going?!"

Liao Wu's pupils constricted, his eyes filled with extreme shock, and his body froze in place instinctively.

On the other side of Shen Wubi Bridge, a man with pale skin and long, straight black hair looked at Liao Wu with a sinister, charming expression.

His golden eyes were venomous, and a cold, chilling aura swirled around him—it was Orochimaru, one of the Sannin.

After regaining his composure, Liao Wu cursed loudly: "Orochimaru, you bastard, you're actually blocking my bridge! No wonder your whole family is dead!"

Don't hit a man below the belt, and don't curse a man's parents.

Even with Orochimaru's cold nature, he couldn't help but twitch, letting out a few cold laughs: "Liao Wu, your tongue is as vicious as ever!"

"But I didn't come here today to argue with you. Hand over the Immortality Technique, and I'll spare your life!"

Liao Wu spat at Orochimaru: "Orochimaru, my business must have been leaked by you, you bastard. I saw it that day; you were all bundled up in the middle of the night, heading to the Village Committee to report me."

"Damn it, your own hands aren't clean either. I should have reported you first."

Liao Wu and Hiruko had kept their research into forbidden techniques very tight; even the people in the Uchiha Clan didn't know that a guy like Liao Wu, with his big eyebrows and big eyes, was playing such a dangerous game.

After the forbidden technique research succeeded, Liao Wu had been very cautious. How could he have been discovered after silencing all his partners?

Liao Wu suspected Orochimaru first, and Danzo second.

If it wasn't those two bad bugs... then it had to be Madara Uchiha!

If the Ninja World were rid of those three, it would be at least half as peaceful.

As for Obito?

Rin had been asking Liao Wu for advice on Medical Ninjutsu just a while ago; Obito probably hadn't even started his journey yet.

Orochimaru let out a cold laugh, neither admitting nor denying it, as he formed hand seals, ready to unleash his technique momentum at any moment.

But before attacking, he still wanted to recruit Liao Wu.

"Liao Wu, I can feel the surging life force in your body. Your forbidden technique succeeded."

"You have broken the taboo of life and death and achieved eternal life!"

"The Teacher misjudged you, and the Uchiha Clan misjudged you, but only I know just how much talent you've been hiding."

"Come, join me. Let us pursue immortality together and study the ultimate mystery of ninjutsu."

Liao Wu nodded without hesitation: "Good, Orochimaru, I'll join you. But give me a little benefit first—toss me a few Forbidden Technique Scrolls."

"Heh..."

Orochimaru let out another cold laugh: "Liao Wu, agreeing so readily—it's exactly the same as when you lied as a child."

This kind of guy was the most cunning back when they were attending school.

Orochimaru stopped wasting words.

At this moment, Liao Wu had cured his kekkei-genkai illness and regained his youth; combined with his Medical Ninjutsu and Rasengan, he could even fight a Jonin.

But... this was Orochimaru of the Sannin!

"Liao Wu, give everything to me!"

Just as Orochimaru was about to use Body Flicker to seize Liao Wu, two figures suddenly appeared beside him.

"Orochimaru, why aren't you staying in the village? Why are you neglecting your duties?"

"Orochimaru, without the Old Man's permission, how can you leave the village on your own?"

One figure was draped in gray ninja armor, with blonde hair and a diamond-shaped mark on her forehead; her beautiful face resembled a blooming peony—it was Tsunade.

The other wore an open robe with green patterns on a black base, his white hair messy and wild, looking somewhat unrestrained—it was Jiraiya.

The sudden appearance of Tsunade and Jiraiya made Orochimaru withdraw his hand, his expression turning gloomy. He hadn't expected them to be here.

They were supposed to be on the front lines.

Could it be the Teacher—

The Sannin stood together, their faces appearing harmonious, like comrades who shared a tacit understanding, though no one knew how much they were guarding against each other internally.

Liao Wu, on the opposite side, held his head and felt like jumping off the bridge. Did the Leaf Village think so highly of him that they sent the Sannin to pursue and kill him?

Is it really necessary to use a nuclear weapon to kick a street dog?

Is the Monkey playing dirty?

Liao Wu roared in exasperation: "Good, good, good! Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade—a perfect Three-Man Squad, all here."

"The Sannin are blocking my bridge; what else can I say? Come, come, whatever you want, I'll give it all to you!"

Jiraiya turned to look at Liao Wu across the bridge, his expression complex.

"Liao Wu, you have fallen!"

At this point, Liao Wu could only hope that his contact would find his forbidden technique worth the trouble.

Regarding the forbidden technique of immortality and youth restoration, Ryobu did not believe that "he" would not be tempted.

Ryobu slowly pulled back the hood covering his head: "Jiraiya, Tsunade, the front lines are currently at war; are you two really so idle?"

"Ryobu, you!!"

Jiraiya and Tsunade's pupils constricted violently, because of Ryobu's current appearance—

It was already dusk, the setting sun clinging to the mountains, with a few wisps of afterglow lazily spilling across the horizon.

The man opposite them had black hair falling neatly to his shoulders, a high nose bridge, and clear lip lines; anyone who saw him would call him a handsome youth.

No one would ever associate him with that evil Uchiha who researched human experiments and dabbled in forbidden techniques.

Yet, Ryobu was a middle-aged ninja of the same age as them, approaching forty and not confused.

Aside from his youthful face, the most conspicuous thing about Ryobu was the forehead protector on his head.

There was a scratch mark across it, signifying a rogue ninja.

With one slash, he had severed his bonds with the Leaf, embarking on a wrong path that made him an enemy of his homeland.

Orochimaru licked his lips with some excitement, unable to suppress his greed for wanting to seize Ryobu's forbidden technique.

But he suddenly paused: "Ryobu, that mark on your forehead protector is drawn on, isn't it?"

A master of human affairs to this extent, he would draw the scratch mark when he wanted to be a rogue ninja, using it to wander the ninja world; when there was no mark, he would pretend to be a Leaf Ninja to accept missions from villagers, jumping back and forth at will.

Ryobu lowered his head: "Orochimaru, don't care about these details; we are no longer comrades now!"

Tsunade's eyes held an indescribable complexity: "Ryobu, you have become young, but are you still yourself?"

Ryobu looked at Tsunade, his eyes revealing a bitter sourness, but in a blink of an eye, they became firm again: "Tsunade, I have never changed; it is just that you have never seen clearly."

"I have suffered from kidney deficiency since I was a child, and the doctor said I wouldn't live past 40. However, I disagree; I believe that for those of us living in this world, life and death should be decided by oneself."

Jiraiya shouted sternly: "So you researched forbidden techniques, harmed the innocent, and devoured the lives of others to achieve your own ends?"

"Haha..."

Ryobu laughed heartily: "Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, the blood on your hands is more than all the Aunt Flo in the entire village combined."

"As for harming the innocent? The people Hiruko and I found were all scum and bastards; even if there were innocent ones, that was Hiruko's doing."

"I, Uchiha Ryobu, am pure and clean; I will not allow your slander."

Tsunade urged: "Ryobu, since you say your crimes are not deep, then come back to the village with me; the Old Man will forgive you."

"Your contributions to the Leaf Medical System and the ninjas you have saved over these years are enough to wash away your sins."

Ryobu smiled with a touch of desolation: "I can't go back, Tsunade. After all these years, I have finally understood: no matter what I do, as long as I am still an Uchiha, it is impossible for me to turn my life around."

"Ryobu—"

Tsunade reached out, wanting to hold him back.

Orochimaru sneered: "Tsunade, Ryobu is not an idiot in love like Jiraiya. He has been lying to you all along. Do you know how that forbidden technique of his was developed?"

"..."

Tsunade lowered her head in silence.

Orochimaru continued: "What Ryobu has always wanted is the medical data of your Senju Clan to solve the evil illness in his body, and his forbidden technique was developed by stealing your ninjutsu data and combining it with Hiruko's Chimera Technique."

Tsunade looked at Ryobu, wanting to hear his answer.

Under Tsunade's questioning gaze, Ryobu nodded, then told Tsunade the truth.

"That's right, Tsunade. My forbidden technique is Chimera: Plunder Regeneration. The principle of this technique is to plunder other people's cells to supplement my own; in short, it is to plunder the lives of others."

Upon hearing this, Tsunade seemed to realize something: "Plunder Regeneration? Regeneration? Could it be the data stolen from my home?"

Ryobu nodded: "That's right. That day, I accidentally entered your house, accidentally flipped through your bookshelf, and then accidentally left the auto-loot function on."

Strictly speaking, what Ryobu had was not a kekkei-genkai illness, but a genetic defect from his parents' close-kin marriage, compounded by the fact that Ryobu had never awakened his eyes.

Medical ninjas simply attributed Ryobu's problems to a kekkei-genkai illness.

His physical problems had always been Ryobu's inner demon; he dreamed of becoming healthy.

As for the technique...

The Chimera Technique was developed by Ryobu and Hiruko, but it was only the initial 1.0 version, capable of plundering only one type of bloodline.

Aside from Hashirama Cells, no bloodline could solve Ryobu's physical problems.

Therefore, Ryobu set his sights on Tsunade's forbidden technique—Creation Rebirth.

The current timeline was the Third Shinobi War; Tsunade had not yet developed Creation Rebirth, but she was already conceptualizing it in her spare time.

Ryobu targeted these ninjutsu materials, stole them to reverse-engineer Creation Rebirth, and then combined it with the Chimera Technique to develop Plunder Regeneration, solving his own genetic defect by plundering a piece of scum.

Tsunade cursed loudly: "Bastard, if you were going to steal my scrolls, fine, but why did you have to steal my underwear?"

Jiraiya also joined in the cursing: "Ryobu, you guy are so selfish; how could you steal them and not share them with your good brother?"

"Get lost!"

Tsunade struck Jiraiya with her Monstrous Strength, and Jiraiya flew far away in an instant.

Orochimaru stepped back a few paces to put some distance between himself and these lunatics; after all these years, he still felt that Teacher Sarutobi should have chosen Liao Wu instead of him.

Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Liao Wu together looked more like comrades from the same school.

Liao Wu pulled up his hood to give himself a shred of dignity, though once it was up, he didn't even bother to keep up the act.

"Tsunade, I truly like you so much, but you know how my body is—even after I steal it back, I don't dare to consume it."

"A doctor can hardly heal himself, and it is hard to save others when one cannot save oneself; I just want a healthy body so badly."

Jiraiya rushed back and said sternly, "Liao Wu, is this your reason for falling into depravity?"

Liao Wu shook his head and spoke the truth: "Jiraiya, I have never fallen; this is my true face. Wanting a healthy body is merely a means—my true goal is to become stronger!"

"I love ninjutsu far too much!"

"We are from the same batch, yet today you are the Sannin, successful and famous, while what about me?"

"Do you know? Jiraiya, how much I wanted to join in when you returned to the village in glory from the battlefield."

"If I said I was in the same class as the Sannin, even Obito would laugh at me."

"Don't bully the youth for being poor, don't bully the middle-aged for being poor, don't bully the elderly for being poor; I don't want to be despised for having a poor grave even after I'm dead!"

"..."

Jiraiya and Tsunade fell silent.

Orochimaru stood with his arms crossed, saying nothing.

In Orochimaru's eyes, Liao Wu was a genius, whether it was his whimsical ideas back in the Ninja Academy or the Rasengan he developed later.

But heaven is jealous of talent; beneath such world-shaking brilliance lay a body as fragile as paper.

Liao Wu sighed, "Actually, there is nothing wrong with being a Chunin. If I am an outlier, so be it. There are still many civilians in the Uchiha, and besides, I am a Medical Ninja, which is a respected profession."

"What I truly care about is you—Tsunade!"

Liao Wu pointed at Tsunade, his fingertips heavy with too many regrets.

"Me?!"

Tsunade pointed at herself.

Liao Wu nodded: "That's right, Tsunade. As long as I still carry the Uchiha name, it is impossible for us."

"Actually, it wasn't that I broke our promise that day; the Higher-ups suddenly forced me to go to the front line and warned me not to tell you."

"The Senju Clan and your teacher did not want to see the noble princess of the Leaf Village stained by the blood of a sinner like me, an Uchiha."

Tsunade shouted in disbelief, "Impossible! My teacher and my clan would never interfere in my personal affairs."

Liao Wu replied, "Actually, you don't have to blame them. Given the current status of the Uchiha in the village, who could say whether I was approaching you under orders from the clan to improve the Uchiha's political standing?"

Tsunade shook her head: "No, you are not that kind of person."

Liao Wu couldn't help but blurt out the truth: "Actually, I did accept a mission from the clan. They gave me a huge sum of money and said that if I married you, the captaincy of the Police Force would be mine."

"The clan would also find a way to help me solve my physical problems and help me awaken my eyes."

"They offered too much, and I didn't refuse!"

"Liao Wu—"

Tsunade was furious, not knowing if Liao Wu was lying or speaking his heart; he had already told too many lies.

Liao Wu waved his hand: "Alright, alright, Tsunade, don't be angry. My greatest regret regarding you is that I didn't stop Nawaki the day he went to the front line."

"He was the grandson of the First Hokage; there were too many people who wanted him dead."

"Nawaki..."

Tsunade was struck by the pain of the memory, her nails digging into her palms.

Liao Wu continued to bare his soul: "I am very sorry about Nawaki, but as for Dan, I have to stand my ground."

Tsunade was confused: "Dan? What about Dan? Did you kill him?"

Liao Wu shook his head and said, "I don't have that kind of ability, but I was afraid that pretty boy would steal you away. So, every time he came to the hospital, I was the one who treated him. I secretly prescribed him medicine for impotence and treated him with all sorts of nonsense."

Dan Katō was pursuing Tsunade at the time. Liao Wu couldn't be with her due to political reasons, but he was selfish and couldn't stand to see her with anyone else.

Because Dan was practicing the Spirit Transformation Technique, he often suffered from headaches that wouldn't go away. Liao Wu used the mindset of an Old Chinese Doctor from his past life to dose him with heavy medicine.

He threw in everything from Wu Ling Zhi (dried flying squirrel feces) to live tadpoles and Ren Zhong Huang.

Believe it or not, the headaches were indeed cured, mostly because the person was gone too.

Of course, it wasn't Liao Wu who did it; Dan just had a short life. He was a Jonin, and it happened to be the Second Shinobi War. Without a clan or backing, Dan, who mastered a forbidden technique like the Spirit Transformation Technique, was naturally worked to death by the Higher-ups.

In the end, he died during a mission when his teammates failed to watch over his main body, leaving him vulnerable to a sneak attack.

Being a ninja is a high-risk profession. It wasn't a tragedy for Liao Wu to not live past 40 as a ninja, because many were sent to the front lines to fill the gaps the moment they left the Ninja Academy.

The result was predictable; they even had to find a half-blind old man to guard the gate.

When Liao Wu defected, he ran toward the main gate in broad daylight. As he passed, he handed the old man a pack of cigarettes, and the old man just chuckled, not even bothering to register him.

But returning to the point, because there was no tragedy involving Dan, Tsunade naturally didn't experience the secondary trauma of his death, and thus never developed hemophobia or the desire to wander far from home.

With Tsunade, a Medical Saint, in Konoha during the Third Shinobi War, the village felt far more confident in its ability to wage war.

To Some Extent, it was actually a good thing that Dan was not together with Tsunade.

Uchiha Ryobu heard the sound of wind coming from behind and guessed that the Anbu had caught up to him.

He played the emotional card, saying, "Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, for the sake of our old days as classmates, let me retreat just this once!"

"If I can't retreat this time, I'm truly going to die!"

Tsunade and Jiraiya did not speak, but Orochimaru stepped forward, blocking the bridge entrance directly.

Jiraiya followed closely behind, and Tsunade's expression also hardened with resolve.

Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha were once the closest of friends, yet for the sake of Konoha, Hashirama still backstabbed Madara.

The village was their stance, their comrades were their bottom line, and anyone who harmed their village compatriots was an enemy.

Uchiha Ryobu pushed back his hood and shouted at the Sannin, "In all of Konoha, am I the only one practicing Forbidden Techniques? Why must you always hound your old classmate so relentlessly?"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

The sound of wind rose as three figures appeared not far behind Uchiha Ryobu; they were the Root Ninja who had been pursuing him.

The three Anbu felt a hint of disappointment upon seeing the Sannin on the other side of the bridge. With the Sannin here, they would be unable to monopolize the monumental credit of recovering the Forbidden Technique of immortality.

Yet, they also felt a sense of relief. Uchiha Ryobu was slippery as an eel; if he had managed to escape, the three of them would have faced severe punishment.

When those old men and women of Konoha heard of Uchiha Ryobu's Forbidden Technique for Youth Restoration, their eyes had nearly popped out of their sockets—they were ravenous for it!

It wasn't just the Konoha Anbu; more wind sounds echoed through the forest.

A group of black-haired ninjas dressed in black combat uniforms, bearing the Red and White Fan Crest, stood atop the tree tops. The arrivals were none other than the renowned Uchiha Clan of Konoha.

The man in the lead had a square face and a stern expression, projecting a sense of composure and authority. He was the captain of the Uchiha Clan's Police Force—Fugaku Uchiha.

Following the Uchiha Clan, a group of masked Anbu ninjas appeared. The masks worn by this group differed from those of the standard Anbu; they were primarily pure black and dark grey.

This was the Training Department, a secret independent force effectively controlled by Danzo—Root.

Upon seeing these Root Ninja, the Uchiha Clan showed not a shred of cowardice; instead, they appeared even more provocative. As they lifted their gazes, scarlet tomoe swirled within their pupils.

They stared at the Root Ninja as if they were staring at prey.

There were still more sounds of wind in the dense forest, though those individuals dared not show themselves like the Uchiha or Root. They were likely cowards who coveted the Forbidden Technique of immortality but feared being targeted by the Anbu or Root.

Uchiha Ryobu had still underestimated the temptation that eternal life held for them.

What is it that the wealthy and powerful fear most?

Death!