Tidying Up or Harvesting

"Crack, crack, crack..."

Under the shocked gaze of Shinsuke Uchiha, the crimson barrier created by the Uchiha Flame Formation developed gaps. Cracks spread from the point where the snake tail had struck, and the entire barrier shattered inch by inch.

Fugaku Uchiha quickly retreated, while the Yamata no Orochi, having broken free from the barrier's constraints, roared toward the sky. The sound waves rippled through the air, their vibrations visible as if they were tangible.

The remaining Uchiha elites felt their hearts skip a beat, momentarily unable to muster the will to fight.

They looked up to see the Yamata no Orochi stretching its heads toward the sky, occupying nearly the entire field of vision.

How can anyone defeat a monster like this?

Just as they asked themselves this, the giant beast disappeared with a "pop."

As the smoke cleared, a pale-faced man stood amidst the rubble and ruins. He looked somewhat weak, his presence not as imposing as before, but at this moment, no one dared to underestimate him.

The Uchiha Police Force had always known the Sannin were strong, but they had no real concept of just how powerful they were.

But now they understood: a single Sannin could single-handedly crush their entire Uchiha clan.

A clan with a thousand-year history of ocular techniques was so fragile in the face of individual martial might.

The Uchiha elites felt a complex mix of emotions, unable to tell if it was shame or a sense of awe.

Unlike the volatile emotions of the Uchiha, Orochiomaru didn't have many thoughts on the matter. Everything before him was largely within his expectations; there were very few things about this battle that had surprised him.

He leaped lightly, landing in front of Fugaku Uchiha with an intrigued smile on his face.

"Clan Leader Fugaku, the defensive power of your barrier formation is not bad. Why did you withdraw it halfway through?"

Fugaku shook his head. "I only recently learned the Uchiha Flame Formation, so I am still quite unfamiliar with some parts of it. There was a lapse in my chakra control."

Unlike the average Uchiha, after the Night of the Nine-Tails, Fugaku—as captain of the Police Force—began researching how to restrict the movements of tailed beasts within the village.

Barrier ninjutsu was the method he had found; after all, if a battle were to break out in the village, even if the tailed beast were eventually defeated, nothing would be left but ruins.

The surrounding Uchiha felt their frustration ease slightly upon hearing their clan leader say this.

"Uchiha Flame Formation, a decent barrier technique."

Orochimaru was a master of all ninjutsu. Barrier ninjutsu was a variation of sealing techniques, a field he had also dabbled in.

The common barrier technique in the village was the Four Violet Flames Formation, which required four jonin working together to activate. Its defensive power was enough to restrict Kage-level experts, but it was somewhat inadequate when facing a tailed beast.

The Uchiha Flame Formation that Fugaku used was different.

With his sharp intuition, Orochimaru saw at a glance that this was a secret technique developed specifically for the Uchiha clan. Compared to the Four Violet Flames Formation, although it had bloodline limitations, its effects were indeed superior.

Moreover, the external fusion of two different chakra attributes was truly interesting.

Orochimaru looked at Fugaku and smiled. "If Clan Leader Fugaku doesn't mind, why not let me study it?"

"This..." Fugaku looked troubled.

The Uchiha Flame Formation was, after all, a secret technique of the clan. How could he easily let an outsider learn it, even if it was Orochimaru, who had just displayed such power?

"I won't take advantage of the Uchiha for nothing. This barrier technique is good, but its flaws are also obvious..."

Orochimaru hit the nail on the head. "If someone manages to maintain a barrier to restrict a tailed beast on their own, they might as well just fight the beast directly."

Fugaku remained silent. In truth, he had anticipated this; even if he could successfully cast the Uchiha Flame Formation, given his chakra reserves, he wouldn't be able to hold out for long against the continuous attacks of the Yamata no Orochi.

"For me, improving this barrier technique to make it a collaborative one, like the Four Violet Flames Formation, would not be difficult."

Orochimaru revealed a proud smile.

Once these words were spoken, Fugaku had no more concerns. "Then I will have to trouble you, Lord Orochimaru."

"Let's discuss that after this matter is settled."

Orochimaru smiled and turned his gaze forward.

While he was talking to Fugaku, the Uchiha Police Force had gathered once more, though their expressions and demeanor were completely different from ten minutes prior.

They all looked like defeated roosters, and many were still nursing injuries.

A "kind" smile appeared on Orochimaru's face. "Arrange yourselves in order, and I will help you with your treatment."

"Treatment?"

The members of the Police Force looked at each other. It felt incredibly strange to let the person who had just beaten them up provide their medical care.

But they soon realized that if they didn't accept treatment from Orochimaru, they would have to go to the Konoha Hospital together.

The thought of the entire Uchiha Police Force, nearly everyone injured, heading to the hospital while receiving the suspicious and curious gazes of the villagers made them feel extremely uncomfortable.

This discomfort far outweighed the strangeness they felt just now.

In truth, the Uchiha elites knew that this battle could not be hidden for long; the news of Orochimaru single-handedly crushing the Uchiha clan was simply too big.

But hearing rumors was different from witnessing it with one's own eyes.

The Uchiha possessed the Sharingan; they saw more than the average person and could perceive this difference more acutely.

Their sense of well-being depended on others seeing as little as possible.

Seeing the Uchiha Police Force acting hesitant and sluggish, Fugaku gave a direct order. "Line up according to your squads immediately, those with serious injuries to the front..."

The Police Force began to move, and a commotion broke out in the crowd. At the same time, Orochimaru manifested twelve Shadow Clones and took three sets of medical equipment out of a scroll.

The Uchiha elites noticed this scene, and their gazes grew even gloomier.

Their first thought wasn't about the beating they had just received or that Orochimaru had planned this all along, but rather that he still had enough energy left to create a Shadow Clone at this stage.

Just how much had he been holding back during the previous Tailed Beast Exercise?

Soon, those with injuries lined up in three rows, and the leading Uchiha clansman, supported by others, lay onto a hospital bed to begin receiving treatment from Orochimaru.

Seeing that Orochimaru, while treating their wounds, had specifically manifested a Shadow Clone to constantly take notes in a notebook, Shinsuke Uchiha couldn't help but speak up, "Lord Orochimaru, what are you doing? This doesn't look like a simple treatment."

Under the watchful eyes of the many Uchiha, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly and retorted, "Are you a medical ninja?"

"I am not, but other medical ninjas wouldn't..."

Shinsuke Uchiha opened his mouth, unable to find the right words to describe it, but his meaning was perfectly clear.

--I may not have eaten pork, but I've seen pigs run; this is clearly not an ordinary pig.

"Other medical ninjas? Just a bunch of mediocrities."

Orochimaru let out a soft snort of disdain, "Collecting physical data is for the sake of more accurate and suitable treatments in the future."

This reason sounded a bit far-fetched, yet it perfectly aligned with the Uchiha's aesthetic and the persona Orochimaru had just established.

After all, for such a powerful ninja, it was only logical that his methods of treatment would differ from those of ordinary medical ninjas.

"Is that really necessary?" Shinsuke Uchiha remained skeptical.

"Of course."

A strange smile appeared on Orochimaru's face, "Do you really think there is only one Tailed Beast Exercise?"

"There will be plenty more days of injuries to come."

Only today did I realize that the follower count stops displaying once it exceeds one hundred; it's both a happy and annoying thing.