Space-Time Ninjutsu

Although his thoughts were this vicious, Orochimaru was far too seasoned to let it show.

Instead, he wore a genial smile, as though nothing had happened.

"Think nothing of it, Feng Yao. I was the one who suggested a spar. Why would I mind? Why don't you come into my base so we can discuss our next move?"

Feng Yao was just about to follow Orochimaru inside when Orochimaru's eyes shifted, and he spoke again.

"Feng Yao, since we're allies now, could you take off your mask first?"

Orochimaru wanted to confirm Feng Yao's identity. The face beneath the mask was indeed different from the one in the wanted poster, but Orochimaru probably wouldn't let it go if Feng Yao refused. So Feng Yao reached up and removed his mask.

In an instant, time seemed to stop.

He was so handsome. How could anyone in the world be this good-looking? Tayuya gazed at Feng Yao, completely entranced.

Everyone around him was momentarily dazed, too. Orochimaru stared in surprise for a moment, then quickly began to think.

His body is extremely unusual. But his face... He doesn't look anything like the person in the wanted poster. Could he know a jutsu like the Face Copying Technique? It doesn't matter. What I want now... is his body!

Orochimaru coughed, bringing everyone back to their senses, then turned to Feng Yao.

"Feng Yao, you'd better put your mask back on. Otherwise, I'm afraid my subordinates will all fall for you. You look quite different from the person in the wanted poster, but everyone has their secrets. I'm still willing to trust you."

Tayuya blushed and lowered her head.

Feng Yao sensed that Orochimaru had some ulterior motive, despite not pressing him about his appearance. After all, a man like Orochimaru didn't truly trust someone just because he said so.

After putting his mask back on, Feng Yao followed Orochimaru and the others into the building.

There was an opening inside, with rough stone steps descending into the darkness below.

A long, pitch-black tunnel stretched into the distance, cold and bleak. Cages lined it, and the air echoed with crying, fighting, and pained groans.

These were all people Orochimaru had captured to use as test subjects.

Feng Yao wasn't a saint. He wouldn't save strangers who had nothing to do with him. He followed Orochimaru to a stone door, his gaze calm.

Inside stood several stone chairs and a few pieces of sophisticated equipment. After ordering the Sound Five to stand guard outside, Orochimaru sat down and began discussing their next move with Feng Yao.

"Feng Yao, taking Konoha down requires more than individual strength. We need the power of a nation, too! You came at just the right time, because I already have someone in mind."

Feng Yao sat quietly beside him and listened. He knew Orochimaru was probably talking about the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.

As Feng Yao recalled, the Sand Village was short on funds, and Rasa had recognized Konoha's strength and the threat it posed.

So Orochimaru and Rasa had conspired to attack Konoha.

"The nation I'm talking about is the Land of Wind, and its Sand Village. That foolish Daimyo of the Land of Wind keeps cutting the number of ninja and reducing funding for the village, leaving the Sand Village's military strength in steady decline. They're the nation most wary of Konoha, which makes them the perfect choice."

As he spoke, Orochimaru suddenly rose and came over to Feng Yao, his golden eyes wide.

"And thanks to you, Danzo has become the Fifth Hokage. I've dealt with him before. He'll never take the conciliatory approach the Third Hokage did. The two sides are bound to clash, and then we can..."

"I think I understand what you mean, Lord Orochimaru. We'll join forces with the Sand Ninja and attack Konoha."

Feng Yao met Orochimaru's gaze with his deep-blue eyes. It was April, and the Konoha Crush Plan was set to begin during the Chunin Ninja Exams in July.

That meant he had three months to prepare.

"It's always easy talking to someone as clever as you, Feng Yao. I'll let you know when the plan begins. For now, I'll arrange a place for you to rest. If you like, you can look around my base, too."

Orochimaru patted Feng Yao on the shoulder, greedily breathing in his scent.

His resolve to take Feng Yao's body only grew stronger.

Once they were outside, the four members of the Sound Four—everyone except Tayuya—still regarded Feng Yao with deep suspicion, staring at him with hostile expressions.

Feng Yao ignored them and walked past, asking coolly, "Where's my room?"

Everyone near Feng Yao felt their emotions settle without realizing it. Only Kimimaro shook his head, his eyes still wary.

"Um... Lord Feng Yao, I'll take you there."

Tayuya fidgeted with the hem of her clothes, speaking a little awkwardly.

"Hey, Tayuya, aren't you—this guy just—"

Jirobo watched Tayuya switch sides so quickly and couldn't help commenting.

"Shut up, fat—er, Jirobo, what are you talking about? Lord Orochimaru told us to arrange a place for Lord Feng Yao to rest."

When Tayuya saw Jirobo trying to stop her, she instinctively started to curse him. But with Feng Yao standing right there, she swallowed the words.

"It's fine. You can just tell me where the room is."

Feng Yao stood there, watching the two. He only wanted to find somewhere to rest and think about what to do next.

He certainly wouldn't trust Orochimaru completely. A man like him had to be watched at all times.

Orochimaru couldn't trust Feng Yao, either. They were only using each other.

"I'm fine. I'll take you there, Lord Feng Yao."

Tayuya ignored Jirobo and walked ahead of Feng Yao, leading him to a room.

Watching them walk away, Jirobo sighed helplessly. He knew firsthand how sharp Tayuya's tongue was. He was always begging her to go easy on him, but he hadn't expected things to turn out like this today.

Orochimaru's base was quite spacious. After walking for about fifteen minutes, Feng Yao finally reached a rather bare room.

A thick white blanket covered the floor in the middle of the room. There was a stove for boiling water, with partially burned charcoal beneath it, and an oil lamp beside it.

"This is where you'll be resting. I hope it's to your liking, Lord Feng Yao."

Tayuya bowed slightly, making sure to be polite. Feng Yao gave her a small nod and walked into the room.

But Tayuya remained by the doorway, unwilling to leave. Even there, she could still sense the pure aura around Feng Yao. She wanted to stay a little longer.

Half an hour passed.

Feng Yao sighed and rubbed his forehead, looking troubled.

"Tayuya, is there something else you need?"

Tayuya blushed at the question, looking a little embarrassed.

"N-no. I... um, is your wish to destroy Konoha, Lord Feng Yao?"

In her fluster, Tayuya couldn't think of anything to say, so she remembered the conversation between Feng Yao and Orochimaru.

But Feng Yao's gaze darkened. The change startled Tayuya.

His voice was cold and devoid of emotion as he replied, "That wasn't my wish before. Now I have only one wish: to kill the Fifth Hokage."

Hearing the coldness in his voice, Tayuya stepped back. She gently clenched a fist against her chest and lowered her head, thinking for a moment as if she had made up her mind.

"I... I'll get stronger. I'll help you fulfill your wish, Lord Feng Yao."

Then she ran off. Feng Yao sighed.

He could tell she seemed to have developed feelings for him, but she was only a fourteen-year-old girl. She didn't understand anything yet.

The system suddenly spoke up.

"Actually, going by biological age, you're not even older than Tayuya, host. You're only a little over twelve. You're just a bit more mature mentally. I think you could totally—"

"Pah! Shut your filthy mouth. If it weren't for the aura that comes with this Xiaoyao Wise Heart Body, would all these people be bothering me like crazy? Look at Orochimaru. He's probably craving my body now."

"And if it weren't for your lousy system making me switch ninjutsu, I'd have stormed Konoha and killed Danzo already. I wouldn't have had to stay here!"

Feng Yao gave the system a thorough scolding. The gloom he had felt over his parents' deaths seemed to have finally found an outlet.

In this world, the only one who might truly understand him was the system in his head. In front of it, he didn't have to hide or pretend.

"Hmph. Next time this system gives you a mission, I'll settle this score with you."

Feng Yao curled his lip and replied inwardly, "Go ahead. I'll be waiting."

The next day

"Host, please prepare. This system will now randomly select another ninjutsu from the world of Naruto for you. From now on, you will no longer be able to use Senjutsu or enter Sage Mode."

As soon as it finished speaking, Feng Yao felt a strange energy seal his ability to absorb Natural Energy. He hadn't forgotten how to use Senjutsu; he just couldn't use it anymore.

"Start the draw," Feng Yao said, taking a deep breath, his expression calm.

"Congratulations, host! You have obtained Space-Time Ninjutsu. You will now master every Space-Time Ninjutsu in the world of Naruto. In addition, you will temporarily be unable to use any other ninjutsu."