Killing Three Birds with One Stone

Finally, I've got it!

Hōzuki Mangetsu looked at the vessel in his hand with satisfaction.

Uchiha Shisui's eyes were a bug in the Naruto World.

Kotoamatsukami, the strongest Illusionary Technique, could control someone without their knowledge and permanently alter their thoughts.

It was already beyond the scope of Illusionary Techniques.

Though he felt a little reluctant, Hōzuki Mangetsu still went through with it. He knew that even if he didn't take the eyes, Danzo would get them sooner or later.

Better for Hōzuki Mangetsu to take them himself than let Danzo have them.

They were still on cooldown, but if he got Hashirama's cells in the future, the eyes would naturally be unsealed.

Soon, Hōzuki Mangetsu's gaze fell on Orochimaru, who had passed out.

Hashirama's cells were naturally in Orochimaru's hands. In fact, Orochimaru had studied them extensively.

That was why Orochimaru absolutely couldn't fall into Konoha's hands.

At the thought, Hōzuki Mangetsu smiled.

"Lord Mangetsu!"

Ranmaru suddenly appeared beside him and said urgently, "Konoha's Anbu are on their way."

Anbu?

A glint flashed in Hōzuki Mangetsu's eyes as a clever idea came to him.

He would make use of Shisui's death.

Four Konoha Anbu had discovered the earth-shaking battle between Orochimaru and Shisui while returning from a mission. They were on their way to the scene.

When they finally arrived, they were stunned.

The terrain had been completely transformed.

"Did a Tailed Beast attack?"

one Anbu asked in shock.

"It's Shisui's team!"

An Anbu pointed at the three bodies on the ground.

He knew the three of them.

After confirming there were no traps, the four Anbu approached the bodies.

"Two died under crushing pressure. The other was stabbed from behind with a blade."

The Anbu leading them was experienced and quickly reached a conclusion.

"Spread out and look around. See if you can find any sign of Uchiha Shisui."

Uchiha Shisui was powerful. He wouldn't be taken out so easily.

Just then, an Anbu called out, "Captain, come take a look!"

The others gathered around him.

Z-shaped tracks and a foul-smelling slime. It looked like a giant snake had passed through.

The four of them shuddered at the same time, thinking of the same person.

Orochimaru!

He was the only one who could summon giant snakes.

"One of you, go back and report what happened. The rest of us will search for more clues."

The Anbu squad leader gave his orders.

His subordinates answered at once.

Just then, a figure stumbled toward them.

Uchiha Shisui!

The Anbu recognized him immediately.

Byakugan!

One of the Anbu was a member of the Hyuga Branch Family. He activated his Byakugan to confirm the figure's identity.

It was Shisui. His blue-green Chakra was unmistakable.

"Shisui, are you all right?"

An Anbu was about to leap over to him, but Shisui stopped him.

"Don't come closer! It's Root and Orochimaru!"

Shisui shouted. A giant snake appeared before him and swallowed him whole.

Shisui!

The Anbu were about to rush forward when a tremendous explosion erupted in front of them.

Earth Release: Multiple Earth-Style Walls!

One of the Anbu hurriedly used Earth Release to shield them.

When the smoke cleared, the area was in ruins, and Shisui was nowhere to be seen.

This was bad!

The four Anbu's hearts sank. They realized at once that someone had killed Uchiha Shisui.

The Third had long suspected that Root and Orochimaru were working together. Now they had proof.

They had heard Shisui say it themselves.

"Fall back!"

One of the Anbu immediately ordered the others to retreat.

This was important news. They had to report it to the Third. And with Shisui dead, staying there would only lead to more casualties.

Just then, one of the Anbu spotted a sword on the ground.

The Kusanagi Sword?

He recognized it as Orochimaru's weapon.

It was crucial evidence!

After securing the sword, he immediately caught up with the others.

Once the four of them had left, Hōzuki Mangetsu and Ranmaru slowly appeared.

"Lord Mangetsu, this Mirage really is incredible. I can't believe it can create an Illusionary Technique over such a wide area."

Ranmaru gazed at the Giant Clam in the distance with admiration.

Hōzuki Mangetsu nodded in satisfaction.

Ordinary Illusionary Techniques were triggered through the five senses and had a short range. It was rare for one to work from a distance just by looking, like Shisui's.

But this Mirage was different.

Its range was enormous, almost a kilometer in every direction, and it could project images wherever it wanted.

On its own, it still wasn't perfect, since it couldn't affect the Byakugan or those with sensory abilities.

But Red-Eyed Ranmaru made up for that flaw.

The boy could create the illusion of Chakra flowing anywhere he chose.

With that, the Mirage's Illusionary Technique became flawless.

The illusion just now would surely convince the four Konoha Anbu. Once they returned, they would report what had happened to the Third.

Then Hiruzen, Danzo, and the Uchiha Clan would have their hands full.

Uchiha Shisui was dead, Danzo and Orochimaru had taken the blame, and the two sides distrusted each other. Naturally, no one would notice a nobody like Hōzuki Mangetsu.

At that thought, Hōzuki Mangetsu finally relaxed.

"Lord Mangetsu, what should we do with him?"

Ranmaru pointed at Orochimaru, who was still unconscious.

Hōzuki Mangetsu considered it.

Orochimaru couldn't die. If he did, Hashirama's cells would be out of reach. Besides, Hōzuki Mangetsu was counting on him to take the blame.

That was why he'd gone to such lengths to save Orochimaru.

Shisui's Illusionary Technique was truly impressive. Orochimaru was still unconscious.

What a shame about the Kusanagi Sword!

Hōzuki Mangetsu felt a pang of regret. As a former weapon-collecting fanatic, he'd always liked the Kusanagi Sword.

Orochimaru had used it to kill two Kage Level figures, after all.

Hōzuki Mangetsu could have kept it for himself, but he couldn't—not yet. He wanted to use the sword to stir up trouble.

Orochimaru was unconscious now, but he would eventually wake up. When he did, he would see that Shisui was dead and realize that someone had taken Shisui's eyes amid the chaos—and that he'd been framed.

Given how clever he was, he would suspect Hozuki Mangetsu, who had leaked information to him.

The two of them would inevitably come into conflict. Orochimaru never forgave a grudge, and since he wanted to seize Shisui's eyes, he certainly wouldn't spare Hōzuki Mangetsu.

Hōzuki Mangetsu had grown stronger, but he still wasn't a match for Orochimaru. So he needed to redirect the conflict.

If Orochimaru learned that his Kusanagi Sword had ended up in the hands of Konoha's leadership, he would realize he'd been framed. And the person behind it was almost certainly Danzo.

Once Orochimaru turned his attention to Danzo, Hōzuki Mangetsu would be relatively safe.

Two birds with one stone—using someone else to do the killing!

Even Hokage needed brains.