Secret Dealings

"Long time no see, Anko Mitarashi."

Orochimaru extended his scarlet tongue to lick the corner of his mouth, his smile chilling.

"You are already an S-rank missing-nin wanted by the village. Even if I have to risk my life, I will defeat you here!"

Anko Mitarashi's eyes were cold. "This is the mission I accepted when I was under your tutelage, Orochimaru!"

"Don't be so tense. I'm just passing by, stopping to see an old friend."

Orochimaru's gaze lingered on Yatsuhashi, seemingly evaluating something.

That look made Yatsuhashi feel as if he were being stared at by a venomous snake.

Just as Anko Mitarashi was about to make a move, Orochimaru formed hand seals.

A blurred cursed seal suddenly manifested on Anko Mitarashi's neck.

Instantly, a cold, sinister chakra surged from the seal and invaded her body.

In a split second, Anko Mitarashi collapsed, unconscious.

"This?!"

Yatsuhashi caught the falling Anko Mitarashi, his face full of disbelief.

Is this the terrifying power of one of the Sannin, Orochimaru?

In just an instant, Anko Mitarashi, a Chunin, had lost all ability to fight.

Yatsuhashi narrowed his eyes, watching Orochimaru outside the window.

They were still inside the village; he only needed to take Anko Mitarashi and leave.

Once he notified the patrolling Anbu members, Orochimaru would be like a turtle in a jar, eventually forced to surrender.

As if reading Yatsuhashi's thoughts, Orochimaru spoke, "Yatsuhashi, I didn't come here to fight you."

"As my former close assistant, could you invite me into your room?"

Yatsuhashi remained silent for a moment, retreating slowly to the door while holding Anko Mitarashi, ensuring he could break out at any time before giving a slight nod.

After all, he was no longer the same person he had been back in the laboratory.

He had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan.

Yatsuhashi knew exactly how much this would attract Orochimaru.

Orochimaru vaulted through the window with ease, sitting in a chair as leisurely as if he were the host.

"Orochimaru, aren't you worried about the danger of sneaking into the village like this?"

"Naturally, I am," Orochimaru laughed, though his gaze swept toward the window with hidden meaning.

"But aside from tonight, I truly couldn't bear to miss this show.

Yatsuhashi, you missed quite a few exciting parts tonight."

Upon hearing this, Yatsuhashi's pupils constricted.

He immediately thought of the Root members who had scattered in flight, as well as the heavily wounded Yamato.

Because he had to settle Yukimi and the rest of the Iburi Clan, he had specifically asked Kakashi for a day off.

He just hadn't expected such a special operation targeting Danzo to occur in the village so quickly.

Taking advantage of the moment Yatsuhashi let his guard down, a large snake extended from Orochimaru's sleeve.

It lunged forward and bit down hard on Anko Mitarashi's neck.

As the fangs pierced her skin, the cursed seal, which had been somewhat restless, became stable amidst a flow of black light.

"Don't be agitated, Yatsuhashi."

Orochimaru's words held back Yatsuhashi, who was ready to strike.

"I am merely perfecting my work from years ago."

Orochimaru smiled, watching Yatsuhashi's Three-Tomoe Sharingan; he had hidden it for so long.

Now, it was finally revealed for him to see.

"That was a curse seal I planted previously, but it was not perfected."

Orochimaru admired his own masterpiece.

"After I left the village, free from its constraints, my experiments achieved a massive breakthrough. The current curse seal not only significantly boosts power but is also much less prone to spiraling out of control. Since I have encountered you this time, there is no reason not to perfect my earlier work."

Having said that, Orochimaru paused deliberately.

Then, with eyes like those of a serpent, he stared fixedly at Yatsuhashi before him and cast his bait.

"Yatsuhashi-kun, do you want it? It can bring you unexpected power. As my once most promising assistant, I can give you a Heaven Curse Seal of the highest quality, just like the one Anko has, free of charge."

"No need."

He flatly rejected Orochimaru's proposal.

In his heart, he silently calculated the various situations that might unfold next. After all, Yatsuhashi knew that while Orochimaru's curse seal brought power, it also left one subject to him. Those branded with the curse seal would, to a certain extent, be controlled or influenced by Orochimaru; not only would they be marked as potential vessels for Orochimaru's "Living Corpse Reincarnation," but because the seal incorporated Orochimaru's cells, they would also serve as a contingency for his resurrection.

"That is truly a pity,"

Orochimaru clicked his tongue with a hint of regret, though his gaze remained fixed on Yatsuhashi's Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

"But then again, as you are now, you truly have no need for such power."

Orochimaru suddenly began to laugh, a sound filled with an unsettling, chilling coldness.

"Yatsuhashi-kun, congratulations. It seems your experiment was a success."

Yatsuhashi remained silent, and Orochimaru continued.

"I heard you even joined the Anbu; that is truly a dangerous decision..."

Yatsuhashi was startled; he had not expected Orochimaru to be aware of such a thing. One had to realize that he had only joined the Anbu a few days ago. That the rogue Orochimaru could still grasp such accurate intelligence from within the village was enough to leave him shocked.

"Why don't we make a deal?"

Orochimaru's voice dropped to a low murmur. "Collect intelligence on your Uchiha Clan for me, especially regarding that Uchiha Shisui. I am extremely interested in his body..."

This sentence immediately set off alarm bells in Yatsuhashi's mind. As Orochimaru merely leaned forward to get closer, Yatsuhashi once again retreated several steps while holding Anko.

"Rest assured, Yatsuhashi-kun. Since your experiment has already succeeded, the eyes of your Uchiha Clan are no longer quite so special."

His hoarse voice once again revealed a clear sense of sincerity.

"Yatsuhashi-kun, it seems that not inviting you to join me before was truly a mistaken decision. You have once again proven your value to me. If possible, I hope that when you eventually leave the village, you will come to the Land of Fields to find me."

Without waiting for Yatsuhashi to refuse, Orochimaru tossed a unique scroll to him.

"In exchange, take this. Anko had a portion of her memories sealed by me back in the Land of the Sea. This scroll contains the ninjutsu to undo that seal."

Hearing this, Yatsuhashi finally tucked the scroll into his robes. After all, back when they were on a mission in the Land of Water, Anko's condition had declined significantly because of that seal.

"Yatsuhashi-kun," Orochimaru stood up, preparing to depart through the window.

Just before leaving, he turned his head, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

"I advise you not to undo that seal, at least until Anko becomes a Jōnin.

Also, it would be best to keep tonight's events a secret from the village.

As for Anko, you needn't worry; I've twisted her memories, making her forget the unpleasant experience of seeing me tonight.

But it would be best to let her stay in your room tonight.

After all, young men and women sharing a room—such opportunities... are rare."

With that, Orochimaru's figure vanished completely into the night.

On the journey back, Orochimaru suddenly recalled his dear friend Dan Katō, who had died on the battlefield.

"Dan, if you had been just a bit more decisive back then, perhaps the tragedy wouldn't have occurred."

In Orochimaru's view, Dan Katō and Tsunade were meant to be together.

It was a pity that in that era of war, no one was there to give them a push.

Orochimaru's voice carried a hint of wistful reminiscence, "What a regret..."

It was precisely this sentiment that led Orochimaru to realize

that tenderness is fleeting, and if not seized, it will turn and slip away, becoming an eternal regret for both parties.

In that era of raging war, too many regrets stemmed from hesitation.

Since it is a time of peace now, and he has witnessed that same youthful innocence once again, then this time, let him, the "villain," give them a push.