Naruto: Saving the Uchiha from the Plunder System Chapter 46

"What just happened? I couldn't see anything at all!"

"He lost! Lord A actually lost!"

"Just two moves were enough to leave Lord A in such a miserable state... What kind of monster has Konoha produced?!"

The Kumogakure shinobi all wore expressions of panic.

When A charged at Uchiha Mirai, dust flew everywhere, so no one knew exactly what had happened.

All they saw was that in the blink of an eye, after A passed through the dust cloud, one of his arms was gone.

A, in whom they had placed such high hopes, had fallen here just like that.

Not only was he severely injured, but he had even lost an arm.

Thinking of how Uchiha Mirai had killed without batting an eye earlier, a chill rose in the hearts of the Kumogakure shinobi.

After the Third Raikage's death, A had become Kumogakure's strongest shinobi.

Yet the strongest shinobi in their village had now had an arm cut off and was lying on the ground in disgrace.

He was clearly just an underage brat, so how could he possibly do something like this?!

"Big Brother!"

In the distance.

Seeing A's miserable condition, Killer B roared and opened his mouth toward the sky.

A Tailed Beast Bomb carrying an aura of destruction gradually formed above his head.

"Don't even think about it!"

"Eight Branches Technique!"

Orochimaru's expression turned cold as he formed hand seals.

The next second, his body began to transform continuously.

In an instant, he became a giant white serpent comparable in size to the Eight-Tails.

The eight-branched serpent had eight tails and eight heads. The instant it appeared, it charged at the Eight-Tails.

The two massive bodies collided, and the earth began to tremble violently.

Because of Orochimaru's interference, Gyūki's Tailed Beast Bomb also vanished in midair.

"Eight-Tails, you'll do nicely for testing the forbidden technique I just developed."

Orochimaru's sinister voice rang out.

He might not have been a match for A and Killer B together, but against Killer B alone, he was under no great pressure.

A struggled to his feet and used Chakra to stop the unceasing bleeding from his severed arm.

He looked around and discovered that the Kumogakure shinobi had all lost their will to fight.

Combined with his current injuries, there was no need to continue this war.

Especially since...

Konoha now had another Uchiha whose strength was terrifying.

Just then, a kunai suddenly flew out of the dust ahead.

Remembering how Uchiha Mirai had inexplicably vanished before appearing behind him, a powerful sense of danger rose in A's heart.

Without the slightest hesitation, A's figure turned into a bolt of lightning and fled toward the Land of Lightning.

"By my order, retreat!"

"B, run!"

A's voice rang across the battlefield, but his figure vanished in an instant.

The Kumogakure shinobi had long been impatient to flee. Upon hearing A's order, they hurled all the shuriken and Explosive Tags from their ninja tool pouches behind them in one go.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The explosions blocked the Konoha shinobi's pursuit, allowing the Kumogakure shinobi to retreat successfully.

Killer B also escaped Orochimaru's entanglement by severing a tail and quickly vanished from the battlefield.

"We won! We won!"

"Hahahahaha... Those Kumogakure bastards were scared out of their wits. Watching them flee in panic feels so good."

"Hmph! Let's see if those brainless brutes dare provoke Konoha again."

Orochimaru released the Eight Branches Technique and returned to human form.

Watching the Kumogakure shinobi flee, he waved his hand. "Pursue them! Wipe out every Kumogakure outpost!"

"Yes!"

Under Orochimaru's command, the Konoha shinobi began pursuing in the direction the Kumogakure shinobi had fled.

After everyone had left, Orochimaru slowly walked over to where Uchiha Mirai was.

He looked at Uchiha Mirai with a complicated expression.

Although he had long known that the boy before him possessed terrifying power, Uchiha Mirai's combat strength tonight still left him utterly shocked.

Unlike the other Konoha ninja, he had personally fought A.

So he knew exactly how powerful A was.

It could be said... even across the entire Shinobi World, A's strength was absolutely at the pinnacle.

Speed, strength, defense...

No matter which aspect he considered, he could not find a single weakness in his opponent.

Yet such a powerful ninja had been utterly crushed in both brief exchanges with Uchiha Mirai.

In their first direct clash of fists, he had been sent flying nearly a thousand meters.

In the second, he had lost an arm the instant they exchanged blows.

Even he found it difficult to accept for a moment.

Too strong!

Uchiha Mirai was simply too strong!

This level of strength was gradually surpassing his understanding.

Orochimaru suddenly recalled the things Uchiha Mirai had said to him a few days ago...

Even Orochimaru, who had always been confident in himself, felt a little unsettled.

Could things really develop in the future as this kid had said?

After a long silence, Orochimaru finally composed himself. Looking at Uchiha Mirai, he slowly said, "Mirai-kun, aren't you going after them to take a look?"

"No need. I'm a little tired too."

Uchiha Mirai calmly shook his head.

He had not yet reached the point of being able to ignore attacks. If the remaining tens of thousands of Kumogakure ninja launched a desperate counterattack before dying, he would not be able to handle it either.

Besides, he had already gained more than enough today.

Watching Uchiha Mirai's departing back, Orochimaru extended his long tongue and licked his face.

If things truly developed as Uchiha Mirai had said one day, then perhaps he should consider accepting Uchiha Mirai's offer to recruit him.

Perhaps...

Uchiha Mirai might even be able to help him achieve the goal he had always pursued.

After Kumogakure's crushing defeat, they withdrew completely and kept to themselves.

The official reason was that A was succeeding as the Fourth Raikage, and all Kumogakure ninja were required to attend.

But everyone knew that this was merely a grand-sounding excuse for their defeat and retreat.

After Kumogakure's ninja withdrew, all bases and industries within the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Fields naturally fell under Konoha's control as well.

Orochimaru had originally intended to press the advantage and pursue them, but Hiruzen Sarutobi strictly forbade him from taking any unnecessary action.

Orochimaru could only obey Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders and withdraw the ninja forces.

Several more days passed, and the front lines stabilized.

Along the border near the Land of Lightning, most of the ninja received orders from their villages to return and rest.

Inside the Konoha camp.

Uchiha Mirai stepped out of his room and slowly headed toward Orochimaru's tent.

Along the way, every ninja who saw him respectfully bowed and greeted him.

After the previous battle, Uchiha Mirai had established great prestige among these border ninja.

The genius youth everyone had once known had completely transformed into a powerful figure capable of standing on his own.

"Lord Mirai, Lord Orochimaru is inside. Please enter."

Uchiha Mirai gave the guard at the entrance a faint nod and stepped inside.

Hearing the sound, Orochimaru looked up, a slight smile appearing on his face.

"Mirai-kun, I didn't interrupt your rest, did I?"

"It's fine. What did you want to see me about?"

Uchiha Mirai waved a hand and asked directly.

"It's nothing. We're returning to the village today, so I wanted to let you know in advance."

Uchiha Mirai raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I have truthfully reported all of your actions here to the village, so after we return, Sensei may want to speak with you..."

Orochimaru knew his teacher very well. Uchiha Mirai's display of such immense power would definitely make his teacher wary.

But everyone had witnessed Uchiha Mirai's performance in that battle. Even if he wanted to keep it hidden, he couldn't, so he could only report it truthfully.

Of course, he had not mentioned in the report that Uchiha Mirai had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique.

"You actually took the initiative to warn me."

"Are you ready to accept the conditions I offered?"

Uchiha Mirai smiled, his expression open and composed.

With his current strength, what could Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō possibly do to him?

"Mirai-kun, when things truly develop as you predicted, I'll consider your proposal."

"I only called you here this time because I hoped you could prepare yourself mentally in advance."

Orochimaru had no intention of concealing his thoughts.

Uchiha Mirai's words had already made him somewhat suspicious of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō. Now, when this was clearly the perfect time to earn achievements and build prestige, Hiruzen Sarutobi had recalled him from the front lines to the village...

That only deepened Orochimaru's doubts.

In other words, although the events Uchiha Mirai had predicted had not yet occurred, Orochimaru had already lost trust in Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others.

Perhaps his teacher truly intended to cultivate another successor.

Hearing Orochimaru's words, Uchiha Mirai shrugged indifferently. "There's nothing to prepare for. At a time like this, your teacher will never allow internal strife within the village."