Orochimaru still hadn't returned to his true form. He merely flicked out his distinctive tongue and studied Aoike's face with interest.
"How interesting. The genius of the past has joined the Akatsuki?"
Because of Itachi, Orochimaru had become utterly fascinated by the secrets of the Uchiha body. As a result, he had also learned quite a bit about the genius who had once outclassed Sasuke at the Ninja Academy.
Suppressing his urge to investigate further, he tested Aoike's intentions in his hoarse voice.
"What brings you here? Do you want to gain great power, learn the secrets of ninjutsu, or find a way to break your Caged Bird Seal?"
From what he knew of the Akatsuki, those lunatics wouldn't investigate his whereabouts in advance and then send a kid to ambush him in the heart of Konoha.
Aoike smiled and shook his head. Hidden behind his Forehead Protector, Orochimaru couldn't tell that the Caged Bird Seal had long since been removed.
"I'm here to discuss working together. I have something I want to do before Konoha falls."
"What makes you think you're qualified to work with me?" Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth. His hoarse voice carried a strange cadence as he scrutinized the boy.
His subordinates had already put up a barrier outside. No one would notice what was happening here for a while. If the person before him was all talk, he would simply become a test subject.
Aoike said nothing. He drew his gleaming Ninja Blade.
In an instant, blue-white flames enveloped the blade. Just standing there, he made the wooden furnishings in the room begin to evaporate and burn.
When the blue-and-yellow Chakra Cloak formed around him, the heat became even more intense. The floor beneath his feet began to char, and his immense chakra pressed down on everything around him.
"That's enough, Aoike. The younger generation really is full of remarkable people these days."
Once Aoike had reined himself in, Orochimaru tore away his charred outer skin, revealing a brand-new body.
"Let's discuss the terms of our cooperation..."
After they had settled everything, Aoike used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.
Orochimaru stood there, momentarily stunned.
He waved away his subordinates, his breathing growing unsteady. That scorching air seemed to linger around him.
"What a perfect vessel. And those eyes—my instincts can't be wrong!"
Unfortunately, if Aoike had been a little weaker, Orochimaru would absolutely have risked everything to take him.
After being scarred by Kekkei Genkai based on eyes, Orochimaru's craving for such bloodlines had grown impossible to ignore.
Although Aoike hadn't used his ocular powers, Orochimaru had keenly sensed the surge in his chakra when it erupted.
So the Hyuga's Byakugan has secrets I don't know about, too~
With the Uchiha as an example, Orochimaru guessed Aoike's Byakugan had also undergone some kind of mutation or evolution. At first, he had assumed the unusual eye color came from colored contact lenses.
Beneath the moonlight, even Orochimaru found his thoughts wandering.
He had gained another powerful ally. It seemed Konoha was truly finished this time.
Of course, even without allies, he didn't think Konoha could defeat him now that he had mastered Impure World Reincarnation. Still, it had once been his home, and the thought of destroying it left him feeling somewhat wistful.
In the days that followed, Aoike openly went about his life in Konoha under his assumed identity.
He especially enjoyed sampling the local food. Before, he had been weak and had spent nearly all his money on ninja tools and medicinal herbs. On top of that, the Caged Bird Seal had always weighed on him, so he had never truly enjoyed a carefree life.
Now that he had joined the ranks of the strong, he realized the world was actually pretty nice. That must have been the difference between how the strong and the weak saw the world.
By the time Kakashi returned with Team 7, the Chunin Exams were about to begin.
While Naruto was making a fuss about signing up, Aoike was still practicing the Sealing Jutsu he had obtained from Orochimaru.
Since he only needed to learn it quickly, Aoike didn't have to understand the meaning of every character like a beginner. He just had to copy the pattern and draw it out.
Over the past month, the small animals that had died at Aoike's hands would have been enough to supply a restaurant for half a year.
At last, two days before the Chunin Exams, Aoike successfully learned the Black Death Seal.
This Sealing Jutsu was derived from the suicide seal used by spies. Combined with the Yin and Yang chakra of Aoike's Tenseigan, it couldn't directly undo someone else's Caged Bird Seal, but it could easily cover it.
If the Caged Bird Seal was a remotely detonated bomb, then instead of going through the complicated process of dismantling it, he could try putting a signal blocker on it.
While Aoike enjoyed his peaceful routine of rising with the sun and resting at night, Orochimaru was busy transporting his subordinates and coordinating with the Sand shinobi.
To ensure their cooperation went smoothly, Orochimaru had practically emptied his entire stock of resources this time. Only after making use of every kind of secret channel had he managed to get everyone into position.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that returning to Konoha was like coming home for Orochimaru. (Laughs.)
Time passed.
The Chunin Exams began.
Most of the village's spies had gathered around the exam venue.
In a secret underground base, Aoike met Orochimaru again.
"Then, to a successful partnership, Aoike."
Orochimaru smiled. Without wasting a word, he handed over more than a hundred ninja to Aoike.
Aoike surveyed the ninja around him. Most were cannon fodder. There were over twenty Chunin-level fighters and five Jonin.
The five leaders still bore many signs of human modification. In Aoike's Tenseigan, their chakra looked muddled, and they didn't seem very bright either.
But it didn't matter. They were practically free, so he couldn't be picky.
The hundred-plus ninja were like silkworm pupae buried underground, silently waiting for the signal to break through the earth.
Meanwhile,
Sarutobi Hiruzen met up with his subordinates and the Kazekage, who was actually Orochimaru in disguise.
After exchanging a round of flattering pleasantries, the two began discussing cooperation between their villages.
As for the Hyuga, they were a law unto themselves. Despite being the most prominent clan in Konoha, their clan head attended only the opening ceremony, then excused himself on the grounds that clan business needed his attention.
The Hyuga Clan's arrogance wasn't as visible as the Uchiha's. Instead, it was etched into their bones and written into their clan rules.
Fortunately, the Hyuga Clan had always been that way. They were aloof and reserved around outsiders, so their attitude didn't invite hostility from those in power.
There was still time. Aoike continued to wait for the individual matches—and the moment Orochimaru made his move.
Everyone would be too busy looking after themselves then. That would be the time to settle accounts.