Attack! Pursue and Kill Orochimaru

"I still have too little exposure to taijutsu-type skills; that's why I have all this strength but can't unleash it perfectly."

A true master should be able to inflict the greatest damage with the least amount of energy.

He was still a long way from reaching that realm.

"Zzzzt!"

In less than half an hour, the waterfall where Uchiha Ye was training had run dry.

Terrifying steam transformed into unimaginable dark clouds that rose into the sky, colliding to produce heart-stopping flashes of lightning.

Seeing this, Uchiha Ye had no choice but to find another place to continue his training.

Thus, he plunged into the Land of Rain's largest lake, the Lake Sea, sinking to the very bottom to once again temper the limits of his abilities.

Three days later!

"No way, what's happening? Is the water in the Lake Sea boiling?"

In the northwestern part of the Land of Rain, some civilians gathered by the side of the vast, boundless lake, staring at the boiling surface with faces full of disbelief.

"If I'm not mistaken, the water level of the Lake Sea seems to have dropped by more than a meter!"

"What on earth is going on? The water in the Lake Sea has always been bone-chillingly cold; how could it be boiling? Could there be a volcano waking up underneath?"

"How is that possible? Where would we have a volcano in the Land of Rain?"

Countless civilians watched this incredible scene, falling into a daze one after another.

"Look over there!!!"

Just then, someone with sharp eyes pointed toward the center of the lake: "Is there something fiery red over there!"

"It's true, wait, it seems to be getting bigger too!"

"Do you guys feel like the temperature all around is getting higher and higher?"

The astonished civilians felt their throats suddenly go dry, as if they were standing in the middle of a desert, so hot they wanted to strip off their clothes.

But in the typically damp and cold Land of Rain, how could such a thing happen?

Hum, hum, hum!

The surface of the lake suddenly trembled violently, and the boiling state became even more terrifying.

A thick smell of sulfur emerged, mixed with a heart-stopping, oppressive aura that descended upon them.

"What could it be?"

The civilians couldn't help but swallow hard, thinking with a mix of panic and anticipation.

"BOOM!"

Finally, that flash of fiery red from the bottom of the lake broke through the surface and appeared before everyone.

"A person?"

"How is that possible! Flowing with magma all over—is that even human?"

The civilians stared at the figure standing on the water in the center of the lake, filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Even though they knew ninjas possessed all sorts of miraculous abilities.

What they were seeing before them didn't look like anything a ninja could possibly possess.

In an instant, the already muggy atmosphere became scorching hot.

It was as if they were truly standing in a desert; even from such a distance, the heat made their skin sting with pain, to the point where they couldn't even keep their eyes open.

Even the dark clouds in the sky were dispersed by this terrifying heat, accompanied by a low, rumbling roar.

To directly alter the weather—this was absolutely something only a god could do.

"It seems... I trained a little too long!"

At this moment, the magma figure spoke.

The lava on his body slowly receded, eventually revealing a figure dressed in a black trench coat with red cloud patterns, wearing a conical hat.

Fruit Development Progress: 55%

It was none other than Uchiha Ye!

"I wonder if that guy Orochimaru has sent any word yet?"

Glancing at the onlookers on the shore, Uchiha Ye flickered and vanished from the spot.

"Red cloud patterns... black trench coat, lava ability..."

On the shore, a young man wearing glasses endured the stinging pain in his eyes to barely catch a glimpse of the scene, his heart churning with shock.

"This ability, it can't be wrong; only that guy from the Akatsuki organization possesses it!"

He pushed up his scorching-hot glasses: "But how did he suddenly become so powerful?"

"This is bad, I must pass this information to Lord Orochimaru immediately. This guy is one of the people hunting Lord Orochimaru; I can't let him be caught off guard without knowing about this."

As for the others, they exclaimed that they had seen a god.

To be able to make the water of the vast "Lake Sea" boil, and to alter the weather with such scorching power.

If this wasn't a god, then what was it?

They had been wondering why the weather had been so abnormal lately.

Pouring rain!

Yet stiflingly hot!

It turned out that there really were gods in this world, and one had just descended right before their eyes!

And so!

An endless stream of people suddenly began to arrive here, kowtowing and praying for their wishes.

And it was actually quite effective!

"We can begin the operation!"

While halfway to the Akatsuki organization, Uchiha Ye received intelligence sent by Sasori of the Red Sand.

"The Land of Whirlpools?"

Looking at the information in the report, Uchiha Ye couldn't help but feel a bit surprised: "This guy isn't staying in the Land of Fields? What is he doing in the Land of Whirlpools? Out gathering materials for his research?"

Of course, where Orochimaru was didn't matter.

What mattered was that he was about to face a catastrophe.

"I'll use you to test just what level my strength has reached now!"

From his battle with Sasori of the Red Sand, he could confirm that his strength was quite close to the Kage level.

And now, he should have stepped into that "Kage level" realm!

He met with Sasori of the Red Sand at the agreed-upon location.

"You... have become stronger!"

The two looked each other over and spoke simultaneously.

"It seems Orochimaru is going to have a rough time of it this time!"

Sasori of the Red Sand's low voice emanated from Hiruko, cold and ruthless: "After this, the name of the Sannin will be completely erased!"

Uchiha Ye smiled, his gaze burning with intensity: "That will surely be a historic moment."

To reach the Land of Whirlpools, it was naturally unavoidable to pass through the Land of Fire.

And descending into the Land of Fire carried a certain chance of encountering Konoha ninjas.

As it happened, Uchiha Ye's luck was truly quite good.

"Uchiha Ye! You actually dare to appear in the Land of Fire!!"

Looking at the eight members of Root who had suddenly appeared before the two of them, surrounding them with excited expressions, Uchiha Ye couldn't help but sneer: "What, is the Land of Fire your home? Are people not allowed to pass through?"

But the Root member in the lead ignored this entirely, instead suddenly laughing maniacally: "Very good, now I can finally avenge my older brother!"

"Prepare yourself, you damn bastard! Today, this place will be your burial ground!"

Hearing this, Uchiha Ye couldn't help but ask helplessly: "Say, may I ask who your brother is? Did I ever harm him?"

This comment only made things worse; it immediately caused the man's eyes to turn red with fury: "What did you say?! You actually don't remember my brother?!!"

He gritted his teeth until they clicked: "When you defected, a person wearing a dog-head mask died at your hands—have you forgotten that already?!!"

Uchiha Ye shrugged at these words: "Sorry about that. I never bother to keep nobodies in mind."

"Besides, I'm in a hurry. Could you please move out of the way?"

Killing a group whose average strength was only that of a Special Jonin provided absolutely no sense of accomplishment.

But these words completely enraged the man in the calico cat mask, and he roared as he charged forward at high speed: "You bastard, go to hell!!!"

"Fire Style..."

"Hellhound!"

Uchiha Ye struck after him but arrived first; his right arm, glowing a scorching red, ruthlessly pierced through the man's chest.

Landing on the ground, Uchiha Ye shook the blood from his arm and said indifferently: "I truly apologize, but I don't make a habit of remembering the faces of ants!"