"Ye, you really are a mysterious and terrifying man!"
Orochimaru fixed Uchiha Ye with a wary gaze. "You're like an unsolvable riddle. I have no idea what your true capabilities are."
"It's despairing to have someone like you as an enemy!"
The importance of information in the ninja world was self-evident.
Often, it was information that allowed the weaker side to claim victory.
Take Asuma Sarutobi, who was killed by Hidan in the original story.
He lost his life because he didn't understand Hidan's abilities.
Now, Orochimaru's trump cards had been laid bare so thoroughly that even he felt somewhat uneasy.
Because he wasn't sure whether Uchiha Ye knew even more.
That left him with no advantage at all when facing Uchiha Ye.
If anything, he might be countered at every turn!
"Despairing?"
Uchiha Ye smiled. "I'm honored by the praise. I'll keep working toward that goal, and hope to make it a reality someday!"
He turned to Sasori of the Red Sands beside him. "Leave the reincarnated enemy to me, and let Big Brother Sasori handle Orochimaru. Sound good?"
Sasori nodded. "No problem!"
He didn't know the details of Impure World Reincarnation, so confronting it recklessly could put him at a disadvantage.
In that case, Uchiha Ye could handle the reincarnated enemy while he kept Orochimaru occupied.
Uchiha Ye nodded, then looked toward the coffin and narrowed his eyes. "Orochimaru, you planned this well. You're using someone who excels at Water Release to tie me down, stripping much of the force from my strongest ability. In the end, I might run out of chakra without even breaking through his defenses."
"And you can handle Big Brother Sasori on your own. That way, we might really fail our mission and be unable to eliminate you, the traitor!"
Hearing Uchiha Ye say that, Orochimaru's gaze sharpened again. "You actually know who I summoned?"
For the first time, he felt such an urgent need to eliminate someone.
Facing Uchiha Ye, he felt as if he had no secrets at all—as though he'd been completely seen through. It was unnerving.
"Was it really that hard to guess?"
Uchiha Ye grinned. "You practically labeled the coffin yourself. And given that you're facing an enemy with heat-based abilities, there's only one person from Konoha you'd specifically summon!"
Sasori didn't understand the riddle-like exchange between them. Confused, he asked, "Ye, who's in the coffin? Do you know him?"
Uchiha Ye gave a derisive laugh. "Of course!"
Then he fixed a piercing gaze ahead and said, word by word, "The Second of Konoha, the greatest enemy of my clan—the man who despised the Uchiha most, Tobirama Senju!"
As he spoke, the coffin lid fell to the ground with a crash. The person summoned inside stepped out. Who else could it be but Tobirama Senju?
His face was gray-white and crisscrossed with cracks, his eyes dull and lifeless.
He stood hunched over, like a puppet on strings, and didn't move again after rising to his feet.
"I wonder what the Second would think if he knew he'd been summoned with the very jutsu he invented?"
Uchiha Ye was actually still in the mood to joke.
Sasori also found the thought rather amusing.
"You're awfully relaxed, Ye!"
Orochimaru smiled at that, though he seemed a little annoyed.
His trump cards had all been guessed. There wasn't even a hint of surprise left.
He took out a kunai fitted with a control talisman and drove it into the body through the back of the Second's neck.
In an instant!
The Second's gray-white face began to regain its color.
Tobirama Senju had officially revived!
Though he was still far from being truly alive, his gaze sharpened at once.
"What is this...?"
The Second was startled by his return.
He clenched his fist, then frowned. "Impure World Reincarnation?"
His eyes turned icy. "Someone dares to use this jutsu so carelessly?"
He turned to Orochimaru, who had walked up beside him, and glared at him. "Was it you, you wretch?"
"Who are you? How do you know my Impure World Reincarnation?"
Orochimaru gave a low laugh. "Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that you have a mission, Second. I didn't summon you so you could question me."
Hearing this, Tobirama's eyes turned even colder. "Are you threatening me?"
A heavy, immense aura burst from his body. He had already reached Kage Level.
Orochimaru immediately activated the control formula. Tobirama at once found himself unable to move, and even his chakra began to dissipate beyond his control.
This shocked him!
Of course, it also infuriated him!
He, Tobirama Senju, had actually become someone else's puppet, unable to fight back.
And he was being controlled by a jutsu he himself had invented!
It was a disgrace!
"My apologies, Second!"
Orochimaru licked his lips, then said, "See that Uchiha brat? He's your opponent today!"
Tobirama immediately looked over. His gaze turned terrifyingly sharp. "You wicked Uchiha brat! Judging by your outfit, you're no longer a Konoha ninja."
"I knew it. I knew your clan couldn't be trusted. You were bound to betray Konoha!"
Hearing that, Uchiha Ye couldn't help scoffing. "Second, your hostility toward the Uchiha really hasn't changed!"
"But, come to think of it, are we the only wicked ones?"
He gave a mocking smile and pointed to Orochimaru beside him. "This man is the precious disciple of your beloved student, Sarutobi Hiruzen—a former Hokage candidate named Orochimaru!"
"Compared to someone like him, who tramples on life in pursuit of immortality, experiments on people in cold blood, and even toys with the souls of the dead, our Uchiha wickedness is nothing!"
He watched Tobirama's face darken and taunted him, "So, how does it feel to be controlled by your own student's grandstudent?"
Orochimaru only chuckled. "It's an honor to control the Second in battle!"
"Then let's stop wasting time!"
He activated the jutsu, and Tobirama immediately lost all sense of self.
That at least spared Tobirama from being angered into spitting blood.
"Whoosh!"
Like a bolt of lightning, Tobirama closed the distance in an instant. A kunai appeared in his hand and slashed toward Uchiha Ye's neck.
He was absurdly fast—so fast that no one could react in time!
"Too fast..."
Watching the scene, Sasori was stunned even inside Hiruko. "So this is the Second? The God of Speed in the Shinobi World really isn't just a rumor!"
Squelch!
Without the slightest warning, Uchiha Ye's neck was torn open, and red liquid sprayed everywhere.
But Tobirama immediately leaped backward at high speed!
The kunai in his hand had melted.
And what had sprayed out was scorching lava, not blood.
That was definitely not what happened when you wounded an enemy.
Before you continue