Uncontrollable Factors

"Orochimaru... he just died like that?"

When the other two Sannin heard the news, they found it impossible to believe.

They knew Orochimaru's ability to preserve his own life all too well.

It was monstrous!

How could he have been killed?

Even the Five Kage did not possess such strength.

Unless it was a life-for-a-life trade!

Yet, it had happened just like that.

This made them incredibly concerned about the culprit who had finished off Orochimaru.

Who was it!

Who had such ability!

"Art is the beauty of a fleeting moment; instantaneous splendor is the only true art!"

"Absurd! Art is the grace that endures; eternal charm is the only true art!"

Somewhere in the Land of Rain!

Watching Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sand argue incessantly, neither able to convince the other, Uchiha Ye felt utterly helpless.

"I say, you two, you've been arguing for two hours now. Could you please take a break?"

He separated the agitated pair and offered a weary word of advice.

The cause of this, naturally, was that after completing their mission, Sasori of the Red Sand had been obsessed with finding Deidara to discuss art.

Because of this, Uchiha Ye, having heard his request and long since anticipating the outcome, had tried to dissuade him.

But Sasori of the Red Sand had not listened at all, insisting on seeing Deidara to debate art.

And so, it had come to this.

The two men held vastly different views on art, and neither was willing to acknowledge the other's perspective.

Both were attempting to persuade their opponent.

Thus, the final result was that neither could convince the other, and they had been arguing ever since.

"Ye, tell me, which one of us makes more sense?"

Sasori of the Red Sand looked at Uchiha Ye indignantly, seeking a judge.

Deidara immediately looked over as well, wanting to hear how Uchiha Ye viewed the matter!

This made Uchiha Ye raise his hands in surrender: "Spare me, Brother Sasori. I don't understand art, so how could I just offer an opinion?"

Are you kidding me!

If he validated either one, he would be treated as an enemy by the other!

It was better to just be a spectator; why get involved?

"Tch, Ye, you're too cunning!"

Hearing this, Sasori of the Red Sand was clearly somewhat dissatisfied, yet he seemed to have expected this response all along.

He then brushed the question aside and looked back at Deidara, saying earnestly: "I will prove to you that eternity is the only true art!"

Deidara snorted twice at these words: "Master Sasori, I will not be convinced by you. Instantaneous beauty is the true art! Yeah!"

With that, he turned and left!

In response, Sasori of the Red Sand looked at Uchiha Ye again: "You tried to stop me from meeting Deidara to discuss art earlier—did you already know this would be the result?"

Uchiha Ye spread his hands: "What else, Brother Sasori?"

Sasori of the Red Sand was immediately curious and asked: "Then how did you know we wouldn't see eye to eye? Could it be you already knew Deidara's view on art differed from mine?"

Uchiha Ye nodded: "Exactly so!"

This made Sasori of the Red Sand remark: "How does it feel like you know everything, Ye? Do you truly possess the ability to foresee the future?"

It had been the same when they faced Orochimaru!

Uchiha Ye had been intimately familiar with the Edo Tensei, a technique he had never even heard of.

He was even more familiar with it than Orochimaru, the user himself.

Such intelligence-gathering capability was terrifying.

"Foresee the future?"

Uchiha Ye chuckled and shook his head: "How could that be? If I had such an ability, wouldn't I be invincible?"

"I just happen to know a little more than most, so it only seems like I know everything!"

Was he supposed to tell Sasori of the Red Sand: Yes, I'm a transmigrator holding the script?

Sasori of the Red Sand probably wouldn't believe it either!

Moreover!

Uchiha Obito, you really do love to keep tabs on people, don't you?

Uchiha Ye cast a casual glance toward a spot behind him, his thoughts echoing in his mind.

There, Zetsu was eavesdropping.

"I see!"

Sasori of the Red Sand nodded in realization.

However, it was clear that he didn't believe Uchiha Ye's explanation for how he knew everything.

But as a partner, he respected Uchiha Ye's right to privacy.

Who didn't have a few trump cards and secrets of their own?

Uchiha Ye and Sasori of the Red Sand departed.

Yet, Zetsu, who had been eavesdropping not far away, couldn't help but be stunned by that casual glance from Uchiha Ye: "Were our tracks discovered?"

How could he not be shocked?

Their stealth techniques were so advanced that even the most formidable sensory experts couldn't detect them!

Up until now, their presence had never been exposed.

But that glance from Uchiha Ye just now had told them, without a shadow of a doubt, that they had been found out.

"Is this guy's sensory ability... truly that terrifying?"

White Zetsu's eyes were filled with shock: "It seems that keeping an eye on him in the future won't be so easy!"

Black Zetsu chimed in: "It appears so! We must report this to Obito immediately."

"His eye for talent is indeed sharp; this Uchiha Ye is truly a variable worth noting!"

An hour later!

"What? Even with your stealth techniques, you were discovered!"

When Uchiha Obito learned of this from Zetsu, he couldn't help but be taken aback.

He knew better than anyone just how formidable Zetsu's stealth capabilities were.

To put it bluntly...

There wasn't a place in the entire Ninja World they couldn't infiltrate.

One could only imagine how potent their stealth skills were.

And yet, now...

They were merely eavesdropping on Uchiha Ye from a distance, and he had actually detected them?

This guy... seems to be much more troublesome than I anticipated!

Uchiha Obito narrowed his eyes, his resolve to eliminate Uchiha Ye growing even firmer.

If this uncertain factor wasn't removed, it would inevitably interfere with his plans.

Unlike Uchiha Itachi, this guy is far too mysterious, and his current strength is quite impressive; his threat level is even higher than Uchiha Itachi's.

During these past few days, he had secretly infiltrated Konoha, attempting to investigate Uchiha Ye's background and origins.

But all he had found was that he was a member of the Uchiha Clan who had lost his parents at a young age and possessed only mediocre talent.

This clearly didn't align with Uchiha Ye's current, outstanding performance.

In other words, Uchiha Ye was so deeply hidden that even he couldn't find a single flaw.

This was undoubtedly terrifying.

After all!

If he wanted to, there was no information he couldn't unearth.

Yet, when it came to Uchiha Ye, this method had failed.

How could he not be on guard?

Furthermore!

He couldn't grasp Uchiha Ye's motives at all.

Whether it was his purpose for joining the Akatsuki or his future intentions, he remained a mystery.

He felt there was no need to keep such an unknown enemy alive.

Uchiha Itachi's abilities and methods were indeed formidable, but he remained within his control.

He knew Uchiha Itachi's goals, and he knew Uchiha Itachi's weaknesses.

But Uchiha Ye was different!

He had no attachments!

Aside from complete physical annihilation, he could find almost no way to deal with Uchiha Ye.

But it was obvious!

Considering the fact that he had managed to take down Orochimaru alongside Sasori of the Red Sand, it really wouldn't be that easy for him, Uchiha Obito, to kill the man now.

Furthermore!

As a capable operative of the Akatsuki organization, Uchiha Ye was not someone who should be killed at this particular moment.