Shouting! Ants

Zetsu's intelligence always arrived quickly.

And this time was no exception!

The information was delivered almost the moment the meeting concluded.

"Thank you for your hard work, Zetsu."

Uchiha Ye took the intelligence from the "two-faced" Zetsu and said with a smile, "It must be exhausting to juggle two jobs at once!"

"Mr. Zetsu, you really must take care of your health. Don't work yourself into the ground, or we'll be left blind and helpless."

Hearing Uchiha Ye's pointed remark, Zetsu grinned. "Naturally, I shall take care."

He replied with an equally radiant expression, "You too, Azure Dragon. Life is so beautiful; remember to cherish the wonders around you. Who knows? You might be killed by a sudden, powerful enemy one of these days!"

Having been discovered last time, he was far more cautious while monitoring this time.

He would not get so close to Uchiha Ye again.

Uchiha Ye laughed at these words. "Thanks for the reminder!"

As for Sasori of the Red Sand!

Listening to the two of them exchange cryptic remarks, he was naturally left in the dark.

Of course, he didn't ask any questions!

On the road!

"You'll provide backup for me this time."

Sasori of the Red Sand spoke up. "Let me test the strength of this 'Demon' Momochi Zabuza!"

Uchiha Ye adjusted his conical hat and smiled. "Of course, that's what we agreed upon, isn't it, Brother Sasori?"

"I also happen to want to see how much the performance of your Hiruko has improved after your modifications!"

Ever since joining the Akatsuki after his battle with Sasori, he hadn't seen the man's true capabilities.

Watching the fight this time would be a pleasant diversion.

"I trust it won't disappoint you."

Sasori of the Red Sand said confidently, "The piece of Chakra Metal you provided is indeed excellent; Hiruko's efficiency has increased significantly!"

"I just hope our target this time doesn't disappoint us."

Uchiha Ye's lips curled into a smirk. "He is an S-rank ninja, after all; he shouldn't let us down."

Even without the Kubikiribocho, Zabuza's strength was quite formidable.

Meanwhile, at Konoha's Root organization!

"So, Bee and his team were wiped out by an unknown assailant?"

Shimura Danzo leaned on his cane, his face dark. "Have you identified the culprit? To dare act so brazenly within the Land of Fire!"

The Root member kneeling before Danzo replied, "It is suspected to be the Konoha S-rank missing-nin, Uchiha Ye!"

As he spoke, he produced a scroll and pulled out a scorched, crystallized lump of earth. "This was found near the site where Bee and his team perished. In the current Ninja World, the only one capable of such scorching attacks is Uchiha Ye."

"The ninja from the Village Hidden in the Rocks who uses Lava Release has had no reports of activity recently. We can rule him out!"

Shimura Danzo's gaze turned icy. "In other words, this fellow has been in the Land of Fire recently?"

Connecting this to the death of Orochimaru in the Land of Whirlpools—a neighbor to the Land of Fire—and the various rumors circulating in the Ninja World, a sudden suspicion flashed through Danzo's mind.

"Could it be... that this guy killed Orochimaru?"

He felt the thought was utterly absurd.

Yet, it was the only thing that made sense!

"I understand. You may go."

Shimura Danzo decided to shelve the suspicion for now.

Once the Third Hokage received the message from Uchiha Itachi, he would be able to confirm his theory.

"Uchiha Ye, you had better pray that you weren't the one who killed Orochimaru. Otherwise, I will never let you go!"

Orochimaru's death had cost him dearly.

It meant that the Sharingan he had painstakingly collected—the very reason he had orchestrated the Uchiha Clan Downfall Night—had suddenly become useless.

Only Orochimaru had possessed both his trust and the expertise to help him complete the transplantation of Hashirama Cells and the Sharingan.

The Sharingan and Hashirama Cells were the foundation of his future power.

And now, all of it was ruined because of Orochimaru's death!

How could he not hate him?

And there was someone else in a distant place who also harbored hatred for Uchiha Ye.

A man named Yakushi Kabuto!

He had once been dispatched by Orochimaru to infiltrate the Akatsuki as a mole and spy on their intelligence.

A few days ago, he had learned from Sasori of the Red Sand that there would be an attempt to hunt down Orochimaru, and he had immediately relayed this intelligence to Orochimaru in a timely manner.

Yet, unexpectedly, it still hadn't been enough to prevent Orochimaru's downfall.

With Orochimaru dead, his life had once again lost its direction.

He naturally harbored intense hatred for both Uchiha Ye and Sasori of the Red Sand.

Therefore!

He would have his revenge!

"Once I inherit all of Lord Orochimaru's research findings, that will be the day you both die!"

"The two of you had better wash your necks and wait for me!"

He did this so he wouldn't lose his way in life and fall into confusion.

Thus, he set a new life goal for himself—to avenge Orochimaru!

But what Yakushi Kabuto did not know was!

All of these thoughts were actually the result of someone indulging him!

The Land of Waves!

A poor, small nation amidst the vast ocean.

Walking along the foggy road, Uchiha Ye thought to himself, So, Yakushi Kabuto, what kind of surprise will you give me?

Given his familiarity with the plot.

If he truly wanted to cut the weeds and eliminate the roots after taking down Orochimaru, he certainly wouldn't have overlooked the spy 'Yakushi Kabuto' lurking by Sasori of the Red Sand's side.

The reason he let this guy go...

The goal was simple!

Cast a long line to catch a big fish!

Just as Uchiha Obito allowed him to grow, he was doing the same for Yakushi Kabuto.

He was deliberately giving Yakushi Kabuto the opportunity to grow!

And once he had matured, he would subdue him for his own use, having him serve as a member of the medical and scientific departments of the ninja village he planned to establish in the future.

That would save a great deal of effort!

When the time came, resurrecting Orochimaru using secret arts would be nothing short of perfect!

Of course!

By taking such an unconventional path, he naturally had to bear extraordinary risks.

That was the need for him to grow faster than Yakushi Kabuto.

Otherwise, he would be playing with fire and get burned.

This was also the reason he had intentionally revealed 'Zetsu' to himself, to apply pressure.

Because he could not afford even a moment of slack.

Another reason he dared to do this was that he knew Yakushi Kabuto currently could not obtain the bloodline limit enhancements from the likes of Kaguya Kimimaro, Hozuki Suigetsu, and others.

Therefore, his strength would not increase as rapidly as it did in the original story.

He could ensure that Yakushi Kabuto would not grow beyond his control.

In front of a certain manor!

"Is this the place?"

Sasori of the Red Sand stopped and glanced around, asking Uchiha Ye beside him to confirm.

"The 'Demon's Residence', it matches the intelligence! This should be the place!"

Uchiha Ye nodded in response but did not continue forward.

Because the two guards in front of the manor had already noticed them.

"Who goes there!"

"You dare to trespass on the territory of the Demon Group? Do you want to die!"

"We'll give you three seconds to leave!"

Hearing this, Sasori of the Red Sand said in a low voice, "I am looking for Zabuza of the Demon Group; tell him to come out and see me!"

Hearing these words, the two guards immediately laughed, filled with contempt: "Who do you think you are? You dare to address our boss by his name?"

As they spoke, the two of them lunged forward, holding Kunai, with clear fluctuations of chakra erupting from their bodies: "Let us teach you a lesson on behalf of our boss."

"Wearing a straw hat and a big cloak, what kind of mystery are you trying to put on!"

Seeing this, Uchiha Ye couldn't help but shake his head: "Why throw your lives away?"

Two people at the level of genin, clamoring in front of Sasori of the Red Sand?

Sasori was not a man with a good temper!

Thwip! Thwip!

Hiruko flipped open its mask, unleashing a barrage of Poison Senbon.

Thwip! Thwip!

The two men had no time to react; they felt a prickling sensation in their necks, followed by a sudden inability to breathe as their vision blurred.

Then, screaming, blood began to pour from their seven orifices before they finally collapsed and died.