Zetsu's intel always came quickly.
And this time was no exception!
The information arrived almost as soon as the meeting ended.
"Thanks for your efforts, Lord Zetsu!"
Uchiha Ye took the intel from the hands of the "half-black, half-white" Zetsu and said with a smile, "Holding down two jobs at once must be hard work!"
"Mr. Zetsu, you really ought to take care of yourself. Don't work yourself to the bone, or we'll be left in the dark."
Hearing the pointed remark, Zetsu grinned. "Of course. I'll be sure to take care of myself!"
He beamed back. "You should too, Azure Dragon. Life is so beautiful—you should remember to appreciate the good things around you. You never know when a powerful enemy might suddenly appear and kill you!"
After being discovered last time, he'd be much more careful while keeping watch this time.
He wouldn't get so close to Uchiha Ye again.
Uchiha Ye laughed at that. "Thanks for the reminder!"
As for Sasori of the Red Sands—
Listening to the two of them talk in riddles, he was completely lost.
Of course, he didn't ask any questions!
On the road!
"Back me up this time."
Sasori of the Red Sands spoke up. "I want to test the strength of this 'Demon,' Momochi Zabuza!"
Uchiha Ye adjusted his hat and smiled. "Of course. That's what you told me we'd do from the start, isn't it, Big Brother Sasori?"
"I'll also get a chance to see just how much stronger Hiruko has become after your modifications!"
Ever since their battle and his subsequent recruitment into the Akatsuki, he hadn't seen Sasori's abilities again.
Watching from the sidelines this time would be just fine.
"I'm sure it won't disappoint."
Sasori of the Red Sands replied confidently. "That piece of Chakra Metal you gave me really is a fine material. Hiruko's performance has improved quite a bit!"
"I just hope our target doesn't disappoint us this time."
Uchiha Ye's lips curled up. "He's an S-rank ninja, so he shouldn't disappoint us."
Even without Kubikiribōchō, Zabuza was a formidable opponent.
Meanwhile, at Konoha's Root headquarters!
"So Bee and the others were killed by unknown assailants?"
Shimura Danzō leaned on his cane, his expression dark. "Have you found out who the culprit was? They dare act so brazenly in the Land of Fire!"
The Root member kneeling before Danzō replied, "It was likely Uchiha Ye, the S-rank rogue ninja from Konoha!"
As he spoke, he took out a scroll and removed a lump of scorched, crystallized earth. "This was found near the place where Bee and the others died. In the current ninja world, Uchiha Ye is the only one capable of using such a scorching attack."
"The Iwagakure ninja who can use Lava Release hasn't been deployed recently. We can rule him out."
At that, Shimura Danzō's gaze turned icy. "So that means he's been in the Land of Fire recently?"
Thinking of Orochimaru, who had died in the Land of Whirlpools, a neighboring country of the Land of Fire, and the rumors circulating through the ninja world, a thought suddenly crossed Danzō's mind.
Could that bastard have killed Orochimaru?
The idea seemed absurd.
And yet, it explained everything!
"I understand. You may leave."
Shimura Danzō decided to set that theory aside for now.
Once the Third Hokage received the message from Uchiha Itachi, he would be able to confirm his suspicions.
"Uchiha Ye, you'd better pray that you weren't the one who killed Orochimaru. If you were, I swear I won't let you get away with it!"
Orochimaru's death had cost him dearly.
It meant that the Sharingan he had painstakingly gathered at great risk after orchestrating the Uchiha Clan Downfall Night was suddenly useless.
Only Orochimaru had both Danzō's trust and the ability to help him transplant Hashirama Cells and Sharingan.
The Sharingan and Hashirama Cells were what he needed to secure his future.
Now Orochimaru's death had ruined everything!
How could he not hate him?
Far away, there was someone else who hated Uchiha Ye.
A man named Yakushi Kabuto!
Orochimaru had once sent him to infiltrate the Akatsuki as a spy, posing as Sasori of the Red Sands' subordinate to gather information.
A few days ago, he'd learned from Sasori that the Akatsuki planned to hunt down Orochimaru, and he'd immediately sent Orochimaru a warning.
But even so, he hadn't managed to prevent Orochimaru's death.
With Orochimaru dead, his life had lost its direction once more.
Naturally, he hated Uchiha Ye and Sasori of the Red Sands with all his heart.
Therefore—
He would have his revenge!
"Once I've inherited all of Lord Orochimaru's research, you'll both be dead!"
"You two, you'd better keep your necks clean and wait for me!"
To keep himself from losing his purpose in life and falling into confusion,
he gave himself a new purpose: avenging Orochimaru!
But Yakushi Kabuto didn't know—
All of these thoughts were actually the result of someone else deliberately letting events unfold!
Land of Waves!
A poor little country in the vast ocean.
Walking along the fog-shrouded road, Uchiha Ye thought, So, Yakushi Kabuto, what kind of surprise will you give me?
Given how familiar he was with the story,
if he'd wanted to make sure no one survived after killing Orochimaru, he certainly wouldn't have overlooked Yakushi Kabuto, the spy who had infiltrated Sasori of the Red Sands' ranks.
The reason he'd spared him...
was simple!
He was letting the fish grow before reeling it in!
Just as Uchiha Obito had let him grow, he was doing the same with Yakushi Kabuto.
He was deliberately giving Kabuto the chance to grow stronger!
Then, once Kabuto had grown, he would recruit him and put him to work in the medical and scientific departments of the ninja village he planned to establish.
That would save him a great deal of effort!
And when the time came, he could revive Orochimaru using a secret technique. It would be perfect!
Of course!
Taking such an unconventional path came with risks.
He had to grow faster than Yakushi Kabuto.
Otherwise, he'd be playing with fire and get burned.
That was also why he had deliberately let Zetsu discover him: to put pressure on himself.
He couldn't afford to let his guard down for even a moment.
Another reason he dared to do this was that he knew Yakushi Kabuto couldn't acquire the Kekkei Genkai of Kaguya Kimimaro, Hozuki Suigetsu, and the others.
So Kabuto wouldn't grow as quickly as he had in the original story.
He could make sure Kabuto never grew beyond his control.
In front of a certain manor!
"Is this the place?"
Sasori of the Red Sands stopped and looked around before asking Uchiha Ye to confirm.
"The Demon's Residence. It matches the intel. This should be the place!"
Uchiha Ye nodded, but didn't move forward.
The two sentries outside the manor had already noticed them.
"Who are you?"
"You dare trespass on the Demon Group's territory? Do you have a death wish?"
"Get out of here in three seconds!"
Sasori's voice was low. "I'm here for Demon Zabuza. Tell him to come out and meet me!"
The two sentries burst out laughing, their faces full of scorn. "Who do you think you are, calling our boss by his name?"
With that, they charged forward, kunai in hand, chakra visibly surging around them. "Let us teach you a lesson on our boss's behalf!"
"You think wearing a hat and a big cloak makes you look mysterious?"
Uchiha Ye couldn't help shaking his head. "Why throw your lives away?"
Two men at Genin level were mouthing off in front of Sasori of the Red Sands?
Sasori wasn't known for his patience!
Pff! Pff!
Hiruko's mask flipped open, and several Poison Senbon shot out.
"Pff! Pff!"
The two men didn't even have time to react. Their necks prickled, and then they suddenly couldn't breathe. Their vision blurred.
They screamed as blood poured from their eyes, ears, noses, and mouths. At last, they fell to the ground, dead.
Before you continue