Orochimaru Has His Eye on Him-A Major Crisis!

Noticing that the feeling of being watched had vanished, the smile on Sasuke's lips grew more pronounced.

Clearly, Naruto saying something like that was more convincing than Sasuke himself saying it.

After going this far, even that old fox Hiruzen Sarutobi probably wouldn't have any more doubts.

After all, how could two five-year-old children possibly have any ill intentions!?

Late the next night.

In a cave outside Konoha.

"My lord, I've finished investigating."

"That so-called genius of the Uchiha has indeed been brainwashed by the Will of Fire."

"Moreover, the talent he's shown is far greater than the reports say!"

"I've watched him train. The intensity of it was enough to make even me uneasy."

"Most importantly, Fugaku Uchiha seems to indulge him quite a bit."

"So, should we make a move against him?"

A figure slowly emerged from the darkness.

Beneath his white hair was a sinister face.

The gleam in his eyes made it obvious he was no good.

It was none other than Mizuki, a teacher at the Konoha Ninja Academy!

And the man Mizuki called "my lord" was Orochimaru, the Ninja World's greatest scientist!

"How confident are you?"

Orochimaru gave a faint smile and spoke slowly.

"Next month, there'll be a special training exercise."

"Iruka was originally supposed to lead it, but I can take his place."

"We'll choose the woods to the west."

"When the time comes... I'll bring your target to you, my lord."

"You..."

Mizuki looked at Orochimaru expectantly.

That was right. Because of Uchiha Sasuke's appearance, Orochimaru had approached Mizuki ahead of schedule.

Mizuki was a man bent on gaining great power and making a name for himself in the Ninja World.

After catching a fleeting glimpse of Uchiha Itachi back then, Orochimaru had already begun considering his own path forward.

But Itachi's growth had been too rapid.

Orochimaru hadn't dared to make a move against him.

After all, as a member of the Anbu, Itachi was usually accompanied by other powerful Anbu.

If Orochimaru's location were exposed, even he might die in the ensuing battle.

For a cautious man like Orochimaru, that was a risk he couldn't take.

But now, another genius had appeared among the Uchiha.

Most importantly, this genius, Uchiha Sasuke, was only a little over five years old!

At that age... he was just right to be cultivated into Orochimaru's perfect vessel!

And so, this scene had come to pass.

"This is the serum for activating the Cursed Seal."

"But the Cursed Seal is still under development. Don't use it unless you have no other choice."

"Of course, as long as you bring Sasuke to me, you'll receive the perfect Cursed Seal!"

"When that time comes, the power you gain will be beyond your imagination!"

Orochimaru tossed a vial into Mizuki's hand.

Then a giant snake emerged from the ground, swallowed Orochimaru, and disappeared.

"Heh heh heh... Hahaha!"

"Iruka, Hokage, just you wait!"

"I, Mizuki, will become someone you fear!"

Clutching the vial, Mizuki's face twisted with excitement.

Little did he know that even the Orochimaru he worshipped and eagerly awaited wouldn't dare act so brazenly toward Konoha.

Of course, Mizuki couldn't see that.

He firmly believed that he would use Sasuke as a stepping stone and become a ninja who shook the Ninja World!

Not long after the two of them had disappeared.

A white-haired figure appeared there.

"Orochimaru's chakra..."

"How dare he come here?!"

Jiraiya sensed the chakra lingering in the area, his expression grave.

Ever since Orochimaru had defected, Jiraiya had been pursuing him.

At the same time, he'd traveled throughout the Ninja World to train.

He'd happened to be returning to the village this time to take care of some important business, but he hadn't expected to sense Orochimaru's chakra here.

For a moment, Jiraiya's mood grew heavy.

After all, he'd come back to oversee the release of the latest volume of Icha Icha Paradise.

The last step was to gather material in Konoha.

As one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin, he still felt a deep attachment to the village.

"Smack!"

"Damn it!"

"At a time like this, how can I still be thinking about other things?"

"Orochimaru must've already gotten away. I should get back to gathering material!"

Jiraiya slapped himself, then vanished.

After returning to the village, Jiraiya gave the intelligence to Hiruzen Sarutobi and then left.

He had nothing else to say to his former teacher.

Inside the Hokage Office.

"Orochimaru?"

"How could he have shown up here?"

"Could it be... that he's finally decided to make a move against the village?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took out a sealed file, his expression dark as he spoke.

Back then...

Those three had been his pride!

Now...

Those three had become stains on his record that he could never erase!

"Chu, take three squads and investigate."

"If you find anything useful, report back immediately!"

In the end, Hiruzen Sarutobi gave the order to pursue him.

"Understood, Lord Hokage!"

As one of Hiruzen Sarutobi's personal guards and one of Konoha's finest pursuit shinobi, Chu immediately got to work.

Late at night.

After finishing his training, Sasuke left Shadow Leaf Lake.

He headed toward the clan compound.

"Hmm?!"

"Zzzzt..."

Suddenly, an intense sense of danger coursed through Sasuke's entire body.

Thunder God Mode activated in an instant.

Every muscle and all the chakra in his body surged into action.

"Heh heh heh... You noticed me?"

"Truly worthy of the name Uchiha genius!"

A giant snake emerged from the ground.

It opened its mouth, and a man slowly crawled out, speaking in a sinister voice.

"Orochimaru?!"

Seeing the man who had appeared, Sasuke sighed inwardly.

Why had this guy shown up in Konoha?!

As an S-rank rogue ninja from Konoha, if he were discovered—

At this point, Snake Uncle didn't have enough lives to get away with it!

Could this guy... have come for him?

Suddenly, Sasuke realized something very bad.

Orochimaru had set his sights on him.

Seriously!

Snake Uncle, why weren't you going after your big brother Itachi? What did you want with a little nobody like me!?

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Orochimaru."

"I used to be a ninja of Konoha."

"You probably don't know who I am, but I'll give you plenty of time to get to know me."

"Come with me!"

"Shadow Snake Hand!"

As he spoke, Orochimaru attacked Sasuke.