Chapter 16

Even when Anko ran out and clashed with Orochimaru, he never showed himself.

After Anko had gone far away, Orochimaru suddenly stopped and spoke toward the space behind him. "You've followed me for so long. Are you still not planning to show your face?"

"Tch, as expected of Orochimaru, one of Konoha's Legendary Three Ninja. You noticed me even after all that."

Uchiha Yi was somewhat surprised.

He had hidden using Kamui, yet Orochimaru had still detected him?

Orochimaru quickly gave him the answer. "A snake's senses are very sharp."

"So it was the temperature?" Uchiha Yi immediately understood.

Orochimaru stuck out his long tongue, his gaze falling on Uchiha Yi. "Then let me ask you: who exactly are you, and what do you intend by following me?"

"Nothing much. I just want to make a deal with you."

"A deal?"

"That's right. You can carry out your Konoha Crush Plan however you like. I have no objections, but the Third Hokage cannot die." Uchiha Yi spoke with utter seriousness. The moment the words "Konoha Crush Plan" left his mouth, Orochimaru's pupils suddenly contracted. "You're quite interesting, but—"

"A little brat like you dares to be so arrogant in front of me? You've got some nerve!"

Orochimaru did not move, but two huge snakes suddenly sprang out behind Uchiha Yi, their bloody maws wide open as they bit down on him.

Yet the two snakes passed straight through his body.

Kamui: Intangibility. "Uchiha... Madara?"

Orochimaru's pupils narrowed to slits, and his entire body instantly tensed. "Tch. Attacking without warning really is your style, Orochimaru."

Uchiha Yi clicked his tongue and shook his head. "I'm not Madara Uchiha. You should have heard my name too. I'm Uchiha Yi."

"Heh, so it's you. Still, you've truly made me see you in a new light."

Orochimaru stared at Uchiha Yi's eyes, his gaze filled with greed.

A space-time ninjutsu like Madara's—who wouldn't covet something like that?

Uchiha Yi frowned, and his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan instantly lit up. "Amaterasu!"

Black flames surged up, directly burning Orochimaru into a human-shaped fireball.

After the scream ended, only a charred black corpse remained on the ground. "Orochimaru, stop pretending. That little trick can't kill you."

"Hehe, you really are extraordinary."

The charred shell split open, and Orochimaru crawled out from within.

Disgusting. "Your eyes are remarkable too. They make my heart race." Orochimaru stared at Uchiha Yi, his eyes brimming with desire. "Give it up." Uchiha Yi looked utterly disdainful. "You can't even beat Itachi, and you want to set your sights on me?"

"If I don't try, how will I know it can't be done?"

Orochimaru gave a sinister smile and rapidly formed hand seals. "Summoning Jutsu!"

Bang!

A massive figure descended from the sky. A giant snake twenty to thirty meters long lunged at Uchiha Yi.

It seemed that unless he made Orochimaru suffer a little, the man truly would not learn his lesson.

Uchiha Yi's eyes turned cold as an idea came to him. "Lightning Release: Chidori Sharp Spear!"

A massive lightning spear flashed past, piercing straight through the giant snake.

With a bang, the snake's form dispersed as it was sent back to the summoning realm. "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

A violent gale rose, blowing away all the surrounding trees.

This was completely different from his earlier fight with Sasuke. This time, Orochimaru was getting serious.

But it was useless.

Flying Thunder God Technique!

Uchiha Yi instantly appeared before Orochimaru. Amid Orochimaru's shocked gaze, he grinned. "Lightning Release: Heavy Lightning Surge."

This move was the Raikage's signature technique. All chakra was concentrated in the palm, making it somewhat similar to Chidori.

But in terms of power, Lightning Release: Heavy Lightning Surge was clearly far more formidable.

With one palm strike, Orochimaru's body exploded into a mass of shredded flesh.

Hm? An Earth Substitute?

Uchiha Yi shifted his gaze, and Orochimaru emerged again nearby without so much as a mark on him. "Heh, interesting. Very interesting."

Orochimaru craned his neck, his eyes gleaming with greed. "The first one was Madara Uchiha's space-time technique. If I'm not mistaken, the latter was the Flying Thunder God, wasn't it? And you even used the Fourth Raikage's ninjutsu!"

He licked his lips, his voice low and hoarse. "I'm becoming more and more interested in where all those ninjutsu of yours came from."

Orochimaru did not attack again, but his expression was like that of someone who had spotted rare prey. "I'm somewhat interested in this deal you mentioned now."

He had no expectation that Uchiha Yi would honestly explain anything, nor did he want to become involved in any deal with this troublesome brat.

But the other party knew his entire plan. At a critical moment like this, he had no choice but to yield. "Wouldn't it have been easier if you'd said so from the beginning?"

Uchiha Yi curled his lips into a casual smile. "The deal is simple. Carry out your plan however you want, but there's one condition—the Third Hokage cannot die."

"Then, Yi-kun, what do you intend to make me give in exchange?"

"Sasuke Uchiha."

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, his gaze instantly sharpening. "Yi-kun, I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

"Stop playing dumb, Orochimaru. You think I don't know? You've set your sights on Sasuke. You want to use Living Corpse Reincarnation to obtain the Uchiha Clan's bloodline limit?"

Orochimaru's expression completely changed.

Even Living Corpse Reincarnation had been laid bare by the other party. That clearly meant he even knew that Orochimaru had already used the technique.

This brat was too dangerous!

Killing intent surged from Orochimaru's heart like a venomous snake. He wanted nothing more than to kill him on the spot.

Uchiha Yi spoke first. "Don't even think about it, Orochimaru. Even if you bring out every hidden trump card in this plan, you still can't touch me."

That was no bluff.

Even if Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to bring out the First and Second Hokage, he still would not be a match.

The First Hokage was certainly powerful. Even Uchiha Yi himself was not confident he could definitely defeat Hashirama Senju at his peak.

But Orochimaru's version of Impure World Reincarnation could not even bring out ten or twenty percent of the First Hokage's strength. It could not even preserve the Second Hokage's strength.

One had to remember that Hashirama Senju at his peak could suppress even Madara Uchiha with the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and the Nine-Tails.

Orochimaru's expression darkened. He was not sure whether the "trump cards" Uchiha Yi mentioned referred to Impure World Reincarnation.

But judging from all the signs, that was most likely the case. "Don't worry. I won't stop you. I'll even deliver Sasuke into your hands."

"When Itachi left Konoha, his deal with me was that I would secretly protect Sasuke. Without my approval, you can't take that boy away."

"However, that time limit has already passed, so—"

"So as long as I agree to make a deal with you, you won't interfere anymore."

Orochimaru had already calmed down, his voice as cold and still as ice. "That's right." Uchiha Yi nodded. "Heh, it seems I have no choice. Even if I don't want Sasuke now, you still won't let go of the matter between me and that old man, the Third Hokage, will you?"

"It's good that you understand."

"Fine, I agree. The Third Hokage may live, but are you sure you don't want me to stop the Konoha Crush Plan?"

Orochimaru's gaze locked tightly onto Uchiha Yi's face, trying to catch even the slightest abnormality there. "No need. I only want the Third Hokage alive. As for everything else, do whatever you like."

Uchiha Yi waved a hand and turned to leave.

But just as his figure was about to vanish, he tossed out one more sentence. "Oh, right, Orochimaru. A friendly reminder—when you reminisce with your teacher, be careful not to end up like the Nine-Tails."

The Nine-Tails' fate?

Orochimaru stared toward where Uchiha Yi had disappeared, his pupils suddenly contracting.

This brat was dangerous!

Killing intent instantly exploded from Orochimaru's heart. His first thought was to silence him forever.

As though he had sensed it in advance, Uchiha Yi did not even turn his head. "Don't bother thinking about killing me. To put it bluntly, even if you reveal every hidden trump card in this plan, you won't be able to touch a single hair on my head."

That was no bluff.

Even if Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to summon the First and Second Hokage, he still would not be a match.

The First Hokage truly was strong—so strong that even now, Uchiha Yi was not confident he could surely defeat him.

But the problem was—with Orochimaru's current ability, the First Hokage he summoned could not even display ten or twenty percent of his peak strength. The Second Hokage would be severely weakened as well.

After all, Hashirama Senju at his peak was someone who could suppress even Madara with the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and the Nine-Tails.

Orochimaru's expression shifted.

He was uncertain whether the "trump cards" Uchiha Yi mentioned meant Impure World Reincarnation.

But based on the current situation, it was nine times out of ten. "Don't worry. I won't touch you. On the contrary, I'll deliver Sasuke into your hands."

"When Itachi left Konoha, his deal with me was for me to secretly protect Sasuke. So without my approval, you can't take Sasuke away."

"But now, the time limit has passed, so—"

"So as long as I agree to make a deal with you, you won't stop me." Orochimaru had already calmed down. "That's right." Uchiha Yi nodded once more. "Heh, looks like I truly have no choice. Even if I give up on Sasuke now, you'll still interfere with the matter between me and the Third Hokage, won't you?"

"Mm. It's enough that you understand."

"Fine, I agree. The Third Hokage will not die, but do you truly not intend to make me stop the Konoha Crush Plan?"

Orochimaru once again stared fixedly at Uchiha Yi, trying to find a flaw in that calm face. "No need. I only want the Third Hokage alive. As for everything else, do as you please."

Uchiha Yi shook his head and turned to leave.

But at the instant his figure completely vanished, he still left behind one sentence. "Oh, right, Orochimaru—a friendly reminder. When you reminisce with your teacher, be careful not to end up like the Nine-Tails."

The Nine-Tails' fate?

Orochimaru looked toward the place where Uchiha Yi had vanished, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes. "Sealing Jutsu: Reaper Death Seal?"

He smiled. "Interesting. That last little brat of the Uchiha Clan is truly interesting. He knows so much. He's mysterious enough."

"And he... seems even stronger than Itachi. Those Sharingan of his are more powerful than Itachi's too."

"Looks like I made the right choice this time. The Uchiha Clan's bloodline truly is something to look forward to."

As his voice gradually faded, Orochimaru's figure also vanished from where he stood.

It was not as though he truly feared Uchiha Yi.

He knew perfectly well that if they fought without holding back here, the commotion would be enormous. The entire plan would be ruined by then, and it was not worth it.

However, after this encounter, Orochimaru's craving for the Uchiha Clan's eyes had been thoroughly stirred up.

With the deal concluded—if it could even be called a deal—Uchiha Yi left immediately.

Anko's clash with Orochimaru threw Konoha's ANBU into an uproar. They swarmed into the Forest of Death to search for them.

Uchiha Yi was not afraid of being caught by anyone, but with everything already settled, there was no reason to linger inside.

Five days passed in a flash, and the second exam came to an end.

The problem was that far too many people had passed.