Uchiha Ran fell silent. The Uchiha Clan had never been well liked to begin with. Believe it or not, they would have to fight there sooner or later anyway.
Orochimaru's gaze lingered on Uchiha Ran for a moment, a trace of approval flashing through his eyes.
"Ran-kun, your idea is quite interesting. However, the focus of this mission is to test the enemy's strength, not to directly set up defenses."
"We can discuss Mount Kikyo later. As for this mission, I need a promising young man to accompany me and gain some experience. You are the most suitable candidate."
Everyone: Huh...?
"Orochimaru-sama, do you mean... you will personally lead the team?"
The meeting tent erupted in commotion. Everyone was left utterly dumbfounded by Orochimaru's words.
"Orochimaru-sama, isn't it too risky for you to go personally?"
A jonin could not help speaking up.
"You are one of Konoha's pillars. If anything happens to you..."
Orochimaru smiled faintly, his eyes carrying a hint of confidence.
"That's right. There is no better choice here than me. Even if we encounter Hidden Sand's main force, I am confident I can retreat unscathed."
"This is also an opportunity to verify Ran-kun's idea."
"Ran-kun, are you willing to come with me?"
Uchiha Ran froze. He had not expected Orochimaru to invite him personally.
Although his analysis had just earned Orochimaru's approval, he had never imagined that he would be acting alongside Orochimaru.
He took a deep breath and tried to appear calmer.
"Orochimaru-sama, I... I am willing. It is also an honor to act alongside one of the Sannin."
Orochimaru nodded, a trace of satisfaction flashing through his eyes.
"Very good, Ran-kun. I admire your courage and potential. For this mission, I will personally guide you and ensure that you learn more."
The moment he said that, some of the seasoned veterans present caught on.
The atmosphere in the meeting tent became even more subtle.
If they had previously been surprised that a Genin had been singled out by one of the Sannin, they were now shocked by the nearly apprentice-taking implication in Orochimaru's words.
Several jonin who had originally opposed the idea exchanged looks, their meanings complicated and difficult to decipher.
Although Uchiha Ran's analysis had been rejected by the experience-focused faction, his perceptiveness and courage, so mismatched with his age, especially his strength rivaling that of a jonin, had long earned him the title Konoha Spark.
It was not strange that this had stirred Orochimaru's desire for talent. After all, Orochimaru only had one living disciple now, Anko Mitarashi, and her talent was ordinary. It was perfectly normal for him to take in another genius disciple.
Some had even thought further ahead. As the future disciple of the Third Hokage's disciple, Uchiha Ran might not be without a chance to compete for the position of Hokage someday.
If it had been an ordinary Uchiha clansman, such as Shisui or Itachi, they would certainly have agreed happily. This could build a bridge between the clan and Konoha's upper ranks!
But only Uchiha Ran knew that this was Orochimaru's hidden child-snatching nature awakening.
"'Personally guide you'? 'Learn more'? Listen to that! How lofty and righteous it sounded!
Only someone who truly knew him would understand how that sentence should be translated.
It should be: 'I am very interested in your body—mainly your eyes—and your potential. Come with me. I will help you find the value of your life, show you the wonderful world of human experimentation, and incidentally turn you into a candidate for my perfect vessel!'"
He knew all too well what Orochimaru's "appreciation for talent" was like.
It was a fanatical urge to collect rare materials, a greedy desire to study unique bloodlines and talents! All in the name of pursuing truth.
For example, when Kimimaro had been imprisoned by his clansmen as a secret weapon, Orochimaru took him in under the pretense of "giving his life meaning." He then instilled in him the idea that becoming a vessel was the highest honor, making him willingly offer up his body.
When Guren was ostracized by villagers, Orochimaru extended a helping hand and trained her into Otogakure's core fighting force. He implied that "only I can accept your power," making her loyal to the point of blindness.
Then there was how he exploited Sasuke's obsession with revenge, promised him power, and planted a cursed seal on him during the Chunin Ninja Exams as a tracking mark. After luring him away, he trained him in the name of taking him as a disciple, while actually planning to turn him into a vessel for reincarnation. Unfortunately, Sasuke killed him instead.
That was one time when he had failed to abduct someone and gotten burned for it instead.
Still, without Uchiha Itachi's help, Snake Uncle might have found an opportunity to reincarnate within Uchiha Sasuke's body.
What profound master-disciple bond? It did not exist! Aside from Anko and Sasuke, perhaps everyone else had merely been sacrifices for his experiments?
Following him meant that risks and opportunities coexisted, but the end of those opportunities would most likely be an operating table or a culture tank!
But at the moment, Uchiha Ran had no room to refuse.
When one of the Sannin, Orochimaru, personally spoke in the setting of a wartime meeting, it was equivalent to an order.
Refuse? That would not only be failing to appreciate kindness, but also challenging the authority of Konoha's upper ranks. The consequences would be difficult to predict.
Besides, the bait Orochimaru had cast was indeed tempting—close contact with a Sannin-level powerhouse, learning top-tier ninjutsu and knowledge, even gaining protection and guidance on the battlefield—this was an open scheme!
And although Uchiha Ran could barely stand to look at Orochimaru's hobbies, he had to admit that this guy was genuinely very skilled at training children.
His most successful examples were Kimimaro and Uchiha Sasuke. In the later days, Kimimaro could directly contend with the Fourth Kazekage, and there was no need to mention Uchiha Sasuke. After awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan, he had dared to take on the Four Kage alone.
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes locked onto Uchiha Ran, carrying the faint interest of someone examining a rare specimen.
"Ran-kun, make your preparations. Gather at the west gate of the camp in three hours."
"Shikaku, select thirty jonin and thirty Chunin. We will launch a nighttime raid on the Hidden Sand camp tonight."
His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable sense of command.
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama!"
Three hours later, at the western gate of the main camp.
The setting sun dyed the vast mountainlands of the Land of Rivers a deep crimson.
The wind swept up dry grains of stone, striking their faces with a faint sting.
Orochimaru was already standing there. His green jonin flak jacket only made his pallid skin stand out more, while his posture was as relaxed as though he were taking a stroll.
Behind him followed a group of Konoha jonin wearing identical flak jackets.
When Uchiha Ran arrived after settling Uchiha Tetsuka and the others, this was the sight that greeted him—one of the legendary Sannin, naturally imposing beneath the blood-red dusk.
"Let's go."
Orochimaru wasted no words. He turned and darted into the mountains at astonishing speed.
The others remained silent as well and quickly followed after him.
Uchiha Ran took a deep breath, gathered chakra beneath his feet, and used the Body Flicker Technique to follow.
The wind howled past his ears as Uchiha Ran struggled to regulate his breathing and chakra distribution.
He noticed that Orochimaru's path was not straight, but as elusive as a serpent's slither, while he skillfully made use of the shadows cast by dunes and rocks.
This use of the environment and these movement techniques far exceeded anything Uchiha Ran, a modern man, had imagined.
You could even do it like this!
Before you continue