Orochimaru's Restlessness

Hokage Office Building, conference room.

The urgent intelligence that had arrived in haste gave Sarutobi Hiruzen a pounding headache.

Exposed again this time? As expected, there are spies in Konoha—inside the village itself. Who could it be? Who knows the village so thoroughly and has the ability to infiltrate my study...

Suspects and motives kept surfacing in his mind, only to be dismissed again. Sarutobi Hiruzen furrowed his brow, slowly set down the letter, then picked up his brush and began writing rapidly once more.

"Deliver this letter to Shikaku. He'll understand after reading it. Steady the ninjas' emotions. Kirigakure's actions are definitely not this simple."

The Anbu ninja Kagerō nodded and left. Looking at the empty study, Sarutobi Hiruzen closed his eyes to rest.

Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen were all killed, and their ninja blades were seized by Uchiha Huayue. Kirigakure's retaliation will definitely not end here. But who will it be?

Dusk faded, the moon shone bright amid sparse stars. Burdened by his worries, the Third Hokage endured an exceptionally agonizing night.

Meanwhile, at Uchiha Huayue's home.

His intricate and exquisite Mangekyō stared at the Book of Vermilion Moon in his hand, at that faint yet unbroken connection.

Why is the power of this ocular technique reacting to the Book of Vermilion Moon? Could it be...

Sage markings gradually spread to the corners of his eyes. His intricate, dreamlike Mangekyō spun madly.

"Bloom, Kyoka Suigetsu."

Turning illusion into reality, or reality into illusion—this was, in Huayue's eyes, a Mangekyō ocular technique capable of contending with the SSR-class Kamui ocular technique.

The Book of Vermilion Moon in his hand slowly opened. What emerged was formless and intangible, neither chakra nor Natural Energy.

The strange azure barrier resembled spiritual power more closely, yet it was not quite the same. When another space was released from the Book of Vermilion Moon, all kinds of knowledge from another world flooded into his mind.

"So that's how it is. This thing can only be opened with Kyoka Suigetsu? No wonder. No wonder Black Nine-Tails could only reclaim its other half. Without knowing how to use it, it had to pour in such an enormous amount of chakra just to barely retrieve its opposite..."

Blood dripped down. Even in Sage Mode, the massive expenditure of ocular power made every cell in Huayue's body ache faintly. Yet the smile at the corner of his lips eased the pain.

"A great deal of interesting knowledge. It seems Blut Vene can be improved again. Relying solely on chakra and those rudimentary defensive techniques can hardly be called a perfect creation."

The ancient bamboo scroll vanished from between his fingers and returned to his Inner world. Huayue tilted his head toward the Land of Bears, raising a brow.

"You've gone a little too far, haven't you, Teacher Orochimaru..."

At the same time, inside the Land of Bears, at Konoha's camp.

"Lord Shikaku, if this continues, we won't be able to hold out much longer. The herbs and protective masks have all been..."

The medical unit ninja spoke anxiously, while Nara Shikaku wore an equally troubled expression. The Land of Bears had a harsh environment, full of poisonous swamps and miasma. Without medical supplies, even ninjas could not endure for long.

"Report, Lord Shikaku! Traces of Kirigakure ninjas have been found. Our main camp has been discovered..."

The scouting ninja who rushed in gave Nara Shikaku an even bigger headache. The camp's location was supposed to be top secret. How could it have suddenly been exposed? Could it be...?

"Byakugan. Is their leader a Kirigakure ninja with transplanted Byakugan?"

The clash of kunai rang out beyond the camp, then fell silent again moments later.

Everyone hurried over. The Kirigakure ninjas were completely uninjured, yet they had mysteriously collapsed on the ground.

Turning around, they saw a young man holding a katana, the tomoe in his eyes slowly revolving as he nodded faintly to them.

"Uchiha Shisui? You've been a huge help. If those Kirigakure bastards had invaded at such a critical moment, things truly couldn't have gotten any worse."

Shikaku let out a long breath, but before he could finish speaking, Shisui's expression changed drastically as he turned and said,

"Mr. Shikaku, someone is approaching. There are many of them—at least a hundred. Every one of them is an elite ninja."

"Everyone, on guard!"

The many ninjas still stationed in the camp went on full alert as hazy mist swept in and refused to disperse.

Who could it be? Who are the enemies this time? The Seven Ninja Swordsmen? No. Kirigakure's elites should have been defeated in one stroke by Uchiha Huayue, and even their identity-defining ninja blades were taken.

Then who is it?

At that moment, a somewhat childish voice echoed out. Figures hidden within the mist slowly emerged, and the petite figure at their head looked surprised.

"They really are here? I never thought that intelligence would actually be true. Konoha's camp—I never expected it to be hidden in a place like this."

Though small in stature, not a single person on Konoha's side dared underestimate him. Nara Shikaku's forehead was already beaded with sweat.

"The Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura."

The burly figure beside him scanned the surroundings. Sharp teeth scraped together, scattering tiny sparks as Suikazan Fuguki seethed with rage.

"That brat—Body Flicker Gengetsu isn't here? Damn brat, where did he take our ninja blades?!"

"Tch, he isn't on the battlefield against Kirigakure? The one here is another brat from the Uchiha Clan. What should we do, Lord Mizukage?"

Juzo Biwa snorted coldly and looked at the Konoha Ninjas with ill intent.

"Kill them?"

"Even if we kill them, we won't get Kirigakure's seven ninja blades back. So let's do this instead. Uchiha brat, bring Body Flicker Gengetsu before me."

"The result of this negotiation will determine your fate. Do you understand?"

The Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura's words brought a smile to Suikazan Fuguki's lips. He could hardly wait to see how the brat beneath that Three-Eyed Demon Fox Mask would kneel humbly before him.

Facing the path that allowed only him to pass, Uchiha Shisui's expression tightened. Only after he had completely escaped Kirigakure's encirclement did trails of blood begin dripping from the corners of his eyes.

Is this the limit of what I can do? Damn it!

The next morning, Huayue, who had yet to wake from his sleep, was roused by a barrage of urgent knocking.

"What is it? Disturbing my sweet dreams so early in the morning. What an annoying bunch."

When he opened the door, an Anbu ninja wearing a monkey mask moved anxiously. The moment he saw Huayue, he hurriedly urged him,

"Uchiha Huayue, Lord Hokage summons you urgently. Proceed to the Hokage Office Building immediately."

So urgent? You really may have gone too far, Teacher Orochimaru.

By the time Huayue arrived at the Hokage Office Building, the Anbu members had all turned their gazes toward him. Most looked indifferent, though a few showed pity.

"You called me here in such a hurry. What exactly is the matter, Third Hokage?"

"You're here already? Uchiha Huayue, I have an urgent mission for you. Rescue the Konoha Ninjas trapped in Kirigakure's hands."