Fake Nine-Tails Jinchuriki

"Yuan-kun, you're not wrong. The only ones in the village suited to succeed as Hokage are Tsunade and that Jiraiya fellow. And I'm even more suitable than they are."

Faced with his student's question, Orochimaru displayed none of an elder's modesty.

Uchiha Yuan knew that for his teacher Orochimaru, becoming Hokage would let him conduct research without restraint, become a second Tobirama Senju, or even surpass Tobirama Senju as Hokage.

"Then congratulations in advance, Sensei!"

Hearing that, Kurama Shion and Hyuga Ryo finally understood.

After the Fourth Hokage's death, if their teacher Orochimaru truly became Hokage, then their clans' political investment would have paid off completely.

At that point, they would be able to live much more easily as well.

"Congratulations, Sensei!"

"Congratulations, Sensei!"

Only Mitaraishi Anko stood there in a daze for quite a while before figuring out what was going on.

"All right, it's too early for congratulations. Let's handle our business first."

Orochimaru felt nothing at his students' flattery. Becoming Hokage was merely convenient for his research; it was a means, not the ultimate goal.

"First, Yuan-kun, the herbs I asked you to get."

Uchiha Yuan presented the scroll containing the sealed herbs.

Busy robbing Obito's home, he naturally had no time to gather herbs personally. So Uchiha Yuan had long ago entrusted the affiliated Ninja Cat Clan to purchase a large batch from the Red State Merchant Ninja.

It had nearly emptied all his savings.

"Yuan-kun, I know you didn't gather the herbs according to my instructions. I even specifically arranged for Root agents to take away that old grandmother you've always cared for."

"I know that old lady is the grandmother of Uchiha Obito, the 'Sharingan Hero.'"

"Yuan-kun, you don't have many relatives in the village. That old lady is important to you, isn't she?"

As he examined the quality of the herbs, Orochimaru spoke as if no one else were present.

At this point, he might as well have indirectly admitted that he had orchestrated every incident from behind the scenes. Wasn't such frankness also a warning to Uchiha Yuan?

The atmosphere, which had only just become cheerful, was instantly shrouded in gloom. Uchiha Yuan did his best to keep any unnecessary expression from appearing on his face.

In this era, shinobi were tools.

Orochimaru's actions suited the conduct of a shinobi, but not that of a normal human being.

"Sensei, I'll do my best to awaken the Sharingan."

Orochimaru did not pursue the matter further. Only after confirming that the herbs were correct did he speak without emotion.

"I summoned you this time for a very important mission. From now on, you will act together with me."

At the mention of a mission, Mitaraishi Anko was the most excited.

During the Third Shinobi World War, Orochimaru Squad had mostly carried out tasks such as scientific research and gathering supplies. There was no danger, and naturally no excitement either. She had long been bored stiff.

Uchiha Yuan glanced at this boisterous girl. Compared with the composed Hyuga Ryo and Kurama Shion, Mitaraishi Anko was practically a child.

Perhaps Orochimaru really was raising her as a daughter. He had spoiled her rotten.

Just then, with a bang, a pale green signal flare trailing fiery sparks ignited in midair.

It was not a style commonly used by Hidden Leaf Village shinobi, yet Orochimaru recognized it at a glance.

"All right, they've sent the signal. Follow me to the Fire Temple first."

Along the way, Uchiha Yuan felt somewhat uneasy. Last night, he had intercepted no fewer than five Fire Temple monk shinobi escorting Nine-Tails Chakra.

Though he still did not know whether Orochimaru's mission had anything to do with that Nine-Tails Chakra, Uchiha Yuan believed he had acted swiftly and left behind no information about himself.

Even if he stood before the Fire Temple monk shinobi who had returned alive, the other man would not recognize him.

A quarter of an hour later, at an abandoned courtyard near the Fire Temple.

Disguised as pilgrims, Uchiha Yuan and the others saw a group of bald monk shinobi gathered around an enormous wooden fish, burning incense and chanting sutras.

The enormous wooden fish looked very familiar. Last night, Uchiha Yuan had dismantled several of them.

After Orochimaru spoke with Kazuma, a blue-robed monk shinobi with long hair, his expression darkened.

There were more than half fewer enormous wooden fish than expected. Though it would not delay what they planned to do next, Orochimaru was clearly dissatisfied.

Uchiha Yuan, Hyuga Ryo, Kurama Shion, and Mitaraishi Anko stared at the enormous wooden fish surrounded by the monk shinobi.

They could all sense the ominous, vicious aura filling its interior.

Accompanied by Kazuma, Orochimaru walked toward the enormous wooden fish around which the monk shinobi sat.

Before leaving, he did not forget to instruct his students.

"All right, watch carefully. This is one of the rare opportunities to observe the creation of a Jinchuriki at close range."

At those words, Uchiha Yuan, Hyuga Ryo, Kurama Shion, and Mitaraishi Anko all grew tense.

The sealing of a Jinchuriki was a secret of the village. They had only heard of it and had never observed it up close. Orochimaru's words meant they could watch a Sealing Technique being performed at close range.

This was an opportunity unlike any other.

Uchiha Yuan opened his eyes wide. Very quickly, he noticed that the last remaining wisp of Nine-Tails Chakra in the Fire Temple seemed different from the ones devoured by the Demonic Statue Fragment.

It was far too violent.

The monks seated around the enormous wooden fish wore solemn expressions. As they chanted, the wooden fish placed at the center trembled continuously, as though silently roaring.

At the same time, boundless malice silently spread through the courtyard.

The monks closest to the wooden fish were affected, and their eyes began to fill with fanatical crimson.

Before long, two monk shinobi could no longer restrain the boiling hostility within them. They rose and attacked the surrounding monks.

Fortunately, Orochimaru acted in time, preventing a tragedy.

Watching this scene, Uchiha Yuan secretly shook his head.

When he had used the Demonic Statue Fragment to devour Nine-Tails Chakra before, the latter had been like a docile child that could be kneaded at will, utterly incapable of resisting the Demonic Statue Fragment.

But the situation before him only grew worse.

Terrifying cracks appeared across the shell of the enormous wooden fish. A miniature orange fox leaped out, twisting its body violently as it bared its teeth at the surroundings.

The chanting monks seemed to have suddenly been struck by invisible hammers. Their eyes turned red, and they began attacking one another.

This time, Orochimaru merely watched coldly.

Even Kazuma had never experienced such chaos. He shouted for the monk shinobi not to stop chanting the sutras no matter what happened, but more and more monks could no longer hold on.

Ambushed by their companions and with their minds affected by the Nine-Tails Chakra, the defense formed by chanting sutras seemed like a sheet of white paper, easily stained a vivid bloody red.

A surge of hostility began brewing in Kazuma's chest as well.

"Don't let it affect you, Kazuma! Bring up the Jinchuriki you prepared."

Orochimaru's tone remained completely calm.

"I understand, Lord Orochimaru."

Kazuma could do nothing about the tragedy around him. He could only follow Orochimaru's instructions.

He turned and called toward the courtyard entrance.

"Kudo, come over! No matter what happens, you only need to follow my—no, Lord Orochimaru's orders."