Yako's summoning beast using Reverse Summoning—had been exposed.
He turned his head slowly and looked at Orochimaru.
This full moon cycle, he had already died at Orochimaru's hands once.
Beneath the mask, under the disguise, Yako's body responded on instinct.
Absolute Defense: Bronze Light activated.
His mind raced, trying to piece together a convincing excuse, patching any logical gaps.
"Orochimaru-sama, my summoning beast is nothing compared to the creatures of the Sacred Lands.
Your powers are terrifying indeed, Orochimaru-sama—you saw right through my little trick.
To complete the mission, I had snuck near the Hidden Cloud village. When Cloud shinobi pursued me, I used Reverse Summoning to vanish without a trace."
"Heh… near the Hidden Cloud?" Orochimaru's vertical pupils gleamed with the joy of discovering a rare prey.
"Fox, don't insult my intelligence. There's no need to spin me a tale.
The issue here isn't where you just went.
It's that you now possess an ability beyond ANBU's control.
Don't underestimate Reverse Summoning.
Without it, you were an elite ANBU—absolutely trusted.
But with it… Yellow Dog can no longer track your location.
I've spent enough time around Ryūchi Cave to imagine the kind of flexibility this grants you.
To him—you're no longer stable. You've become… unpredictable."
Yako quickly protested, "My loyalty to the Hokage and Commander Yellow Dog—Orochimaru-sama, even you cannot doubt it!"
But unease stirred in his chest.
Orochimaru wasn't wrong. His summoning beast could Reverse Summon him, which meant he could leave Konoha without approval, appearing anywhere his summon could reach.
Yellow Dog would suspect him. The Third Hokage would suspect him.
Everything he had built in Konoha might now be at risk.
"Loyalty?" Orochimaru chuckled with a strange, snakelike sneer.
"You're not a Sarutobi. Do you really believe shouting 'loyalty'—even until your throat bleeds—will make the Third and his son trust you?"
Yako froze.
He knew his real name.
Not that it mattered much. He had no relatives—his only bonds in Konoha were with Kyoi and Purple Cat, Yamanaka Riko.
But the fact that Orochimaru had investigated him in advance—that was troubling.
"I don't know if the Hokage truly trusts me… but Commander Yellow Dog absolutely does."
"Yako, don't be stupid. Don't lower my opinion of you," Orochimaru said coldly, his gaze laced with contempt.
"Sarutobi Shin'nosuke trusts you because you're useful.
You don't actually believe they really trust you, do you?
You think the Water Severing Wave you obtained is the same as the one created by the Second?"
Yako blinked. 'My Water Severing Wave… has a problem?'
Now that he thought about it, after obtaining the master-level version, the chakra flow had changed drastically.
He'd learned it instantly with the system's help, but never fully understood the mechanics.
Orochimaru went on:
"The one you got is a degraded version—designed by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Chakra flow is the essence of ninjutsu. And Sarutobi, in his brilliance, used his knowledge of jutsu not to teach, but to restrict.
He crafted downgraded versions of ninjutsu—couldn't let you lot learn the real thing, now could he?
Knowledge is power.
And in my eyes, ninjutsu knowledge is far more valuable than some jōnin rank.
Honestly, I pity you. You were given a hand-me-down technique and treated it like treasure.
Their trust in you is limited. So come, let me show you what a real Water Severing Wave looks like—
—what the Second Hokage truly created."
Orochimaru rapidly formed seals.
A pressurized stream of water blasted out, slicing through the stone above the cave mouth.
In his past life, Yako hadn't paid close attention in battle. Now he saw it clearly.
Orochimaru's wave wasn't just stronger—it was narrower, faster, cleaner.
It wasn't just that Orochimaru was stronger.
Yako's technique had truly been a degraded version.
No wonder, despite all his hard training, his version never reached that level.
Even his own modified twin-vortex version couldn't compare to the original.
Thankfully, he'd drawn the master-level version from Orochimaru last time—patching the gap.
It confirmed his suspicion: Sarutobi Hiruzen and Yellow Dog had never truly trusted him.
Orochimaru said quietly, "Haven't you noticed? Division Captain is your ceiling."
Yako frowned.
Captain was his ceiling?
How did Orochimaru reach that conclusion?
That couldn't be. He planned to become Deputy Commander. Eventually, even ANBU Commander.
Orochimaru continued:
"You don't bear the Sarutobi name. So you'll never be part of their core.
Your fate is to complete missions for Shin'nosuke like a good little dog—and then die quietly, someday, in the field.
And it's not just you.
Even I am barred from Konoha's true center of power.
You think the Third Hokage trusts me?
No.
The ones truly ruling Konoha are the long-surviving advisors from the Second Hokage's era—Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu.
I was merely paraded out as a rival to Hatake Sakumo.
The Third hasn't even made up his mind about who should be the next Hokage.
I might clash with Sakumo for years… and yet, ten years from now, it could still be someone else.
I know the difference between flattering words and true intention.
Danzo… even Shin'nosuke… have a far greater chance of becoming Hokage than I ever did."
So that was it.
Orochimaru had already accepted the role he was meant to play.
He didn't believe that a single seat—the Fourth Hokage—was worth laying down his life for.
Yako noticed something else.
Despite his sharp tone, Orochimaru had no killing intent.
He asked, "Then what are you really trying to say, Orochimaru-sama?"
"Finally relaxed, are you?" Orochimaru said, his voice calm now.
"Don't cling so tightly to this village.
Don't revere the Will of Fire too much.
This village—it belongs to them, not to us.
The Will of Fire is their will. Not ours.
The only reason I participate in this rivalry with Sakumo is to secure access to more resources.
Fox… you're smart. You've been hiding your own cards well.
I acknowledge your strength.
Truth is, I've had my eye on you for months. And now, I've finally found your weakness.
Don't pretend this is about scouting near the Hidden Cloud.
It doesn't matter where you went.
What matters is that the upper brass now sees you as uncontrolled.
And when that happens, to men like Sarutobi Hiruzen and his son… you're already walking the path to death.
So—why not work with me?
Everything else is illusion. Only power is real.
Work with me.
I won't ask for oaths of loyalty or theatrical devotion.
Just mutual benefit.
You give me what I need.
I give you what you need.
Become my insider in ANBU.
We trade favors. Simple as that.
What do you say?"