"Everything is an illusion. Only power is real..."
Yako silently repeated the words, a flicker of admiration rising in his heart for Orochimaru.
And after admiration—uncertainty.
He had always believed himself to be Yellow Dog's most trusted subordinate. That without him, Yellow Dog couldn't function.
Now, he wasn't so sure.
Orochimaru was right. Yellow Dog's trust had its limits.
To Yellow Dog, he was a sharp blade—one that cut cleanly and never dulled.
Nothing more.
The foundation of their "trust" was weak. Yako had clawed his way up from a regular ANBU operative, outlasting or outmaneuvering one squad captain after another—rising by survival and chance.
As for his seemingly cordial relationship with the Third Hokage? Even less reliable.
You could fake many things. But not a reward you decided to offer like the Water Severing Wave.
Being Division Captain under the Fox persona had been his most important identity.
That perception was now collapsing. He'd taken it too far.
To Yuka, he was a Senju agent embedded in ANBU to assist the Uzumaki in secret.
To Yellow Dog, he was an elite who rose through the ranks unexpectedly.
To Hatake Sakumo, he was a like-minded comrade, quietly supporting Sakumo from the shadows.
And now… Orochimaru wanted him as an informant too?
'How many undercover roles am I playing exactly?'
Yako had the strength of an elite jōnin. Orochimaru hadn't demanded subservience, but offered cooperation—as equals.
That, in itself, was generous.
Better to stop playing at shallow loyalty and hollow trust. Better to deal with Orochimaru in clear terms.
As long as he remained useful, Orochimaru could be trusted.
An honest transaction. No deception.
Yako hardened his heart. He was in.
Orochimaru had said it best: no matter how perfectly he justified Reverse Summoning, the higher-ups would still see him as a variable. A liability.
Might as well accept Orochimaru's offer.
"Orochimaru-sama. How shall we cooperate?"
"Good. You've finally come around," Orochimaru said, satisfied.
"My core demand is this: access to the Forbidden Scroll.
Sarutobi Hiruzen will never grant it.
Danzo promised that if I uncover the secrets behind Wood Release, he'll let me view Konoha's Forbidden Scroll.
It contains all of the village's forbidden jutsu—especially those created by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
That scroll is my ultimate goal.
Or more accurately—top-level ninjutsu knowledge across the shinobi world is my ultimate goal.
In exchange for keeping your Reverse Summoning a secret, you'll be my informant.
Help me get closer to that scroll, and there's no limit to what I'll offer.
A Reverse Summoning? Ha. You could assassinate the Third Hokage and I'd still cheer for you."
Yako frowned slightly, then asked, "Orochimaru-sama, from what I know of ANBU, our secrets are nowhere near as extensive as Root's. What information do you actually need me to gather?"
"Wrong. ANBU has plenty of secrets," Orochimaru replied.
"For example: when will Sarutobi Shin'nosuke master the Five-Style Great Bomb?
How is it that, after splitting chakra into five equal parts, the technique still produces an effect vastly stronger than the original?
I trained in all five nature transformations for that jutsu—and Hiruzen still never taught it to me.
Or this: the Forbidden Scroll is stored right beside the Hokage's office, guarded by the Black Ant Squad.
Your job is to gather intelligence on the Black Ants. Learn everything about their operations and the defenses around that scroll.
Danzo said I could read it once, but I'd much rather steal it and take my time."
Yako nodded. "Understood, Orochimaru-sama. Please give me time. This won't be something I can dig up in a few months."
"Also," Orochimaru added, "regarding this mission to investigate the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki—I expect your full effort. No omissions.
A successful mission will give me greater leverage with the higher-ups."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama."
Yako mused: Orochimaru didn't care about the village. Not the Will of Fire, not the Hokage position.
He was cold, selfish, and perfectly clear-headed.
His only loyalty… was to power.
He wouldn't betray Yako for something as abstract as a creed.
This was a clean deal. Straightforward. No speeches, no ideals.
A partnership like this could last.
And if Orochimaru ever did betray him?
Well, Orochimaru should probably be more worried about how long he could even stay in Konoha.
As their talk ended, Orochimaru's eyes slowly scanned Yako—greedy, unsettling.
Yako's scalp tingled.
'Now what?'
"Fox..." Orochimaru's voice was thick with desire. "You have no idea how tempting you are…"
Yako blinked. 'Wait a minute… something's wrong. Is he… into me?'
Orochimaru continued, "Proficient in both Earth and Water Release. Elite jōnin level or above. Do you know how rare that is?
Only two people in Konoha fit that profile.
You… and me.
I'm very much looking forward to working with you in the lab. You have no idea how perfect you are… for Wood Release experimentation."
Yako groaned inwardly. 'Is it my skillset he wants—or my body?'
'Do I suit his experiments, or am I going to be the experiment?'
'He's totally into my body!!'
"I, uh… have other uses, Orochimaru-sama," Yako said stiffly. "Being a test subject… let's table that idea for now."
Orochimaru chuckled, then slowly sank into the ground.
Even with his Byakugan active, Yako couldn't detect any chakra fluctuations.
Orochimaru's Earth Release infiltration—absurdly powerful.
—Two days later—
C arrived, flustered and breathless.
"Orochimaru-sama! J, F, and the others spotted the assassin who killed Root operatives—they used a messenger hawk to contact me!
But now I can't reach any of them… have they been… killed?"
Orochimaru's gaze sharpened.
"Contact J again. I need confirmation."
C nodded quickly and ran to the peak to release another hawk.
When he was gone, Orochimaru turned to Fox.
"I thought you were just bending the rules a little.
Killing Root agents… that's not bending. That's breaking."
"Innocent! I swear!" Yako said, face calm. "The Reverse Summoning was just to avoid Cloud shinobi pursuit."
He held Orochimaru's gaze.
"You know me. If I really wanted to kill Root agents, C would never have survived long enough to report it."
He looked absolutely sincere. The guilt might be real—but the confession wouldn't be.
Orochimaru sighed.
"Plans have changed, Fox.
Being my informant in ANBU is no longer enough for me to cover a secret this big.
If Root dies near me… well, that's a bit much to hide."
Yako's heart skipped a beat.
Was Orochimaru about to say it?
Was he about to say…
"You gotta pay more."
Yako braced himself.
"Orochimaru-sama, I did nothing. I've already betrayed Yellow Dog for you—that's my limit. That alone is worth your silence. No extras!"
Half a day passed before C returned.
"Orochimaru-sama! No messages from any of them in hours. We can confirm J and the rest… are dead."
Orochimaru replied flatly, "Then forget about them.
We continue the mission. Did you contact Yakushi Nonō?"
C swallowed nervously. Four Root ninjas dead—and Orochimaru didn't even flinch?
"I'd like to notify Root. This is as serious as the Killer B mission!"
Orochimaru glared at him. Annoyed.
But seeing Fox nearby, he waved C off instead.
Once C was gone, Orochimaru looked at Fox again.
His expression clearly said: "See? I keep my word. I said I'd cover for you, and I will."
Four Root corpses? Not even good test subjects.
Not worth the trouble.
But... cooperation still had a price.
"I'm telling you again, Orochimaru-sama," Yako said. "I had nothing to do with their deaths."
And even if you keep looking—I'll never admit it.
Orochimaru cut in: "Your Earth Release Secret Defense Technique."
"Impossible. No way." Yako shook his head. "I'll give you a modified Earth Rising Spears. Single-seal only."
"Your Earth Release Secret Defense Technique."
"Even a one-seal technique doesn't satisfy you?" Yako gritted his teeth. "Fine! Here—Water Gun Jutsu, a no-seal technique!"
"...Deal."
All cooperation, in the end, is just a game of raising the price.
Throw out an absurd demand, haggle down to your target.
Orochimaru was simple. Honest, in a terrifying way.
Yako pulled out a scroll and wrote down the chakra flow formula for Water Gun Jutsu.
Orochimaru glanced at it, pleased.
Four Root corpses, in exchange for a no-hand-sign jutsu? Massive profit.
C came running down again, anxiety painted across his face.
"Stop whining about the corpses," Orochimaru said coldly. "Notify Root, then get back to the mission."
C opened his mouth—then shut it again when he saw Orochimaru's expression.
Yako smiled.
That's the art of negotiation.
Orochimaru? Definitely worth dealing with.
C led the way to find Yakushi Nonō.
He radiated unease. The pride he once had as a Root operative had been shattered.
Some people… could kill Root operatives like it was nothing.
Especially now—Danzo, Orochimaru—neither seemed to care at all.
He had once naively thought Orochimaru would avenge them.
—Near the Hidden Cloud—
After a long journey, they finally reached the cave where Yakushi Nonō waited.
This time, she was disguised as an old woman—stooped, wrinkled, her legs trembling. So convincing you'd want to help her cross the road.
Even her voice had changed.
"Orochimaru-sama, C, Fox-sama… the Eight-Tails is far stronger—and more temperamental—than the Two-Tails.
The Hachibi's seal is unstable. Far less secure than Ryuuren's.
He lives alone, on a solitary mountain at the southwest edge of the Hidden Cloud.
You'll see it as soon as you approach the southwest border.
His guard is a full ANBU squad—elite. I couldn't get a list, but they won't be pushovers.
From the Raikage Tower to the Jinchuriki's house, the Third Raikage can arrive in roughly one minute."
Orochimaru nodded.
"Good. We've got a location, estimated guard numbers, and arrival timing. That's enough."
As expected of Danzo's most trusted spy—she'd pried open even Hidden Cloud's secrets.
"Yakushi Nonō, plot a route for us. Fox and I will Earth Dive into the village and find the Eight-Tails."
Yako hesitated.
'We're really going in? The Third Raikage could show up in under a minute…'
Even when Sakumo investigated Ryuuren, they'd never actually started a fight.
But with Orochimaru knowing about his Reverse Summoning, resistance wasn't an option.
If he was going to collaborate, he had to prove his worth.
Orochimaru liked geniuses. Not freeloaders.
Yakushi Nonō glanced at him. Yako didn't react.
She'd given him faulty intel before—there hadn't been two Root ninja in the Land of Iron. There were four.
That mistake had nearly killed Yuka and the others.
He'd make sure she paid for that… eventually.
—Late that night—
Orochimaru and Yako arrived outside the Hidden Cloud.
The village's buildings dotted mountaintops and ridgelines, massive in scale—nearly ten times the size of Konoha.
No walls. Just watchpoints stationed atop the surrounding peaks.
They sank into the earth together.
Nonō's route passed through a brief blind spot during guard shift.
They moved swiftly through the soil, surfacing atop a low mountain.
Across from them—on a much higher peak—was the Jinchuriki's home.
Orochimaru whispered, "I'll handle him. You deal with the ANBU squad—and stall the Third Raikage."
"...I'll do what I can."
They disappeared again.
Orochimaru's movement underground was swift—faster than Yako's. He glided like a serpent.
It wasn't the same technique as Hidden Fish in Earth Technique. Something more refined.
Inside the cave, the Hachibi's Jinchuriki slept soundly—oblivious.
Orochimaru emerged beside him, slipped a Genjutsu pill into his mouth.
"You should feel honored. This was prepared for the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. But today, to beat Hatake Sakumo… I'm using it on you."
Back then, to suppress the Senju, Danzo had drafted all kinds of backup plans—one of them, targeting the Nine-Tails directly.
Orochimaru looked down at the Jinchuriki.
'Collecting samples from the Eight-Tails should be quite useful. One of the most powerful forces in the shinobi world.'
The Jinchuriki's face turned red, steam hissing from his skin—then purple, leaking blood.
A deafening roar shook the cave—
The beast's will had completely seized control of the body.
In seconds, the Jinchuriki's unconscious form was lifted by four massive octopus tails.
Orochimaru smiled, delighted.
"The bijū has fully overtaken its host. The Genjutsu pill works far better than expected—perfect for subduing Jinchūriki."
And then—tail six… seven… eight burst forth one after another.
It wasn't just a chakra cloak.
The full Eight-Tails form had arrived, tearing through the cave roof like paper.