"Everything is an illusion, only power is real..."
Yōkō repeatedly pondered this phrase, feeling admiration for Orochimaru in his heart.
After the admiration, a trace of confusion rose in Yōkō's heart.
He had originally firmly believed that he was now Yellow Dog's number one subordinate, that Yellow Dog couldn't do without him.
Now it seemed Orochimaru was right; Yellow Dog's trust in him was limited.
In Yellow Dog's eyes, he was a sharp ninja sword, ever-victorious.
Beyond that, there was nothing special.
The foundation of trust between him and Yellow Dog was problematic; he had started as an ordinary Anbu ninja, surviving or outlasting successive squad leaders and platoon leaders, accidentally growing to this point.
As for his currently seemingly good relationship with the Third Hokage, it was even less trustworthy.
Other things could be faked, but the power of the Water Cutting Wave couldn't.
The identity of the Anbu squad leader, "Big Fox," was originally his most important identity.
This perception was now crumbling; he had taken the squad leader identity too seriously.
In Yuka's view, he was a spy sent by the Senju clan to the Anbu, secretly helping the Uzumaki clan.
In Yellow Dog's view, he was an Anbu elite who had unexpectedly grown up.
In Hatake Sakumo's view, he was a like-minded comrade, secretly helping Hatake Sakumo within the Anbu.
And now, he had to be a spy for Orochimaru too?
Just how many layers deep was he supposed to go?
Yōkō now had the strength of an Elite Jōnin. Orochimaru didn't propose subduing him as a subordinate but sought cooperation instead, which could be considered quite sincere.
Rather than putting on a sticky, ambiguous performance of loyalty and trust with others, it was better to have a clear, equivalent exchange with Orochimaru.
As long as he was useful enough, Orochimaru was trustworthy.
No cheating anyone.
Yōkō hardened his heart and decided to do it.
Orochimaru was right. No matter what perfect excuse he fabricated for the Reverse Summoning Technique, for the higher-ups, being unable to determine his location meant losing control.
It was better to agree with Orochimaru first.
"Lord Orochimaru, how should we cooperate?"
"Good, you've finally come around." Orochimaru said: "I'll state my core demand."
"My core demand is to gain the opportunity to browse the Scroll of Seals."
"This is an opportunity that Sarutobi Hiruzen will absolutely never give me."
"Danzo has promised me that if I research the secret of Wood Release for him, he will let me see Konoha's Scroll of Seals."
"The Scroll of Seals contains all of Konoha's forbidden techniques, especially those created by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama."
"The Scroll of Seals is my ultimate goal."
"Or rather, the secrets of the highest-level ninjutsu in the ninja world are my core target."
"I will keep your Reverse Summoning Technique secret in exchange for you acting as my spy."
"As long as you can help me obtain the Scroll of Seals, there is no upper limit to our cooperation."
"Never mind just one Reverse Summoning Technique, even if you go to assassinate the Third Hokage, I will applaud you."
After some thought, Yōkō asked with confusion:
"Lord Orochimaru, from my understanding of the Anbu, the Anbu's secrets are far fewer than Root's. I don't know what secrets you need me to spy on and investigate?"
Orochimaru said: "No, the Anbu has many secrets."
"For example, when will Sarutobi Shinnosuke master the Five Elements Unrivalled Attack."
"Why does the Five Elements Unrivalled Attack, after dividing chakra into five equal parts from one, ultimately unleash power far exceeding one."
"The Five Elements Unrivalled Attack has always been my regret. I once painstakingly cultivated all five chakra natures for this technique, but Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't teach me."
"Another example, the Scroll of Seals is right next to the Hokage's office, guarded by the Black Ant Squad."
"Slowly gather intelligence on the Black Ant Squad and inform me of the Scroll of Seals' defense situation."
"Although Danzo promised me a chance to browse the Scroll of Seals, if possible, it's more comfortable to snatch it and read it yourself."
Yōkō nodded repeatedly: "I understand, Lord Orochimaru. Please wait for my investigation. These things cannot be clarified in just three or two months."
Orochimaru continued: "This mission to scout intelligence on the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, B, you must also devote all your efforts, without holding back in the slightest."
"If this mission is successful, I will have more say among the higher-ups."
"Understood, Lord Orochimaru."
Yōkō thought to himself that Orochimaru didn't take the village seriously at all, and didn't even care about the position of Fourth Hokage.
This was an extremely clear-headed, cold-blooded, and selfish person, whose sole goal was the pursuit of power.
Orochimaru probably wouldn't betray him for some boring Will of Fire.
No cheating, mutual consent, no nonsensical Will of Fire – such cooperation could probably be maintained for a long time.
As for when he would be sold out by Orochimaru... Orochimaru should worry first about how much longer he could stay in Konoha.
The negotiation concluded. Orochimaru scanned Yōkō up and down with a greedy gaze, making Yōkō's scalp tingle.
What was this about now?
"Fox..." Orochimaru's tone was full of desire: "You have no idea how tempting you are..."
Yōkō was stunned. Hiss... something felt wrong? Could Orochimaru be coveting his body?
Orochimaru said: "Proficient in both Earth Release and Water Release, with strength at Elite Jōnin level or above – there are only two such people in all of Konoha."
"One is you, the other is me."
"I greatly look forward to meeting you in the laboratory one day. You have no idea how suitable your abilities are for Wood Release experiments..."
Yōkō thought, are my abilities suitable, or am I myself suitable?
Suitable for your experiments, or suitable as your experimental material?
You really are coveting my body!
Yōkō said: "Lord Orochimaru, I still have some other uses. Let's reconsider the matter of being a test subject."
Orochimaru chuckled, his body sinking into the ground.
Even though Yōkō was watching Orochimaru, he didn't sense any chakra fluctuation.
Orochimaru's Earth Release infiltration was ridiculously strong.
Two days later, Hei hurriedly came to Orochimaru's side.
"Lord Orochimaru! Ki, Kō, and the others found the murderer who killed the Root ninja and notified me via messenger hawk!"
"But when I tried to contact Ki, Kō, and the others again using messenger hawks, I found they had lost contact. Have they been killed?"
Orochimaru's expression clearly changed, and he said: "Go contact Ki again, get a definite message."
Hei quickly ran to the mountaintop and released a new messenger hawk.
After Hei went far away, Orochimaru turned to look at Fox:
"I thought you were just being a bit unruly in secret, at most pulling some small tricks."
"Killing Root ninja... this is a bit beyond my expectations. This isn't a small trick."
"I'm wronged! Lord Orochimaru! It was all a coincidence! I used the Reverse Summoning Technique really just to escape the Cloud ninja's siege." Yōkō said without blushing or his heart racing:
"Lord Orochimaru, you know me. If I really wanted to kill Root ninja, Hei wouldn't be alive to come complain to you."
Yōkō looked at Orochimaru with firm eyes; he couldn't let this black pot be pinned on him.
He did do it, but the black pot couldn't be his.
"Fox, the plan has changed." Orochimaru said:
"Helping me spy in the Anbu is not enough to make me help you conceal such a big secret."
"If Root members die near me, your secret is a bit too big."
Yōkō was afraid Orochimaru's next words would be, "Gotta pay more."
Yōkō said in an extremely firm tone: "Lord Orochimaru, I didn't do anything. Betraying Lord Yellow Dog for you is my limit. That's absolutely enough for you to help me keep the secret. No more additions!"
After a long while, Hei hurried down from the mountaintop.
"Lord Orochimaru! No communication for several consecutive hours. It can be determined that Ki and the others have sacrificed..."
Orochimaru said: "Oh, since they're dead, then don't bother with them."
"We continue the B investigation mission. Have you contacted Yakushi Nonō?"
Hei swallowed hard with difficulty. Those were four Root ninja, and Orochimaru was just brushing them off like that?
Hei said: "Please let me notify Root. The death of four Root ninja is no less important than the B investigation!"
Orochimaru wanted to deal with Hei, this person who was causing him trouble, but then he glanced at Fox and felt he could negotiate with Fox some more, so he motioned for Hei to go quickly.
After Hei left again, Orochimaru looked at Fox.
The meaning was clear: I am a man of my word; if I said I'd help you conceal it, I will.
Just four Root ninja, not particularly good experimental material anyway, dead is dead.
But, the matter of cooperation couldn't be let go so easily.
Yōkō emphasized again: "Lord Orochimaru, the death of the four Root ninja really has nothing to do with me!"
Even if it looked related, he would never admit it.
Orochimaru said bluntly: "Your absolute defense Earth Release secret technique."
"Impossible, absolutely impossible." Yōkō said: "The improved Earth Release: Earth-Style Rising Spears, can be released with just one hand seal."
"Your absolute defense Earth Release secret technique."
"Can't a one-hand-seal technique satisfy you?" Yōkō had to increase the offer: "A seal-less secret technique, the Water Release: Water Gun Technique."
"Deal."
All cooperation is a large game of 'Gotta Pay More'.
Ask a sky-high price, then bargain on the spot.
Orochimaru's demands were just that simple and unadorned.
Yōkō took out a scroll and wrote down the chakra operation method for the Water Release: Water Gun Technique.
Orochimaru glanced at the scroll and put it away satisfied.
Four Root ninja corpses in exchange for one seal-less jutsu – a huge profit.
Hei came down from the mountaintop again and rushed anxiously towards Orochimaru.
Orochimaru's voice was cold: "Don't delay because of the dead. After notifying Root, continue the B investigation."
Hei wanted to say something else, but seeing Orochimaru's icy gaze, he had to swallow all his words.
Yōkō was satisfied. This was the art of the deal.
This Orochimaru, he's alright.
Hei led Orochimaru and Fox to find Yakushi Nonō.
He radiated a feeling of fear and unease.
His proud identity as a Root ninja, in the eyes of some people, could actually be targeted for killing repeatedly.
Especially now, Kō of Root, and Orochimaru, seemed not to care at all about the deaths of the four Root ninja.
He had naively thought that on this mission, Orochimaru would stand up for the Root ninja.
After getting within a dozen kilometers of Kumogakure, the few of them met Yakushi Nonō in a cave.
This time, Yakushi Nonō was disguised as an old woman, her face full of wrinkles, hunched over, her legs trembling unsteadily, so lifelike that if you met her on the road, you'd desperately want to help her cross the street.
Even her voice had become hoarse:
"Lord Orochimaru, Hei, Fox Jōnin, the Eight-Tails is much stronger and more violent than the Two-Tails."
"B's seal is unstable, far inferior to Yugito's."
"B lives on a lone mountain peak at the southwestern edge of Kumogakure."
"As long as you reach the southwestern edge of Kumogakure, you can see that mountain peak."
"As for B's guards, it's an elite Anbu platoon. I couldn't get the roster of the Anbu platoon, but their strength should not be weak."
"The Third Raikage needs about one minute to get from the Raikage Building to B's residence."
Orochimaru nodded and said: "Good. With location information, approximate guard numbers, and the Third Raikage's arrival time, this intelligence is sufficient."
Yakushi Nonō truly lived up to being the spy Danzo valued most; even Kumogakure's little secrets had been figured out.
Orochimaru said: "Yakushi Nonō, plan a route for me. Fox and I will use Earth Release to infiltrate Kumogakure and find the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki."
Yōkō was stunned. They really had to go? The Third Raikage could arrive in just one minute.
When he investigated Yugito with Hatake Sakumo, they never even engaged in combat.
Then he thought about Orochimaru knowing he had the Reverse Summoning Technique, and thought he still had to lower his head.
Since he wanted to cooperate with Orochimaru, he had to show sufficient value.
Orochimaru liked geniuses, not trash.
Yakushi Nonō looked at Fox, but Yōkō didn't respond at all.
The intelligence Yakushi Nonō provided him was problematic; it wasn't two Root ninja going to the Land of Iron, but a full four.
The faulty intelligence almost got Yuka and the others killed.
He had to find an opportunity to make Yakushi Nonō understand that harming him came with a price.
Late at night, Orochimaru and Yōkō arrived outside Kumogakure.
Kumogakure's buildings were situated on the mountainsides or summits of numerous peaks, covering an extremely vast area, almost ten times the size of Konoha.
This village had no walls; the outermost ring of peaks was set up with lookout posts, serving as the village's boundary.
Orochimaru and Yōkō sank into the earth together.
The route provided by Yakushi Nonō was a blind spot unmonitored during the lookout posts' shift changes.
Moving rapidly underground, Yōkō and Orochimaru emerged on the summit of a low mountain.
The high mountain opposite the low mountain was where the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, B, resided.
Orochimaru said: "I will infiltrate and deal with B. You are responsible for dealing with the Anbu platoon and intercepting the Third Raikage."
"I'll do my best."
The two disappeared into the ground again.
Orochimaru's underground travel speed was extremely fast, faster than Yōkō's, like a swimming snake.
Different from Yōkō's Earth Release: Fish in Earth Reflection Technique, Orochimaru's technique was more exquisite, though it was unclear what technique it was.
In the cave bedroom, B was fast asleep, completely unaware of the approaching danger.
Orochimaru emerged beside B, holding a hallucinogenic pill, and fed it into B's mouth.
"You should feel fortunate. This is a secret medicine prepared for the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, used on you now to surpass Hatake Sakumo."
Back when Danzo was thinking of all kinds of dirty tricks to deal with the Senju clan, directly targeting the Nine-Tails was one of the contingency plans.
Orochimaru stared at B, thinking that obtaining some Eight-Tails research material would be good too; the Eight-Tails was a top-tier combat force in the ninja world.
B's complexion grew increasingly worse, sometimes red and feverish, steaming, sometimes bluish-purple, oozing droplets of blood.
A terrifying roar of a giant beast echoed through the cave!
B fell completely unconscious. At the same time, the Eight-Tails' chakra surged out uncontrollably and violently.
In just a few seconds, the unconscious B was lifted up by four thick octopus tails.
Orochimaru stood by, laughing, in a very good mood:
"The Tailed Beast's will has completely taken over control of the body. The hallucinogenic secret medicine is very useful, much more useful than imagined, perfectly suited for dealing with Jinchūriki."
Moments later, the sixth, seventh, and eighth tails appeared one after another.
It wasn't a Tailed Beast Chakra Cloak, but the Eight-Tails' octopus body, which smashed through the top of the cave mountain!
***
Dive deeper into the story with 50+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!
(End of Chapter)