Fortunately, it is still wartime. As the commander, Orochimaru probably would not openly move against me. Moreover, he seems to prefer "coercion" and "cooperation."
However, his ship is going to capsize in a few years. Getting on board now would be purely asking for trouble.
Sora knows that not long after the Third Shinobi World War ended and Namikaze Minato became the Fourth Hokage, Orochimaru defected from Konoha. His subordinates did not fare well in Konoha either, with the vast majority being ruthlessly eliminated.
...
Returning to Squad C Five's camp, Fox cast an inquiring glance.
Sora just shook his head lightly and said nothing more.
Some things are better known by fewer people.
Sora sat by the campfire, watching the flickering flames, a sharp glint flashing imperceptibly in his eyes.
Orochimaru... I hope you don't provoke me. Otherwise, even if you are one of the Legendary Sannin, I will make you taste what power from another world truly is!
But thinking of Orochimaru, another issue began to occupy Sora's thoughts, something he had considered long ago, the Dragon Vein!
The Dragon Vein is not something one can just open their mouth and absorb. To use it as a "chakra power bank," besides requiring relevant sealing techniques, knowledge related to artificial tailed beast technology is also needed.
Sora has been gradually mastering sealing techniques, but given his current level, it is absolutely impossible for him to create an artificial tailed beast.
Although a person named Shinno later created the "Zero-Tails," that happened when Naruto was around fifteen or sixteen, nearly twenty years from now. Sora cannot wait that long.
So he set his sights on Konoha!
Sora remembers that Shinno hailed from the Sky Ninja Village, a small village without a tailed beast. This means he had no research subject. The data related to the "Zero-Tails" was most likely stolen from one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries.
Among the Five Great Countries, Sunagakure's political situation has always been unstable, and its strength is relatively weak. It simply lacks the capability for in-depth tailed beast research, so it is the first to be ruled out.
Kirigakure is similar to Sunagakure, with an unstable political situation. Coupled with too many kekkei genkai users, it has been in a state of internal strife, so it is also ruled out.
Of the remaining three, Iwagakure focuses on earth-style related research and seems to have made no significant achievements in tailed beast research either.
While Kumogakure also focuses on lightning-style and taijutsu development, the fact that they developed the giant chakra cannon and perfect jinchūriki clearly indicates substantial research capability.
Konoha possesses the First Hokage, who could completely suppress tailed beasts, and thus also has the capability for deep tailed beast research. After comparing them all, Sora fixed his gaze on Konoha and Kumogakure.
But Kumogakure is too far away. Combined with Sora's relationship with Kumogakure, he ultimately chose Konoha.
As one of the Sannin, a direct disciple of the Third Hokage, and a nominee for the Fourth Hokage, Orochimaru obviously has access to Konoha's most internal technologies.
Furthermore, when he defects from the village later, he will certainly take away a considerable amount of data and technology. Sora only needs to specifically hint at it to obtain the relevant artificial tailed beast technology from him.
It seems being targeted by Orochimaru isn't all bad.
But there is a problem: what does Sora use to trade with Orochimaru?
Orochimaru is clearly interested in Sora's physique. Regarding this, Sora has been careful about his condition on the battlefield, ensuring he left no blood, flesh tissue, or similar materials behind.
Even when facing Pakura, the blood Sora pretended to spit out had been scorched by dragon breath inside his body.
'Although I won't fear Orochimaru later, being researched is not acceptable.'
Sora sat by the campfire, constantly pondering. Finally, a person surfaced in his mind, Tenzō, Yamato!
Although Yamato was a product of an experiment led by Orochimaru, currently Orochimaru does not know Yamato survived and was later taken back to "Root" by Danzo.
As the sole survivor of the Wood Style experiments, Orochimaru, who has researched Wood Style for years, would surely be very interested. Sora only needs to provide information about Yamato or capture him for Orochimaru to definitely exchange for the artificial tailed beast technical data.
Currently, Yamato is around nine years old and still in Danzo's "Root." Given Sora's relationship with Danzo, capturing one of his subordinates would be of no consequence.
However, considering that Yamato left a good impression on him, he could just get some bodily tissues for Orochimaru when the time comes.
Moreover, Sora understands that the core of a transaction isn't just the value of the bargaining chips; whether the strength of both parties matches is equally important!
Therefore, when the time comes for the transaction, he must appropriately display his strength, making Orochimaru clearly understand each other's confidence and leverage, preventing the other from playing tricks by relying on a disparity in strength, and ensuring the transaction proceeds smoothly.
...
The months-long Battle of Kikyōyama ultimately ended with Konoha's Pyrrhic victory.
Just as Sora remembered, although the Fourth Kazekage Rasa inflicted heavy casualties on Konoha, Orochimaru, relying on his cunning tactics and formidable strength, managed to withstand the pressure and gradually turned the tide of battle.
Sunagakure, unable to achieve a breakthrough after prolonged attacks and with its supply lines repeatedly disrupted, ultimately had no choice but to retreat and sign an armistice agreement with Konoha.
After this battle, the Land of Wind completely withdrew from the stage of the Third Shinobi World War. Konoha was also severely weakened, but Orochimaru, as the frontline commander, enjoyed unprecedented prestige.
After the war ended, Konoha's frontline troops began an orderly withdrawal back to the village.
…
Because Grey Wolf lost an arm and Night Owl, still suffering from poison, was sent back to Konoha for treatment, Squad C Five, which Sora belonged to, had lost the ability to continue performing Anbu missions.
Fox was temporarily reassigned to other understaffed Anbu squads to continue missions.
Due to his outstanding performance in the rear-guard mission and subsequent high-level clashes, especially after "single-handedly battling Pakura and killing a Sunagakure Jonin," Orochimaru seemed intent on "tempering" him, using him as a sharp blade, frequently deploying him into dangerous missions to engage Sunagakure's elite squads.
Particularly, Pakura specifically targeted Sora on the battlefield, leading teams to encircle him multiple times. However, Sora had long been wary of Sunagakure's targeting. Pakura's encirclements not only failed but resulted in Sora counter-killing many powerful Suna-nin.
Therefore, Sora gained some fame on the Kikyōyama battlefield, earning the moniker "Konoha's Green Snake."
Sora found this name quite speechless, far less imposing than names like "Konoha's White Fang" or "Yellow Flash"...
A few days later, the mopping-up operations were basically complete, and Sora also received orders to return to Konoha.
Sora arranged with Fox to meet at a rendezvous point outside Kikyō Castle, then follow the main force back to the village together.
The next morning, Sora arrived early at the rendezvous point. Fox was already waiting there.
The two walked on the road leading away from the Kikyōyama area, not very fast. With the hostilities ceased, their taut nerves could relax slightly.
Fox looked at Sora beside him, whose face still carried a hint of youthfulness but whose eyes were exceptionally steady, feeling a myriad of emotions.
"After returning to the village, Squad C Five will probably be disbanded and reorganized."
Fox's voice was somewhat hoarse, carrying a barely perceptible trace of despondency. Anbu squad members live together day and night, sharing life-and-death bonds. Suddenly disbanding is inevitably hard to accept.
Sora nodded. He had anticipated this.
"Yeah, Grey Wolf and Night Owl need time to recover. Captain... what are your plans?"
"What plans can an old bone like me have?" Fox smiled, his remaining arm habitually pressing the short sword at his waist. "Probably assigned to train newcomers or transferred to the logistics department. But you, with your current strength and combat achievements, upon returning to the Anbu, you will likely be appointed as a new squad leader, leading a team independently."
Sora neither confirmed nor denied it.
Leading a team means more responsibility and attachments, which somewhat conflicts with his plan of pursuing the pinnacle of personal strength and potentially leaving Konoha at any time.
'Take one step at a time. Strength is the foundation. With sufficient strength, these arrangements won't affect me.'
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 Like the story? Read 120 chapters ahead!
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━