"Mizuki went berserk?"
Yagyū Souma frowned. "What happened?"
The massive beetle, Claw, waved its pincers and chattered in insect-speech.
The message was crude, but Souma still understood it.
Mizuki's body had erupted with Curse Mark chakra.
The moment the summoned swarm sensed it, they flew in immediately and devoured all the chakra from his body.
A couple of the kikaichū lost control afterward—but most remained stable.
Souma recalled the details.
He vaguely remembered something like this happening in the original timeline…
But Mizuki was never this strong.
What did Orochimaru do?
"What about his chakra? Is it different from that big guy's before?" Souma asked.
Claw hesitated. Its simple mind struggled to interpret the question.
Souma reframed it multiple times until the beetle gave a vague answer:
"Different taste. This time… crazier."
Crazier?
Not Mizuki's own Curse Mark.
This had to be the effect of a forced-injection drug pushing the Curse Mark into an unstable overdrive.
Orochimaru's new research?
"I'm going to take a look."
Claws scuttled off to digest chakra.
Souma sighed—if only he had the Flying Thunder God technique.
He could jump straight to Konoha in an instant.
But for now, he had to rely on his legs.
At Konoha
With Haiichi's help, Souma entered the Anbu facility.
Mizuki was already dead.
"Souma."
Haiichi approached. "We've already performed memory extraction."
He sighed with regret.
"Shame you didn't arrive sooner. We might've been able to pull out more."
A corpse's memories fade quickly.
Waiting for Souma would've reduced the yield.
Souma knelt and examined the body.
He wasn't a medical ninja, but his knowledge—and the way he could refine his sensory chakra—allowed him to scan Mizuki's internal condition with startling precision.
As expected.
Souma's brows tightened.
Haiichi continued, "According to the memory fragments, someone disguised as a Konoha ninja brought him a drug yesterday. And during the time Mizuki tricked Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Seals, that same person was involved."
Souma thought for a moment.
"The last time I crossed paths with him, he only appeared through shadow clones. Extremely cautious. I suspect he's actually a Konoha ninja."
"It's possible," Ibiki agreed.
Only someone from Konoha would know its prisons, its seals, and its procedures so well.
Unless Orochimaru spoon-fed him everything.
"Could he be the 'assistant' mentioned in the earlier intel?" Haiichi murmured.
"Possibly."
Souma added, "But don't rush to identify him. With so little intel, you won't find him quickly. Instead, focus on the drug. Do you know what this power is?"
"Curse Marks," Haiichi replied. "Same as that large man—Jirōbō had the Earth Curse Mark, and—"
He stopped himself.
He didn't mention Anko, but everyone knew.
Souma continued, "You should know how dangerous this power is. But its core nature—
I can use it too. The kikaichū I've been cultivating with the Aburame clan were bred through something similar."
"What?!"
Haiichi and Ibiki exchanged looks before suddenly understanding.
"No wonder the kikaichū countered Mizuki so effectively. They've already adapted!"
"Exactly." Souma's tone grew colder. "This drug uses life force to forcibly fuel Curse Mark chakra. If Orochimaru can mass-produce something like this…"
Haiichi's and Ibiki's expressions hardened.
Just one drug had elevated an ordinary chūnin to near-jōnin level through raw, suicidal force.
If Orochimaru deployed dozens?
"Souma-kun… thank you for the warning."
"It's nothing. Orochimaru has his eyes on me and my research. If I'm a target, I might as well prepare."
Haiichi nodded.
Souma's concern made sense—whether Orochimaru came for him, or for the Third Hokage, preparedness was essential.
Souma left.
Ibiki exhaled deeply.
"Every time I talk to him," he muttered, "I question my entire existence."
Haiichi patted his shoulder.
"Being surpassed quickly… hits harder when you're older, doesn't it?"
Ibiki went silent.
Back at the Research Institute
Souma reinforced the detection barrier—Orochimaru was becoming too dangerous.
If Kabuto insisted on entering the institute, Souma planned to confront him directly.
Maybe verbally.
Maybe physically.
The next day—
"Souma-kun! Captain Yamato wants us assembled!"
Souma put down his pen and stepped outside.
Task time already.
He glanced at Tenten—she looked ready to punch someone.
He couldn't help himself.
"Pfft."
"Why are you laughing?!"
Tenten glared, stomping off in frustration.
Along the way, she ranted nonstop about the secret mechanics behind the Fang Shadow Dark Blade and how she was so close to forging a new weapon—
and how if Captain Yamato called them just for another test drill…
"He'll die miserably!"
"Are you sure about that?" Souma teased.
Tenten glared again. "Whose side are you on?!"
"Yours."
"Hmph! Once I finish my new weapon, I'll forge a blade for you too!"
"Deal."
Training Grounds – Forest of Death
Yamato, Hayate, and Kasa were waiting.
"Before you complain," Yamato said, coughing softly as he eyed Tenten's expression,
"This isn't for training. We have an important mission."
"Level?" Tenten asked warily.
"A–Rank."
Tenten and Kasa froze.
"A–Rank?! Are you kidding?!"
Souma narrowed his eyes.
So it was the mission involving Orochimaru's hideout in the Land of Grass.
Yamato continued, "Our role is support, not primary combat."
"Because of me?" Souma asked calmly.
"Yes."
Souma nodded.
It made sense—his sensing abilities, his relevance to Orochimaru, and his raw strength made him essential.
Tenten and Kasa hesitated, worried they'd drag the team down.
"Want my opinion?" Yamato asked.
"Please…"
"I think you should come. We're supporting, not the main assault."
Souma added gently, "And I don't believe your training over the past weeks has been stagnant."
"Of course not!" they both said.
"Then it's settled. Don't worry—
I'll handle anything you can't."
"…"
Yamato internally screamed.
Who is the captain here?!
But since Souma was Souma…
Yamato swallowed his pride and let it slide.
"When do we depart?" Tenten asked.
"Immediately," Yamato said sternly. "And this mission is confidential."
Everyone agreed.
Before departure, Souma pulled Yamato aside.
"Who's joining us?"
"Genma's team, an Anbu squad, and Aburame Shibi."
"Good lineup."
Souma nodded.
This level of preparation meant the Third Hokage was deadly serious.
"Think… he will interfere?" Souma asked quietly.
Yamato blinked, then realized.
"Danzo?"
"I doubt it. The Hokage hasn't said anything. Should be safe."
"Then I'm relieved."
Yamato exhaled deeply.
Only after that did he realize—
He felt pressure standing next to Souma.
Like standing beside the Hokage himself.
Ridiculous.
"Uh… Souma?"
"Yes?"
"Don't call me 'sensei.' Your teacher is Kakashi. I'm just a slightly older comrade."
If not for Souma, Yamato wouldn't mind being called "teacher."
But with Souma…
Absolutely not.
He didn't dare pretend he could teach him anything.
"Call me Captain Yamato."
"You're too modest, Captain," Souma replied with a gentle smile.
"CALL ME CAPTAIN!!"
Yamato nearly collapsed.
Tenten and Kasa had to hold in their laughter.
Even Kakashi had mini mental breakdowns around Souma—
Yamato's suffering was completely understandable.
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