Chapter 102: Uchiha's Maniacal Laugh

Chapter 102: Uchiha’s Maniacal Laugh

Seeing the two’s farce end, Orochimaru approached with Kabuto Yakushi, his smile brimming with malice. “Izayoi-kun, Sasuke Uchiha-kun,” he purred, “how did you find the surgery?”

Judging from Orochimaru’s demeanor, he seemed unbothered by the possibility of Izayoi reneging on their deal or discarding him like a used tool. Perhaps he had contingencies for resurrection, or perhaps knowing he couldn’t resist Izayoi, he gambled that Izayoi was a man of his word.

Izayoi nodded with satisfaction. “Professional work, as expected from a specialist,” he said, smiling. “The surgery’s done, so now it’s time to fulfill our bargain.”

“A bargain?” Orochimaru blinked, nearly blurting out, Wasn’t the surgery the deal?

Then his smile froze. He’d forgotten—earlier, Izayoi had demanded something before the surgery. Distracted by the Hashirama Cells, he’d overlooked it.

Izayoi tilted his head, feigning innocence. “The surgery was just a return gift! Orochimaru-dono, you didn’t think a single operation could repay the White Zetsu Clone and the Shinigami Mask intel, did you?”

Orochimaru forced a chuckle, cursing inwardly. Cunning brat—trapped me with semantics! Agreeing to the surgery meant accepting the entire deal. Now Izayoi could demand anything.

Refusing would justify betrayal. Complying risked losing something vital.

Orochimaru was cornered again. If only he’d anticipated Izayoi’s visit, he’d have sent Kabuto away with his treasures. Now, with the Shinigami Mask and a perfect White Zetsu body, death was unacceptable.

He stiffened. Wait—did this brat plan this?! Using the Zetsu and Mask as bait, manipulating his desperation…

Could the Shinigami Mask already be in Izayoi’s hands? Orochimaru’s breath quickened.

Unaware of Orochimaru’s spiraling paranoia, Izayoi stated bluntly, “I want the Ryūchi Cave Summoning Scrolls. Let Sasuke Uchiha sign their contract.”

“Ryūchi Cave?” Orochimaru hadn’t expected this. Glancing at Sasuke, his eyes gleamed. If Sasuke bonded with Ryūchi Cave, could he later plant a Cursed Seal?

But sensing Sasuke’s current power, he abandoned the thought. Without his hands’ souls, he couldn’t overpower him.

Playing his own game, Orochimaru smirked. “I assumed you’d want Edo Tensei. The Scrolls are trivial… but my hands’ souls were stolen by the Third’s Shinigami. I can’t perform summoning. Retrieve the Shinigami Mask, and the Scrolls are yours.”

Izayoi’s smirk deepened. “Orochimaru-dono can’t use Sealing Techniques? Then let Kabuto-san handle it. You Legendary Sannin used him to summon at Tanzaku Quarters, didn’t you?”

Orochimaru sighed. “You’re impossible to fool, Izayoi-kun. But the Shinigami Mask—you have it, don’t you? Name your price.”

“Why assume that?” Izayoi teased.

“Your composure,” Orochimaru said, grinning. “Even the Nara clan’s strategists pale beside you.”

“Flatterer,” Izayoi chuckled. “But you’re clever too. Guessing it’s with me so fast.”

Sasuke, previously an observer, stared. Sage Techniques? Whatever it was, trading it for the Third’s forbidden jutsu meant it was priceless—a Leaf Village treasure. And Izayoi offered it for him.

A warmth swelled in Sasuke’s chest. Maybe having a guardian isn’t so bad.

Orochimaru gaped. “You know about the Sage Techniques?!”

“If you had my abilities, you’d know more,” Izayoi said, smiling.

Orochimaru nodded, recalling the Uzumaki’s Kagura Shingan and Hashirama’s Wood Release. “Agreed. I’ll introduce Sasuke Uchiha-kun to the White Snake Sage. He’ll master the Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Techniques.”

“Summon the Scrolls.”

“Kabuto.”

Kabuto performed the Summoning Technique with Orochimaru’s blood, slamming his palm. “Kuchiyose!”

A cloud of smoke erupted. A human-sized white snake emerged, promptly spitting out a massive scroll sealed with Ryūchi Cave.

Izayoi clapped Sasuke’s shoulder. “Sign with your blood.”

Sasuke nodded, biting his thumb to scrawl his name on the scroll.

“Pleasure doing business, Lord Orochimaru.”

“Ahahaha… The pleasure’s mine. When Sasuke Uchiha wishes to learn Sage Techniques, simply send word through the Ryūchi Cave serpents.” Orochimaru’s tone carried an edge of urgency.

Judging by his expression, the serpentine ninja had grown utterly weary of his current condition.

Being stripped of his arms felt akin to depriving a smoker of tobacco. For a scientist and Shadow-Level ninja like him, losing the ability to perform Ninjutsu was worse than death itself.

Compounding his predicament, Orochimaru now had enemies everywhere.

The Akatsuki, a collective of S-Rank criminals; the Hidden Leaf Village; and the Hidden Sand Village—all sought his head.

If Izayoi hadn’t arrived to broker this deal, he’d already be dead.

Now that Izayoi knew his location, it was only a matter of time before Leaf’s interrogation squad cracked the seals on the Sound Four and Kimimaro’s corpses, extracting his secrets from their minds.

The Hidden Leaf’s forces might already be marching toward the Rice Country. He’d need to relocate soon.

“With our transaction complete, we’ll take our leave, Lord Orochimaru.”

“I look forward to our next meeting, Izayoi-kun.”

“Likewise.”

After Sasuke Uchiha finalized his contract with Ryūchi Cave, Izayoi exchanged a few more pleasantries before turning to depart.

He hadn’t taken more than a few steps when he abruptly halted, pivoting back toward Orochimaru. “Lord Orochimaru… You wouldn’t happen to have a second Kusanagi Sword on hand? Might I persuade you to part with it?”

“Izayoi-kun… Your information network is as sharp as ever.” Orochimaru’s voice turned icy, his eyes darkening with wary respect.

It was true—he possessed two Kusanagi Blades and had spent years hunting a third. Even Kabuto Yakushi didn’t know this secret.

Just who was this brat? How did he keep uncovering Orochimaru’s deepest truths?

Still, Orochimaru stretched his jaw wide, regurgitating a slimy scroll. “Consider this one yours, Izayoi-kun.”

“Sasuke Uchiha, pick it up,” Izayoi ordered.

“Me?”

Sasuke grimaced at the mucus-coated scroll, his face twisting in disgust.

“Of course. It’s a gift,” Izayoi snapped, rolling his Byakugan. “Do you even know what treasures Orochimaru collects? Haven’t you heard the legends of the Kusanagi?”

“Ah… Izayoi-kun truly appreciates fine craftsmanship,” Orochimaru interjected smoothly, his smile returning. “There are three Kusanagi Blades in total, each unique. The most formidable is the Totsuka Blade—its form shifts at will, and those pierced by it are sealed eternally into a dreamlike genjutsu realm. I’ve searched for it for years… but alas, it remains elusive.”

His voice softened with regret.

Hearing of such a miraculous weapon, Sasuke’s eyes lit up. He snatched the scroll, wiping away the slime with renewed eagerness.

“We’ll take our leave now, Lord Orochimaru.” Izayoi waved casually. “By the way—suggest you relocate. The interrogation squad’s already plundered your base’s location from those corpses.”

“My thanks, Izayoi-kun.”

The two parted as cordially as old friends, their transaction mutually rewarding.

Sasuke had ascended beyond fate itself, his power and chakra reserves surging.

Once he mastered the Super Hurricane Barrage and Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Techniques, he’d join the ninja world’s elite. His combat prowess would skyrocket further still.

Before Izayoi’s Rinnegan completed its final evolution—unlocking the Rinnegan Chakra Mode and the Silver Wheel/Golden Wheel Reincarnation Bombs—he might yet obtain the Sage’s Eye (Red).

Orochimaru, meanwhile, gained a White Zetsu Clone and hope of breaking the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.

A win for both sides.

…

Half a month later, Naka River.

“Hahahahaha!”

Thick branches erupted from the riverbank, arching like a bridge to the opposite shore.

Sasuke Uchiha stood atop the wooden span, laughing arrogantly as he glared down at Hinata Hyuga and Karin standing on the water’s surface. “Is that all you’ve got? Come on—this is barely a warm-up!”

His swollen pride grated on the two kunoichi. Hinata and Karin exchanged glances, then nodded in unison.

“Eight Trigrams!”

Hinata assumed a taijutsu stance, channeling chakra into a shockwave exponentially more powerful than the Eight Trigrams Air Palm, blasting it toward Sasuke.

“Too slow!” Sasuke scoffed, his Sharingan’s tomoe spinning.

He leapt aside effortlessly, the attack crashing into the river below.

Mid-air, he twisted his body and spat a fireball from his mouth. “Great Dragon Fire Technique!”

The flames roared downward like a meteor.

“Water Release!”

Karin clasped her hands. The Naka River surged upward, forming a waterspout that intercepted the fireball in a cloud of steam.

Hissing steam billowed outward.

“Crap!”

Sasuke’s overconfidence evaporated as he realized his mistake.

Slicing through the mist came a barrage of blue chakra needles.

He drew the Kusanagi Sword, channeling Lightning Nature Transformation into it, and swatted the projectiles aside in a shower of sparks.

But before the last needle fell, another sound pierced the air—this time from his left.

Hinata launched herself from the cliffside, hurtling toward him.

“Wood Release!” Sasuke barked.

Vine-like tendrils erupted from his arm, snaking toward Hinata like serpents.

She met them with a single punch, unleashing a chakra burst that shattered the wooden appendages into splinters. The shockwave sent Sasuke crashing to the ground.

Before he could recover, a mocking voice whispered behind him.

“Is that all you’ve got, Sasuke Uchiha-kun~?”

A hand pressed against his back, spreading seal characters across his body.

Game. Set. Match.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end