116-120

*Chapter 116: A Mission of Certain Death! Not Even Jesus Could Save Me This Time!*

The night was as serene as water.

The sky, adorned with countless stars, was illuminated by the Milky Way, which hung like a ribbon of light.

Shinji lay sprawled on the bed of a guest room in a hot spring inn.

In front of him was a tall stack of papers, while the floor beneath was littered with crumpled balls of paper, chaotic and messy.

The sheets were covered in analytical diagrams that only Shinji himself could comprehend.

After a mentally exhausting session of effort, he had finally extracted the information he sought from Oil Lady Ryoma.

Now, Shinji had a general understanding of the current situation on the battlefield of the Land of Rain.

Although the process had been frustrating, the intelligence provided by Oil Lady Ryoma was detailed and valuable.

*First, regarding the Sand Village:*

Having concluded the long-standing skirmishes and minor conflicts with the Mist Village that had persisted since before the Third Great Ninja War, two young and outstanding warriors emerged as candidates for the Fourth Kazekage in the aftermath of the war: Rasa and Pakura.

At this point in time, the Sand Village had declared war on Konoha and was amassing its forces to invade the Land of Fire.

To prepare for this war, they were eager to end the conflict with the Mist Village, avoiding a two-front battle.

Pakura, a hero of the Sand Village, was supposed to be betrayed by Rasa and the Sand’s high-ranking officials, handed over to the Mist as part of a deal to end the war.

However, due to the interference of Orochimaru and Danzo, who sold intelligence about the Iwa forces intending to ambush the Mist Village, the elders of the Mist Village decided to halt the war with the Sand after receiving the information.

On the same day, Rasa, unable to sacrifice Pakura, took a dangerous gamble for power. He volunteered to act as an emissary to form an alliance with Iwa against Konoha.

This bold move secured his election as the Fourth Kazekage.

At the same time, reports from the Sand confirmed that in two weeks, Rasa would personally lead a delegation to the Land of Earth to negotiate an alliance with the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.

*This, in summary,*

was the series of events leading up to the assassination mission.

Like battles, ninja wars are fought with intelligence.

This was true for the Sand, for Konoha, and for Shinji.

With this information in hand, Shinji finally breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

It seemed that his actions had significantly influenced the course of the war.

But after borrowing paper and pens from the innkeeper and spending the night analyzing and mapping out the situation, Shinji concluded:

For now, the impact on the main storyline of the future was minimal.

All he had done was save a few people who were doomed to die. The war's trajectory wouldn’t deviate much from the original timeline.

The future events would unfold as planned. However, the Mist Village, having avoided an ambush from Iwa, had preserved more of its combat forces.

But that didn’t matter.

Even if the Mist retained more strength, they couldn’t stand against the true mastermind, Uchiha Madara.

“Orochimaru joined the battle because he didn’t possess the forbidden jutsu, Corporeal Rebirth. And his actions were aimed at obtaining it,” Shinji mused.

He tapped his pen decisively on the words "Land of Rain Assassination Mission" written on the paper.

Then, he connected his name and Orochimaru’s name to the mission.

“Killing the Fourth Kazekage Rasa might seem critical,” he muttered with a frown, “but in reality, this mission is utterly pointless!”

“This is a suicide mission,” he murmured grimly, completely dismissing the task's validity.

Assassinating Rasa wouldn’t achieve anything substantial.

Even if they managed to kill him and shift the blame onto another village, it wouldn’t change the larger picture.

The goals Orochimaru and Danzo aimed to achieve had already been accomplished when they leaked intelligence to the Mist.

Whether or not Iwa agreed to the alliance, they would inevitably be delayed on the Mist’s battlefield.

Orochimaru had already secured valuable time for Konoha to adapt to the intensifying war.

When Iwa eventually redirected its forces, they would still attack Konoha through the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass.

This war was unavoidable.

The Third Great Ninja War was essentially a covert invasion of the Land of Fire by the four major nations.

As for the current mission?

What could he say?

In Shinji’s view, it was an action born entirely from a gambler’s mindset.

His dear mentor, Orochimaru, wanted his corpse.

--

That’s why they took the opportunity to assign this mission—to send him to the most dangerous battlefield!

They couldn’t wait for Shinji to die early, making it easier for Orochimaru to retrieve his corpse for dissection and research.

As for our dear "King of the Pot," Danzo Shimura, what he really wanted was just to casually roll the dice.

As for the outcome:

If it succeeded, great—it could weaken the morale of Sunagakure and force them to urgently appoint a Fifth Kazekage.

If it failed, it didn’t matter either. After all, they were only sacrificing an Uchiha who had absolutely nothing to do with Shimura Danzo.

This was entirely a suicide mission!

Ahead, there was Rasa, a genuine Kage-level powerhouse.

Behind, there was his master Orochimaru, watching intently, ready to stab him in the back at any moment.

To the left, there was his immediate superior, Shimura Danzo, who had always been hostile toward the Uchiha clan.

To the right, there was the hellish battlefield of the Land of Rain, filled with carnage and chaos.

And in the middle? There was himself—Shinji—a man wholeheartedly seeking death!

Thinking about it, Shinji couldn’t help but let out a silly grin.

This situation?

It’s like my body is already halfway in the morgue. Even Jesus can’t save me now!

A spark of excitement flashed in Shinji’s eyes.

With a leap, he got out of bed and gathered up all the papers he’d analyzed through the night, scattered across the bed and floor. Forming hand seals, he spat a Grand Fireball Jutsu, burning them all to ash.

He climbed back into bed. Sleep time!

Shinji couldn’t wait for tomorrow.

“Good night, you sons of—baka!”

---

The night passed without a word.

At dawn, the next morning...

At exactly 7 a.m., Shinji woke up on time.

As he opened his eyes, he saw the sky outside the window was dark and overcast, a clear sign of an impending downpour.

A wailing wind pushed the window open, sweeping into the room and chilling him to the bone.

To prepare for a day filled with danger and challenges, Shinji took out the scroll Qingichiro had given him earlier.

Unrolling it horizontally, he formed hand seals and performed a summoning.

A set of combat gear, specially tailored and rushed out by the Uchiha clan, appeared before his eyes.

First, he casually tossed the Konoha-issued forehead protector into the trash can.

Then, he put on a shirt and long pants lined with chainmail, followed by a jet-black vest bearing the Uchiha clan emblem.

Next, he donned the Uchiha clan’s signature high-collared navy-blue robe, fastened a white belt, and equipped six ninja tool pouches along with a storage scroll.

On his right wrist, he attached a bracer capable of summoning a ninja sword. On his left wrist, he installed a mechanism loaded with senbon needles, ready to fire at any time.

Fully armed!

He leapt out of the window, landing smoothly on the roadside below, where Aburame Ryoma was already waiting.

Seeing Shinji jump down, Aburame Ryoma raised an eyebrow slightly.

Looking at the fully-equipped young man in front of him—tall, lean, and strikingly handsome—he couldn’t help but furrow his brows.

He had to admit, while the Uchihas might have the brains of a brick wall, their sense of style was undeniably impeccable.

This kid’s actually pretty dashing!

“Not bad. Looks like you’re ready.”

“But don’t forget—you’re a Root ninja now.”

“Put these on. And your sword!”

Aburame Ryoma took a pair of black gloves from his pocket, tossing them over along with the Kusanagi Sword.

Then he stepped forward, his gaze icy:

“Destination: the Land of Rain.”

“Move out!”

Chapter 117: A Tense Reunion of Mentor and Disciple

Two days later,

Land of Rain.

The sky loomed dark and oppressive, with clouds hanging low, threatening to engulf the earth.

Light barely filtered through the dense clouds, and immense shadows spread over the desolate wilderness, carrying a damp and stifling atmosphere.

“Cawww!”

A hawk circled overhead, drawn by the scent of decay.

“It’s going to rain again.”

On the edge of a steep cliff, a man with long black hair, golden serpent-like eyes, and a jet-black kimono stood motionless.

He gazed silently down at the suffocatingly quiet plain below. His expression flickered between pity and boredom, though it was hard to discern which dominated.

After a moment, he closed his eyes.

Suddenly—

A deafening roar of battle broke the silence, filled with the clash of steel, the hum of kunai, and the explosive power of jutsu.

Wind jutsu howled violently, shuriken rained down like a storm, fire snakes lashed out wildly, and the earth itself groaned and heaved.

Raindrops began to patter down, mingling with streams of blood that seeped into the ground.

Shouts, screams, and cries of despair rang out.

A macabre symphony of death played out on the battlefield.

Having seen countless scenes of carnage, war, and loss—

Having witnessed the deaths of family, friends, and disciples—

Orochimaru found it all utterly absurd.

Carrying titles of no real value, gambling lives that meant even less—

Only to end up on a stage like this.

In the end, all that remained was desolation.

Too weak, too helpless—like fleeting meteors leaving behind only silence.

For a long while,

Silence returned to the cliffside battlefield below. Not a single voice rose from the carnage.

Orochimaru’s golden serpent eyes snapped open.

His gaze was cold and detached as he surveyed the lifeless expanse of corpses sprawled across the mountains and plains below.

The rain and the aftermath of battle merged seamlessly, creating a scene of eerie stillness, terror, and bloodshed.

Yet his eyes betrayed an unmistakable disgust.

*Life shouldn’t be like this!*

To find amusement in motion and boredom in stillness—

That was the cold nature of this man:

Orochimaru.

At that moment—

A gentle breeze stirred behind him, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps.

Orochimaru’s eyes narrowed as a sly smile crept across his lips. His tongue flicked out, tasting the air.

“Hmm... Something interesting has arrived.”

Soon, two figures approached him from behind—one tall, the other shorter. They were none other than Aburame Ryoma and Shinji, who had traveled for two days from the Land of Hot Springs.

Aburame Ryoma stepped forward, standing beside Orochimaru. He glanced down at the gruesome battlefield below, his brows furrowed slightly.

“How many waves of attacks has the Sand launched?”

Without turning his head, Orochimaru replied hoarsely, “The third wave—just a probing assault.”

“Rasa has just taken command, and this front is led by Ebizō. He never fights a battle he’s unsure of winning.”

Orochimaru’s explanation was brief, yet Aburame Ryoma understood instantly.

Ebizō, an elder of the Hidden Sand and a strategic counterpart to Chiyo, was a brilliant tactician. His carefully crafted strategies often plunged enemies into chaos.

With these two seasoned strategists on the front lines, Konoha had struggled to gain the upper hand.

The two fell silent for a while. Finally, Aburame Ryoma broke the silence with a deep voice.

“I’ve brought your disciple.”

“He has potential. Though lacking in manners, he’s a good-hearted kid.”

Pausing briefly, Aburame Ryoma added solemnly, “This time, don’t let him end up like Nawaki.”

The words made Orochimaru freeze momentarily. His usually stoic colleague had just praised an Uchiha?

He turned his head in surprise, only to find Aburame Ryoma gone.

The breeze carried the faint scent of blood as it swept through the cliffside.

Now, only Orochimaru and Shinji remained.

Shinji knew all too well—his relationship with Orochimaru was far from the mentor-disciple dynamic Aburame Ryoma imagined.

Shinji thought Orochimaru was targeting his body, intending to slice him up for research. Orochimaru taking him as a disciple and sending him to the most dangerous battlefields seemed to align perfectly with Shinji’s death-wish expectations.

Perhaps, in a strange way, there was a kind of unspoken understanding between them?

However, when Shinji finally met Orochimaru in person, he suddenly realized that he couldn’t figure out what this man was thinking.

Orochimaru silently gazed at the devastation below the cliff.

He didn’t seem as eager to kill Shinji as the latter had imagined.

After a long pause, Orochimaru, still staring down at the cliff, rasped,

“Shinji,

what do you think a ninja truly is?”

Shinji frowned at Orochimaru’s back and replied sharply,

“Orochimaru, just get to the point.

Taking an Uchiha as a disciple—being impressed by my talent doesn’t explain your real motives.”

Orochimaru shook his head, his hoarse voice carrying a strange tone.

“I can sense it. Your gaze—it’s dangerous.

It’s the look of someone ready to fight at any moment.

You’re cautious. You think I’m trying to harm you?”

Suddenly, Orochimaru turned around, his golden snake-like eyes gleaming with intrigue. He revealed with a sly grin,

“As I thought—you’re scared.”

Shinji frowned deeper, thinking to himself that his “cheap master” might’ve hit his head on a door.

“Scared? Me? Impossible. I’m begging for death, not running from it! Why would I fear a short-lived snake that hasn’t even evolved into a proper monster?”

Without hesitation, he drew the Kusanagi Sword, pointing it at Orochimaru, and said coldly,

“Orochimaru, stop spouting nonsense. Why would I ever fear you?

Do you think I wouldn’t dare strike you down?!”

Orochimaru chuckled softly, his eyes narrowing as though watching something amusing.

“You’re afraid I’ll capture you, dissect you, and uncover your hidden secrets?”

He snorted derisively and shook his head.

“Relax. I’ve already mastered the Forbidden Jutsu: Living Corpse Reincarnation.

Your immortal body, the artificial Tailed Beast inside you, the Earth Grudge Fear secret technique, and that burning heart of yours—I can find answers to all of it with my own methods.”

Hearing this, Shinji was stunned, staring at Orochimaru in shock.

“What? Don’t believe me?” Orochimaru sneered, stepping closer.

He raised a hand, grabbed the Kusanagi Sword, and ran his palm along its edge. A deep gash instantly appeared, blood spilling freely.

But the next moment,

a white mist rose from the wound as it healed completely in seconds.

Shinji’s eyes widened in disbelief, as if he’d just seen God getting a haircut at a roadside salon.

Orochimaru chuckled hoarsely and said ominously,

“It seems you have no memory of the cave, and the Uchiha clan hasn’t told you either.

Back in the cave, I already dissected you.

I’ve obtained everything I wanted.”

This revelation, combined with the Forbidden Jutsu displayed on Orochimaru’s palm, sent shivers down Shinji’s spine.

He swallowed hard, his throat dry.

In that moment, he remembered something—how could the Uchiha clan, with their primitive medical ninjutsu knowledge, possibly distinguish whether Orochimaru was killing or saving someone?

And how could Orochimaru have passed up such a prime opportunity to conduct his research?

Facing this version of Orochimaru, Shinji couldn’t help but take a step back.

His Sharingan flared to life as he stared at Orochimaru with a mixture of horror and wariness.

If Orochimaru had already obtained the Forbidden Jutsu from him,

then why had he taken him as a disciple?

And further back,

when Shinji first pulled the Kusanagi Sword from the Uchiha clan’s scrolls, it had already felt suspicious.

If Orochimaru wanted his corpse,

why gift him the Kusanagi Sword?

From the very beginning, something about this situation had been off.

“Hahaha…”

Seeing the expression on Shinji’s face, Orochimaru couldn’t suppress a hoarse laugh,

his eyes glinting with twisted amusement.

Then,

he stepped even closer.

With a thud,

he allowed the Kusanagi Sword to pierce through his black kimono, slicing open his abdomen and emerging from his back.

Blood gushed out, the stench of iron filling the air. Yet Orochimaru appeared unfazed, as though he couldn’t feel the pain.

Leaning into the sword, he closed the distance between them, towering over Shinji.

Licking the corner of his lips with an unsettling excitement, he asked in a low voice:

“So, let me ask you again—

My dear disciple,

what do you think a ninja truly is?”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 118: Shinji, Become My Son!

What is a ninja?

Hearing this question, Shinji instinctively wanted to borrow Jiraiya's answer from the original story to refute Orochimaru—

to boldly declare that a ninja is someone who endures everything.

Like when he once silenced Hidan with brazen logic or manipulated Mangetsu Hozuki, pretending to be a comrade of righteousness or evil. He had stolen lofty words to strike at the enemy’s spirit.

But as the words reached his lips, Shinji couldn’t bring himself to say them.

Orochimaru wasn’t a hot-headed fool like Hidan. Such words wouldn’t crush his resolve or deceive him. He would see through them instantly, leaving them hollow and powerless.

In truth, as Shinji faced increasingly formidable enemies, the effectiveness of such mental attacks had significantly diminished.

When confronting Yagura Karatachi head-on, Shinji had almost been persuaded by the opposing argument instead.

Even Shinji himself couldn’t fully grasp the meaning of Jiraiya's words.

After all, throughout his journey, others had always pushed him forward, making choices for him.

So, what is a ninja?

For the first time, Shinji felt a pang of uncertainty in his heart.

He had never aspired to be a ninja, nor had he ever thought about what he should accomplish as one.

He was simply greedy for money and nostalgic for home, like a child who never grew up.

To the world, he always spewed lies, spouting lofty nonsense he didn’t even believe in—

twisting perspectives, sugarcoating schemes, deceiving in battle. Words had been his weapon during his weakest days, turning the tide of combat.

But now,

with Orochimaru’s intense gaze fixed upon him from just steps away,

Shinji couldn’t help but avert his eyes slightly, his steps faltering as he clenched his teeth.

For a moment, he couldn’t even muster a decent answer.

Orochimaru lowered his head, observing the struggle on Shinji’s face, and let out a raspy laugh.

“Hmm... such honesty, isn’t it?”

Hearing what sounded like a condescending remark made to a child, Shinji bristled instantly.

His gaze sharpened, and with both hands gripping the hilt of the Kusanagi sword, he twisted it inside Orochimaru’s abdomen, carving out a gaping hole before shouting furiously:

“Don’t mock me!”

“Orochimaru, listen closely! My ninja way is to flatten the entire ninja world, sweep away the old order, and rewrite every tragedy in the shinobi world!”

“This is something I cannot run away from!”

“Is that so?”

Orochimaru sneered, a smirk tugging at his lips.

With blood trickling from the corner of his mouth and down his chin, Orochimaru stared intently at Shinji.

Scarlet droplets splattered onto Shinji’s brow.

Then, Shinji heard the man’s raspy yet intimate voice mockingly say:

“Shall I get you a mirror?”

“So you can take a good look at your current expression.”

“The heart doesn’t lie. Deep down, you don’t even believe the words coming out of your own mouth.”

“Heh heh heh...”

Orochimaru chuckled coldly, leaning closer to whisper into Shinji’s ear, his hoarse voice filled with intrigue:

“My disciple...

You don’t have an answer.”

“And there’s no such thing as a completely correct answer in this world. But as long as you live, you can discover interesting things.”

“Just like how you’ve been trying to find answers in death, while I, in my pursuit of immortality, discovered you.”

A sudden, dazzling fervor lit up in Orochimaru’s gaze!

He stared intensely at Shinji, particularly at the three tomoe that formed the “Heaven’s Curse Flower” on the back of his neck.

Then, taking a deep breath, he said in a deep voice:

“Shinji,

You merely lack a strong guide to help you uncover what your heart truly desires!”

Orochimaru’s tone suddenly grew urgent, his ravenous gaze lingering on Shinji’s body,

analyzing every inch of the boy who had inherited his soul,

who could perfectly fuse with the Cursed Seal of Heaven.

A body capable of seamlessly integrating numerous forbidden techniques into a singular, seemingly impossible harmony.

Such potential, such a vessel.

Shinji had far surpassed Orochimaru himself!

This boy undoubtedly possessed terrifying talent he hadn’t even realized,

talent capable of perfectly inheriting Orochimaru’s desired path of the ninja!

A cold, damp wind blew past,

sending a shiver down Shinji’s spine. He raised his head slightly, staring at Orochimaru in bewilderment and hesitation. His gaze trembled.

“A guide?”

“And the things I truly desire?”

For the first time since coming to this world, someone had delved so deeply into Shinji’s being,

unraveling his body, excavating his soul.

Then,

with unwavering conviction, told him they could show him the way—

help him find what he truly sought.

Even Shinji couldn’t stop the faint tremor in his heart.

“Heh...” Orochimaru, noticing the shift in Shinji’s expression, grew even more pleased.

But he didn’t say anything further.

Calmly, he seized the Kusanagi sword from Shinji’s hands, pulled it out of his own abdomen, then thoughtfully wiped it clean with the sleeve of his robe. Finally, he sheathed it back into the scabbard hanging from Shinji’s waist.

Once done,

the wound in Orochimaru’s abdomen had already healed completely, leaving nothing but a puff of dissipating white smoke.

He turned around and walked toward the cliff’s edge,

standing silently amidst the cold wind of the Land of Rain.

Golden serpentine eyes gazed indifferently down at the battlefield below the cliff.

Reeds grew wildly among the severed limbs and scattered corpses. Swords and kunai pierced the earth, while raindrops, resembling tiny pearls, fell relentlessly from the oppressive sky.

For a moment, apart from the mournful, ceaseless sound of rain, the world was engulfed in silence.

Thick, black clouds churned above, creating a small opening.

A beam of golden, sacred light seeped through the gap in the clouds, sweeping over the ruined world.

Finally,

it landed directly on the man standing at the edge of the cliff.

It illuminated him, making him radiant!

In such a scene—resembling divine art, almost miraculous—

Orochimaru smiled. Stretching his arms wide, he spoke in a raspy voice:

"My disciple, as you can see..."

"A ninja is not a noble being."

"When stabbed, they die. When sick, they suffer. When they grow old, they decay into something unrecognizable."

"The so-called 'ninja' is merely someone who uses ninjutsu."

"And only by mastering and applying every ninjutsu in existence can one become the ultimate individual!"

"That is all there is to it."

"And you—"

Orochimaru turned his head, his gaze sharp as the edge of a sword,

cutting through Shinji’s façade, piercing his bloodline, his heart, his very soul—

peering into a spirit even more deranged, even more maddened than his own!

A fervent smile appeared on his face.

"Without even realizing it, you have already stepped onto this path!"

"To grasp all truths of the world, to master all ninjutsu, forbidden arts, secret techniques, even Kekkei Genkai, Kekkei Tōta, and realms beyond them..."

"In battles so unimaginably intense, you will unify all of this!"

"You will reach the final stage, becoming the supreme being!"

Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth, his tone blazing with conviction:

"My disciple!"

"This is your future!"

"This is what you've always ignored!"

"This is what your soul craves!"

"You and I are the same!"

"You share my great ideals!"

"And your talent far exceeds my imagination!"

"In battle, your eyes can replicate your opponent's techniques."

"Whether secret techniques or forbidden arts, nothing is beyond the reach of your eyes!"

Orochimaru turned fully,

standing in the golden beam of light, staring fervently at Shinji.

His raspy voice quickened as if he'd thought of something even more exciting.

He panted heavily, a feverish flush creeping onto his face.

Then, fixing his blazing eyes on Shinji, he swallowed hard and exclaimed with extreme excitement:

"This is a miracle!"

"A miracle surpassing ordinary Sharingan, even the legendary Sage's eyes!"

"Shinji, you are the perfect candidate to be my successor!"

"Inherit my ideals, my forbidden arts, my dreams!"

"So—"

"Anything I possess, I can give to you!"

"The Kusanagi Sword, the Flying Thunder God Technique, Living Corpse Reincarnation, the Eight-Headed Serpent, the Impure World Reincarnation, living Kekkei Genkai—even the one and only Kekkei Tōta in the ninja world—I can help you obtain them!"

Orochimaru stumbled forward in his excitement, stepping toward Shinji.

As he moved, the golden light followed him, like a spotlight on a stage,

cutting through the weeping sky, illuminating the raindrops swaying in the wind,

crossing the silent corpses strewn across the land,

finally reaching the top of the cliff.

The light shone on Orochimaru's fanatical face.

He raised his hands and placed them firmly on Shinji’s shoulders.

His smile was unstoppable.

The golden serpent eyes locked deeply with Shinji's, conveying resolve and sincerity.

Then, Orochimaru spoke with deep conviction and sincerity:

"Come!"

"Shinji, become my son!"

"Together, let us seize everything and witness the so-called truth of this world!"

Shinji blinked, suddenly snapping back to reality.

He stared at Orochimaru in shock.

What the hell?

I thought you were just a cheap mentor, and now you want to be my dad?

"Orochimaru!"

"What the hell are you rambling about?!"

Shinji abruptly shook off Orochimaru's hand from his shoulder, retreating several steps. The shock he felt was akin to a young boy's mind exploding with a deafening roar.

His brain momentarily shut down.

But looking at Orochimaru's demeanor, seeing the sincerity in his eyes—

He... he seemed to be serious?!

It wasn’t until this moment that Shinji truly felt, deep in his bones—

The devastating storms caused by the flapping of his butterfly wings,

And—

What it truly meant for a story to go completely off the rails.

For a moment, Shinji couldn’t bring himself to accept this absurd reality.

Completely contrary to his long-held belief that Orochimaru wanted to kill him, the Orochimaru standing before him now actually wanted to become his father and pass on all his skills.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"You want me to be your son and acknowledge you as my father? Orochimaru, stop dreaming!"

Shinji's face twisted in defiance as he suddenly drew the Kusanagi sword, pressing his other hand firmly over his heart.

If Orochimaru dared to take one more step forward, he would blow himself up on the spot!

“Heh…”

Orochimaru chuckled hoarsely at Shinji’s reaction, retracting the fervent expression on his face.

He returned to his usual cold and commanding demeanor.

His gaze turned sharp as he sized up Shinji, sneering,

"It seems the time isn’t right yet."

"But do you think you can escape?"

"Don’t forget, you are my disciple."

"In this Third Great Ninja War,"

"I will keep arranging for you to fight life-and-death battles against powerful enemies, myself included, so you’ll master all sorts of techniques."

"In the end, you’ll become exactly what I envision."

"Hehehe."

Orochimaru let out another dry laugh and turned to walk away, returning to the cliff’s edge. He stood silently, gazing at the desolate battlefield.

His voice returned to its usual icy tone,

He ordered coldly:

"Go find Aburame Ryoma. Your next mission will be issued shortly."

"In the next battle, I will withdraw all Konoha ninja—"

"You’ll fight alone."

---

(Chapter End)

*Chapter 119: The Still Waters of the Flash Step, Dawn of a New Day!*

The Konoha encampment in the Land of Rain was strategically positioned along the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain.

War is merely politics by other means. When the other four great nations all sought to carve out a piece of the Land of Fire, Konoha understood this conflict would be an extended and grueling battle—a true war of attrition.

However, within Konoha, opinions about the ongoing war were sharply divided.

Danzo Shimura of the Konoha F4 believed in swift action. He proposed launching an aggressive campaign into the Land of Rain, crossing the border to penetrate the Land of Wind, and utterly crushing Sunagakure. This show of force would serve to assert Konoha’s dominance and intimidate the other villages.

And indeed, Konoha had the strength to do just that.

However, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, quickly shot down this idea, citing several reasons: the defensibility of Sunagakure due to its desert terrain, the tactical caution of Chiyo and Ebizō, who would likely adopt a turtle-like defense strategy, the internal strife within Sunagakure that rendered it a secondary concern, and the need to preserve resources for potential conflicts with Kumogakure in the Land of Fields.

Danzo, left with no room to argue, could only mutter, "Hiruzen, you’ll regret this."

Puffing on his pipe, Hiruzen nonchalantly blew a ring of smoke into Danzo’s face and replied, "Danzo, I’m the Hokage."

With that, Danzo stormed out, already scheming his next move.

This discord among the leadership inevitably affected the front lines as well.

Currently, two distinct factions existed within Konoha’s main camp.

One was the standard ninja corps, led by Jiraiya. The other consisted of Root ninja brought by Orochimaru.

The camp itself was situated along the border.

On the side facing the Land of Rain, the sky was dark with rolling thunderclouds and relentless rainstorms.

Meanwhile, the side facing the Land of Fire was a vivid spring scene, teeming with life and energy.

As a Root ninja, Shinji was naturally assigned to the stormy, rain-drenched side.

It must be said, the gloomy environment perfectly matched his current mood.

When Shinji entered the camp, he still had a dazed and vacant expression.

In today’s parlance, Orochimaru had thoroughly gaslit him.

Handing him a Kusanagi Sword, Orochimaru promptly turned him into a workhorse.

For the next mission, Shinji would be expected to face a hundred enemies alone—a workload that felt like being treated as a hundred workhorses.

Before long, Shinji would even be crossing the extensive border of the Land of Rain to undertake the insane task of assassinating a warlord.

Initially, this aligned with Shinji expectations.

His greatest fear was that Orochimaru might suddenly grow fond of him and spare him undue hardships—that would’ve been a true nightmare.

Now, it seemed Orochimaru had developed a liking for him. But that didn’t stop him from working Shinji to the bone.

Though everything unfolded exactly as Shinji had hoped, a nagging unease crept into his heart.

Was his cheap mentor using the script written by Elder Uchiha Setsuna, planning to swoop in and save him at the brink of death?

And then, thinking about Orochimaru’s repertoire of life-saving techniques, all of which he was eager to pass on, Shinji couldn’t help but shiver.

Already monstrously durable, his abilities were entirely composed of unconventional techniques: undying bodies, stitched constructs, forbidden healing arts, and peculiar entities like Zero-Tails.

If he added curse mark possession, snake techniques, Ryūchi Cave summoning, the Orochi-style substitution technique, soft-body modifications, triple Rashōmon, Living Corpse Reincarnation, the Eight-Headed Serpent, genetic engineering...

Even Sage Mode might not be off the table.

At the thought of this, Shinji felt an overwhelming urge to slap himself.

Standing at the border, half bathed in sunlight and half drenched in rain,

He grappled with the pain of becoming even more inhumanly durable and the giddy excitement of diving headfirst into yet another perilous battle.

Closing his eyes, his body involuntarily twitched as he muttered to himself in exasperation.

"This is pure madness!"

The more Shinji thought, the angrier he became. His frustration grew, his thoughts spiraled, and his discomfort worsened.

Finally, he clenched his fists, glaring at his own hands. With gritted teeth, he raised one to strike his own face.

But just then—

“Huh? Hey, hey!”

“Ji-kun, what are you doing?”

A clear, urgent voice rang out as a figure suddenly appeared before him, the result of a flawless Shunshin no Jutsu. Grabbing Shinji wrist, the newcomer forcibly halted his self-punishment.

"I won’t let you hurt yourself!"

Ji looked up and saw who it was. His eyes widened in shock, as if facing a monster.

It was none other than Uchiha Shisui!

After a week of separation since leaving the village, Shinji now stood face-to-face with the man who haunted his memories.

Ji instinctively stepped back, his body trembling as a flood of memories surged into his mind.

Everything that led him to this point was because of this person.

It was him—it was all him!

Recognizing Shisui, Shinji emotions boiled over, and his Sharingan activated involuntarily. His pupils quivered with rage.

Had this fool not stolen his mission in the Land of Rain,

He wouldn’t have been sent to the Land of Hot Water, nor crossed paths with Shinnō, Kakuzu, the Jashin Cult, or Orochimaru—each more dangerous and insidious than the last.

Had he been in the Land of Rain, he might’ve already perished anonymously like the countless shinobi who fell unnoticed in this brutal war.

This... this...

Ji took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and forced himself to smile bitterly. Raising his hand, he waved awkwardly.

"Hi~!"

Shisui looked at Shinji with a concerned expression, sighed, and comforted him:

"Ci-kun, you don’t need to blame yourself so much."

"I’ve already heard about what happened in the Land of Hot Water."

Shisui stood on his tiptoes, patted Shinji’s shoulder, and said seriously:

"No one could have done better than you. The fact that the Elder used Izanagi was beyond your control."

"So, don’t take it to heart too much."

Hearing this, Shinji’s smile instantly froze awkwardly on his face.

Right, there was still the Great Elder, Uchiha Satsuna.

How could he have forgotten about that?

So, it was obvious why Shisui was here.

Shisui flashed a grin and scratched his fluffy head.

"Oh, by the way, the Great Elder sent a messenger hawk. He wants you to spend the coming days training with me and Brother Shinichi to learn how to use the Sharingan."

"Along with basic clan ninjutsu, genjutsu, taijutsu, and various advanced techniques."

As he pulled Shinji forward, Shisui joked and laughed:

"Ci, you haven’t met Brother Shinichi yet, have you? He’s a very strong and kind person."

"Under his guidance, I’ve already mastered the use of these eyes perfectly. I even discovered that combining Sharingan’s abilities with the Body Flicker Technique has some very unique effects."

"We should explore it together when the time comes. I think—"

Before Shisui could finish, Shinji swallowed hard, looking at the seemingly kind but truly devilish Shisui in horror. He immediately raised a hand to interrupt:

"Stop!"

"What did you just say? What do you want to explore with me?"

Shisui paused, then chuckled brightly and scratched his head as he explained:

"Ah, I forgot to name this technique! Hmm... How about we call it—"

"Phantom Flicker Technique!"

Shinji took a sharp breath and stared at the boy in front of him in disbelief.

Shisui truly was a once-in-a-generation genius!

Even without going to the Land of Hot Water, he still developed the technique that would become his signature—

The Phantom Flicker Technique!

A powerful ninjutsu that merges the Sharingan’s visual prowess with the Body Flicker Technique.

In the ninja world, taijutsu enhanced by ninjutsu is referred to as Nintaijutsu. But this boy had innovatively created a technique that seamlessly combined genjutsu, taijutsu, and even a kekkei genkai.

The last time a technique fused genjutsu with taijutsu, it was the Leaf-Style Willow!

This technique was ranked S!

It felt like Shinji was witnessing the beginning of a legend.

And that legend was named "Shisui of the Body Flicker!"

The realization made Shinji cough nervously, his scalp tingling. Was Shisui seriously going to teach him such a terrifying technique?

Enough! At this rate, before he even started solo missions or that crazy assassination plan, he would be turned into cannon fodder!

Was this reasonable?

Was this even fair?

No way, his brain couldn’t process it!

"Uh, Shisui, I appreciate the thought, but this technique sounds really difficult. Maybe we should take it slow—"

Shinji coughed repeatedly, desperately trying to change the subject.

"Also, where are you taking me? We’re far from the main camp now, aren’t we?"

Before he realized it, Shisui had led him out of the base and into the Land of Rain. They were now in a gloomy forest.

Looking around, Shinji saw only trees shrouded in a foul-smelling miasma.

The sky was overcast, with a light drizzle falling steadily.

Raindrops slid off treetops and grass leaves, dripping softly to the ground.

At this moment, Shisui smiled faintly, released Shinji arm, and said:

"Here’s the thing,"

"Shinji, I made some friends in the Land of Rain. They’ve heard of you and want to meet you."

Shinji couldn’t help but let out a dumb laugh, shaking his head as he looked at Shisui.

Come on, who would’ve heard of him? He was just a mediocre Chūnin, an insignificant nobody.

Shaking his head again, Shinji said:

"Stop joking, Shisui. I’ve been running around like a mule for two days, and I’m starving. Forget training for now—let’s find something to eat first."

Scratching his head, Shinji asked:

"So, where’s the kitchen?"

But just then—

A sharp, confident voice rang out from the treetops.

Three shadows suddenly leaped down.

"The disciple of the Three Sannin, the one who crushed the Cult of Jashin in the Land of Hot Water, the Immortal Shura who defended against the genius of Kirigakure, Hozuki Mangetsu."

"Shinji!"

"It’s a pleasure to meet you!"

The leader removed his hood, revealing short, strikingly bright orange hair that stood out even under the somber rain of the Land of Rain.

He grinned at Uchiha and spoke cheerfully:

"Allow me to introduce myself,"

"I’m Yahiko, leader of the Akatsuki!"

---

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 120: Akatsuki's Invitation – He is a Comrade!*

Raindrops fell like pearls, pelting down in a relentless rhythm.

The dense forest stretched toward the heavens with wild, untamed growth, its branches clawing ferociously at the sky.

Rain pierced through the stinking miasma that hung in the air, splashing onto the ground and striking the leaves and grass with an unyielding force.

In the distance, the deep woods were shrouded in mist, their outlines blurred. The thick water vapor cloaked the darkness, hinting at untold horrors lurking within.

The atmosphere was both silent and solemn.

Shinji raised his head, gazing at the three figures before him. They were clad in black cloaks adorned with red clouds, the unmistakable attire of the Akatsuki.

Their hoods obscured their faces, but the colors of their hair offered clues: orange, blue, and red.

These three were none other than Akatsuki’s founders: Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato.

Shinji’s brows furrowed deeply.

Why had Akatsuki—still in its fledgling stage at this time—sought him out?

"Shisui?" Shinji turned to Shisui, his tone questioning.

Shisui was about to explain when Yahiko stepped forward. Standing formally before Shinji, he spoke with gravity and sincerity:

"Shinji,"

"Please do not blame Shisui. I was the one who wished to meet you."

However, faced with Yahiko’s earnest tone, Shinji expression only grew colder, his voice carrying a tone of rejection:

"Sorry, I’m just an ordinary chunin. I’m not worth meeting."

Yahiko shook his head, his determination unshaken. He took another step forward.

"No."

"Shinji, after hearing about your deeds, I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time."

"You are a true pioneer on the path of peace—a bridge between clan and village. You are someone who fought valiantly against Kirigakure and a heretical cult for the sake of foreign civilians."

"I am inspired by your actions. That’s why I wanted to meet you."

With heartfelt sincerity, Yahiko placed a hand over his chest and declared:

"I want to understand your thoughts, to grasp your ideals, and to share our beliefs with you."

At that moment, Shisui, standing beside Shinji , nudged him and added:

"Ji, please. They are like us—they fight to end conflict and strive for peace. They are comrades who share our ideals."

Ji glanced at Shisui.

Seeing the gleam of conviction in Shisui’s eyes, Shinji frowned slightly. This junior of his was already overly idealistic, but now, encountering the young, dream-filled Akatsuki in the Land of Rain, he seemed to have been completely swayed.

Sigh. Shinji let out a sigh, raising his head to look at Yahiko.

He genuinely didn’t want to get entangled with these three. He felt sympathy for their eventual fate—chasing dreams only to have them crumble in ruin.

But behind these three stood a figure who orchestrated everything from the shadows—the true terror of the shinobi world: Uchiha Madara!

And then there was Nagato, naive and unknowing, with those eyes of his—a product of the millennia-long scheming by Black Zetsu, Madara’s hidden pawn.

These were powerful players Shinji couldn’t afford to provoke right now.

If he altered Akatsuki’s tragic trajectory, the plotline could spiral into an uncontrollable abyss.

With that thought, Shinji brow furrowed as he addressed Yahiko in a cold tone:

"I don’t know where you heard those rumors, but I’m not as great as you make me out to be."

"I’m just an ordinary man, and all I’ve tasted along the way is failure."

Ji glanced toward Konoha’s base camp in the near distance, then at their surroundings.

The foul-smelling miasma concealed their presence from the Inuzuka clan’s hounds, and Shisui had deliberately led them to this secluded corner—a Root-controlled zone impervious to the Byakugan’s gaze. This was how they had avoided detection.

If they were discovered, even Shisui would face severe consequences.

"If you have something to say, say it quickly. This is not a place you should be. If Konoha finds you, you won’t get out of here."

"Very well!"

Yahiko understood how rare this opportunity was. Taking a deep breath, he began with a solemn expression:

"Then I’ll be direct!"

"Shinji, just as you risked your life to foster understanding between your clan and village, just as you drew your blade to protect the suffering of foreign lands—"

With a hand over his chest, Yahiko’s voice brimmed with conviction:

"The Akatsuki I founded exists to pursue these same ideals!"

He turned, gesturing toward the battlefield littered with corpses and the weeping nation surrounding them. His tone was calm but resolute:

"To stop the Third Shinobi World War. To create a future where people understand one another. To save this eternally grieving land."

"We will not rely on extreme violence or oppressive power. We will forge a vision of peace that all can believe in."

"And so, I wish to invite you—"

“I want to invite you—someone younger than us but who has resolutely walked ahead of us.”

“To achieve our goal, we need your strength!”

Yahiko raised his head, his gaze firm as he looked at Shinji.

From beneath his cloak, he took out a brand-new black cloak adorned with red cloud patterns. Holding it with both hands, he presented it to Shinji, bowing at a perfect ninety degrees.

Then, with his eyes closed, he loudly declared:

“Please acknowledge me as your leader and join our organization—”

“Akatsuki!”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was shocked.

Even Shinji twitched at the corners of his mouth, thinking to himself, What on earth is happening here?

First, there was Orochimaru, who wanted to act like his father, and now Yahiko had appeared, wanting to be his boss?

I haven’t done anything to deserve this!

At that moment, no one in the group had expected Yahiko to come all this way to invite a ninja from Konoha—a ninja he was meeting for the first time—to join their budding organization.

This level of treatment was something even Shisui, who was considered a friend by the Akatsuki trio, had never received.

“Yahiko?!”

Behind him, Konan and Nagato were visibly startled and somewhat at a loss.

However, after seeing Yahiko’s resolute actions, they gritted their teeth slightly and immediately stood by his side. Together, they bowed to Shinji, just as they had once bowed to Jiraiya as his students.

To them, Yahiko was everything.

Yet, as he looked at the three before him, Shinji remained unmoved. Without hesitation, he responded:

“Sorry, I refuse.”

“You—”

Nagato, standing behind Yahiko, immediately raised his head upon hearing this, glaring at Shinji with a hint of defiance.

But Shinji didn’t care. Instead, he looked at Nagato’s glowing eyes with interest, as if hoping Nagato would summon the Gedo Statue right then and there to take a swing at him.

Taking a deep breath, Shinji turned his gaze back to Yahiko and bluntly exposed him:

“You’ve said so much, but what you really want is just that one thing.”

“To save this country.”

Then, with a cold voice, he questioned:

“So, how will you do it?”

“How do you plan to achieve peace without relying on extreme power or violence? How will you make that a reality?”

Yahiko straightened up. Even after being rejected, his gaze remained unwavering.

He smiled confidently and said:

“I’ve thought about that question before.”

“I used to believe that as long as others experienced the same pain, they would understand each other.”

“To feel pain, to endure pain, to accept pain, and to understand pain—then, they would fear it.”

“I believed that conquering the world and making it experience pain would lead to the future I hoped for.”

Yahiko’s tone grew heavy as he recounted his past beliefs. Hearing this, Shisui’s expression shifted slightly in astonishment.

“But later, I realized there was a better way.”

Yahiko raised his head, his tone firm and resolute:

“By opening our hearts to our enemies, by showing no deceit and revealing our true selves! Then, by sitting down and sharing a brotherly drink with them!”

“That is the only way people can truly understand each other.”

“This method is what the people of this world need most, what they desire most, and yet, it is also the hardest path to take.”

Yahiko’s eyes burned with determination as he declared:

“This is what I wanted you to hear.”

“It is the belief of Akatsuki!”

However, Yahiko’s words failed to move Shinji.

He shook his head, expressionless, and sighed:

“That’s quite impressive—very compelling.”

“But let me tell you one thing.”

“In this world, that’s impossible. It simply won’t work.”

Yahiko wasn’t discouraged. Instead, his eyes brightened slightly as he asked Shinji:

“Why?”

“Why, you ask?”

Shinji chuckled coldly, then said calmly,

“Because this is a world where strength reigns supreme.”

He gazed at Yahiko, who was trying to drag him into his cause, and spoke with a chilling tone:

“I don’t know if people can truly understand one another. That lofty ideal feels far too abstract to me.”

“But if you want people to sit down and listen to what you have to say, you need them to be willing to listen first.”

“Reasoning is backed by strength. Do you understand?”

After saying this, Shinji gave Yahiko a deep look, not caring whether the latter understood him or not.

Offering this much advice was already the greatest kindness he could muster.

Yahiko had undoubtedly chosen the most difficult path.

Even the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, failed to succeed on such a path.

True sincerity could indeed exchange for sincerity, but more often than not, it was met with a cold, hard blow.

With this thought,

Shinji turned decisively without looking back.

He grabbed Shisui by the collar and walked away briskly.

As they left, he sternly instructed:

“Shisui,

From now on, don’t associate with this group anymore. That guy’s path is far too dangerous.

One careless step, and you’ll end up dragged into the abyss with him.”

Before long, his voice faded into the distance, carried away by the wind.

The grim land of the Rain Country remained unchanged,

its relentless downpour mercilessly drenching everything,

until the silhouettes of the two were swallowed by the storm.

Amid the eerie forest,

Yahiko looked at the Akatsuki cloak he hadn’t managed to hand over, sighed, and stuffed it back into his sleeve.

Beside him, Konan gazed at him with concern and softly asked,

“Yahiko, are you okay?

He seemed to have rejected you quite firmly.”

Nagato, watching Shinji’s figure fade into the distance, shook his head before turning to Yahiko to offer reassurance:

“It’s fine. We believe in you.”

“Hahahaha!”

To their surprise, Yahiko wasn’t discouraged at all by their comfort. Instead, he burst out laughing.

“Who said he rejected me?”

Yahiko raised an eyebrow, placing a hand on both Nagato’s and Konan’s shoulders.

“Listen, Nagato, Konan.

When I speak of mutual understanding, the key lies in being open and honest, hiding nothing from each other.

He has already fully grasped our ideals, and he’s even made his thoughts clear to us.

That is exactly what it means to open one’s heart.”

Yahiko smiled confidently and clenched his fist.

“Since he’s understood us, the next step is to make him acknowledge our path.

To make him one of us!”

Hearing this, the two were at a loss for words, exchanging helpless glances before asking in unison:

“Yahiko, what are you planning to do?”

Yahiko narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing through the rain at the disappearing figure in the distance.

He thought for a moment before frowning and replying:

“That guy may talk about how things are impossible,

but everything he does is aimed at achieving peace.

For now, we’ll stick to our regular actions. Konan, I need you to keep an eye on him.

Let’s see what major moves he makes next, and when the time comes—”

Yahiko slapped his thigh, formulating a plan:

“We’ll lend him a helping hand!”

(End of Chapter)