Sora gazed longingly at the Sage Mode scroll in the store's display. Though tempted, he hesitated to spend 20,000 witness points on it right away.
After all, he already had a contract with Ryūchi Cave and could go there directly to learn the sage arts. If everything went well, he could save those precious 20,000 witness points.
Witness points were difficult to obtain, so Sora tried to save as many as possible. Only by conserving them could he exchange for more powerful abilities that would truly enhance his skills.
But now wasn't the time to journey to Ryūchi Cave to learn sage arts. Besides, with his newly acquired Mangekyō Sharingan, Sora didn't need to strengthen himself so urgently.
He decided to wait until after the war before traveling to Ryūchi Cave to train in sage arts.
After resting sufficiently, Sora set off again and continued hunting Kumo shinobi throughout the region.
Days passed quickly.
In the Land of Hot Springs, Namikaze Minato's reputation grew steadily. With his Flying Thunder God Technique, Kumo shinobi who encountered him were struck down before they could even react.
Namikaze Minato had earned his nickname, the Yellow Flash.
The Kumo shinobi had grown numb to the terror. Just as they feared Sora, now came Namikaze Minato.
Like Sora, Minato was speed-oriented, but their fighting styles differed completely. Sora was reckless and direct, while Namikaze Minato was elusive and precise.
Yet they shared one similarity — both were threats that Kumo shinobi couldn't handle.
...
A few days later, Sora received orders from Orochimaru to return to base immediately.
Upon arriving, he noticed Kakashi was absent, likely on a mission. Sora went straight to find Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru-sensei, I've returned," he announced.
Orochimaru, with his hands crossed, smiled slightly. "Your objective has been achieved."
Sora smiled back. "Almost. Now we just need a stepping stone."
"The opportunity will come," Orochimaru replied. Then his expression turned serious. "The war situation has completely changed!"
Sora tilted his head. "What happened?"
"Since you've been hunting Kumo shinobi throughout the Land of Hot Springs, you've missed the latest intelligence," Orochimaru explained gravely. "Sunagakure and Kirigakure are both facing crises simultaneously. The Third Kazekage has disappeared, leaving Sunagakure leaderless. They're searching frantically and can't focus on the war. Meanwhile, Kirigakure is in turmoil and lacks external forces. This is our chance."
Sora's eyes flickered with understanding.
Has the Third Kazekage been killed by Sasori already? It seemed a full-scale war was imminent. Even if Kumo and Iwa didn't initiate hostilities, Konoha would surely seize this opportunity.
Orochimaru continued, "I've received intelligence that the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki has returned to Kumogakure." He fixed his gaze on Sora. "With your Mangekyō Sharingan, I'm assigning you a mission: infiltrate Kumogakure, remove the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki's armor seal, release the Eight-Tails, and let it cause destruction within the village!"
Orochimaru produced a small vial. "This is a special genjutsu pill I've created. After ingestion, it will paralyze the entire body. Sora, can you perform the Five Elements Unseal technique?"
Sora nodded. "Yes, Kushina taught me some sealing techniques."
"Good," Orochimaru said with approval. "When the time comes, have B take this pill, remove his Iron Armor Seal, use your Mangekyō Sharingan to control the tailed beast, and attack Kumogakure. This is an S-rank mission. Do you accept?"
A smile spread across Sora's lips. "This is a mission of great merit. Of course I'll take it!"
Sora knew this was a mission specifically chosen for him by Orochimaru. In Sora's memory, this task was originally completed by Orochimaru himself.
Orochimaru tossed the mission scroll to Sora. "Then I leave it to you."
Sora tucked away the scroll. "I'm on my way, Orochimaru-sensei."
...
After accepting the mission, Sora left the Land of Hot Springs and headed toward Kumogakure to begin his infiltration.
Several nights later, B stood in his room, gazing at the moon through his window. An octopus tentacle swayed gently behind him.
Suddenly, B turned sharply. Recognizing the visitor, he greeted, "It's A."
B retracted the octopus tentacle.
A walked toward him steadily.
"Don't get too close," B warned.
A frowned slightly. "Can't sleep?"
B turned back to the moon, staring at it through the window. "Especially on full moon nights. It's like looking at the hole in my heart."
A's frown deepened. "Haven't you found anything to fill that hole?"
B replied in a hollow voice, "Maybe I never will in this lifetime. My body exists here, but my heart is dead. It's like walking alone through an endless desert. As long as I can't escape this life, I'll never find what I seek."
"What can I do for you?" A asked, his voice low and concerned.
B sighed. "My heart has lost hope. If anything happens... I'm counting on you."
A looked at B with deep understanding.
In his youth, B had excelled in ninjutsu, possessed a strong bloodline, and demonstrated excellent character. This was why the Eight-Tails Gyūki had been sealed within him, making him a Jinchūriki. Through rigorous training, B had learned to control the Eight-Tails skillfully.
Originally, both the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails had high hopes for B.
But after becoming a Jinchūriki, B noticed the attitudes of those around him change. This gradual rejection had worn him down physically and mentally, until he often found himself contemplating death.
A tailed beast will seize upon a Jinchūriki's weakest moments. This wasn't the Eight-Tails trying to control B — rather, B could no longer control the power with his deteriorating mental state.
Unfortunately, B had never found a way to fill the emptiness in his heart.
A said nothing more, turning to leave.
Outside B's house, hidden in the shadow of a nearby building, a man wearing a Kumogakure forehead protector observed silently.
This was Sora in disguise.
Concerned that sensor-type ninja might see through a Transformation Technique, Sora wore a mask as part of his disguise.
Later, at Kumogakure's Ninja Hospital, a medical-nin was working in the infirmary when a small white snake slithered inside.
The snake approached the medical-nin from behind and then transformed into Sora.
Moving silently, Sora drew his ninja sword and killed the medical-nin with a quick slash across the throat.
After cleaning away the blood, Sora disguised himself as the medical-nin, sat down in a chair, and waited patiently for his next move.
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