Ichiraku Ramen, a famous landmark in Konoha. Okay, fine, it was actually just a small food stall, comparable in size to a night market vendor, though far less impressive than a full-fledged eatery.
This was Habara's first time dining at this "renowned scenic spot." He ordered the most basic bowl of ramen and watched as "Otsutsuki" Ichiraku rolled, stretched, and cooked the noodles.
When the bowl was placed before him, Habara eagerly dug in. The first bite told him the ramen was quite good, with a distinct Lanzhou flavor.
He'd barely started eating when Tenzo plopped down beside him. "Boss, one chashu ramen, with an extra three slices of chashu."
"..."
Habara thought to himself, Look at you, Mr. Big Spender. Why don't you just order a bowl of chashu ramen and ask for only the chashu, no noodles?
"You're paying anyway," Tenzo said, handing Habara a book. "Here's what you asked for."
Habara set down his chopsticks and took the book, flipping through it casually. He found the contents surprisingly interesting.
"Interesting. According to this, the origins of some large, wild chakra beasts are mostly related to Tailed Beast activity... and it actually makes sense."
The chakra beasts Habara referred to were the kind that could be used as summoning animals – creatures capable of using chakra for combat. According to the theory presented in the book, their birth was somewhat accidental and linked to the activity of Tailed Beasts. This didn't seem problematic... The source of all power in this world could be traced back to the "Ancestor of Chakra" or the "God Tree," and the Tailed Beasts were the closest things to the God Tree.
The Sage of Six Paths founded Ninshu, spreading chakra among humans. Tailed Beast activity could also unconsciously lead to the spread of chakra, resulting in the various chakra beasts around the world... It wasn't that Darwin wasn't trying hard enough, it was just that the enemy had Gundams.
"So? Are you really planning to go out and search for a summoning animal based on Tailed Beast activity records?" Tenzo asked.
"Of course. There aren't many missions in the village right now anyway, and I've got nothing better to do. I'm planning a trip outside the village, and I'll look for a summoning animal while I'm at it... I've already got my leave approved," Habara said.
Because of his performance at the end of the war, no one would suspect Habara of being a spy from another village anymore. So, with a suitable reason, he could certainly have "freedom of movement"... If anyone questioned him, they'd better produce a "Konoha Guardian Medal" and a "Senju of the Forest Honorary Medal" first.
None? Then shut your trap.
Of course, leaving the village to capture a summoning animal was just a pretext. In fact, Habara had been making preparations for the past year, and he was about to implement his "Ninja Completion Plan."
This plan certainly carried some risks, but everything was now ready. At its core, the plan still revolved around the "Living Corpse Reincarnation" ninjutsu, and as for "Living Corpse Reincarnation"... Habara had some experience with that.
Habara was about to embark on his journey, and he was in a very good mood. He put the book away, finished his ramen in two or three bites, and patted Tenzo on the shoulder. "Thanks."
Then, with lightning speed, Habara vanished from Ichiraku Ramen, moving so fast it looked like he was escaping.
"It's just a trip outside the village, why does he look like he's been unleashed..."
Tenzo initially muttered this to himself, but then his gaze shifted downward, landing on the bowl of ramen that was now empty except for the broth.
Tenzo's gaze narrowed slightly. "Um, Boss, I have a question. Did the guy next to me just now pay?"
"What do you think?" Ichiraku asked with a smile.
Tenzo: "..."
"So, uh, what would happen if I said I didn't bring any money?"
"..."
Truly worthy of being called Otsutsuki Ichiraku, he had single-handedly subdued a Wood Release ninja.
......
That very night, Habara was jolted awake from a deep sleep. He immediately wrapped his forehead protector around his head and attached the special chakra receiver to the band.
"Habara, it's an emergency summons," Daigo's voice soon came through.
"Emergency summons? Are the Uchiha rebelling again? That shouldn't be right, it's not time for them to act up yet," Habara calculated the time, realizing it wasn't yet time for the Uchiha's doomed rebellion.
"It's not the Uchiha, it's... Orochimaru's rebellion.
The Hokage has ordered 'Akakammuri' to participate in the operation, to capture Orochimaru if possible, or... eliminate him."
These words caused Habara's hand, reaching for his sword case, to pause slightly. So, Orochimaru's actions had been exposed. Was Orochimaru careless? Or did some snitch rat him out?
Regardless, Orochimaru had become Konoha's enemy.
Habara took a deep breath and quickly slung the sword case onto his back. "Where's Tenzo? Have Tenzo meet me."
He swiftly arrived at the outer wall of Konoha. A short while later, Tenzo appeared beside him.
Looking down from their vantage point, lights flickered on throughout Konoha. The village was once again in turmoil.
"Orochimaru's rebellion... is it true?" Tenzo asked Habara. He still found the news hard to believe, unable to imagine why the Third Hokage's disciple, one of the "Legendary Sannin," Orochimaru, would betray Konoha.
"It's true. Think about all the bizarre experiments Orochimaru conducts. How many of them are acceptable to Konoha? If those experiments were ever discovered, he'd only have two choices... surrender or flee Konoha. And fleeing is the same as defecting," Habara explained.
The Third Hokage hadn't been particularly suspicious of Orochimaru before, because Orochimaru had been under his tutelage since childhood. He believed that even if Orochimaru conducted some unconventional experiments, they wouldn't be too extreme. However... someone had definitely reported Orochimaru.
Habara didn't know who reported Orochimaru, but he could guess who orchestrated the report.
"Lord Orochimaru's downfall, some are happy, some are sad," Habara said with a hint of wistfulness.
"Habara, should we be happy or sad?" Tenzo asked.
"Neither happy nor sad. It's simply... time for us to repay a debt. After all, Lord Orochimaru was quite generous to us back then. Otherwise, why would you have Wood Release, and why would I have... that thing."
Tenzo: "..."
"Repay a debt?"
"Repay a debt. Have you heard of the farmer and the snake? This is the snake's way of repaying kindness."
"So, we act now?" Tenzo didn't know what the snake's repayment meant, but he seemed quite excited.
"Of course... not. Can you beat Orochimaru?"
"...No."
"Good, neither can I. So let's wait a bit. Let others fight him for a while."
"...Kill stealing?"
"..."
Well, who doesn't love to steal kills? In the face of a "kill," what's a little bit of infamy? Such slander, Habara would brush it away as easily as dust.
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