Amid the chaos where the Fourth Raikage and the Third Tsuchikage were clashing with full force on the battlefield, Uchiha Yue—the eye of this storm—remained unnervingly calm.
Rather than feeling any urgency or pressure in the midst of this war, he was instead meeting someone he deemed a useful tool.
"It's been a long time, my master," a familiar voice slithered out from the shadows.
Emerging slowly from the darkness, the figure wore the unmistakable red-cloud-on-black cloak of the Akatsuki, a blank-ringed hand raised in greeting.
"Orochimaru… your outfit. That's the Akatsuki organization?"
Uchiha Yue's eyes narrowed slightly. His tone was calm, but curiosity flickered beneath.
"Master is as perceptive as ever," Orochimaru said with a serpentine grin, his long tongue flicking out. "There are some extraordinary beings in Akatsuki—perhaps enough to pose a threat even to you, Master… perhaps."
"Payne and the Rinnegan, huh?" Yue answered casually, not rising to the bait. "He's formidable… but still leagues away from truly threatening me."
To Yue, who had measured himself against legends like the Sage of Six Paths and Uchiha Madara at his peak, Nagato's puppet-like Six Paths of Pain seemed underwhelming.
Even with the Rinnegan and Gedo Statue as crutches, Nagato's real body was crippled and kept hidden—unable to engage directly. His fighting method, splitting the Rinnegan's power across six corpses, had its strengths, but also limitations.
Yes, the abilities were potent when divided—Shinra Tensei, Chibaku Tensei, and so on—but splitting them diluted their overall effectiveness. Without the Rinnegan's full power consolidated in one body, the threat was manageable.
"Haha… nothing escapes Master's insight," Orochimaru chuckled dryly, as though deflated, his tone showing exaggerated dejection.
"Enough with the games. Hand it over."
Without waiting for Orochimaru to recover, Yue's eyes gleamed with sharp purpose. "Also, I don't care much about Akatsuki, but since you're inside it, fetch me a sample of the Gedo Statue—the giant husk you all use for sealing the Tailed Beasts."
He paused, then added with a glint of calculation: "And if possible, monitor that masked man in your group. You know which one I mean. Try to get in contact—but don't reveal our association."
Orochimaru blinked, then sighed theatrically. "Ah… destined to be a laborer, it seems. Master won't even let me rest."
Still, he reached into his cloak and pulled out a sealed scroll, handing it over with reverence.
"Mm. If that's all, then get to work."
Yue took the scroll without even glancing at the Sannin's tired expression or his dramatic complaints.
After all, Orochimaru was too valuable to treat with kid gloves. With the power of Kotoamatsukami binding him in absolute loyalty, Yue had no reason to waste energy on fake pleasantries.
No matter how unreasonable he acted, Orochimaru's obedience would not falter. So why bother?
"Understood. This servant shall take his leave."
With a respectful bow and not a shred of resistance, Orochimaru faded into the darkness like a phantom.
"Hmph. He's surprisingly efficient this time," Yue muttered, glancing down at the scroll in his hand. "It hasn't even been long since I gave the order…"
Excitement sparked in his eyes. He could already sense the significance of what he held.
The scroll, like the one Orochimaru handed over last time, contained high-grade genetic samples—critical to Yue's ambitions.
This time, he'd obtained material from two particularly special individuals: Karin Uzumaki, the red-haired sensor with potent vitality from Kusagakure, and the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers of Kumogakure, famed for their Nine-Tails-charged chakra and Sage Tools.
"With their samples secured, the only things left are the bloodlines of the Ōtsutsuki clan on the Moon… and the Hyuga clan."
Yue's gaze turned contemplative, thoughts already moving far beyond the battlefield.
"I had been planning to collect a sample from Hyuga Hinata… but with Orochimaru delayed and the sudden outbreak of the war, I shelved the idea."
He tightened his grip on the scroll. "Now, with these preparations advancing quickly, I can't afford to keep putting it off."
Hyuga blood—especially that of the main family—was key to integrating Byakugan properties with his own genetics.
As someone aiming to ascend beyond the Sage of Six Paths, Yue wouldn't overlook even a sliver of potential.
He didn't unseal the scroll immediately. His mind instead drifted back to the village, to the girl with lavender eyes.
As always, Yue prioritized power—but not for vanity.
He had already gained near-invincible strength, but with the entire shinobi world watching him—and certain ancient forces possibly stirring in secret—he couldn't afford to be complacent.
The butterfly effect of his reincarnation had already twisted the timeline beyond recognition.
Even the Sage of Six Paths himself might have taken note.
In that case, any opportunity to grow stronger had to be seized without hesitation.
"Wood Style: Wood Clone Technique."
A swirl of chakra burst from his palm as wooden fibers twisted and formed a near-perfect replica of him.
"This clone carries nearly half of my chakra. Even if it can only output 30% of my strength, it's more than enough for emergencies."
He gave the clone a brief glance, confirming its stability, then vanished in an instant—his next destination already decided.
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