Chapter 336: If You Can Keep Them Close, You Can Control Them!  

Compared to those who only want the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques and bloodline, Konohagakure is the one truly digging up the Uzumaki clan by its roots. 

They want to erase the Uzumaki clan from the ninja world. 

Other villages have always had problems with their Jinchuriki, but Konohagakure has remained safe for decades. 

So naturally, everyone started looking at the Uzumaki clan. 

What should Konohagakure do in this situation? 

If the other villages got their hands on the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques and bloodline, they would be on equal footing with Konohagakure in terms of controlling Jinchuriki. 

The Third Hokage and Danzo would never let that happen. 

So when disaster struck the Uzumaki clan, they gave a little push, took Kushina—the most talented one—back to the village, and took everything the Uzumaki left behind. 

Then, out of respect for Uzumaki Mito, they generously gave Kushina a single street. 

And after Kushina died… 

Everything was gone. 

This was the brilliance of the Third Hokage's plan. 

"Just two Uzumaki orphans, nothing to worry about. As long as Orochimaru doesn't use them for experiments, there won't be any trouble." 

"Alright, since you're so sure, if anything goes wrong, I'll come to you." 

Tsunade wasn't the type to hesitate. She set her bottle down on the table, shoved Jiraiya aside, and sat down. 

"Do you think we should send someone to Iwagakure? Kusagakure's accusations against the village are pretty serious." 

"Of course! Why not? It's a great chance to sit back and enjoy the show, hahaha…" 

Yan couldn't help but laugh at the thought. 

"They're accusing us of plotting to overthrow another village? Kusagakure is really something else. I think I was too soft back then. A village that can't pick a side should've just been crushed." 

"Just cutting off one of their logistics departments was already too merciful." 

Only Uchiha Yan would dare say something like that!! 

Taking out a Kusagakure logistics division and seizing their assets had already driven Kusagakure crazy. 

If you wiped out Kusagakure entirely, the ninja world would definitely erupt into chaos. 

At the very least, Konohagakure would face backlash and questioning from the other villages. 

"How about…" 

Jiraiya was about to volunteer himself. 

But before he could, Yan cut him off. 

"This time, I'll go to Iwagakure myself. I want to see what kind of tricks Kusagakure is trying to pull." 

Kusagakure ran to Iwagakure, played the victim, and kept complaining to the Daimyo. 

The Land of Earth's Daimyo was tired of hearing it and had to discuss with Oonoki about negotiating with Konohagakure. 

Iwagakure decided to act as the middleman, bringing representatives from both villages together over a meal to talk things out peacefully. 

After all, what else could Iwagakure do? 

They weren't about to start a war with Konohagakure just for a village like Kusagakure. 

"Fine, then you go handle it. Settle this quickly so Kusagakure stops making a fuss. It's annoying to even hear about them." 

Tsunade didn't take Kusagakure seriously at all. 

And really, why would Konohagakure care about such a small village? 

Handling this matter wasn't just due to the Daimyo's request—it was also to prevent Kusagakure from making a big fuss and damaging Konoha's reputation. 

Otherwise, Kusagakure? Who even cares about them? 

"....." 

Does no one care about how I feel? 

I want to go too! 

Jiraiya stared eagerly at Yan and Tsunade, but Yan pretended not to notice. 

Tsunade, clearly annoyed, said, 

"You stay in the village and properly teach Naruto! If you let him mess around again, I'll beat you up!! 

Listen up—if Naruto causes trouble in the future, I'll come after you. Deal with it yourself." 

If she couldn't take it out on Naruto, she could still take it out on Jiraiya. 

Since he was Naruto's guardian, he might as well take responsibility. 

"....." 

Why do I have to take the blame for Naruto's mistakes? 

Jiraiya really wanted to ask, but he didn't dare. He was afraid he wouldn't make it out of the office alive—Tsunade might actually beat him to death here. 

Tsunade, already a bit tipsy, gave Jiraiya a look that said, *Figure it out yourself.* Then she reached for something on the table to eat. 

Yan kindly reminded her, 

"Jiraiya touched that with his hands." 

"...." 

Tsunade instantly pulled her hand back and shot Jiraiya a glare. 

No love left. 

 Feeling completely unwanted, Jiraiya left, taking the snacks he had bought with him. 

He finally realized that Yan was looking down on him, and even Tsunade was doing the same. 

"Stop staring. I'll make you something good to eat tonight." 

"What kind of good food?" 

"You'll see." 

Since Tsunade had been behaving well recently, Yan decided to make her some snacks to go with alcohol—like braised dishes. 

They go even better with drinks than grilled meat. 

Leaving work early, he had Shizune prepare the ingredients and meat while he went alone to Orochimaru's lab. 

Inside the lab, Sasuke was still training hard. His sparring partner had changed from death row prisoners to Yakushi Kabuto. 

Don't be fooled by Kabuto's title as a medical ninja—he was strong and had inherited Orochimaru's ruthless nature. 

His attacks were vicious. Fighting him might not be deadly, but the injuries he left were even worse than what the death row prisoners suffered. 

"This guy has talent, but his identity is a bit complicated. Can you really keep him under control?" 

Yakushi Kabuto would later become a major figure in the Hokage era, a multi-layered spy who shocked a lot of people. 

"If he stays with me, I can definitely keep him under control." 

Orochimaru smiled confidently. 

As long as you're confident, just make sure you don't end up getting stabbed in the back. 

Yan couldn't be bothered to pay too much attention to Yakushi Kabuto. 

"By the way, how's that mother and daughter we brought back from Kusagakure Village? 

Kusagakure Village found out we were behind it and already went to Iwagakure Village, asking them to help settle the score. 

Iwagakure Village decided to play mediator and peacemaker. In a few days, I'll personally take a team over to Iwagakure Village." 

"The kid is great, really talented. But as for..." 

Orochimaru paused, gave Yan a helpless look, and continued: 

"Her mother... she's lost too much of her life force. I've tried helping her recover, but it's not working. She doesn't have many years left." 

Karin's mother had been treated like a living medical tool by Kusagakure Village's ninja—bitten over and over, her life force drained nonstop. 

If the people from Konohagakure hadn't saved her in time, she would have been dead already. 

"It depends on what we do. As for Karin, train her as much as possible. She seems to like Sasuke quite a bit?" 

"Yeah, a little." 

Even Orochimaru himself was surprised by how popular Sasuke was with girls. Even Karin couldn't stop thinking about him. 

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