80. Deliberate

Uchiha Kazuo realized Sora's true intentions, but it was already too late.

Jiraiya and a group of other shinobi had arrived, drawn by the commotion. With no way to avoid their scrutiny, Kazuo could only argue that Sora had deliberately provoked him.

Sora spread his hands with an innocent expression and retorted, "Please. You're the one who came to me first, threatening me, and now you're claiming I insulted you? Insulted the Uchiha clan? That I provoked you to attack me? Honestly, are all Uchiha like you? Shameless liars who twist the truth with a straight face?"

Kazuo's face flushed with anger. "That wasn't a threat—it was a warning!" he snapped defensively.

Sora turned to Jiraiya and asked calmly, "Jiraiya-sama, let me ask you: if someone tells you, 'This is only temporary. You'll return to Konoha sooner or later,' does that sound like a warning or a threat to you?"

Jiraiya narrowed his eyes and looked at Kazuo with clear disapproval. The statement didn't sound like a warning at all—it was unmistakably a threat.

Kazuo opened his mouth to defend himself again, but Jiraiya cut him off sharply, his eyes piercing. "I'll ask you one question: did you make the first move?"

Kazuo hesitated but finally answered, "Yes, but—"

Jiraiya didn't let him finish. "That's enough. You took the initiative to confront Sora, you threatened him, and then you attacked him. What more is there to say?"

Jiraiya's tone grew colder as he continued, "Right now, we're supposed to be working together against our enemies. And yet here you are, clinging to petty clan disputes and losing sight of what's important. How did someone like you even become a Jōnin?"

Kazuo could only stand there, speechless.

Jiraiya folded his arms. "Enough talking. You're coming with me to Orochimaru. He'll decide what punishment you deserve for this disgraceful behaviour."

Kazuo felt his entire body go numb. Sora had completely outmanoeuvred him, provoking him into action and ensuring they'd be caught in the act. No matter how much he tried to defend himself now, the facts remained the same: he was the one who approached Sora, he was the one who issued the threat, and he was the one who attacked first. The punishment was inevitable.

And it wasn't just any punishment—Jiraiya was taking him to Orochimaru, whose reputation for being ruthless sent a chill down Kazuo's spine. This wasn't going to end well.

Kazuo, along with Uchiha Kyousuke and the other three shinobi, reluctantly followed behind Jiraiya. As they walked away, Sora's voice, cold and mocking, rang out behind them.

"You four!" Sora called. "Your next mission is to launch a sneak attack on the next group of about ten Kumogakure shinobi. I suspect there might be an ambush nearby, so I'll hang back for now to confirm their positions."

He paused before adding in an icy tone, "Let me make this clear: unless I explicitly order you to retreat, none of you are allowed to back down. Even if it costs you your lives, don't take a single step back! Do you understand?"

Kyousuke and the other Uchiha shinobi turned to Sora, their eyes wide with disbelief.

The group of ten Kumogakure shinobi Sora had described included several Chūnin and even a special Jōnin leading the squad. Sending just four Chūnin on a sneak attack against them was practically a death sentence.

Kyousuke's hands trembled in anger as he realized what Sora was doing. This wasn't just a mission—it was payback. Sora's earlier words rang in his ears: "The more you threaten me here, the more I'll pay it back to those four."

Sora wasn't simply assigning them a difficult task; he was deliberately making things difficult for Kyousuke and the others as retribution for Kazuo's actions.

The Uchiha shinobi glared at Sora, their frustration and anger plain on their faces. But they couldn't argue, not with Jiraiya standing there and not without risking further punishment.

Sora smirked at their expressions and turned away, satisfied.

Uchiha Kazuo roared in anger, "Sora!"

Sora raised his eyes, his expression calm and detached. "What? Do you have something else to say to me?" he replied coolly.

Jiraiya couldn't help but sigh internally. He could clearly see what was happening now—Sora had deliberately provoked Uchiha Kazuo into attacking him, and now he was using the situation to his advantage. Even the instructions he had just given to Uchiha Kyousuke and the others were calculated to target Uchiha Kazuo's subordinates.

Jiraiya stepped in and said, "Sora, that's enough. Stop making things difficult for your team members. Uchiha Kazuo will face a severe punishment for what he did."

Sora replied evenly, "Jiraiya-sama, how am I making things difficult? Every mission carries danger, and as shinobi, we all must be prepared to sacrifice ourselves at any moment. If they don't have that awareness, then why are they even shinobi?"

He continued, his tone unyielding. "And I'm not sending them to their deaths. I only asked them to initiate a sneak attack while I checked for any Cloud Shinobi ambushes nearby. I'll be there to support them immediately. As long as I'm alive, they won't die. Isn't that fair?"

Uchiha Kyousuke and the other three couldn't help but feel a wave of helplessness wash over them. They exchanged uneasy glances.

They had already been resigned to the fact that Sora, as their superior, might make things difficult for them. But now, after Kazuo's actions, Sora had a perfect excuse to push them even harder.

Jiraiya frowned, clearly displeased, but ultimately shook his head. "Sora, in any case, don't push things too far. Leave some room for cooperation."

Sora gave a small nod. "Understood, Jiraiya-sama."

With a sigh, Jiraiya turned and left, escorting Uchiha Kazuo to Orochimaru.

As Jiraiya and Kazuo departed, the other shinobi who had gathered looked at Sora with mixed expressions—wariness, admiration, and fear. Almost everyone had the same thought: Never provoke Sora. If you do, he'll make you regret it.

Sora's gaze shifted back to Uchiha Kyousuke and the others. He smiled at them, but the expression was anything but reassuring. "Let's go," he said simply.

The four shinobi felt a chill run down their spines. Sora's smile carried a hint of malice, and they couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into a nightmare. They hadn't even done anything wrong, yet they were the ones suffering for Uchiha Kazuo's mistake.

Reluctantly, they followed Sora, despair written across their faces.

Meanwhile, in Orochimaru's tent…

Uchiha Kazuo stood before Orochimaru with his head bowed low. Jiraiya recounted the events that had unfolded, including Kazuo's confrontation with Sora.

Orochimaru's cold, piercing gaze fell on Kazuo. "You Uchiha certainly are… capable," he said sarcastically, his voice dripping with disdain. "You dare to cause such a commotion at a time like this? How reckless."

Kazuo clenched his fists but said nothing, unable to meet Orochimaru's eyes. He knew the sannin was fiercely protective of Sora, who was his protégé. Kazuo realized that no matter what he said, Orochimaru wouldn't side with him.

Kazuo thought bitterly to himself, 'At least they won't send me back to Konoha like Uchiha Yorito. I'm still a Jōnin, and with the current shortage of skilled shinobi, they need me here.'

His thoughts were interrupted as Orochimaru issued his punishment. "Uchiha Kazuo," Orochimaru began coldly, "from this moment forward, you will be part of the vanguard for the attack on the Kumogakure stronghold. For the foreseeable future, you will serve as a frontline combatant."

Kazuo's eyes widened in shock. The vanguard was the most dangerous position, essentially cannon fodder. Orochimaru was deliberately placing him in harm's way.

"Yes…" Kazuo murmured, his voice low and bitter. He left the tent, his body trembling with suppressed rage and frustration.

After Kazuo departed, Jiraiya turned to Orochimaru, his face lined with concern. "Orochimaru, aren't you worried about Sora? He's completely alienated the Uchiha clan. If he returns to Konoha, they could retaliate against him."

Orochimaru smirked faintly, entirely unconcerned. "Sorahas always been at odds with the Uchiha. Do you think he doesn't already know that? Don't underestimate him, Jiraiya. He never does anything without careful calculation. If he's provoking the Uchiha, it's because he's prepared for whatever retaliation they might try. He isn't afraid of them."

Jiraiya sighed, shaking his head. "That kid… he's sharp, but sometimes I wonder if his sharpness will cut him in the end."

Orochimaru's smirk widened slightly. "We'll see," he replied cryptically.

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