115. People Who Do Dirty Work Also Have Thresholds

Uchiha Masaki was one of the few intelligent people in the Uchiha clan.

Being intelligent, Uchiha Masaki surely recognized how precarious the Uchiha clan's position had become.

The day the war ended would be the day Konoha settled accounts with the Uchiha clan.

Therefore, Uchiha Masaki had already begun to cast a wide net, not even neglecting Sora, the abandoned son of the Uchiha clan. He was willing to humble himself and have Uchiha Fugaku apologize. This showed just how tense the current situation of the Uchiha clan was.

And Sora believed that if high-ranking officials like Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to deal with the Uchiha clan, he was the most suitable tool—no one was more appropriate than him.

The reason was simple: Sora was an abandoned son of the Uchiha clan.

Sora guessed that Konoha wouldn't want to confront the Uchiha clan immediately after the war.

After the war, the Uchiha clan's reputation would be at its peak due to their wartime contributions, and Konoha definitely wouldn't challenge the Uchiha clan at that time.

So if they wanted to deal with the Uchiha clan, they would wait until some time after the war, when Konoha's situation had somewhat stabilized. Then, they might make plans against the Uchiha clan.

As long as Sora played an important role in this operation against the Uchiha clan, Sarutobi Hiruzen would have to weigh the pros and cons.

It depended on how Sarutobi Hiruzen balanced the value between having a substitute Nine-Tails Jinchūriki and having someone with no substitute to do their dirty work.

Sora sighed, "Then, before that, the name of Blood-Eyed Shura must resound throughout the shinobi world. Even for people who do dirty work, there are standards to meet."

A few days later, Sarutobi Hiruzen received a letter from Jiraiya.

When Sarutobi Hiruzen read Nara Shikane's speculation about Sora in the letter, his expression darkened.

The matter of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was a major concern for Konoha, and there could be no mistakes.

Sora's behavior had touched Sarutobi Hiruzen's bottom line.

However, although it crossed a line, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't intend to punish Sora at present.

Because Sora had merely found a member of the Uzumaki clan who could potentially replace Uzumaki Kushina as the Jinchūriki. As long as he remained firm, no one could replace Uzumaki Kushina.

Moreover, Sora's current performance on the battlefield was excellent, and they would still need his efforts in the ongoing war.

As for Sora's request to go to the Land of Hot Water, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no reason to refuse.

After all, among the four battlefronts, the Land of Hot Springs faced the greatest pressure from the Kumogakure shinobi.

Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was drafting the transfer order for Sora to go to the Land of Hot Springs, another messenger hawk flew to the window of his office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen read the latest letter, and his pupils contracted when he saw its contents.

"Mangekyō Sharingan? I didn't expect Sora to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan."

Sarutobi Hiruzen had witnessed Uchiha Madara's battles with his own eyes.

The devastating power of the Mangekyō Sharingan was still fresh in his memory.

When Sarutobi Hiruzen read the news, his first reaction was joy.

Because Konoha had gained another high-level combat asset.

More importantly, Sora, who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, wasn't named Uchiha but was a disciple of his own student, Orochimaru.

It could be said that Sora was completely his own ally.

But Sarutobi Hiruzen soon became concerned.

Sora, with his Mangekyō Sharingan, could indeed control the Nine-Tails.

But it was still very unsafe, and the risk was extremely high.

Sarutobi Hiruzen thought for a long time but decided not to agree to replace the Jinchūriki.

Sora's current value was indeed great, but not so great that he would change the designated candidate for the Jinchūriki.

Sarutobi Hiruzen began to draft a transfer letter to move Sora and Kakashi to the Land of Hot Springs...

Sora looked at the transfer letter in his hand with a twisted smile.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had only agreed to his going to the Land of Hot Springs and, after offering some words of encouragement in the letter, had mentioned nothing else.

This meant that after Sarutobi Hiruzen learned of his plan to use Uzumaki Miyuki as the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, he did not approve.

And he planned to handle this matter coldly as if it had never happened.

This outcome was exactly as Sora had anticipated.

This must be the result of Sarutobi Hiruzen's deliberation after learning about his Mangekyō Sharingan.

Since the deliberation had begun, things were starting to change.

Uzumaki Miyuki had been escorted back to Konoha by two Konoha shinobi.

"Lord Jiraiya, Kakashi and I will be leaving now."

Sora and Kakashi left the Land of Grass without looking back.

Sora and Kakashi journeyed to the battlefield in the Land of Hot Springs.

When he saw Orochimaru again, the man hadn't changed at all.

Orochimaru looked at Kakashi beside Sora and forced a smile. "It seems, Sora, that you are making very good progress."

Sora nodded. "Yes, it's going well. I found members of the Uzumaki clan who were left in the Land of Grass and have sent them to Konoha."

Orochimaru asked, "So what are your plans next?"

Sora activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and said to Orochimaru, "Orochimaru-sensei, what I want to do next... is become famous in the shinobi world!"

Orochimaru was stunned for a moment when he saw Sora's Mangekyō Sharingan, then he smiled and said, "I see. You've awakened the Mangekyō. Then, indeed, Sora, you are qualified to become famous in the shinobi world.

From now on, I won't assign you any specific tasks. You are free to act as you wish. If you want to become famous in the shinobi world, then naturally you'll need your opponents to help you achieve this."

Sora understood what Orochimaru meant.

That was to build his reputation through victories against the Kumogakure shinobi.

Sora nodded and said, "I understand, Orochimaru-sensei. By the way, please look after Kakashi. It's not suitable for me to take him with me in the upcoming battles."

Orochimaru looked at Kakashi. "Yes... I understand. I'll make arrangements."

After Sora and Kakashi left Orochimaru's room, they encountered Namikaze Minato, Uchiha Obito, Nohara Rin, and their other teammate, Takei Katsuhiko, not far away.

Seeing Kakashi, Uchiha Obito excitedly waved to him. "Kakashi!"

Nohara Rin also looked at Kakashi with a flushed face.

Takei Katsuhiko bowed to Sora and said, "Master Sora."

Namikaze Minato's eyes remained fixed on Sora.

Sora said to Kakashi beside him, "Kakashi, from now on, you just need to follow Teacher Orochimaru's arrangements. I'm leaving now."

"Yes, please don't worry, Sora-sensei, and please be careful."

Sora smiled. "You're still worried about your teacher. Don't worry, I'll be careful. Don't slack off in your training—I may return to check your progress at any time."

After saying this, Sora used the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared.

Uchiha Obito ran to Kakashi. "Kakashi, what's wrong with you? Didn't you hear me calling you?"

Kakashi's expression was cold. "I have nothing to say to you."

Kakashi walked past Uchiha Obito and prepared to leave.

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