Chapter 175: Yearning

With his established chakra foundation, despite potential gaps in experience, Habara's strength on paper was now essentially comparable to the Third Kazekage's. Furthermore, given the differences in their respective Magnet Release techniques, Habara certainly wouldn't fall victim to assassination by a puppet master.

His defense was like fortress walls of copper and iron; his offense, a torrent of steel. Crucially, he also possessed the element of surprise against those unfamiliar with his abilities. Under these circumstances, the average Jonin was no longer a match for Habara.

However, even with his considerable strength, the person he hadn't managed to save remained unsaved.

"Habara-senpai, the enemy has been dealt with…" Having collected their comrade's remains, Uchiha Shisui approached Habara.

He was subtly prompting Habara to release his grip; the enemy was undoubtedly dead. Continuing to crush her into paste served no purpose. While it was certainly turning her own methods back against her, slaughtering enemies still violated the principles of shinobi combat. Habara's current methods seemed more suited for the Torture and Interrogation Force.

Naturally, Shisui found this way of finishing off an enemy distasteful. As an elite shinobi raised with elite education, he adhered to the principle of dispatching foes with a single, decisive strike whenever possible.

Habara released his hold, and the twisted mass of Iron Sand finally crumbled to the ground. "What should be done with this Kiri missing-nin?"

What else could be done? As per village regulations, the remains of missing-nin were, of course, to be recovered—regardless of their village of origin. Shisui silently stepped forward. After collecting their comrade's remains, he began the grim task of gathering the enemy's corpse.

Shisui didn't feel particularly resentful about the task itself. What he disliked was Habara's method of dispatching the enemy. As for collecting bodies… wasn't that part of a shinobi's job?

Indeed, comparing the state of the bodies on both sides gave Shisui a profound understanding of what revenge entailed. His comrade's remains were tragic, but the enemy's… were almost impossible to look at directly.

Watching Shisui's back, Habara had a fleeting moment where he thought he understood him. "Shisui, are there times when you feel utterly powerless? Even… incompetent?"

The question might have sounded like an insult, but Habara was directing it less at Shisui and more at himself.

It had to be said that different people experienced the same event differently. From Shisui's perspective, they had lost one shinobi. While upsetting, it was, frankly, a fairly common occurrence. But Habara certainly didn't see it that way. The fallen ninja had been participating in his project. On one hand, he considered her "one of his own"; on the other, Jingū's failure was also a failure for the "Library."

If the "Library" had functioned optimally, Jingū shouldn't have died… Yet, Habara failed to consider Jingū's original strength. How could she possibly have erupted with power comparable to an elite Jonin? The "Library's" purpose was to supplement a ninja's own chakra reserves during battle, not to pump them full of stimulants.

Hearing Habara's question, Shisui couldn't immediately answer. He merely nodded silently. If Shisui couldn't empathize directly, Habara would have to help him… Habara's words successfully reminded Shisui of the Uchiha clan's messy affairs.

Some things truly were beyond human control.

Although Habara had easily defeated Shisui during their exam match, theoretically, Uchiha Shisui's current strength likely surpassed Habara's. Habara might be able to dodge Kotoamatsukami, but he wasn't necessarily capable of handling a Susanoo.

The shinobi world had plenty of powerhouses capable of dismantling a Susanoo bare-handed, but Habara wasn't one of them. He was, at best, deceptively strong – bloated, even.

Thus, it seemed the more capable a person was, the more incompetent they often felt. Currently, Shisui was stronger than Habara, therefore, he felt even more incompetent.

Simultaneously, Habara grasped another truth…

So it wasn't Kakashi who was cursed to lose teammates, it was the Sharingan itself. If not Kakashi, then Shisui. No wonder those red eyes always looked so ominous.

With the battle concluded, Habara and Shisui departed. They had originally set out to spend money hiring ninja cats, a mission completed smoothly. Who could have anticipated running into this situation?

Moving quickly, they soon encountered the three surviving Konoha shinobi who had been heading back to Konoha for reinforcements. Reinforcements were obviously no longer needed. Habara handed over both their comrade's remains and the enemy's corpse to the three, dispatching them back to Konoha to report the situation.

Since someone else could now transport the bodies back, Habara and Shisui were no longer in a hurry to return. Instead of continuing south, they turned east, heading towards the Land of Fire's Daimyo Capital.

Shisui naturally had no idea what Habara intended to do. He simply followed silently, trailing Habara into a bustling town and then descending into a certain underground facility.

This was the exchange post Habara had visited once before.

Habara used the same disguise as last time, so upon arrival, he was unexpectedly recognized. Well, perhaps it wasn't so surprising, considering the hefty sum he'd extracted from this place previously.

"Mr. Kirisame, welcome back!" The manager immediately hurried over to greet Habara.

"Kirisame? Who?" Habara remembered the manager, but the name threw him for a loop.

"Mr. Kirisame, aren't you, perhaps, Mr. Kirisame Marisa?"

"..."

Habara was dumbfounded. He seriously questioned the sanity of his past self. Why pick such a ridiculously unique alias?

"Ahem, yes, yes, that's me."

"Is there something you require on this visit, Mr. Kirisame?"

Habara had indeed taken a large amount of money last time, but the items he'd sold were genuine, earning the exchange post a substantial profit as well. They were naturally pleased to see him return.

"No, this time I'm here to gather information… Have you received any news regarding the Sannin Orochimaru, who defected from Konoha?"

That was right. Habara had come seeking news of Orochimaru. Ever since stabbing Orochimaru dozens, maybe hundreds, of times during their last encounter, Habara hadn't been able to contact him. Even the snake summoning wasn't working.

Calculating the time, it hadn't actually been that long since Orochimaru defected from Konoha, but Habara was already starting to miss him…

Orochimaru, Orochimaru, when will you finally return to Konoha and launch the Crush plan?

...

Orochimaru had no idea someone was yearning for him. Even if he did, he would never imagine that person to be Habara.

After leaving Konoha, Jiraiya's relentless pursuit had forced Orochimaru to constantly hide and relocate. Only recently had he finally managed to shake him off completely.

Orochimaru's method for ditching the ever-persistent Jiraiya involved slipping into the Land of Rain. Amegakure was perpetually embroiled in internal conflict, with complex internal factions. However, on the surface, Amegakure remained under the rule of the "Demigod," Hanzō of the Salamander. Therefore, even Jiraiya had to tread carefully within the Land of Rain, his movements severely restricted.

Even without Sage Mode, Jiraiya was theoretically strong enough to defeat Hanzō by now. However, this wasn't a situation where sheer strength allowed one to act with impunity. The Land of Rain was an independent, sovereign nation. Jiraiya was essentially a high-powered operative from an enemy nation; exposure could easily lead to a diplomatic incident.

Under these circumstances, Orochimaru had essentially used the unique situation in the Land of Rain to finally shake off Jiraiya. Now, the world was his oyster once more.

However, unbeknownst to both Orochimaru and Jiraiya, due to a recent "invasion" of the Land of Rain by certain shinobi… or more accurately, one invader and one sightseer… the master of this land had become extremely vigilant.

At this point in time, Nagato would definitely avoid contact with Jiraiya. Considering the timeline, it was highly possible his "conscience hadn't yet died," making him unwilling to face his former teacher… Okay, that was a joke. But even Nagato, who proclaimed himself a god, wouldn't want to face two of the Sannin simultaneously.

Nagato knew Jiraiya very well—his personality, his strength, and everything in between. Knowing him well meant Nagato understood Jiraiya was powerful but currently posed less of a threat due to his nature.

But Orochimaru? His strength and personality aside, was there potential to use him?

Hanzō was the leader of Amegakure, while Jiraiya was a Konoha ninja. Thus, Jiraiya feared Hanzō. But Orochimaru was a Konoha missing-nin. He didn't fear Hanzō… he feared Jiraiya, that persistent pest he couldn't shake off.

Therefore, Orochimaru decided to lie low in Amegakure for a while.

In a forested mountainous region somewhere in the Land of Rain, Orochimaru dug a simple burrow and hid himself away. Logically, hiding in such a place should make him impossible to find. However, one night, as Orochimaru lay resting, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching within the tunnel entrance.

Jiraiya? No, the footsteps are wrong.

Orochimaru's eyes snapped open. He rose, eyes fixed intently on the tunnel entrance. With a casual flick of his arm, the torches within the chamber flared to life, their flickering flames illuminating the gloomy surroundings.

This demonstrated Orochimaru's boldness. Knowing the visitor likely meant trouble, he still lit the lamps as if welcoming them. But it mattered little. In the current shinobi world, who could guarantee a hundred percent victory against Orochimaru?

At this point, individuals like Orochimaru and Jiraiya represented the "pinnacle" of the shinobi world. This was common knowledge, even if that common knowledge was becoming rapidly outdated—though most didn't realize it yet.

A minute or two later, a figure appeared in Orochimaru's field of vision.

"The missing-nin from Konohagakure, Orochimaru, correct?"

As the figure stepped fully out of the darkness, revealing their complete appearance, a jolt shot through Orochimaru. This was a real shock.

Because he saw, within the figure's eye sockets, the Rinnegan.

The ultimate secret of the shinobi world. The eyes of the Sage of Six Paths. The Rinnegan.