Chapter 48: Orochimaru Appears!

Chapter 48: Orochimaru Appears!

Uehara Naraka scanned his own small team: three Seven Ninja Swordsmen, two burdens with Kekkei Genkai, one of whom was also seriously ill.

Uehara Naraka looked at Kaguya Kimimaro and asked softly, "Did you see anyone strange on your way here? For example, someone with snake eyes..."

There's an unwritten law in the ninja world.

Wherever there are displaced talented youths, the ninja world's number one child trafficker, Orochimaru, usually appears. He rides a large brown snake and abducts these children.

"Yes."

After Kaguya Kimimaro gave his answer, he lowered his small head, recalled for a moment, and began describing the person's appearance with his limited vocabulary, "That person was very strong, stronger than many people I've seen. And also good-looking."

"..."

Uehara Naraka felt somewhat dazed hearing this.

Is this really Orochimaru? Why use 'good-looking' to describe Orochimaru? Could he have transitioned from Snake Uncle to Snake Auntie?

Kaguya Kimimaro continued, adding, "I remember that person said before, if I could return alive, he would take me away from here..."

A smile appeared on Uehara Naraka's lips. He nodded, "Then let's go take a look. I also want to know what the meaning of life according to him is!"

If he could encounter Orochimaru, he could also retrieve Orochimaru's Ring of Void ('Kū') along the way. Because that ring symbolized the status of an official Akatsuki member, and could also be used for the Magic Lantern Body Technique.

Uehara Naraka thought about returning to the Akatsuki base with three Seven Ninja Swordsmen and the Ring of Void, and couldn't help rubbing his hands together. After returning this time, perhaps he could become a full member and snag an Akatsuki red cloud cloak?

As for gaudy things like nail polish, better not wear it.

Uehara Naraka wanted to wear that red cloud cloak, not only because it would make him look cooler, but also because there was a corresponding side quest.

Based on Uehara's understanding of his own kind, there were definitely quite a few otaku who wanted to wear the red cloud cloak. The reward must surely be very generous!

Unfortunately, Konan hoped for Uehara to have a bright future and didn't really want Uehara getting involved in the current Akatsuki's affairs.

Every time Uehara mentioned Akatsuki to Konan, Konan's implied meaning was always for him to stay far away from Akatsuki's members.

This was the aftereffect of overdoing his performance.

Uehara Naraka's identity and demonstrated talent had directly caused Konan to develop the idea of nurturing him into a successor of the dawn's light [Akatsuki's original ideals]...

However, Uehara Naraka only wanted to secretly play the nesting doll game.

In the mountain forest outside Kirigakure.

Thanks to Kaguya Kimimaro acting as their guide, Uehara Naraka's group quickly found Orochimaru, as well as Kakashi Hatake and Hanare who were still in a standoff.

When Orochimaru turned his head and saw Kaguya Kimimaro, a smile couldn't help appearing on his face, "Looks like the backup vessel I desired returned alive..."

The next moment, the smile on Orochimaru's face gradually stiffened.

Because several more people were behind Kaguya Kimimaro. Clearly, this kid hadn't come seeking refuge with him, but had brought people to deal with him!

Three men stood at the back of this group, each carrying a strangely shaped ninja sword on their back. They were precisely Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen: Zabuza Momochi, Mangetsu Hōzuki, and Kisame Hoshigaki. Orochimaru had heard of these individuals too.

Just as Orochimaru was about to say something, a young voice rang out, "Everyone look carefully at our senior! This is Orochimaru, one of Konoha's Sannin! Normally, you wouldn't even get a chance to see him!"

"..."

Orochimaru's face couldn't help but darken.

Who said that here?

Did the words mean they were treating him like a monkey on display?

Zabuza Momochi and Mangetsu Hōzuki moved aside, flanking Uehara Naraka as he stepped forward. Seeing this, Orochimaru's eyes tightened.

He recognized Uehara Naraka!

As one of Akatsuki's only two interns, and especially since Uehara Naraka was Akatsuki's youngest member, Orochimaru still had some impression of him.

Uehara Naraka walked to the front of the group, his eyes fixed on Orochimaru, the smile on his face slowly fading, replaced by a fierce expression, "After witnessing senpai's style... next is to properly entertain this senior of the ninja world!"

"..."

A flash of anger crossed Orochimaru's eyes. He looked mockingly at Uehara Naraka, "A mere kid, also thinking you're qualified..."

"Orochimaru-senpai!"

Uehara Naraka interrupted Orochimaru's words, "You, who were defeated by a single glance, what qualifications do you have to spout nonsense in front of me? Do you think I'm easier to bully than others?"

Uehara himself had summarized the way to deal with strong enemies: desperately poke at their sore spots, lower their coolness factor!

This way...

Uehara's own momentum would relatively increase.

"Damn kid!"

Being defeated by Uchiha Itachi with a single glance was the thing Orochimaru hated most recently, and it also caused him to become heavily obsessed with the power of the Sharingan.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have actively blocked Kakashi's path earlier...

However, as a battle-hardened ninja, Orochimaru's mental fortitude was good. He just cursed with a gloomy face, then quickly restored the smile on his face, "Heh heh heh... Forget it. After all, I still have to thank you for sending back the person I wanted!"

"Are you too old to see the situation clearly?"

Uehara Naraka looked at Orochimaru and Kakashi Hatake behind him, saying, "So Konoha's Mr. Kakashi is here too..."

Kakashi Hatake felt somewhat nervous. During the war of words between Orochimaru and Uehara Naraka just now, he couldn't grasp the situation and didn't dare speak rashly.

Kakashi had also personally witnessed Uehara destroy many Mist ninjas with a unique Lightning Release ninjutsu that even the Sharingan couldn't copy. The boy surrounded by the others was very strong!

Moreover, this boy seemed to have a connection with Obito...

Kakashi Hatake finally couldn't help asking, "Who exactly are you? And what is your relationship with... that masked person?"

With Orochimaru right beside him, Kakashi didn't really want to talk about Obito.

Uehara Naraka, however, was different. He forcefully pierced through the truth, "Mr. Kakashi is asking about Afei-senpai... Now I should call him Obito-senpai, right?"

"Obito?"

Hearing this name, Orochimaru's expression couldn't help but change. He knew how Kakashi Hatake got that Sharingan eye!

Orochimaru glanced slyly at Kakashi Hatake, then at Uehara Naraka, "So the comical Afei was Konoha's hero who died in battle..."

"..."

Kakashi Hatake's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. If others knew about Uchiha Obito, it might be manageable, but this guy Orochimaru was a lunatic who liked to meddle in everything!

Uehara Naraka didn't care what Kakashi thought and said matter-of-factly, "I don't know why Obito-senpai wants to hide his identity. As for the relationship between him and me..."

Uehara Naraka hesitated for a moment, thinking about what to say to cause trouble for Uchiha Obito without revealing his own information.

"Hanare already told me; you two had a big fight."

Kakashi Hatake frowned, continuing to skirt the topic of Uchiha Obito, and softly asked again, "Who are you?"

"Some secrets are best left unexplored."

Uehara Naraka gave Kakashi Hatake a deep look, then steered the topic back to Uchiha Obito's head, "If I didn't know Obito-senpai's identity, perhaps the conflict between him and me wouldn't have been so great..."

(End of Chapter)

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