Shikaku finished explaining the plan before assigning tasks to the two men: "We'll split up. As usual, Choza, you handle the attacks. Inoichi, you scout. I'll control them."
Inoichi grabbed both of their arms and said: "No need for that. Backup has arrived."
"Backup?" A spark of joy flashed in Shikaku's eyes. After all, no matter how perfect a plan was, there was always some risk involved. Having support was naturally the best scenario. He quickly asked: "How many came with him?"
Inoichi honestly replied: "Uh, just one."
The happiness immediately disappeared from Shikaku's face. He anxiously said: "Then you'd better notify him to leave immediately. We don't have any coordination with him..."
Before he could finish his sentence, they heard several sounds of bodies collapsing around them.
A look of complete disbelief filled Shikaku's eyes. The three of them rushed out from their hiding spot and saw the last Iwa ninja desperately clutching his throat with one hand while the other reached out grasping at thin air. After casting one last resentful glance at this world, he collapsed onto the ground.
Eight Jonin—within just a few seconds, they were all unquestionably dead. Who was this person?
"Captain, it really is you," Inoichi said, stepping forward with a smile, though he could tell something was off about his captain today.
Anya didn't waste time either: "Why are you the only one here? Where's the rest of the team?"
Inoichi sighed: "Ah, they were reassigned to Kumo's Battlefield. Kirigakure and Kumogakure have formally formed an alliance, and the pressure on that battlefield has suddenly increased, creating an urgent need for reinforcements."
Anya became furious: "Who dares to arbitrarily reassign my people?"
When he heard this, Inoichi tightened his whole body and didn't dare to speak. The captain today was a different man—radiating a cold killing intent that sent shivers down their spines. Even the sword beside him radiated a sharp, revealing blade. Just standing nearby gave one the chills.
Knowing the whereabouts of the others, Anya wasted no time and summoned his battle hawk to prepare for departure.
"Wait a moment," Shikaku called out from the side.
Anya ignored him and flew straight into the sky.
Shikaku watched him disappear into the sky, eyes narrowing with suspicion. This Anbu was very unusual. That one sentence alone was suspicious enough, not to mention his attitude toward fellow village ninjas.
Choza was clearly annoyed: "Inoichi, that's your Anbu captain? What the hell's with his attitude?"
Inoichi gave a bitter smile and said: "The captain isn't usually like this. Perhaps there's some urgent situation."
Shikaku eyed him carefully: "Inoichi, what if this is who he really is?"
Upon hearing this, Inoichi froze for several seconds, then silently sighed without offering any rebuttal.
As he glided toward Kumo, Anya suddenly had an idea. He quickly formed hand seals and created a [Shadow Clone]. After leaving the clone behind, he departed from Grass Village again.
This [Shadow Clone] created by Anya wasn't very powerful, nor was it meant for combat. After selecting a direction, it cautiously proceeded along the route remembered from before.
When he saw the familiar barrier, Anya relaxed slightly. He formed hand seals, opened the barrier, and then slipped inside.
Following the long corridor, a familiar figure gradually appeared in his vision.
"Uncle," he said, "we meet again."
"Anya greeted warmly, 'I thought after the battle here, you might choose to abandon this place.'"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed twice, the smile on his face turning into a sigh. "Anya, send a Shadow Clone over. Are you afraid to face me, or is there another reason? Explain clearly..."
Clearly, the Serpent Master was furious—if he didn't explain himself, the Shadow Clone would vanish in an instant.
"I have something to ask of you. My real body is occupied. This time, consider it a favor owed, alright?" Anya conceded.
Orochimaru quickly figured it out, a smile reappearing on his face. "It seems you're in a bit of a bind."
"Yes," Anya admitted. "I want to ask you a question. If you were determined to kill me at all costs, how would you do it? What methods would you use?"
Orochimaru's smile curved into a darker grin. "What an interesting question."
Anya rushed straight to Kumo's Battlefield. Mid-flight, the Shadow Clone in Grass Village had already dispersed, and Orochimaru's words echoed over and over in his mind.
"Killing you isn't difficult—it's enough to know what you care about. From the First to the Third Battle, many Kage-level experts have died for this very reason. If it were me, I'd destroy Konoha. Aren't your most important people there?"
"Do you know that since you and Tsunade completed the healthcare reforms, what the casualty ratio has been between other villages' squads and Konoha's? Three to one. That's a terrifying number."
"This number alone could trigger an avalanche of conflict with just a small catalyst. The other villages would panic and unite. If one won't do, then two. As long as their interests align, they'll set their hatred aside. Once they attack Konoha, you'll walk right into death."
Anya still remembered asking a foolish question back then. "What if I leave Konoha with the people I care about?"
Orochimaru scoffed simply. "Who do you think would leave with you? Tsunade? Kakashi? Minato?"
"Would they really unite?"
"That you must judge for yourself," Orochimaru smiled distantly. "Look at the stars in the sky. Each shines like our world. This world is vast. Compared to its vastness, Konoha is tiny, and those you care about are insignificant. Death is inevitable. Giving up doesn't mean losing everything—it's just changing direction. If one day you truly lose everything, I'll be waiting for you here."
Orochimaru's speculation terrified Anya because it could easily become reality. Once Iwa, Mist, and Kumo united, Konoha wouldn't stand a chance under current circumstances. Unless he revealed the Zero Organization completely and supported Konoha without reservation, the outcome would remain uncertain.
But Anya didn't want to do that. Since his Master's death, Konoha had long ceased to hold a place in his heart. Instead, he now saw it merely as a stepping stone for future plans. He intended to use Konoha to weaken the other villages' strength gradually, achieving the result he desired step by step.
To think that the Rinnegan would suddenly become inaccessible at a critical moment—this outcome pushed Anya to take a desperate risk. Yet when facing Madara Uchiha, all her careful preparations amounted to nothing—her attacks struck only empty air, and his counterattack came far too swiftly.
Anya could already feel an invisible giant hand wrapping around her, layer upon layer of pressure threatening to crush her entirely. Gripping the Blade of Indifference tighter steadied her nerves somewhat. No matter how treacherous the path ahead, I'll cut a way forward with this blade in my hand. I will never allow Master's tragedy to repeat itself…
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