Hozuki Suigetsu's appearance here is indeed strange.
Back then, Hozuki Mangetsu, Suigetsu's brother, defected to Uehara Naraku. Before his defection from The Hidden Mist Village, he told Terumi Mei that he was going to be a spy for Akatsuki, so he entrusted his younger brother, Suigetsu, to Terumi Mei's care.
Over the years, Mangetsu had sent some important messages, although they were under Uehara Naraku's orders, but they still provided some benefits to The Hidden Mist Village.
In Terumi Mei's heart, Mangetsu must hold a very high status and importance, and she would definitely take good care of Mangetsu's younger brother.
Any Hidden Mist high-ranking official with a bit of political wisdom would not allow Suigetsu to be in danger, especially Terumi Mei, who is likely to succeed as the Fifth Mizukage.
Suigetsu is the hostage and bond tied to Mangetsu.
If anything were to happen to Suigetsu, it would mean The Hidden Mist Village would completely lose a powerful Jonin and four ninja blades. Most importantly, Terumi Mei would entirely lose Mangetsu as an information source.
Just as Uehara Naraku was puzzled, Yakushi Kabuto's answer left him dumbstruck: "Suigetsu recently voluntarily sought out Orochimaru, wanting power from him and seeking to kill his own brother..."
"..."
Uehara Naraku was completely bewildered.
Hozuki Mangetsu received Uchiha Itachi's script, so is Suigetsu following Uchiha Sasuke's script?
Is this ninja world destined to have a pair of brothers entangled with Orochimaru?
It's simply absurd.
Yakushi Kabuto glanced at Suigetsu, who was sleeping in the incubator, and softly explained, "In addition, Suigetsu made an outrageous request. He wanted Orochimaru to save a female ninja named Ringo Ameyuri."
"So, is Suigetsu in love or something?"
Uehara Naraku raised an eyebrow, but his smile suddenly stalled. He furrowed his brow and said, "Wait, why does the name Ringo Ameyuri sound so familiar to me?"
Yakushi Kabuto nodded gently and said, "She is a recently emerged genius ninja from The Hidden Mist Village. Last year, she retrieved the long-lost Lightning Blade: Fang and was recognized by it. Thus, Ringo Ameyuri became a member of the new generation of the Seven-swords Ninja of the Hidden Mist."
After explaining Ringo Ameyuri's background, Yakushi Kabuto glanced at Suigetsu and continued softly, "According to Suigetsu, Ringo Ameyuri is now suffering from a rare illness, and no one in The Hidden Mist Village can save her."
"There are many deaths from illness in the Land of Water!"
Uehara Naraku stroked his chin, turned to Yakushi Kabuto, and asked, "Where is Ringo Ameyuri now? She can't be in this base too, right?"
"No."
Yakushi Kabuto shook his head and looked somewhat wistfully at Suigetsu: "Ringo Ameyuri should be in The Hidden Mist Village's hospital! Suigetsu seems to be very loyal. He has a good relationship with Ringo Ameyuri and never intended to seize her ninja blade."
Yakushi Kabuto looked at Suigetsu and sighed, saying, "I've chatted with Suigetsu a few times. He mentioned that if Ringo Ameyuri dies, he not only wouldn't take her ninja blade but would bury the only ninja blade in The Hidden Mist Village, the Lightning Blade: Fang, as her burial object, perhaps to stimulate her will to survive!"
Suigetsu isn't very daring, nor is he highly intelligent.
His personality even has some greed, yet he is willing to abandon a high-level ninja blade like the Lightning Blade: Fang for his friend.
If Ringo Ameyuri were to die, and as the only ninja in The Hidden Mist Village capable of wielding the blade, Suigetsu gives up inheriting the sword, then the Lightning Blade: Fang might collect dust.
This rather unintelligent Suigetsu likely wants to use his own way to inspire his friend's will to live.
"What a foolish boy..."
Uehara Naraku caressed the incubator, observing the sleeping Suigetsu inside, and said softly, "How could Orochimaru possibly save your friend?"
"...Yes."
Yakushi Kabuto awkwardly adjusted his glasses and embarrassedly said, "Not only did Orochimaru-sama refuse his request, he also imprisoned him here as material for studying the Water Transformation Secret Technique."
"What a terrible fate!"
Uehara Naraku's expression turned somewhat indignant, with his voice obviously tinged with anger: "Hmph, that Orochimaru guy, how dare he deceive even an honest kid like Suigetsu!"
"..."
Yakushi Kabuto remained silent.
Yakushi Kabuto didn't want to engage with Uehara Naraku's remarks.
If it weren't for Uehara Naraku, the new boss who deceived Orochimaru too many times, causing Orochimaru to also fall into bad habits, neglecting to maintain his credibility, how could Suigetsu become the next victim of deception?
The root of Orochimaru's deceptions lies with whom...
Doesn't Lord Uehara Naraku have a clue? I bet even Uehara Naraku himself can't figure out how many times he's tricked Orochimaru!
Yakushi Kabuto sighed, finally asking helplessly, "What does Lord Naraku want to do?"
"Let him go for now!"
Uehara Naraku punched the containment vessel, speaking in a deep voice, "After all, Hozuki Suigetsu is a reserve member under my command. I can't let him be locked in a dark secret base; he needs to go back for proper training!"
Crash!
When the containment vessel was broken, the sleeping Hozuki Suigetsu suddenly awoke, his eyes opened wide, revealing a shark-toothed grin!
The next moment, the water inside splashed out!
Hozuki Suigetsu instantly used the Water Transformation Secret Technique, his figure turning into a wave of water, trying to blend in with the splashing water to escape!
"How rude, right?"
Karin snapped, her back sprouting two golden chains, the Uzumaki clan's innate sealing technique, the Vajra Seal!
The two golden chains dipped into the water, dragging Hozuki Mangetsu out of the wave and throwing him heavily in front of Uehara Naraku!
Karin stood behind Uehara Naraku and Yakushi Kabuto, pushing up her high-magnification glasses with an unusual flair: "Before you leave, at least pay respects to Lord Naraku who saved you!"
"..."
Hozuki Suigetsu's eyes darted, observing the three in front of him, finally resting his gaze on Uehara Naraku in the center: "Who are you?"
"I'm just someone who drove away Orochimaru."
Uehara Naraku smiled, crouching down to earnestly help Hozuki Suigetsu up, gently patting his shoulder: "Little guy, it's my subordinates who were rude. If I had known you were imprisoned in Orochimaru's base, I would have rescued you much earlier."
"You…"
Hozuki Suigetsu was a bit uneasy with Uehara Naraku's enthusiasm, looking surprised: "Who are you? Do you know me?"
"I am an old friend of Lord Terumi Mei."
Uehara Naraku smiled at Hozuki Suigetsu, with a gesture that seemed to suggest everyone here was on the same side, clearly opting not to mention Hozuki Mangetsu while bringing up Terumi Mei instead.
Seeing Hozuki Suigetsu still somewhat wary, Uehara Naraku chuckled: "Alright, you should hurry back to The Hidden Mist Village! There's no need to doubt my identity. If you do, you can verify with Lord Terumi Mei."
"Are you really that woman's friend?"
Hozuki Suigetsu's eyes were still full of doubt.
But since the person in front of him, this so-called Naraku, was willing to let him go, there was no way he would miss this opportunity!
Hozuki Suigetsu didn't want to stay in this dark place any longer. Seeing Uehara Naraku not stopping him, he immediately turned and swiftly leaped away from the base.
Uehara Naraku watched Hozuki Suigetsu leave, the smile at the corner of his mouth growing more and more sinister: "Just left like that? How impolite..."
Yakushi Kabuto bowed respectfully beside him, softly asking: "Lord Naraku, do you need me to chase him back?"
Karin's face reddened slightly, confidently offering: "There's no need, Lord Kabuto. I can go myself!"
"No need."
Uehara Naraku shook his head, stopping their thoughts, and continued: "Tell Hozuki Mangetsu that his brother Hozuki Suigetsu's hatred isn't deep enough, his power isn't strong enough..."
Uehara Naraku curled a smile: "Let Hozuki Mangetsu make another trip to The Hidden Mist Village, teach his brother a lesson, and then bring back Ringo Ameyuri and the Lightning Blade!"
Yakushi Kabuto: "..."
Karin: "..."
Let's not mention bullying Hozuki Suigetsu first.
If the two of them remember correctly, the master of the second-generation Lightning Blade, Ringo Ameyuri, should be the last member of the Seven-swords Ninja of the Hidden Mist from The Hidden Mist Village, right?
You're planning on draining The Hidden Mist Village dry!