Chapter 74: His Potential Is No Less Than Uchiha Obito's
Deep underground, Zetsu emerged from the wall like a pitcher plant.
"It's finished."
Black Zetsu said to the old man sitting in the stone chair.
"Mm."
The old man responded.
"The Mist ninja were utterly defeated by Hyuga Ritsu. White Zetsu Koi was also absorbed by Ritsu using some particularly bizarre method, and another ordinary White Zetsu was captured alive by him."
"Mm."
The old man responded as though merely going through the motions.
"Uchiha Obito's body was also brought back."
"Mm."
The old man remained unmoved.
"This time was truly unfortunate. Without Hyuga Ritsu's interference, everything should have gone smoothly. But precisely because of Ritsu, we wasted Uchiha Obito—a chess piece that was just one step away from being fully cultivated." Black Zetsu rambled on.
At this moment—
The decrepit Uchiha Madara opened his eyes slightly wider. His pair of crimson eyes were cool and clear like mountain springs. He stared at Black Zetsu, his voice hoarse and deep as he said: "There's no need for regret. Regret is the most useless and foolish behavior. If Uchiha Obito is ruined, then he's ruined. Rather than wasting effort sighing here, go check on the backup piece. His potential is no less than Uchiha Obito's!"
"You mean that Uchiha Ryu? I recall he was settled in the northern base?"
"Go take a look! If the backup's condition is stable enough, immediately begin arranging things without delay. Take advantage while the war between the Mist ninja and Konoha hasn't completely ended. Once the war concludes, fishing in troubled waters will become far more difficult."
Though Uchiha Madara had aged beyond recognition, his thinking remained clear and sharp.
He pondered for a moment, then slowly continued: "Actually, let's just change locations directly. This brat called Hyuga Ritsu is indeed somewhat troublesome and difficult to handle. We might as well temporarily avoid his sharp edge. Moreover, the Mist ninja's war potential is nearly exhausted. The end of their conflict with Konoha is an irreversible trend. But the Cloud ninja still have fighting strength remaining. Find a way to instigate the Cloud ninja and have them continue their unfinished war with Konoha!"
"Yes."
Black Zetsu responded, truly acting as though he were Uchiha Madara's will incarnate. Whatever decisions Madara made, he would execute them unconditionally to the end.
After saying so much—
Uchiha Madara seemed to have exhausted his strength. He leaned back against the cold stone chair, closed his eyes, and in an instant appeared to have fallen into slumber.
Black Zetsu said nothing more.
His pitcher plant-like form sank into the darkness.
---
The time was just past five in the morning. Cooking smoke had already risen from the frontline camp when the Hyuga clan members on patrol spotted Ritsu returning on his serpent along with Team Kakashi.
Those responsible for reconnaissance weren't only Hyuga clan members—there were also Yamanaka clan members.
So this news reached Orochimaru and Aburame Torune's ears immediately.
"Hyuga Ritsu returned together with Team Kakashi?"
The corners of Orochimaru's mouth curved upward slightly, bearing a faint smile. Regardless of why they'd returned, as long as they came back alive, it meant Aburame Torune's scheme had definitely failed.
Of course—
Aburame Torune's scheme failing didn't necessarily mean he'd gain any particular benefit.
But Ritsu—his trading partner—returning safely at least meant he hadn't made a losing deal. Moreover, watching Aburame Torune, or rather Shimura Danzo and Teacher Sarutobi suffer setbacks was quite rare and quite amusing.
"Orochimaru, I heard Hyuga Ritsu and Team Kakashi fled back here?"
Aburame Torune burst through the tent flap into the command tent.
"Fled?"
Orochimaru wore a playful smile, looking at Torune's gloomy face as he said with a laugh: "Torune, aren't you being far too hasty? You haven't even heard Ritsu and Kakashi's explanation yet. How can you determine they fled back?"
"If they didn't flee back, then they should be at the Kinkozan defensive position right now, not returning to the main camp. This is defying military orders, deserting in the face of the enemy. According to military law, they should be executed immediately!"
Aburame Torune's gaze was ice-cold as he looked at Orochimaru fearlessly.
The two locked eyes.
Orochimaru narrowed his gaze, saying softly: "Torune, you're being a bit too extreme. Hyuga Ritsu is the Hyuga clan head. Hatake Kakashi is Senior Sakumo's son and Minato's student. You actually plan to execute them?"
"Hatake Kakashi is young and ignorant—there are extenuating circumstances. But Hyuga Ritsu, as the Hyuga clan head, should lead by example rather than test the law. His position as clan head isn't a protective talisman allowing him to disobey orders."
"So when soft methods don't work, you resort to hard ones? Don't you find that ugly?" Orochimaru's face revealed a mocking smile.
Aburame Torune remained unmoved, only a faint light flickering in his eyes as he completely solidified his resolve.
At this moment, noisy voices came from outside. Then the jonin serving as staff officers and similar positions at the frontline camp arrived at the command tent in twos and threes.
Including Orochimaru and Aburame Torune, the nearly twenty people now gathered in this tent represented Konoha's command center for the eastern battlefield. If the Mist ninja could seize the opportunity to strike and eliminate these people in one blow, they would effectively destroy the brain of Konoha's eastern defense line, throwing the entire defensive perimeter into complete paralysis.
"Lord Orochimaru, may I ask why you've summoned us here? Has something happened?"
The young jonin who spoke was Yamanaka Inoichi, the Yamanaka clan's certain next clan head, currently serving as communications officer.
Hearing Yamanaka Inoichi ask this, Orochimaru's eyebrows shot up immediately. With a smile that didn't reach his eyes, he asked: "Inoichi, you say I summoned you all here? I was just about to ask why you all gathered here so early in the morning."
This question left Yamanaka Inoichi's mind completely blank.
Fortunately—
Before he could waste brain cells puzzling out what was happening, he heard Aburame Torune speak up: "Inoichi, I was the one who called you here."
"Deputy Commander Aburame."
Yamanaka Inoichi looked at Aburame Torune, then at Orochimaru.
His brow immediately furrowed tightly.
He sensed a dangerous atmosphere.
Not just him—the others also held their breath, their hearts immediately suspended in tension. They couldn't help cursing inwardly. They'd known Deputy Commander Aburame Torune's appointment definitely had a purpose. After all, everyone knew Torune was Danzo's close confidant, and everyone understood perfectly well what kind of creature Danzo was.
In any case, whenever Danzo got involved in something, nothing good ever came of it!
"Torune, what are you trying to do?"
Orochimaru stared at Aburame Torune.
"My apologies, Orochimaru. I've determined that you've engaged in favoritism and dereliction of duty when handling certain matters, unable to fairly fulfill the Supreme Commander's responsibilities. According to the Hokage's secret orders, I will temporarily assume the Supreme Commander's duties while reporting to the village and awaiting disposition."
As Aburame Torune spoke, he actually produced a scroll from his pocket.
He handed it to Inoichi, saying: "Everyone examine it thoroughly! Lest anyone say I'm falsifying orders."
Yamanaka Inoichi looked at the scroll thrust into his hands, feeling as though he held a furnace that burned his skin raw and made his scalp tingle. Yet he didn't dare drop it. After several seconds of hesitation, he could only steel himself and open the scroll to carefully review it.
Then—
He quickly passed it to a nearby colleague. This colleague glared at him resentfully but could only endure the weight of everyone's gazes, lowering his head to carefully review the order before quickly passing it to another.
In moments, this secret order had been reviewed by all.
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