Jinchuriki?
Sakumo slightly furrowed his brows.
Sunagakure Village places extreme importance on Jinchuriki. This generation's Jinchuriki remains unknown to this day and has never appeared in public within the village.
Would such a village really allow their Jinchuriki to participate in the Ninja Exams?
That can't be right!
This isn't some random manga fabrication either, Sakumo thought for a long time, keenly sensing something suspicious here.
However, this particular section of the story doesn't reveal much—just making Gaara seem cruel and bloodthirsty, nothing particularly special otherwise.
By the tenth chapter, Kabuto makes another appearance.
This chapter only features Team 7, Kabuto, and one eye lurking secretly in the shadows.
After finishing this chapter,
Sakumo pointed at Kabuto and asked, "Is he working for Orochimaru?"
"You've seen what happens later?"
Sakuma Yunlang showed surprise.
"No."
Sakumo shook the eleventh volume in his hand. He hadn't started reading today's update yet and didn't know the following plot details.
But based on current developments, the clues were already very clear.
Akaba merely smiled without comment.
Sakumo closed volume eleven and opened the next one—the newly arrived update delivered today.
After reading the next chapter, he became even more convinced of his suspicions.
Kabuto is Orochimaru's spy!
Still, something felt off in his gut—why would Sunagakure permit the Jinchuriki to leave just for participating in the Ninja Exam?
Does it really matter that much?!
Further along, the scene appears with Kabuto walking alongside Orochimaru.
"So it really is nothing more than for Sasuke Uchiha?"
Sakumo pondered deeply. He fully put himself in the shoes of the story's characters, not just reading as a spectator.
From the perspective of someone actually involved, he speculated about Kabuto and Orochimaru's roles and intentions.
Unfortunately, there weren't enough clues.
He sensed Kabuto and Orochimaru were tied to an extensive storyline but couldn't guess its exact nature.
Watching the scene where Kabuto chooses to forfeit made him even more certain.
"Something big feels like it's going to happen during the Ninja Exam. I think the upcoming plot will be extremely explosive."
After choosing his words carefully, Sakumo closed the manga.
Akaba admired him greatly.
In his past life, when he read manga, he'd never analyzed plots this seriously. He mostly focused on how to draw characters and express emotions through visuals.
"A major incident will occur during the Ninja Exam? Why? Because Orochimaru's involved?"
A little boy who was just about to buy the manga looked up and asked.
The child appeared no older than five years old but could already understand both illustrations and text.
Judging from his clothing, he likely came from commoner stock.
Sakumo gently patted the boy's head and said, "Perhaps because of Orochimaru and Kabuto—or maybe it's Sunagakure's doing."
"I don't get it."
The child shook his head.
At his age, he just reads the manga—how could he understand all these complicated matters?
Truthfully, even Sakuma Yunlang wasn't sure either.
As the shop owner, he probably knew less about future plot developments than Sakumo did.
"You really are amazing," Akaba sincerely remarked. Information analysis is indeed part of what a ninja should know, and Sakumo had clearly mastered it completely.
"Just analyzing based on real-life situations. If what you draw has nothing to do with reality, I can't possibly guess it either."
As he spoke, Sakumo flipped through a One Piece manga.
With a story like One Piece, he wouldn't dare claim he could predict the plot since it was a completely unfamiliar system—a fantasy world.
He had read all the released volumes of One Piece.
However, he'd been too caught up in training with dual blades lately to keep up with the newest chapters.
When he saw that Ghost Slice scene,
"This is the first time I encountered this technique, but what was that Three Thousand Realms technique from yesterday?"
Sakumo still remembered that particular move.
"Secret~ It will show up later."
Akaba chuckled.
This was one of the strongest ultimate arts in Zoro's Three-Blade Style—it made a rather late debut in the story, so they'd have to be patient.
"Fine."
Sakumo paused briefly before continuing, "Nightdance really started training too. Recently she's studying the Sword Shadow Clone Technique."
"Huh?"
Akaba stared blankly for several seconds.
The Third did have a Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, but how exactly would one perform a Sword Shadow Clone Technique?
"She specifically went to learn the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique from the Third, and the Third actually taught her."
Sakumo continued explaining.
"Any progress?"
Akaba felt admiration—if Nightdance could solve the control issues with the sword shadow clones and combine them with the Dance of the Sword, it might truly create an excellent effect.
"Not yet."
Sakumo closed the book.
Lately, Nightdance had also been staying at the Hatake family dojo—just like him, missing all these new chapters. He planned to take these comics over to share with her.
"Anything new coming out tomorrow?"
Sakumo rarely asked about this sort of thing, but he really wanted to know whether his predictions about future developments were correct.
"There should be."
Akaba must speed up the updates. As long as the Factory could keep up with printing, he'd continue providing sufficient content.
Sakumo wrapped those volumes in a piece of cloth and slung them onto his back like a small peddler.
"I'm off."
He waved goodbye and left the store.
Akaba stretched lazily and walked into the Private Chamber to check his Shadow Clone's progress on drawing.
Up until now, they'd mainly been working on Naruto. Including Izumi Yamano's updates, they'd already reached Volume 70 for the Hokage story.
Currently, the Shadow Clone was working on new chapters of One Piece.
"I'll start drawing after the Hokage part—Volume 71."
He sat down, taking out his sketchpad and brush.
This chapter's storyline seemed to center around Sakura and Ino's battle. Though he found their so-called sisterhood rather fake.
The most intense moment during the preliminary rounds was definitely Lee's fight against Gaara.
[Eight Gates Release] vs Jinchuriki.
Although Lee ultimately lost, his performance indeed drew lots of attention—arguably the most spectacular duel in this arc.
Unfortunately, he probably wouldn't finish drawing this part by tomorrow.
As Akaba slowly sketched, he pondered other thoughts.
By this point in the story, many readers likely suspected that the comic's 'Orochimaru' had returned to the village with special intentions. When the Konoha Destruction Plan (Konoha Hakugai Keikaku) unfolded, how would public opinion within the village react?
A village's Kage trained an apprentice who turned out to be a traitor, returning to destroy his former home with his own hands.
But after all this buildup, it's already been revealed long ago that "Orochimaru" is the villain.
By then, the biggest impact would likely come from the scene where the Third Hokage is killed—not just by "Orochimaru", but using the Dead Spirit Seal itself.
[Deadly and forbidden, this legendary jutsu has the power to summon the Shinigami!]
While lost in thought, Akaba absentmindedly made a mistake in his drawing. Fortunately, it wasn't too bad, so he cleverly adjusted the inkwork and incorporated it into the design.
To avoid another slip-up, Akaba steeled his focus and immersed himself in drawing manga.
Thanks to his main body being active, even his Shadow Clones moved quicker than usual. In no time, another page was finished.
Meanwhile, as Akaba got back into drawing...
In the Anbu headquarters, Danzo carefully reviewed piles of documents—these were intelligence reports he had missed before heading to Sunagakure. Now that he had recovered, he was going through them thoroughly to avoid missing any information.
Standing silently before him was Aburame Yugen.
"Tsuchikage said, 'Orochimaru's ninja tools have already entered production?'"
Danzo read that Orochimaru had restored and upgraded the manga production facilities, enabling new ninja tools capable of releasing Decapitating Airwaves—as well as details of Akaba's collaboration with the arms factory to manufacture these ninja tools.
Aburame Yugen nodded. "Those handcrafted by Orochimaru work for sure, but we're not sure if the factory-made ones are battle-ready yet."
"Since these new ninja tools may carry risks, it's better to test them using Shadow Clones before full deployment."
"Yes, understood."
After listening, Danzo continued reading the next scroll when he came across another shocking piece of news.
Tsunade recently has been studying information about the First Hokage.
What does this mean?
He turned the scroll around so Aburame Yugen could see it clearly.
Yugen glanced at it and explained, "Lord Danzo, Tsunade came to the Anbu headquarters requesting access to all records regarding the First Hokage. She also interacted with Orochimaru."
Danzo felt puzzled.
When it came to knowledge about Hashirama Senju, surely the Senju Clan should know more. Yet instead, she came to the Anbu archives?
Didn't make much sense!
He paused momentarily before setting this scroll aside.
"How has Akaba's manga been lately?"
Danzo temporarily stopped working, his mind involuntarily drifting back to Akaba's manga.
Now that he thought about it, it had been a while since he last read it.
"Want me to spoil it, or will you read it yourself?" Yugen asked cautiously.
Funny thing—Akaba might've even coined the term "spoiler".
Danzo sighed inwardly, then replied after thinking briefly, "Bring the manga over. I'll just read it myself."
Moments later, several volumes of manga were brought in.
Slightly taken aback, Danzo realized during his brief absence in Sunagakure, this lazy brat had actually released so many updates.
Would you look at that!
Tsking softly, Danzo slightly shook his head.
The next moment, he grabbed the top volume and started reading calmly, treating it like a break from work.
When he reached the part with Sasuke Uchiha's flashbacks, Danzo paused for quite a long time.
"Is something wrong, Lord Danzo?" Yugen asked curiously.
"Nothing much," Danzo coldly replied. "I just feel like this brat will end up weaving some plot involving me within the Uchiha storyline."
An entire clan was wiped out — and if the Anbu were truly unaware, Konoha would've fallen long ago.
Knowing Akaba as he did, there was no way he'd have left such a glaring oversight.
"Hahaha, perhaps that's part of the fun too," Aburame Yugen said with a dry chuckle.
At the time, he hadn't thought much of it. But now that it had come up, if the village had truly ordered the massacre, how on earth could Sasuke have survived?
There must be something suspicious going on here, and naturally, the Anbu were definitely involved.
"That kid despises me — fabricating stories isn't surprising. However, when he's serious, he does have ability. For instance, sending over medical personnel this time."
"Indeed, that was a failure on my part."
Yugen immediately took responsibility. With Danzo away, he was the top Anbu leader. The original plan had been meticulously detailed — yet somehow, medical support had been completely overlooked.
"This trip to Sunagakure opened my eyes to many previously neglected issues. For example, the poisons Sand is developing will certainly become major threats to us in the future. The problem is our medical standards remain confined to basic chakra-stimulated recovery."
Danzo expressed deep concern.
Like during this mission, despite deploying over twenty medics, in the end they only managed to treat surface wounds — unable to restore his vision.
What's worse, injuries like these are actually classified as minor on the battlefield.
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