Chapter 156: An Inevitable Confrontation
The atmosphere in Otogakure was thick with tension. In the dimly lit main hall, Orochimaru sat on his throne, his pallid face a mask of poorly concealed frustration and simmering anger.
"Damn it," he hissed, the sound like dry leaves scraping against stone. "To think Uchiha Ren has grown to such an extent... Single-handedly destroying Kumogakure. I miscalculated. His potential far surpasses even Sasuke's."
Standing before him, Kabuto Yakushi adjusted his glasses, a nervous gesture that betrayed his own anxiety. "Lord Orochimaru, with your current condition... if Ren were to turn his attention against us, our chances of resistance would be... minimal. What is our next move?"
"You are correct, Kabuto," Orochimaru conceded, a rare admission of vulnerability. "As I am now, a direct confrontation with Ren would be suicidal. However, I do not believe he will move against us immediately. We still have a window of time, but it is closing rapidly. We can no longer afford to wait. I must perform the reincarnation ritual ahead of schedule. Are the preparations complete?"
"Almost, my lord. We can proceed shortly. But... are you certain about the risks of performing the ritual prematurely?" Kabuto's voice was laced with concern.
"I have no choice!" Orochimaru snapped, his golden eyes narrowing. "I must return to my peak condition to deal with this unforeseen variable. Passivity now means certain destruction. Make the final preparations."
"As you wish, Lord Orochimaru." Kabuto bowed deeply and retreated from the hall, leaving Orochimaru alone in the shadows.
A slow, serpentine smile spread across Orochimaru's lips. "The power of the Uchiha... it truly is a marvel. Uchiha Ren... I may have underestimated you, but soon... soon I will possess that power for myself. How delightful..."
***
Meanwhile, the Eagle team's journey back to Otogakure had been unexpectedly interrupted. The detour began a day prior, when they stopped for supplies in a nondescript town. As fate would have it, their path crossed with two unmistakable figures emerging from a clandestine underground bounty exchange: the immortal duo of Akatsuki, Kakuzu and Hidan.
"Well, well," Suigetsu muttered, a predatory grin spreading across his face as he recognized the black robes with red clouds. "Isn't that the Akatsuki uniform? Boss, isn't that organization on our hit list? Should we take them out now?"
Across the street, the two Akatsuki members had also noticed them. They stopped in their tracks, their gazes locking onto Ren's group with cold recognition.
"Tch. Speak of the devil," Hidan sneered, hefting his massive scythe. "It's the Eagle shits who stole our Two-Tails. What's the plan, Kakuzu? Wanna send these assholes to Lord Jashin right now?"
Kakuzu's multiple eyes behind his mask scrutinized the situation. "Our current mission is not to engage them. Leader has taken a personal interest in this team. A confrontation now would be... tactically unsound. Given Uchiha Ren's demonstrated capabilities, it would likely end poorly for us. Ignore them. Pretend you didn't see anything." He turned and began walking away.
"Hmph! Since when did you get so scared? I'd be honored to be killed by a strong opponent!" Hidan grumbled, but he fell in step behind his pragmatic partner, not once addressing Ren's team directly.
After they had disappeared around a corner, Suigetsu turned to Ren. "Boss, you said these Akatsuki clowns are our enemies, right? They're alone. Let's finish them!"
But Ren wasn't listening. His mind was racing, piecing together clues. *They were at a bounty exchange... with a suitcase...* Without a word, he strode into the exchange, his presence causing the usual underworld chatter to die instantly. Under the sheer pressure of his aura, the nervous exchange manager readily revealed the target of the duo's recent mission: a monk from the Fire Temple named Chiriku.
A cold, knowing smile touched Ren's lips. *So it is them. Which means... their next target is Asuma Sarutobi.* A plan began to form in his mind. He had no particular fondness for the smoking Jonin, son of the Third Hokage. Asuma's death would be one less thorn in Konoha's side. But... the Tenth Squad. Ino was part of that team. While the original timeline had only claimed Asuma's life, Ren's very existence had already warped events. He couldn't guarantee Ino's safety.
"Boss? What's the plan? Are we chasing them or not?" Suigetsu asked, confused by Ren's silence.
Ren turned and walked out of the exchange, his decision made. "We follow them. There might be an interesting spectacle ahead."
"An interesting spectacle?" Suigetsu echoed, puzzled but eager for action.
Karin merely snorted. "Always so cryptic." Yet, she and Jugo fell in step without hesitation.
Ren led his team in the direction the zombie duo had gone, his Sharingan already active, scanning the environment. He would observe. He would ensure the script played out without unnecessary casualties. And if the opportunity presented itself... he would eliminate two of Akatsuki's members ahead of schedule. After all, they were destined to be enemies. It was merely a matter of timing.
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