Mitarashi Anko raised her eyebrows.
Even though she was supposed to be the weakest one here, she asked first, "Orochimaru, do you know this guy?"
"Still as foolish as ever, Anko."
Orochimaru didn't really answer, just gave a cold glance at Uehara Naraku, then looked at Mitarashi Anko, a cruel smile briefly crossing his face.
"I'm so glad I abandoned you, you idiot. After so much time has passed, you haven't changed a bit. I've finally realized that some people's foolishness is beyond cure…"
"Bastard!"
Mitarashi Anko instantly flew into a rage!
Uehara Naraku landed beside Mitarashi Anko, abruptly restraining her action and pushing the woman behind him.
Uehara Naraku felt that Orochimaru's words had a bit of a trick.
Considering Orochimaru's way of dealing with others, he seldom attacks the weak personally, and such a deliberate provocation against Mitarashi Anko seemed unlikely to happen.
Uehara Naraku touched his chin and chuckled, "Orochimaru, do you really dislike our proctor? There aren't many cute girls like her…"
"But she's too dumb!"
Orochimaru's smile grew increasingly cold, "She actually let you, me, and that old man Maruboshi Kosuke into the Forest of Death…"
"Yeah, that shouldn't have happened."
Uehara Naraku nodded, patting Mitarashi Anko, who was barely resisting the surging Curse Seal, and softly said, "As for me, it's fine. I'm just someone who wholeheartedly wants to become a Chunin, but that old man and Orochimaru aren't here to pass the Chunin Examination—they have conspiracies!"
"..."
Mitarashi Anko's forehead throbbed with veins, glaring at Uehara Naraku, "Who the hell are you!"
"Just an ordinary Genin from the Hidden Rain."
After introducing himself, Uehara Naraku squinted and smiled, "Alright, proctor, you should leave here now! I'll handle this guy Orochimaru!"
Uehara Naraku saw that Mitarashi Anko didn't seem to want to leave, and he glanced at her neck, saying, "You're not going to be much help in a fight here. Your skills are still so lacking; you'd better go quickly and request reinforcements from the Third Hokage and Kakashi for me…"
Both the Third Hokage and Hatake Kakashi knew only a fraction of Uehara Naraku, thinking he was a Hidden Rain prodigy with a fondness for Konoha.
Mitarashi Anko was evidently skeptical, but she really couldn't contribute much now, staying here would only mean certain death.
Uehara Naraku patted Anko's shoulder, a green glow flowing from his hand into her body.
This was the healing and Chakra Recovery from the Star Infusion.
Given Uehara Naraku's Chakra and Life Energy, about ten percent was enough to fill Mitarashi Anko's body.
By choosing to heal Anko, Uehara Naraku aimed to earn some goodwill, and also to have Mitarashi Anko speak some good words for him.
"This kind of Chakra!"
Mitarashi Anko felt the Chakra within her, her face a mix of surprise and joy as she used the Chakra to suppress the power of the Curse Seal again.
Mitarashi Anko's eyes turned resolute, and she turned to Orochimaru, "Hey, I'm not leaving. I have to kill Orochimaru…"
Uehara Naraku: "..."
Damn, this Anko is actually a hot-blooded idiot!
Orochimaru's expression looked a bit ugly, but his demeanor quickly returned to calm. He quietly raised two fingers, and a huge yellow serpent suddenly appeared, grabbing Mitarashi Anko and swiftly moved her away!
Uehara Naraku's smile took on a hint of deep meaning as he stared at Orochimaru and said, "Orochimaru, are you afraid I'll kill her?"
Orochimaru chuckled softly and asked, "But wasn't Naraku-kun just treating her? What if I intended to kill her?"
Just at that moment, Orochimaru felt as if his thoughts were being seen through.
Uehara Naraku touched his chin, skipping over the topic of Mitarashi Anko, "Alright, let's not talk about that woman. I came to warn you: I won't interfere with what you want to do in Konoha, but don't mess with my Chunin Exam."
"Naraku-kun…"
Orochimaru's expression gradually became somewhat dangerous, his fingers clenching one by one, "You should know my desire for the Sharingan; you've already interfered with my plan…"
"Oh?"
Uehara Naraku looked at Orochimaru with a puzzled expression, "Did I accidentally disrupt your plan just now? What will you do? Kill me?
A friendly reminder, I might not be able to restrain you like Uchiha Itachi, but I'm quite skilled at destroying my enemies directly from the soul level…"
Orochimaru: "..."
This was even more restraining than Uchiha Itachi!
Orochimaru began to ponder whether he should study some jutsu that could protect his soul. He remembered that Senju Tobirama seemed to have left behind a Kinjutsu that could trap the soul within the body even if the physical form perished.
Uehara Naraku leaned against the tree trunk, staring at Orochimaru, "Orochimaru, I've been quite tolerant with you… As for that little guy Sasuke, once I'm done utilizing him, you can deal with him however you want."
"How long will that take?"
"You seem to be in a hurry,"
Uehara Naraku, looking at Orochimaru, suddenly smiled, "Oh, I get it; you want to use Immortal Reanimation to switch bodies again, right?"
The members of Akatsuki were basically aware of Orochimaru's research on Immortal Reanimation, as it was a forbidden technique similar to Sasori's Human Puppet, capable of extending lifespan.
"That's correct."
Orochimaru didn't deny it and said gravely, "I need a body suitable for myself, one that allows me to exert my full power or even advance further. Uchiha Sasuke possesses the Ninja World's most elite bloodline: the Sharingan. Naraku-kun, if it were you, would you pass up this opportunity?"
"I certainly wouldn't."
Uehara Naraku laughed, looking at Orochimaru, "Then what can you do? Offer your neck for me to chop off? I believe you wouldn't leak Akatsuki's secrets and let me hunt you to the ends of the earth, right?"
Orochimaru: "..."
"Alright, let's leave it at that!"
Uehara Naraku glanced at Orochimaru, laughing softly, "Mind your limits; you're merely a traitor I've spared. Don't even think about defying Akatsuki's will. I believe you wouldn't want to provoke an enemy ten or a hundred times stronger than you, would you?"
"…I understand."
Seeing Uehara Naraku seemed about to turn hostile, Orochimaru didn't hesitate to relent. He didn't want Uehara Naraku to disrupt all his plans right now.
Destroying Konoha was the main goal.
To obtain Uchiha Sasuke, he must continue to endure; Orochimaru didn't believe that after the Chunin Exam, Uehara Naraku could stay in Konoha.
A ninja is one who can endure pain that ordinary people cannot.
Uehara Naraku watched as Orochimaru's figure quietly disappeared, a trace of worry flashing across his face. He truly had some concerns that Orochimaru might turn hostile, which could disrupt his plans.
Yet in a fleeting moment, Uehara Naraku recalled another person in the Forest of Death whom he might use.
Yakushi Kabuto.
Uehara finally decided to take a gamble.
Right now, Yakushi Kabuto was indeed a minor pawn, but if he could make Yakushi Kabuto his subordinate, he could use Kabuto to guide Orochimaru, avoiding the disruption of his plans and perhaps planting a hidden spy.
If Yakushi Kabuto refused to agree, then simply kill him!
Hmm, maybe there's another way?
Uehara Naraku remembered his two skills, a faint smile appearing at his lips. If he killed Yakushi Kabuto and then revived him, repeating the cycle a few times…
Would Yakushi Kabuto agree then?
After experiencing the terror of death a few times, perhaps he would come to understand his position?