Inside the forward command tent, Orochimaru watched Yoru with that unsettling calm of his—eyes bright, tongue brushing briefly across his lips, as though the boy's very presence had sparked a fresh curiosity. There was no threat in his posture; he didn't need one. A sannin never did.
Yoru felt the weight of that attention but kept his composure.He'd come prepared.
"We have information relevant to your past research," Yoru said quietly. "One of your former test subjects survived. He awakened Wood Release. He's currently under ROOT custody. Codename: Ka."
That landed.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed by a fraction—barely noticeable unless one knew to look. For a moment, the tent's air felt heavier, as if the pressure around them shifted. Then the sannin exhaled, amusement returning to the edge of his voice.
"…You Uchiha are far more well-informed than most assume."
ROOT's projects were sealed tighter than ANBU's main branches. No one outside Danzo's network should have had access to details about surviving test subjects, much less Wood Release survivors. That the Uchiha had pieced this together suggested either a deep intelligence network… or an advisor with sharper instincts than Orochimaru expected.
He didn't look at Yoru as a threat.He looked at him as an investment.
"And here I was told your assignment was to charm my student," Orochimaru added, tone light, almost mocking. "But it seems that was only a distraction. You're the one they actually rely on."
Yoru did not deny it. Letting Orochimaru draw his own conclusions was safer.
The sannin tapped a finger on his folded arms. "Very well. Yoru-kun, you'll join Anko's unit tomorrow. I want to see how far your clan intends to pursue this… cooperation."
A small victory, but a vital one.Yoru bowed. "Thank you, Orochimaru-sama."
Still, he wasn't finished. If he wanted sustained protection and leverage, he needed to bury one more idea in Orochimaru's mind—one that shifted blame away from himself.
"One more detail," Yoru said, lowering his voice. "This information wasn't collected by the Uchiha alone. According to the report's markings, it originated from an investigation commissioned quietly by the Fourth Hokage."
That stopped Orochimaru's thoughts long enough for a new realization to bloom.
A hidden investigation.Commissioned by Minato.Conducted outside the eyes of the Third's loyalists.
That explained far more than Yoru could ever say aloud.
"…Watergate," Orochimaru murmured, the name almost spoken with a hint of reluctant respect. "So he was moving to build his own power base."
Yoru remained respectfully silent.
Orochimaru pieced the rest together himself:The Fourth was young, charismatic, and already surrounded by potential rivals—including a still-active Third Hokage whose ANBU reported directly to him. If Minato intended to secure stability, he would have needed allies outside that sphere. The Uchiha were obvious candidates.
Everything fit neatly. Too neatly.Which was precisely the effect Yoru wanted.
Finally Orochimaru chuckled, soft and rasped.
"You're a fascinating one, Yoru-kun. And your clan… far more politically adept than most assume."
Yoru bowed deeply. "Orochimaru-sama, the Uchiha are prepared to support your future. Should you seek the Fifth Hokage position, we will stand with you."
Orochimaru accepted the words without surprise—just a flicker of serpentine amusement."And Anko will be under my personal supervision. Your squad will be as well."
Yoru straightened—and with practiced ease, shifted into a formal bow.
"…Orochimaru-sensei."
The sannin's smile widened.Not kind. But approving.
Yoru held the bow a moment longer, hiding the sharp thrill running through him. He had secured a connection to one of the most dangerous men in the village—one who would become even more dangerous before long. It wasn't loyalty. It wasn't trust.
It was survival.
And if he played this correctly, it would be profit too.