A few days later, outside the Hidden Cloud Village.
Dusk.
Hizashi Hyuga stood atop a high vantage point, veins bulging around his eyes.
The light was dim, visibility poor. But through his sight, chakra within enemy bodies burned like lanterns in the dark.
"Seventeen patrols to the southwest," he reported quietly. "Danzo-sama, their rotation pattern hasn't changed."
He paused, focusing.
"One target has an unusually high chakra signature. That should be one of their Head Ninjas."
In the Hidden Cloud Village, a Head Ninja was their distinctive title. In practice, it meant an elite among Jonin.
As he spoke, Hizashi marked patrol routes onto the tactical board in his hands, mapping them with crisp precision.
"I'll handle the Head Ninja," Danzo Shimura said coldly.
Still, when he saw the detailed map, he gave a faint nod of approval.
A talent.
Hizashi had only joined the Anbu days ago, yet through sheer grit he had memorized every required skill and regulation so thoroughly that even Danzo found it impressive.
Danzo patted his shoulder.
He had almost said, With your ability and the darkness in your heart, the Anbu is a waste. You belong in Root.
But then he remembered. Root no longer existed.
And Hizashi was the breakthrough Hiruzen Sarutobi had personally carved out from the Hyuga Clan. His loyalty to the Hokage was practically written on his face.
"What is it, Danzo-sama?" Hizashi asked.
"Nothing. Focus on your work."
A complicated feeling stirred in Danzo's chest.
At first, instinctive irritation rose. Even if Hiruzen had agreed to a fair competition for the position of Hokage, without the authority to build a private force, promising seedlings like this were simply out of reach.
Yet, almost against his will, he found himself silently praising Hiruzen.
If he were Hokage, would he allow someone under him to maintain a Root?
Absolutely not.
Since Hiruzen had pointed out that he needed to view matters from the broader perspective of a Hokage… since that day in the training grounds when he established authority, reclaimed Root, organized the Jinchuriki assassination team, lectured him on the way of the Hokage while constantly keeping him in check…
And perhaps accomplished even greater things Danzo still did not know about.
The more Danzo thought about it, the more he felt this was what a Hokage should be.
And such a Third Hokage, such a Hiruzen, only made him more eager to defeat him.
I will master everything you know. I will surpass you. I will become the strongest Fourth Hokage…
His palm tingled faintly with excitement.
Inside the Hidden Cloud Village.
Having replaced a Hidden Cloud physician using the Vanishing Facial Copy Jutsu, Orochimaru handed Blue B a dose of medicine specially modified by Tsunade, mixed with salamander extract and other substances.
"Today's dose should help you," he said gently. "Keep working hard."
Blue B forced a faint smile. "I hope so."
After he left, Orochimaru, still dressed as a physician, let a slight smile curve his lips.
"You can come out now."
A toad hopped out from the shadows and waddled up to him, mouth opening wide.
An arm extended from inside. Jiraiya's.
Then Genma Kurama emerged as well.
"See? My toads are useful for everything," Jiraiya whispered proudly.
Genma stared at him, speechless.
He had already heard rumors about Orochimaru's bizarre "snake spits me, I spit snake" technique. That was unsettling enough.
This was no better.
The Third Hokage's disciples were all monsters in their own ways.
He should have infiltrated with genjutsu instead. Climbing out of a toad's mouth was not pleasant.
"Review the plan."
Orochimaru's sleeves shifted as several small snakes slithered down, gliding silently toward Blue B's residence.
"I'll control the Jinchuriki. Genma, you restrain the Eight-Tails. Jiraiya sets up the barrier, clears the surrounding enemies, and coordinates our rendezvous with Danzo's group."
"Understood." Jiraiya's expression turned serious in an instant.
"Understood." Genma took a steady breath.
The village really did not move lightly. But when it did, it struck hard.
"My snakes tell me Blue B has taken the medicine. No one is nearby," Orochimaru said softly, eyes gleaming. "Begin."
Under the cover of night, the three moved like shadows.
In his bedroom, Blue B swallowed the medicine prepared by the physician.
"Sour and sweet. Not bad…" His brows eased slightly, a trace of emotion flickering in his eyes.
The village must truly value him. They had even adjusted the taste of the medicine.
It was not as bitter as before.
He lay back on the bed, waiting for the medicine to take effect, thoughts drifting.
Would he succeed in becoming a true Eight-Tails Jinchuriki?
His father and uncle had both died in tailed beast rampages. He could communicate with the Eight-Tails at a basic level, but their connection felt like a tug-of-war. The future stretched before him like fog.
"The beast's terror… the repeated rampages… no one wants to get close to me."
"Even sealing techniques can't suppress its violent will…"
Blue B murmured softly, "If only we could bring that Uzumaki Clan ninja from Konoha here…"
Whether it was his own mental fragility from loneliness or the objective weakness in their sealing techniques, any improvement would help.
Useful information, Orochimaru noted silently. That would benefit Konoha's own Jinchuriki.
He lightly nudged Genma.
Genma understood immediately and formed hand seals.
"My body feels so relaxed… Wait, why is it numb?" Blue B's eyes snapped open, only to find his vision blurred by a gray haze. He could not move.
"You're exhausted… Let it end…" A voice drifted into his mind, neither male nor female, dreamlike and distant.
Orochimaru crouched atop his chest, eyes gleaming coldly, and pressed his hand against the Steel Shell Seal.
Outside, Jiraiya completed the isolation barrier and began sweeping toward the retreat route.
Orochimaru worked steadily, dismantling the Steel Shell Seal piece by piece. Tailed beast chakra bubbled and seeped out. The Kusanagi Sword slid slowly from his mouth.
He intended to take a sample of the Eight-Tails' cells.
Thanks to Jiraiya's barrier, the Hidden Cloud's sensory ninja detected nothing. The tailed beast chakra remained concealed.
Genma pushed his genjutsu to its limit.
This was part of the plan.
The moment the Eight-Tails separated from its Jinchuriki, it had to plunge into full rampage.
A mere loss of control would not be enough to intimidate these brutes.
They needed to feel as though an invisible hand could force the beast into madness at any moment.
Sweat beaded on Genma's brow as he poured chakra into the illusion.
This is my chance. My chance for the Hokage to notice the clan. I won't waste it!
"Orochimaru-sama, it's ready!" he called after a moment.
"Good." Orochimaru's smile twisted. "Withdraw first, Genma."
Genma nodded and retreated swiftly.
His constitution was weaker. If the tailed beast chakra spiraled out of control, it could turn dangerous.
Moments later, Orochimaru completed the final dismantling of the Steel Shell Seal.
Chakra burst forth like a tidal wave.
A massive octopus shape rose into the night sky, roaring in fury, eyes blazing with wrath.
"Blood for blood! The Hidden Cloud will pay in blood!"