Target on the back

Sato was sitting on the wooden floor of a well-built house. There was this familiar smell of milk tea in the air.

"Fugaku san, what did you want to talk about?"

Sato asked Fugaku while sipping Mikoto's milk tea; he had come here to discuss business with Fugaku, but after work was done, Fugaku told Sato to stay back; he had something he wanted to tell his boss.

"Sato sama, the Uchiha's have noticed some suspicious activity in the village."

"At first, we thought someone was trying to target your industry, but I think there is more to this."

Fugaku sipped his own cup of tea, clearing his throat, he told Sato his judgment.

"We investigated, someone was asking about you secretly; this might be the work of a small force, but their abilities are quite good."

"Uchiha hasn't been able to keep up with them; one Uchiha squad managed to track them down, but the entire squad was soon wiped out. Those people seem like well-trained Ninjas."

Fugaku finished his tea and concluded his thoughts calmly.

Sato's eyebrows raised, his team members and new servant were also sitting behind him, thinking about this news with surprise.

Tapping the table before him, Sato wondered aloud. 

"That's odd; why are they searching for my information during this time?"

"Do we know anything more about them, Fugaku? What do they look like? What did they want to know about me?"

Fugaku thought while remaining quiet, then spoke slowly about the clues he remembered.

"They were mostly young but cruel ninjas; the Uchiha team tracking them down had died miserably."

"The investigation these people were doing wasn't too important. These guys wanted to know how strong you are, Sato Sama. They had a consistent attitude throughout their investigation."

"Their entire focus was on your record as a ninja, what age you achieved what level of strength. It was almost like..."

Fugaku paused, but Sato completed his words with a thoughtful expression. 

"It's almost like they wanted to know my talent as a ninja."

Sato held his chin, and Fugaku nodded with a confused face. This was his guess as well, but what good will knowing this information do?

"Why would someone want to know if you are talented or not? Why would this information matter to them?"

Temari couldn't stay silent and jumped into the conversation herself. Sato didn't bother to correct her attitude right now; he was busy wondering who was targeting him.

"I am not sure which force could do this. Especially at such a tense time. Why choose the chunin exams to ask about my talent?"

"If an enemy village wants to know about their competition, they would ask about my strength; why care about my talent in particular?"

Sato tapped the table in deep thought; he was puzzled. He frowned and looked at Temari. 

"Is it the hidden sand? Are you guys doing this?"

Temari quickly shook her head. She didn't even know who Sato was until she became his servant.

"No! It's not us. At least we were not given such a mission."

Sato hummed with a thoughtful look. Then he began counting down the major villages participating in this exam.

"Is it the hidden grass village? They are thieves and hungry for talent, but they shouldn't have the courage to target the next Raikage.."

"Then is it one of the smaller villages? No, that wouldn't be possible. According to the information we have, their men were well trained and strong enough to kill an Uchiha squad. Smaller villages don't have such strength."

Sato frowned, then slowly his eyes shrunk; he just remembered a village that could do something like this.

"Is it the hidden sound village? Oh crap, it's them. If they are asking about a talented boy, it would make a lot of sense."

"It's definitely them; they are Orochimaru's men; that bastard is targeting my 'talented' body."

Sato looked like he ate a lemon; why was he being targeted by Orochimaru suddenly?? 

'Go and target Sasuke, not me, you bastard!'

Sato scolded Orochimaru in his heart, then huffed and began thinking of an excuse to clarify how he knew about this. 

Everyone around him was confused about this sudden information.

"A while ago I wanted to speak with Orochimaru, about human genetics and sage of six paths genetics, Itachi was investigating him recently."

"Itachi found out two main things about Orochimaru. One, hidden sound village is owned by him."

"Second, Orochimaru can take over someone's body; he is probably targeting me, if he cares so much about my talent."

"He is an idiot; there are far better options than me; my talent is painfully average; I am just a cheater."

Sato casually used Itachi as an excuse for his canon knowledge and cursed Orochimaru again.

He wanted to talk to Orochimaru about his lack of six-path genes, but he was being targeted by that man, what was he supposed to do now.

"Sato sama, I think we should give up approaching Orochimaru. If we meet him now, he will attack you."

Haku warned Sato, and Hinata agreed hastily, but she was also thinking about Sato's plans.

Still, this was confidential information, so she asked Fugaku to put Temari under a genjutsu first, then told Sato's idea to Fugaku and Haku.

"We should avoid him, but Sato Kun wants to know if there is a way to eat Matatabi's flesh without having the sage's DNA."

"Tsunade Sama doesn't know about this; the only one who could help Sato Kun is Orochimaru."

Fugaku nodded slowly; he folded his hands and looked thoughtful, then suggested his own idea to Sato.

"No matter the reason, I would suggest that you stay away from Orochimaru, especially if he is targeting you specifically."

"I have fought wars with Orochimaru in my squad; that man is always prepared for his enemies. Fighting him is not worth the risk."

This warning made Sato hesitate; he wanted to get stronger, but Fugaku was sure Orochimaru would come prepared for his abilities. 

'Should I give up trying to talk to Orochimaru? But then, how will I eat Matatabi's flesh?

Sato had a headache; his future depended on him being able to eat Matatabi's flesh. His body was half Matatabi; this was the best power-up for him.

But Orochimaru was targeting him, if that slippery guy wants his body, will he be able to beat him?

"It's risky, but I think I should talk to Orochimaru at least once. He will probably approach me during the chunin exams."

"I can't quit the chunin exams; I will have to meet him eventually; I might as well be prepared for a fight."

"I don't believe I can't beat Orochimaru; at least I should be able to escape if something goes wrong."

Sato finally decidedly to approach Orochimaru while remaining cautious during the chunin exams. He was still a little worried though. 

Fugaku was experienced; if Fugaku felt Orochimaru would come prepared, he would come prepared.

'But what is Orochimaru going to do? How is he going to get past my sense of smell and lightning defense?'

'I don't have enough information. What could he possibly do to defeat my lightning chakra armor.'

Advanced chapters ahead on patréon

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