Chapter 135

"Is this guy... a member of the Akatsuki?"

The sight of the figure immediately put Kaito on high alert, although he had already guessed he might encounter the Akatsuki on this trip.

Still, running into them so soon was somewhat surprising. Yet, he showed not a hint of fear.

He had a certain confidence in his abilities; as long as he didn't come across particularly tough adversaries like Nagato or Tobi, he had nothing to worry about.

Even against these two, Kaito wasn't necessarily alarmed—if he couldn't beat them, he was sure he could outrun them!

"Kaito, this guy is weird. His chakra is strong, and he gives off a very, very dangerous vibe."

At this moment, Shisui also spoke, his eyebrows furrowed as he watched the figure before them and spoke in a low voice.

"Yes, I know. He is indeed very strange and very dangerous."

Kaito nodded in agreement with Shisui. He was well aware of the danger posed by the figure before them. After all, anyone who could don such a robe was no ordinary person.

"We'll have to counter his moves. This guy is likely to be our enemy. Given his attire, he's clearly not a village ninja.

And appearing in this area of complex power relations, he probably shares our current status."

"A mercenary ninja?"

Shisui nodded, then pulled out a kunai hidden under his black robe. After a deep breath, he asked,

"If we have to fight, can we use the Sharingan?"

While Kaito and Shisui's abilities did not strictly rely on the Sharingan—after reaching their level, they could still exert immense power without it—they had long grown accustomed to the benefits of the Sharingan. The gap between using it and not using it was enormous.

Especially as their ultimate power was based on the Mangekyō Sharingan. Not using it would have a substantial impact on them.

"Let's see how it goes. Use it based on your judgment."

Kaito pondered for a moment before making a decision.

"But once we use it, we absolutely can't leave any survivors."

"I understand." Shisui nodded, then his gaze, along with Kaito's, fixed on the figure clad in the black robe with red clouds.

The figure seemed to notice Kaito and Shisui as well and, without any real hesitation, walked directly towards them.

They were originally only about a hundred meters apart, but in just a moment they were within thirty meters of each other.

"Who are you?"

The man wearing the straw hat asked directly. His voice was so raspy yet so identifiable.

As he spoke, Kaito and Shisui both halted. Almost instinctively, they exchanged a glance as they both recognized who the man was—Orochimaru!

"Are we this lucky?"

Kaito mused inwardly. Among the Akatsuki, the one he felt was easiest to deal with was probably Orochimaru.

This wasn't because Kaito was underestimating Orochimaru's abilities. This man had lived from beginning to end as a boss and had never truly died.

Moreover, the infamous reputation he established during the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars was no joke!

Most importantly, Orochimaru had even managed to unravel the secrets of the Rinnegan through his own efforts in the future.

Without a doubt, Orochimaru possessed top-tier research talent and ninja ability. No matter who Kaito underestimated, he wouldn't underestimate Orochimaru.

However, it was precisely because Orochimaru's research abilities were too strong that, after personally witnessing two Great Ninja Wars, his mindset began to change.

Witnessing so many deaths, he began to crave for a breakthrough in the secrets of life and death, and he did succeed to some extent—his soul continued to exist by changing bodies.

But such an act injured his soul, making him vulnerable when facing masters of illusion techniques.

As an Uchiha, Kaito's illusion technique abilities were naturally not a problem, even though his illusion techniques were focused on combat and didn't have much flashy display.

But for powerful ninja, a moment's lapse could decide the direction of a fight.

"Are you Orochimaru, one of the Three Legendary Ninja of the Leaf Village?"

Kaito, although lost in his thoughts, remained very calm. He spoke in his hoarse voice.

"What a fortunate meeting, to encounter Orochimaru here. It seems my luck is indeed good."

"Oh, recognized already?"

Orochimaru lightly licked his lips and then slowly removed his straw hat. His elongated golden pupils moved back and forth over Kaito and Shisui.

"Although recognizing us allows me to avoid a tiresome self-introduction, you two haven't introduced yourselves yet.

Of course, if you don't want to, that's fine. After all, I can probably guess why non-village ninja like yourselves are here."

With these words, Orochimaru's tone changed slightly. Kaito and Shisui, even before recognizing him, could guess why a person like him would be here.

As a veteran of war, how could he fail to see that Kaito and Shisui were likely mercenary ninja, just like him!

And as fellow mercenary ninja, it was necessary to figure out who was employing the others. If it was just an employer, that would be one thing.

But if it was someone on the other side, then they would naturally become enemies.

"Actually, we didn't expect that after leaving the Leaf Village, Orochimaru-sama would join a certain organization.

Don't misunderstand, I've seen your kind of attire before. What's more surprising is that you, Orochimaru-sama, would appear here as a mercenary ninja for war."

Kaito chuckled lightly, calmly looked at Orochimaru, and then asked curiously.

"We're curious, who hired Lord Orochimaru or your clan leader?

After all, I have seen others dressed in the attire Lord Orochimaru is wearing now."

"Do you know me?"

Orochimaru's elongated golden pupils slightly contracted. It seemed he sensed a familiar aura from the man before him.

Although such a feeling might not always be reliable, Orochimaru, as a ninja, often trusted his instincts.

"Who doesn't know the famous Lord Orochimaru? And to be frank, I would prefer not to be his enemy."

Kaito said nonchalantly, then slowly drew a ninja blade.

"But unfortunately, if by chance, the person who hired Lord Orochimaru and me is not the same, then I'm afraid we don't have much of a choice."

"Indeed, I'm afraid we don't have much of a choice."

Orochimaru chuckled softly, casually tossing his straw hat aside. Instantly, his chakra exploded.

"Judging by your position, it should be either the Hidden Sand Village or that Star Ninja Village. If that's the case, I'm afraid we really have to fight."

"Yes, it's really a pity. Although I don't want to clash with Lord Orochimaru, but alas..."

Kaito sighed softly, then, before his words had fully settled, he stomped forcefully on the ground. In an instant, he was at Orochimaru's side.

As the light flickered, the ninja blade was drawn and swiftly, yet oddly, slashed towards Orochimaru!

"He gave too much..."

...

"Captain, we are approaching the defensive zone of the Star Ninja Village."

About five kilometers away from the defense area of the Star Ninja Village, a quiet team of about fifty people had gathered.

They had a clear mission—to take over the defensive area of the local power of the Bear Country, the Star Ninja Village!

The Hidden Stone Village people had no good feelings towards the Star Ninja Village, an ungrateful village that overestimated its worth.

After all, let alone the village's ninja leaders who dared to call themselves "Shadow", just their attempt to break free from the control of the Hidden Stone Village was disgusting.

There was never any righteousness between large and small countries. If a small country had enough resources and strategic value, their fate was inevitable.

Truthfully, if the Star Ninja Village had humbly stayed where it was, not meddling or participating in anything.

Perhaps they could have survived like the Hidden Hot Springs Village of the Hot Springs Country. Their preservation, if not development, wouldn't have been a problem.

But they were not content with the current situation, and such a village naturally became a thorn in the side of the two great ninja villages.

The Star Ninja Village has survived to this day thanks to natural barriers and the looming threat from the Hidden Sand Village.

But just because they can't eliminate you doesn't mean they can't plunder your territories.

Take for instance certain strategic defense zones of theirs, they are inevitably the targets for both the Hidden Stone and Sand Villages to compete over.

However, for a large nation to personally enter such a small scale war is undignified. The Hidden Stone Village has its reservations, unlike the shameless folks from the Hidden Sand Village.

Likewise, to minimize their own losses, hiring war ninjas to solve these troubles naturally becomes their first choice.

After all, the Hidden Stone Village's finances are much healthier than those of the Hidden Sand Village; at least they don't need to import so much grain.

"Hmm, have our hired guns moved in?"

The captain nodded and picked up a telescope, peering into the distance while he asked.

"By normal timing, they should have gone in by now."

A Stone Ninja next to him replied in a low voice. However, he seemed rather awed talking about these hired ninjas.

"Those guys are really powerful. They've taken care of so many enemies so easily, allowing us to smoothly take over these areas."

"Hmph."

What this Stone Ninja didn't expect was that, no sooner had his voice fallen, than his captain gave a cold snort.

"Powerful? The ones they're dealing with are nothing but a bunch of fellows who lack adequate weapons and training.

We only hired them to minimize our losses and protect our image in the ninja world.

A bunch of desperadoes who only care about getting paid - what's so impressive about that?"

The captain's words immediately silenced the Stone Ninja. Though he didn't particularly agree, he dared not contradict.

He truly thought these hired ninjas were very powerful. Even though their identities were unclear, their abilities were undoubtedly strong.

This Stone Ninja had seen with his own eyes these mercenaries effortlessly take a Sand Ninja base, completely wiping out all the Sand Ninjas inside!

Though those Sand Ninjas weren't particularly strong, they were regular ninjas of a large nation. In the face of these mercenaries, they were like lambs to the slaughter.

"If they weren't strong, why would the Tsuchikage hire them?"

The Stone Ninja muttered under his breath, only to have his thoughts interrupted by a thunderous noise. His captain, telescope in hand, was staring intently into the distance.

"What's going on, captain?"

The Stone Ninja asked curiously, but his captain seemed to have frozen and didn't respond.

The loud noise caught the attention of the other Stone Ninjas. They all looked into the distance, but at that moment, they all seemed stunned.

Because in the distance, there was now an expanse of fire...

...

"Did I give too much?"

Orochimaru seemed quite calm, having seen all kinds of storms and waves. Such a scene was only a small matter to him.

However, Kaito's comment did raise his eyebrows. Not long ago, he had a disagreement with another fellow who was only too eager for others to 'give too much'.

Hearing similar words now, his senses weren't particularly pleased.

"But no matter how much is given, you need to have a life to spend it, right?"

Licking his lips lightly, Orochimaru muttered under his breath. He was almost in sync with Kaito's blade swing, leaping to the side and backward.

At the same time, a kunai appeared in his right hand and, at a strange angle, he swiped at Kaito.

Shisui silently watched on the side, not acting immediately, for he had no past experience of cooperation with Kaito.

Both of them were extremely adept at solo combat. Being good at solo means their offense is self-centric, not needing to consider the issue of teammates.

In previous missions, they had acted separately, not needing to coordinate anything, just resolving their own enemies was enough.

Now facing an enemy like Orochimaru, and trying to forcibly coordinate without using Sharingan, they might end up getting each other in trouble.

However, his chakra also began to boil rapidly. His temporary inaction did not mean he would not act.

What he needed to do now was to find a good opportunity, and without affecting Kaito, inflict a fatal injury on Orochimaru!

"Kaito seems very confident, not using Sharingan to fight Orochimaru. Is he waiting for an opportunity or does he not want to expose himself?

And he said Orochimaru joined an organization, and Orochimaru obviously did not deny it. What kind of organization did he join that even requires him to personally carry out tasks?"

Shisui was very interested in these matters. An organization that could absorb a terrifying existence like Orochimaru really filled his heart with doubt.

Moreover, he was pondering one thing. If such an organization could absorb Orochimaru, could someone like Uchiha Itachi also be absorbed by such an organization?

It must be said that Shisui was right to think in this direction, and he even guessed correctly!

Unfortunately, Kaito didn't know about these things. Even without using Sharingan against Orochimaru's attack, he could judge the direction of Orochimaru's attack.

The ninja blade in his hand quickly swept, at a speed that was astonishing. This stroke, infused with wind chakra, swiftly blocked Orochimaru's attack range.

And as long as Orochimaru dared to continue thrusting forward, the next moment Orochimaru would probably lose his head.

"This kind of swordsmanship?"

Orochimaru was a man who knew the goods, and he naturally recognized at a glance that this swordsmanship was very powerful.

He believed himself to be well-versed in many ninja sword arts, after all, he himself was very adept at using a sword, but this kind of swordsmanship was really his first encounter.

Despite these thoughts, his movements were still fluid. He immediately stopped the action in his hand, and his body made an awkward shift.

Then, he leapt backward, avoiding Kaito's ninja blade entirely and landing solidly on a massive rock.

"A very interesting swordsmanship. It's been a while since I've seen such an engaging blade art, not since Shodaime Hokage passed away."

Orochimaru's gaze locked onto Kaito, his eyes full of amusement and reminiscence, but soon he chuckled lightly and slowly said,

"Since you wield a blade, I suppose I should accommodate you a bit."

As he spoke, Orochimaru raised his head and spat out a long sword from his mouth.

Without minding the slime on it, Orochimaru casually drew the sword and gave it a light flick.

"I don't know who you are, nor why you're so confident. Your teammate doesn't seem to have any intention of joining the fight.

But since you've aroused my interest, let's have some fun. I hope you won't disappoint me!"

No sooner had his voice fallen than Orochimaru, brandishing his sword, was already in front of Kaito!

His speed was even faster than before, and more terrifying, and the sword in his hand carried an innate, formidable force.

Such a sword, such an opponent, was truly terrifying to the extreme!

Kaito remained very calm, as befits one who has been granted and has learned the 'Valkyrie' flowing water swordsmanship and mastered the 'Waterfowl Dance'.

After acquiring that secret scroll, his swordsmanship had undergone an incredible improvement, which was the foundation of his confidence to temporarily not use Sharingan!

He slightly adjusted his blade, and as sword and blade crossed, they brushed each other's backs and sparked a small fire.

Orochimaru licked his tongue, and the next moment he pushed forcefully.

Kaito felt as if a strong force was attacking him, and it was fortunate that his body had been significantly enhanced, otherwise he might have been pushed off his entire blade.

But the unexpected blow caused his ninja blade to shift instantly.

"Such a powerful force, and Orochimaru's skill is formidable too."

Kaito sighed inwardly. Fortunately, his reaction speed was extremely fast, and in a moment he had leaped up, using Orochimaru's force.

And like a shadow, Orochimaru followed, almost leaping up the instant Kaito did.

However, Orochimaru, who had just risen, suddenly changed his expression, because he saw Kaito, mid-air, raising his ninja blade above his head, with blue chakra twining around his blade edge.

In an instant, an extreme sense of danger surged in his heart....

//

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