Chapter 143

Watching Kakashi's retreating figure, Kaito was incredibly calm.

He did not regret saying such heavy words to Kakashi, even though he actually quite liked Kakashi's character. However, there were some things he simply had to say.

Because at this moment, they were truly in the midst of a war!

This war was somewhat unusual. Perhaps it would be a purely bloodless political struggle, but whoever lost likely had no future.

And if they failed to control the intensity, or if there was intense resistance from Hiruzen Sarutobi's side, then it would become a high-intensity conflict within Konoha.

Such a confrontation was definitely destined to be bloody, for it had escalated into a real life-or-death battle.

Kaito did not know exactly how far things would go, but he knew that there could not be any mistakes at this stage.

Kakashi was crucial, incredibly so. He was the one holding the secrets; he was the one capable of dealing a fatal blow to people like Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He held the location of the 'key', and only he could retrieve this 'key'.

"I wonder how he will manage to get Yamato out, and how much time it will take."

Kaito rubbed his chin, but quickly he grew tired of thinking about such things.

This task indeed required time, and Kakashi couldn't rush and capture Yamato immediately.

There were many things they themselves still needed to handle, like the Nara going to meet the Daimyo taking time, or Inuzuka and Aburame needing time to set things up in Konoha.

If Kakashi went crazy and caught Yamato the next day, Kaito and the rest would probably have a major headache.

Nevertheless, Kaito had received great news today, and Kakashi had handed over the files he had obtained.

These files did not contain much about the experiments, but they did involve Hiruzen Sarutobi, giving Kaito more room to maneuver.

Shaking his head, Kaito was too lazy to think about all this. What he needed to do now was pass the current information to his six partners.

This matter required thorough communication with them, not to mention, letting them know that he had managed to handle Kakashi was quite beneficial to him.

"But there's been a lot going on recently, I've unknowingly mixed up so many things."

Kaito had more on his plate than he had expected, with dealing with Hiruzen Sarutobi being a major concern.

This was Kaito's most pressing matter. Although he had mostly completed this task, as long as Hiruzen Sarutobi was still in power, everything had to continue.

For instance, to guard against Hiruzen Sarutobi or his interest group resorting to desperate measures, they needed to prepare for battle.

In addition, the experiments on Shisui and Fugaku should also proceed. It had been a long time since their first experiment.

As a person who had opened the path to ascend to godhood by restoring bloodlines, Kaito could already feel that Shisui and Fugaku had largely adapted to the impact of the power.

Thus naturally, they should proceed with the second experiment, and this time, the dosage might even be increased.

However, Kaito felt that the experiment would have to wait until the matter with Sarutobi Hiruzen was settled, lest a high-intensity reaction occur during the experiment rendering them unable to fight. For Kaito, that would be a super unprofitable deal.

Just because the experiment was postponed, the preparation for it couldn't stop. Things like adjusting dosages would have to be carried out and performed in advance.

And Kaito had always been pondering how to replicate the White Zetsu arm and mass-produce it for future use within the whole clan. But these things really touched on his area of ignorance. After all, in his previous life, he was but a liberal arts student.

He truly didn't understand the science and engineering stuff. He could only hope that the medical ninjas in his clan could handle these things well.

"If all else fails, wait until Uchiha Shisui is alright and then directly take control of Orochimaru. If not, I'll look for opportunities to meet with Madara later!"

Seeking out Madara was the last resort, but it was also one of the most effective methods.

The problem was, if Kaito went to find Madara and collected the White Zetsu with a clear purpose, Madara would know Kaito's intentions as long as he wasn't foolish.

Even if Madara was a fool, Black Zetsu was not. Therefore, attacking Madara was truly Kaito's last option.

With the experiment issues considered, Kaito then had to think about the security department.

Barring accidents, the security department would start recruiting new people today, and after that, various clans would send their own people over to the department.

Even if Kaito let Shisui and Fugaku handle these matters, he couldn't possibly leave everything to them, especially when it came to the clan ninjas. He couldn't possibly ignore all of it, or else disaster would strike.

Having sorted out the clan and village affairs, he still had a ton of external matters to deal with.

The channel to Hoshigakure had just opened. He could sell arms there without any constraints, and since the place was chaotic enough, he could also send hired ninjas over there to make money.

In fact, Kaito thought participating in mercenary wars was not a bad idea, as the elites within the clan could grow from such experiences.

Though the chances of unlocking Mangekyo Sharingan were extremely slim, the basic abilities and the use of Sharingan all had room for improvement.

As long as there were strong people watching over them, there wouldn't be any problems!

"However, selling arms is not enough. One Hoshigakure village can't swallow such a large quantity of goods."

Kaito stroked his chin, musing in his mind. Overthrowing the Third Hokage might ease his financial situation a bit, but it was nowhere near enough, especially when they had to share the profits from selling arms. This was a bond connecting the clan, so this business couldn't stop.

Especially now with other clans joining in, this further enhanced their power but also meant they'd have to spend more money.

"Anyway, this money doesn't necessarily all have to be invested in the security department. It can also be used to nurture the clan later!"

The security department needed to grow, the clan itself also needed to grow, and growth required money.

Just thinking about this, Kaito felt even more urgently the need to open up new arms markets.

All these complex issues combined were truly giving Kaito a headache, because there were just too many.....

...

"Uncle, you were looking for me?"

In the Nara clan, Nara Yaneko walked towards Nara Shikaku's house with a look of resignation.

Early in the morning, this uncle of hers had sent a message through Shikamaru to come over, leaving her no choice but to grudgingly get up, abandoning her plan to enjoy a lazy morning.

Truth be told, she was quite satisfied with her current life, after all, there wasn't too much to do.

And since their mission team had been disbanded, she stayed home helping with clan affairs, which were not too bothersome or tiring, and she was quite happy with this arrangement.

But her uncle didn't seem to want her to have it so easy. He had proposed several times that she should get more training.

For example, he suggested she should help him at the Administrative Department, which gave Yaneko a headache. What was there to like about going to such a boring place?

Let's not even mention the unfamiliar environment, just the type of work the Administrative Department dealt with was hard to get passionate about.

Moreover, the Administrative Department was her uncle's turf. Although she could get special treatment there, her uncle was quite strict.

In other words, she'd likely have to work diligently alongside other clan elders in the Administrative Department, with no chances to slack off.

Today, her uncle called her over, and Yaneko was afraid it was going to be another such proposal, how could she not feel uncomfortable about it?

"You're here, sit down."

Nara Shikaku looked at Yaneko's demeanor and knew what she was thinking. He couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.

Yaneko obediently sat down, then lowered her head and fell silent, looking like she'd maintain the same attitude no matter what was said.

But to her surprise, Nara Shikaku's first words made her raise her head.

"I wanted to ask you, what are your specific thoughts about your old classmate?"

"Old classmate?" Yaneko looked at Nara Shikaku in confusion. After a while, she asked uncertainly: "Kaito?"

"Yes, Uchiha Kaito." Nara Shikaku nodded. "The youngest clan leader of the Uchiha, and the stirrer of the Leaf Village's situation."

Hearing her uncle's words, Yaneko didn't know what to say, especially about the "stirrer of the Leaf Village's situation", which left her speechless.

Of course, she couldn't deny that Kaito was indeed a stirrer of the Leaf Village's situation, because what he did really turned the situation of the Leaf Village upside down.

But why was her uncle mentioning him now? Had he done something else?

Yaneko began to think carefully. In fact, Kaito had been quite behaved recently.

Aside from taking out a group marked as remnants of the Root department, it seemed he hadn't done much else.

And, according to Leaf Village's understanding, it was the remnants of the Root who attacked Kaito in an attempt to avenge Danzo. This really didn't have much to do with Kaito.

"Could it be... the Security Department?"

Suddenly, Yaneko had a sharp intuition about something.

Her uncle would never let a chance go by unnoticed, so there must be some hidden information here, things she had noticed but hadn't thought about in detail.

And this information likely came from the Security Department, as the changes in the department were truly profound, particularly the rapid improvement in their reputation.

While Yaneko admitted, a lot of this definitely stemmed from changes within the Security Department itself.

After all, when Yaneko was free, she specifically watched how the current Security Department handled things.

It has to be said that the Security Department's performance is markedly different from before. They used to be infamously "iron-faced" and possessed that unique Uchiha arrogance.

Anyone would be angry or disgusted seeing that attitude.

But the Security Department's behavior now can be divided into two types: If you've committed a small offense, they act just like your relatives or neighbors.

They talk to you nicely, explain what you've done, and then punish you with simple tasks—like sweeping the street, or even just a sincere apology might let you off.

If your crime is serious, they strictly adhere to Leaf Village's rules and regulations to punish you.

Of course, even so, they will tell you exactly what you did wrong, what rules of the Leaf Village you violated, and what kind of punishment the rules call for.

With such practices, even those severely punished wouldn't blame the Security Department, because after all, they are just enforcing the law.

Yaneko herself was surprised that just by changing a very minor rule—informing the offender of everything they need to know—could result in such a big contrast.

Perhaps this is human nature. Yaneko felt this was harder than logically analyzing a situation, something she was not particularly good at.

Aside from the Security Department's changes, Leaf Village hadn't missed a beat in spreading the word, otherwise, the image of the Security Department couldn't have been turned around so quickly.

However, being so proactive in cooperating with the Security Department to improve its image was really incredible.

Suddenly, Yaneko furrowed her brows, sensing something might be wrong.

"Uncle, before I answer your question, I want to ask you something." Yaneko looked at Shikaku with a furrowed brow. "Did something happen in the Security Department? Otherwise, the Hokage wouldn't cooperate so willingly with Kaito, right?"

"Indeed, Clan Leader Kaito had reached an agreement with the Hokage.

After all, Clan Leader Kaito wanted to expand the Security Department, he even asked me about it, but I didn't agree for the time being.

The disagreement between Clan Leader Kaito and the Hokage is quite deep, so the Hokage played a few tricks."

Nara Shikaku nodded with a smile and then slowly began to speak, only to be interrupted by Yaneko before he could finish.

"Proactively helping the Security Department boost its reputation, and when the department wanted to recruit, the Hokage arranged for his own people to discreetly join the force.

Kaito had approached you, Uncle, indicating his intention to recruit clan ninjas. By then, a large number of clan ninjas would be mixed with civilian ninjas.

He would have to favor the clan ninjas, and especially those from his own Uchiha clan. As for the civilian ninjas..."

Yaneko's face had changed by the time she got to this point, and Shikaku couldn't help but nod slightly.

His niece was truly sharp. Such scanty information, and she had seen through it. She was undoubtedly his cousin's daughter.

But seeing his niece with such a worried look, he couldn't help but find it a little amusing.

It was a rare sight on this niece of his who always appeared calm and indolent.

"Don't worry, your old classmate is sharper and harder to deal with than you think."

Shikaku shook his head lightly, a smile creeping onto his face.

"He's already thought of a way to handle this, and prepared the means to do so. Even I am standing by his side now.

But my opinion of your old classmate is only based on what I've seen, while you've spent much more time with him.

Though it's not the first time I've asked you, I still want to know your opinion of Clan Leader Kaito. In your view, what kind of person is he?"

"He is intelligent, can appear cunning at times, but is also a very reliable person."

Nara Yaneko didn't hesitate for long this time and spoke earnestly to Nara Shikaku.

"This is my perception and understanding of him from knowing him at school, and then being teamed up with him again.

He's not a traditional Uchiha, he has always been considerate of others' feelings.

Of course, this is the Kaito I see from my perspective. He is now the leader of the Uchiha clan, perhaps his mentality has changed."

Yaneko did not make definitive statements, but everything she said was considered from her own perspective.

Seeing this, Nara Shikaku couldn't help but nod seriously, then he suddenly spoke with utmost earnestness.

"You're right, people do change, just as some people might, driven by power, harm those they love most."

Upon hearing Nara Shikaku's words, Nara Yaneko was filled with questions.

Although his words were correct, her uncle made her feel like he was implying something more, as if there was a hidden message.

But regretfully, her uncle stopped talking at this point, which left Yaneko feeling somewhat disappointed.

Because she always felt that there might be something momentous in there, but the next moment she couldn't bring herself to pry.

"So, in order to understand Uchiha Kaito well, I plan to send you to the Security Department."

"The Security Department? Me?" Yaneko pointed at herself incredulously.

"Yes, you."

Nara Shikaku nodded seriously, then said with a smile.

"After all, you are familiar with him, and I have also promised him to have members of the Nara clan join.

Of course, it's not just you alone, there will be many others with you, because your old classmate's ambition is quite grand."

"Great ambition..."

Nara Yaneko looked at Shikaku somewhat helplessly, sighed, then muttered softly.

"Even Uncle says he's ambitious. Do you think he can handle it? And why are you joining him in this madness, Uncle?"

"Because I believe he can handle it, and his ambition is grounded in rational rules and expansion."

Nara Shikaku's smile remained bright, he completely ignored the resentful look in his niece's eyes. He had seen plenty of such expressions from his son.

"Maybe it's better not to call it ambition, but what he does forces me to think and speak this way."

Yaneko twitched at the corner of her mouth, not knowing how to respond to her uncle's words. And she had this nagging feeling, had she been sold out?

"Oh, by the way, when I said I'm with him, I meant that we're in a partnership now.

This partnership is multifaceted, and it can help the clan become better in every aspect.

Even your father is involved, and in a few days, he's going to the capital of the Land of Fire to meet their Daimyo.

Now Kaito wants to set up a basic framework for the Security Department. I've promised him before, and I won't slack off this time.

So, as your former teammate, and you two still maintain a good friendship, I really can't think of anyone else more suitable than you for this task.

So, I'm entrusting this matter to you."

Yaneko looked at Nara Shikaku's full-faced smile, savoring his words about a 'multifaceted partnership' in her mind. She sighed inwardly.

Just as expected, she had been sold out by her uncle.

...

"Hey, hurry up, or we'll be late!"

"What's the rush, even if we get there, we might not have a chance."

"I'll go ahead and check it out."

"Wait, wait for me!"

On the main streets of Konoha, many people were rushing towards the outskirts of the bustling part of Konoha where they seldom went, and clearly, most of these people were ninjas.

Today was a rest day, whether for students or ninjas - apart from the ninjas on duty, patrolling, and those on rotating government service.

What they hadn't expected was to see an announcement first thing in the morning that left everyone surprised.

That was, the Security Department would begin recruiting ninjas of all ranks from today onwards. Once they passed the Security Department's assessment, they could join the department as a member!

If this news had been released a year ago or even half a year ago, perhaps not many people would have been truly interested.

Back then, the Security Department was notorious, no one was willing to suffer there, not even those living in the most difficult circumstances would have considered it a priority.

However, with the continuous changes in the Security Department now, especially the transformations that have occurred in the past half year, everyone could see it.

The Security Department was indeed improving, even exceeding the average person's imagination. Because the members of the Security Department had gone from being universally despised to now being somewhat respected by everyone!

There was someone who had encountered a member of the Security Department during a break, or rather, he had been dealt with by this member of the Security Department.

At that time, he thought he was in trouble, even though rumors had already started circulating about the changes in the Security Department.

But these were just rumors, and everyone didn't know what would happen when it came to them.

To his surprise, he found that the current conduct of the Security Department was indeed just like the rumors suggested. This made him realize one thing, the Security Department had really changed.

So, during his break, he came across a member of the Security Department who was off duty and he started a casual chat with him.

At first, he was worried that this member of the Security Department would ignore him, after all, that guy was a Uchiha.

The result, however, left him feeling amazed. This Uchiha from the Security Department was still very polite, and they even had a great chat.

When he asked 'why did the Security Department undergo such a change', the member of the Security Department didn't hide anything.

"It's because of our clan leader, who is also the head of the Security Department.

He explicitly told us, apart from being Uchihas, we are also members of Konoha.

To gain respect from others, we must first respect others.

The clan leader personally formulated the disciplinary rules and guidelines for the Security Department, and we strictly follow them.

At first, we didn't quite understand, but now we do, and we all really enjoy doing this."

This response surprised him. Naturally, he knew who the current leader of the Uchiha clan was.

After all, who could forget that once genius youth of Konoha, who even led his clan to pressure the Hokage.

He never expected that this young clan leader could bring such positive changes to the clan and the department.

Even the Third Hokage, who had once confronted him, seemed to have let bygones be bygones. It was clear that the clan leader at the time did not kill the wrong person!

"After all, that guy named Danzo has been defined as a traitor of Konoha, and an unforgivable one at that."

This guy shared his conversation with the Security Department ninja when boasting to his friends, and this news spread quickly to every corner of Konoha.

Also due to this incident, many people have become increasingly curious about the Security Department, especially the department's code of conduct and operation guidelines, which many people are eager to get a glimpse of.

However, it was inevitable that the Security Department could not agree to such requests, leaving countless people feeling regretful.

The Security Department has been improving, gaining more and more respect. In fact, some residents would almost always directly seek the department's help when they encountered problems.

And the Security Department, unless they were absolutely unable to help or lacked the time, they would certainly step in to assist, which filled people's hearts with admiration and aspiration for this department.

However, all members of this department were from the Uchiha clan, and there was absolutely no chance for outsiders to enter, leaving these people somewhat disappointed.

Who wouldn't want to be respected by everyone? The Security Department is now clearly a respected profession, and joining it would naturally mean being respected by all.

And today, the Security Department suddenly announced that it would accept non-Uchiha members, how could such news not shock everyone?

Without the need for more words, almost everyone rushed towards the Security Department, especially when they saw that the department's income and benefits were not low.

Formally hired individuals could even learn some ninja techniques. Even if they knew that the conditions for joining the Security Department might be stringent, they couldn't help but try!

For a time, the entrance of the Security Department could be said to be bustling with people, and the registration was incessantly ongoing.

This made the entire Security Department filled with mixed emotions of happiness and helplessness, after all, the arrival of so many people naturally meant that they were doing a great job, and everyone believed in them.

And even if only a few people were to be recruited, it was enough to share their current workload.

But now there were so many people, and they didn't have enough personnel at the Security Department.

They needed to patrol and deal with other matters, and the number of people who stayed behind wasn't large, even using shadow clones, they were overwhelmed!

"Lord Clan Leader, what should we do now?"

In the Security Department's office, Fugaku and Shisui looked at Kaito with bitterness all over their faces.

Though their faces looked helpless and pained, the joy in their eyes was clear.

They, like everyone else, were the embodiment of 'pain and pleasure', after all, the feeling of being recognized and trusted by others was really great.

"Well, I'm out of ideas too. I didn't expect there would be so many people. Doesn't this mean we're doing a good job?"

Kaito spread his hands to express his helplessness, he wasn't being modest, he really had no solution, even using shadow clones, what could he do?

Could they possibly learn from Naruto and perform the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique?

Leaving aside whether they had the ability, just the overload of information they would receive after the clones dispersed could put them in the hospital for a few days.

Kaito dared to leave a shadow clone in Konoha for so long mainly because his physical constitution and spiritual power were strong enough, otherwise, he wouldn't have dared.

Looking at the busy figures, and the people outside continuously filling out applications, Kaito nodded silently in his mind.

He didn't have to come here, but today was the first time the Security Department started recruiting outsiders, he felt he needed to come and see how things were going.

So, he left a shadow clone to drag Naruto and the others who had already gone to rest out for more training, and then rushed over in person.

But looking at it now, his worries seemed a bit excessive, everything at the moment was so satisfactory...

...

"Has that brat started recruiting?"

Within the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen murmured to himself as he looked at the report in his hands.

However, he didn't pay it too much attention. After all, he had already made arrangements for this matter. If Uchiha Kaito dared to recruit, then he was naturally confident in placing his own people within!

A strange feeling always lingered in his heart because things had gone too smoothly this time around.

Uchiha Kaito used the excuse of dealing with the remaining nuisances from the massacre, pressuring Konoha to provide sufficient financial support and even wanted the village to help him recruit.

While these actions didn't align with Sarutobi's planned course of action, they did align with the outcome he had envisioned.

Konoha wouldn't provide the money, but they could help him recruit. Sarutobi's response was fitting for his status and position.

However, it was the smooth progression of events that left Sarutobi feeling uneasy. After all, the smoother things went, the more likely problems would arise.

The issue was that Sarutobi could not figure out what had gone wrong.

He had once suspected a mole within his ranks and also pondered whether Kaito had thought of a way to break his scheme. Thus, he had invested significant efforts in rooting out any moles.

His primary focus was the Anbu, and he first cleared those he trusted, including Kakashi. The investigations of the others also returned clean.

This put his mind at ease somewhat. After careful consideration and seeing no apparent countermeasures from Kaito, he finally reassured himself that it was merely a coincidental result, and things were not as bad as he had initially thought.

"But this kid really has some nerve, having Naruto constantly visiting the Uchiha clan. Who would believe there's no ulterior motive?"

Sarutobi looked at the report in his hands and tossed it aside in frustration.

In his eyes, Uchiha Kaito was an ambitious brat. Starting with the security department's expansion and then Naruto, anyone would suspect ambition if they saw this!

He, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was the Hokage of Konoha, and Konoha was his village. How could he trust and be at peace with someone so ambitious, someone who could bring unrest to his village?

"Sigh....."

However, Sarutobi sighed deeply soon after, realizing that he couldn't openly confront the Uchiha and the security department at the moment.

His approach couldn't be as overt as Uchiha Kaito's. He needed to consider what was best for Konoha.

"For Konoha, I will bear it for now. You can gloat all you want, but let's see who will have the last laugh! Whether it's your security department, your clan, or even your eyes..."

...

"So, you're saying that Kakuzu and Hidan's mission failed, and they are dead, correct?"

Within the Rain Country, Pain's Rinnegan surveyed each person present.

These individuals were a mix of vibrant phantoms and bodies physically present, all appearing particularly solemn at this moment.

Because, their organization, Akatsuki, had suffered losses.

Although the demise of a member wasn't an uncommon occurrence—after all, being a ninja meant living a life of tasting blood on the blade's edge—it wasn't surprising if one day they were alive and well and the next, abruptly dead.

However, this instance was slightly more severe. Their attackers were anonymous individuals from an unknown organization.

Crucially, not only had these attackers defeated Kakuzu and Hidan, they also managed to defeat Orochimaru!

The sudden emergence of such an enigmatic and formidable organization in the Shinobi World was bound to catch the attention of Akatsuki.

"Assuming nothing unexpected happened, they should be dead. I've inspected the scene. Although I didn't find any bodies, the level of devastation..." Orochimaru began to speak, unconsciously licking his lips at the recollection.

That damage spanning hundreds of meters, with a width nearing half a meter, and cracks crisscrossing across the ground, that wasn't something just anyone could do!

Such an attack, so overwhelmingly powerful it left one breathless—he was convinced that such power could only be produced by Susanoo.

After all, he was sure that their adversary was Uchiha Kaito. Only a person with such a pair of eyes could cause such terrifying destruction.

"Do you know who they are?" Pain, after a moment of silence, gazed at Orochimaru indifferently before asking, "Are they specifically targeting us?"

"I don't know who they are. I was no match for them, so I chose to retreat after our encounter," Orochimaru licked his lips. He had no intention of divulging his knowledge to Nagato, for he had never fully trusted Nagato.

His entry into Akatsuki was primarily aimed at Nagato's Rinnegan. Beyond that, he really wasn't interested in anything else.

So, he wasn't going to spill any secrets or share any intel for now.

"However, I do know that they hire war mercenaries. Their actions are merely for monetary gain."

"War mercenaries?" Pain's expression remained indifferent upon hearing this news, but Nagato, the one controlling Pain, raised an eyebrow.

War mercenaries naturally worked for money. Could it be that the opponent's actions were simply due to differing factions within the mercenaries?

Nagato was uncertain about this, but he knew he had to thoroughly investigate the matter.

Killing Akatsuki members, especially those who continuously raised funds for Akatsuki—no matter what, he needed to gain some understanding of such individuals.

If possible, he hoped to recruit them. After all, Akatsuki was short-staffed, and if the opponent was powerful, it would certainly be worth considering.

Of course, if the opponent wasn't willing, he was equally willing to avenge his organization's members. After all, they had killed his most profitable member.

"For now, let's leave it at this. We'll seize an opportunity to investigate who they really are. After all, they've killed our members and caused our mission to fail. They must pay a price for this."

Pain spoke with an aloof tone, his voice cold and attitude lofty, as if he were a deity himself.

"Furthermore, given the shortage of manpower in the organization, let's promote Uchiha Itachi from a standby member to an official one. Biwa Jūzō and his partner will begin gathering intel on the Three-Tails and Six-Tails in the Hidden Mist Village. That's all," Pain declared, shutting his eyes without waiting for any responses. Orochimaru, too, swiftly cut the connection, his tongue flicking over his lips.

He had been contemplating how to counter Uchiha Kaito when he was suddenly interrupted, which indeed left him disgruntled. Now that it was over, he wasn't willing to waste another second.

Uchiha Kaito's power truly exceeded his expectations, a force he longed for deep within. But the fact that such a dangerous individual could handle two immortal beings, although not surprising, indeed stirred something within Orochimaru.

The two could put up a fight even when combined with Orochimaru. He recognized their strength, but their sudden demise left him with mixed feelings.

"It appears that dealing with Uchiha Kaito won't be a simple task," Orochimaru sighed heavily. Although his plans had been laid out and he intended to utilize the formerly deceased against this foe, choosing the right candidate was still troubling.

The best choices would undeniably be the Senju brothers, Hashirama and Tobirama. After all, hidden records showed that one of them could match Uchiha Madara, and the other had once eliminated a Mangekyou.

Furthermore, Orochimaru had readily available cells to summon them, but the question was, how much power would they possess once revived?

"The real issue is that if I were to provide them with superior bodies, they might resist me once they're resurrected, given that the technique was invented by Tobirama Senju himself," he pondered.

Orochimaru was not willing to put himself in jeopardy. As a prodigy in ninjutsu, he knew every technique had its flaws, and he was well aware of the Second Hokage's character.

He believed that the Second Hokage definitely possessed the ability to counter the Reanimation Jutsu. If the revived were too powerful, he wouldn't be able to control them, and they might even backfire. On the other hand, if they were too weak, it would be meaningless.

"It seems that I'll have to put in some effort," Orochimaru thought.

After much deliberation, he finally made a decision. His tongue gently traced over his lips as an image of a figure with blazing scarlet eyes and a wild, unbound spirit appeared in his mind...

//

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