Souma gave Yakushi Kabuto a strange look.
This guy's emotions had suddenly surged.
What's he thinking?
Souma narrowed his eyes and said calmly,
"You're very clear about my position and standing in Konoha. Even ANBU listens to me to a certain extent. So… don't do anything behind my back."
"Lord Souma, how would I dare do anything else?"
Kabuto lowered his head, hiding the excitement on his face.
Just as expected.
He had long felt that Souma wasn't as pure and harmless as he appeared. Keeping him alive definitely served a deeper purpose—and now…
Everything made sense.
The wager succeeded. He used the Second Hokage to kill Orochimaru, then used him to absorb Orochimaru's research results, his village, and his remaining forces.
Borrowing momentum. Riding the current.
Impressive.
Thinking this, Kabuto bent even lower and continued,
"I was just thinking… Sound Village still has quite a bit of research material left behind by Orochimaru-sama. I wonder if you need it?"
"Research materials…"
Souma thought for a long while.
Most of Orochimaru's data was actually very useful. It saved him the trouble of doing the groundwork himself—many things could be used after a few tweaks.
Throwing it away would be a complete waste.
Besides, he was rather interested in Sound-based Ninjutsu.
Sound techniques differed subtly from conventional ninjutsu.
Fire Release, Earth Release, and the like required elemental transformations. Sound techniques, however, relied more on chakra vibrations to generate special sound waves, without involving elemental changes at all.
No reason not to take it.
Souma nodded lightly.
"Good. Help me collect it all. Anything related to Edo Tensei, burn it completely. Leave no trace."
"Yes!"
Kabuto lowered his head, then cautiously raised it a little.
"Then… what about Orochimaru-sama's immortality techniques?"
"No need. Destroy those as well."
As Souma spoke, his eyes narrowed slightly.
With a silent command, a kikaichū flew out from his sleeve and slipped into Kabuto's body.
Kabuto didn't resist.
Killing the insect wouldn't be hard—but if he did that, he would completely lose Souma's trust. The next time they met, he'd be dead for sure.
Right now, he didn't want to leave Souma.
Strangely enough, Kabuto wasn't that afraid being around him.
Although Souma had placed layers of restrictions and precautions on him, every single one was done openly, right in front of him, without concealment.
That meant—
All the rules were on the table.
Break them, and you die.
As long as Kabuto didn't stir up trouble, Souma had no reason to kill him.
On the contrary, if Souma showed no caution at all and let him work freely, Kabuto would've thought him naïve and childish.
"By the way," Kabuto asked, "what about Orochimaru-sama's subordinates?"
"Keep them," Souma replied.
"But their mindset needs to be corrected. Make them work seriously, stop obsessing over crooked paths, and use Curse Mark power less."
Then Souma thought of Guren.
That Crystal Release kunoichi had been rather loyal to Orochimaru.
After a moment's thought, he added,
"For those who were loyal to Orochimaru, persuade them however you see fit. In short—stop them from wanton killing. Doing good, helping the country grow strong, is far better than anything else."
"Yes. I understand."
Kabuto bowed deeply.
He understood now.
Souma's strategy was completely different from Orochimaru's.
Orochimaru followed the battlefield mindset—invade, plunder, overpower.
Souma, however, always expanded a project until everyone benefited from it. Over time, people would naturally be willing to follow him.
The Aburame clan.
The Yamanaka clan.
If he could later pull in the Hyūga clan as well, Souma becoming Hokage would only be a matter of time—even the Third Hokage wouldn't be able to stop it.
When that day came…
Konoha within, Sound Village without—who could stand against that?
As for Orochimaru?
Sorry. I've found a new path.
Kabuto's lips curved upward faintly.
"Oh, right," Souma added, "when you go back, remind them they can use absorption barriers. Let patients output chakra to replenish the medics. Otherwise, unless it's Lady Tsunade, no one can sustain that level of consumption."
He paused, then continued,
"Also make use of the Aburame clan's medical kikaichū. For basic treatment, they're far more efficient than human medics."
"As expected of you," Kabuto said, his face lighting up with realization and excitement.
"I'll pass your teachings on to them."
In truth, Kabuto had thought of many of these ideas himself.
But as a mere genin on the surface, proposing them would draw too much attention. So he had kept them buried.
"All right. Go do your work. I still have other matters to attend to."
With business concluded, Souma didn't linger.
On the surface, his relationship with Kabuto wasn't that close. A bit of guidance was already the limit—spending too long alone together would only arouse suspicion.
We can communicate through kikaichū later, Souma thought.
Orochimaru wasn't completely dead, but that didn't stop him from looting his house. When Orochimaru eventually resurfaced, he probably wouldn't even need these things anymore.
Now—
Souma expanded his perception and found the Third Hokage with Rasa.
Not a good time to approach him.
He continued searching.
Finally—
He found his target.
Uchiha Sasuke.
"I originally planned to send Sasuke to Orochimaru for further training," Souma muttered inwardly.
"That's obviously impossible now. But letting him stay with Kakashi might not work either…"
Kakashi was certainly qualified to teach Sasuke.
But Kakashi himself still needed further cultivation. With Sasuke tagging along, both of their growth would be limited.
After much thought, Souma still had no clear answer.
Then—
"Maybe ANBU… or Root would be a good choice."
Souma suddenly realized—
Danzō was dead.
Root was now leaderless.
He could simply take it over.
Of course, he wouldn't continue Root's original model.
Root's full name was ANBU Training Division. It was originally meant to train ANBU operatives. Only later did Danzō twist it into his personal power base.
It was time to return it to its original purpose.
There, many techniques could be implemented at his discretion—without needing the Third Hokage's approval for everything.
With his plan settled, Souma quickened his pace.
Outside Konoha Hospital, he saw Kakashi standing at the entrance, book in hand.
But one glance was enough to tell Kakashi wasn't actually reading.
Who reads without turning pages, eyes drifting everywhere?
"Kakashi-sensei. What are you thinking about?"
"Souma, huh."
Kakashi closed the book and returned to his usual demeanor, then paused.
"Why are you here? Did the Third Hokage summon me? Oh right—you were with the First and Second Hokage earlier. What's the situation now?"
"The two Hokage have returned to the Pure Land. I'm not here on the Third's orders—I just wanted to check on you and Sasuke."
At the mention of Sasuke, Kakashi's expression turned worried.
"Sasuke's inside. Physically he's fine—he even went out earlier and killed a few enemies. But…"
"That's exactly why I'm here."
Souma stepped closer and briefly told Kakashi about Orochimaru's death.
Kakashi froze.
"Orochimaru… just died like that?"
"What else could happen?" Souma replied calmly.
"Edo Tensei combined with the Spirit Transformation Technique—the Second Hokage really had ideas. A shame they were all forbidden techniques."
"..."
Kakashi felt an indescribable sense of disillusionment.
Ever since childhood—when he was ordered to intercept Orochimaru and was utterly crushed—he had regarded Orochimaru as invincible.
Yet over the past year or two…
That myth had been torn apart piece by piece.
Until now—when Orochimaru fell to his own creation.
Absurd.
Kakashi laughed softly.
"Souls of the dead really shouldn't be toyed with. The First Hokage was right to label it a forbidden technique."
"Come on. I'll take you to see Sasuke."
Kakashi led Souma into the hospital.
Outside the ward, Sasuke had already packed his things. Another injured shinobi was hurriedly carried inside.
Kakashi wasn't surprised.
With Sunagakure surrendering, many of their wounded needed Konoha's help. The hospital was under immense pressure.
Souma glanced around.
Inside the hospital and wards were all Konoha shinobi. Sand shinobi were mostly lying out on the streets.
The medical division leader was so busy he looked ready to split into shadow clones.
"Sensei… and you?"
Sasuke looked up, startled to see the two of them together.
What was going on?
"I saw everything you did in the Forest of Death," Souma said.
"Let's talk outside. There are some things I think we should properly discuss."
Sasuke was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Okay."
Kakashi wanted to say something—but after thinking it over, he sighed and stayed silent.
Perhaps he wasn't the right one to speak.
"I'll go get Naruto. I'll take him to eat something too," Kakashi said.
"That works."
Souma nodded.
Given Naruto's injuries, he should've recovered long ago. The only explanation was—
He'd gone out and fought again, just like Sasuke.
Tch.
Souma headed outside.
Sasuke followed him to a quiet corner.
Souma spoke first.
"You're conflicted about whether to go to Orochimaru, aren't you?"
"..."
Sasuke's silence was answer enough.
"Do you feel the team system doesn't suit you?"
"No."
Sasuke broke the silence after several attempts, finally saying in a low voice,
"It just… isn't fast enough."
"Friendship can be addictive, right?"
"…Yeah."
Sasuke glanced back toward the hospital.
Naruto. Sakura.
From mutual rejection to being willing to risk their lives for each other—the growth of Team Seven and its bonds were carved into his memory.
But—
He was a man of revenge.
At this pace…
Soon enough, he wouldn't even be a match for Naruto—let alone Uchiha Itachi.
"I've studied the Uchiha," Souma said calmly.
"Beating Itachi is, frankly, extremely difficult."
"..."
Sasuke clenched his fists, his gaze razor-sharp.
"Strength is inseparable from battle and slaughter," Souma continued.
"Shinobi of peaceful eras, aside from a few exceptions, can't compare to those forged in wartime."
He had no intention of coddling Sasuke.
Sasuke needed to understand the gap between himself and Itachi. Otherwise, no amount of training would matter.
This kid's intermittent arrogance was honestly baffling.
So—
First, crush him. Then guide him.
After several deep breaths, Sasuke finally exhaled slowly and forced himself to calm down.
"Yes. I admit the gap is huge. But—but—damn it! Why did Orochimaru have to die?!"
"The Curse Mark can't help you. Neither can Orochimaru."
"Then what am I supposed to do? Give up on revenge? Damn it, I'm too weak—if only…"
Sasuke began to spiral.
Souma watched quietly. Only when Sasuke calmed down a bit did he speak again.
"Do you really think you can defeat Itachi by relying on self-destructive external power? Itachi is a true genius. That kind of strength won't kill him."
"…You have a way?"
"Have you heard of ANBU?"
"ANBU?!"
Sasuke's eyes widened.
Of course he had.
"ANBU missions are harsher. There's far more combat and killing," Souma said.
"If there's a chance for you to receive ANBU training, would you be willing to join?"
"As long as I can become stronger, I'll do anything!"
"I'm only giving you an opportunity. Whether you can enter or not depends on you."
Souma smiled faintly.
"Sasuke—only through self-reliance and strength can you defeat a terrifying opponent."
"I understand!"
Uchiha Sasuke's eyes sharpened.
How strong Yagyū Souma truly was, Sasuke didn't know.
But what he said—
Was absolutely right.
If he stayed in a team, he'd gradually be softened by bonds. Defeating Itachi would be impossible.
Entering ANBU, however—
At least offered a sliver of hope.
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