Just as Yusuke had expected.
In the end, Tsunade still couldn't bring herself to deliver the killing blow to her former teammate, Orochimaru.
Clenching her fists and grinding her teeth, she turned and walked away.
"Tch. How boring. Yusuke, I'll leave this disgusting bastard to you. Do whatever you want with him…"
Watching her retreating figure, Yusuke shook his head slightly.
"So in the end, you still couldn't finish him off… Too soft."
If Tsunade had truly wanted Orochimaru dead, it would have been effortless.
Had she attacked with genuine killing intent, Orochimaru wouldn't be lying here in relatively intact condition.
He would have already been reduced to a puddle of flesh.
With Tsunade gone, Yusuke stepped forward and nudged the mud-like figure at his feet with the tip of his boot.
"Hey. You dead yet?"
Orochimaru didn't move.
There was no reaction at all.
At this point, even if he wanted to speak, he likely couldn't.
Yusuke frowned.
"Troublesome… Tsunade really does know how to dump her mess on me and walk off carefree."
He let out a light sigh.
"Fine. I'll deal with it."
Drawing his blade halfway, Yusuke spoke casually.
"Orochimaru, judging by your condition, you're not going to last much longer. Must be painful, huh? I'll send you on your way. Consider it mercy."
"Cough! Cough—khh—!"
At that moment, Orochimaru's body twitched, and a faint, hoarse cough escaped his lips.
The corner of Yusuke's mouth curled upward.
Playing dead in front of me?
Nice try.
"Oh? Still breathing. Tough life you've got there, Orochimaru."
He slid the blade back into its sheath, his tone laced with faint amusement.
Orochimaru's body writhed unnaturally, serpentine in its movements. With visible effort, he forced open his swollen, bloodshot eyes.
"Yusuke-kun… please… show mercy…"
His voice was hoarse and weak.
"You killed the Third Hokage. Why should I spare you?" Yusuke asked flatly.
Orochimaru fell silent.
The logic was undeniable.
The Third Hokage had been Konoha's supreme leader. As the Uchiha Clan Head and Director of the Konoha Military Police Force, Uchiha Yusuke had every reason—morally and politically—to execute him.
After a moment of strained silence, Orochimaru finally rasped,
"What would it take… for you to spare me, Yusuke-kun?"
He wasn't a fool.
If Yusuke had truly intended to kill him, he would have done so already. And if he had no intention of letting him leave either, then clearly—
He wanted something.
Yusuke smiled.
Smart.
"Your research is… interesting," Yusuke said casually. "I've been thinking of establishing a Scientific Research Institute. I need someone to help run it. And I'll require all of your experimental data."
Whatever else could be said, as the foremost scientist in the shinobi world, Orochimaru's research held tremendous value.
The Living Corpse Reincarnation Technique.
Research on Hashirama Cells.
The development of the Cursed Seal.
Ninja ability transplantation.
And in the future—cloning technology.
In terms of scientific innovation, Orochimaru was nothing short of a genius.
Yusuke appreciated talent.
"Yusuke-kun… are you recruiting me?" Orochimaru asked weakly.
"You could see it that way."
"Do I have the option to refuse?"
Yusuke chuckled.
"What do you think?"
"I'll give you one more chance."
If Orochimaru foolishly refused, Yusuke wouldn't hesitate to kill him personally.
The idea of establishing a Scientific Research Institute had been a sudden whim—an interest, nothing more.
It wasn't as though Orochimaru was absolutely indispensable.
Though killing him would indeed be a waste.
After weighing the pros and cons, Orochimaru ultimately chose survival.
However, he made a request.
"Yusuke-kun… you must not restrict my personal freedom. And…"
"The institute must be established outside Konoha. It will make acquiring research materials… more convenient."
Yusuke agreed.
"That's acceptable. But before anything else, you will hand over all of your experimental data and results. I'll arrange someone to coordinate with you."
He paused, his voice turning cold.
"One more thing. I won't interfere with your choice of experimental materials—but you are absolutely forbidden from laying a hand on anyone from Konoha. If you do…"
"I will personally kill you."
Orochimaru met his gaze and gave a slight nod.
"I understand. I will exercise caution."
With the arrangements settled, there was no need to linger.
As Yusuke turned to leave, he glanced toward a nearby direction.
"The little rat hiding over there. You can come out now."
"If you don't treat your master soon, Orochimaru really will die."
From within the ruins, a battered figure wearing glasses crawled out—it was Yakushi Kabuto.
Kabuto forced a bitter smile inwardly.
He had thought his concealment was sufficient. Yet before this man, he was nothing more than a laughable clown.
Seeing Kabuto reminded Yusuke of his own ANBU First Squad Captain—Nono.
More than a decade ago, after Yusuke eliminated Danzō and brought Nono under his command, Kabuto had instead been lured away by Orochimaru, eventually becoming a missing-nin who followed him.
In terms of manipulating hearts and washing minds, Orochimaru was undeniably skilled.
Yusuke didn't even spare Kabuto a proper glance before leaving.
Only after Uchiha Yusuke's figure disappeared did Kabuto finally release the breath he had been holding.
There was no helping it.
Uchiha Yusuke was terrifying.
Someone like him could erase a minor figure like Kabuto with a casual flick of the hand.
"Orochimaru-sama, how are you?"
Kabuto hurried forward, knelt down, and helped him up.
"Kabuto… take me back to the base. Prepare that vessel. I must use it…"
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama. But…"
"Shouldn't we wait? Find a more suitable vessel?"
"This body… won't last…"
"…Understood."
...
In a remote corner of Konoha's forest, the battle between Naruto and Gaara was still raging.
After dealing with Orochimaru, Yusuke sensed the tremendous disturbance from that direction and initially considered heading over.
But after a moment's thought, he dismissed the idea.
"Forget it. I'll leave it to Naruto."
Though Naruto could be reckless at times, Yusuke trusted him.
Under his guidance, Naruto was already far stronger than in the original timeline.
If he couldn't even handle the One-Tail, then Yusuke would feel embarrassed to call himself his teacher.
As for the growth of Naruto, Sasuke, and the rest of the Konoha Twelve, Yusuke had no intention of interfering too much.
Over-managing them would only stunt their development.
High atop a massive tree—
Sasuke stared in shock at the clash between Gamabunta and Shukaku.
A battle of such colossal scale—almost like towering war machines colliding—was overwhelming for someone witnessing it for the first time.
Especially…
Seeing Naruto standing atop Gamabunta's head stirred an inexplicable feeling within Sasuke.
A mix of envy and jealousy.
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