The mask came off, and the Transformation Technique was released.
The pale-faced Orochimaru appeared right in front of Mikami Yuu, and the snake-like, gloomy aura radiating from him made Yuu's breathing hitch and his heartbeat spike.
"I was planning to play with you a little longer, but… let's leave it here for now. Mikami-kun, you've got even more talent as a ninja than I imagined."
Orochimaru licked his lips and spoke in that eerie tone of his.
"...Thank you for the praise, Orochimaru-sama. I'm not worthy of it."
Mikami Yuu suppressed the shock in his heart and responded politely.
So it was Orochimaru…
That explained it. That explained everything.
At this point in time, Orochimaru was not yet the unbalanced specialist who got hard-countered by Mangekyō users.
Right now, he was in his thirties or forties, in the prime of his life. He had only a few years earlier earned great merit in the Second Shinobi War, and he had not yet messed up his soul by playing around with Curse Marks and Living Corpse Reincarnation. In every sense, he was a true Kage-level powerhouse.
Even Jiraiya might not necessarily be his match right now.
So the fact that Yuu had been completely suppressed was only natural.
But…
What exactly did this guy want?
"Well, it looks like you've got a lot of questions for me, but this isn't the place for a long talk. Someone will be here soon because of that signal flare you launched."
Orochimaru licked his lips and said calmly, "The only thing I can tell you is that the owner of this mask is someone else. That is the person who truly has their eyes on you. I just happened to pass by and borrowed his identity to have a little fun with you. If you want to know more of the truth…"
"Then come find me at the lab. I'll be waiting there."
With that, Orochimaru sank into the ground and vanished.
A moment later, several figures in dark green Konoha flak jackets, all with the Uchiha fan crest on their sleeves, rushed over from the other side of the forest and landed beside Mikami Yuu.
"What happened here? What was that signal flare about?"
Half an hour later, Mikami Yuu walked out of the Konoha Military Police headquarters.
That was right. The people who had responded to the flare were all members of the Military Police Force — in other words, Uchiha clan members. Technically, incidents inside the village were part of their jurisdiction, and because Yuu had been training near the Naka River, they were the first to arrive.
Even though Yuu had trimmed and edited the story a bit, saying the flare was "accidentally triggered," the Uchiha still took him back to headquarters, questioned him for ages, and made a formal report.
Honestly, Yuu was a little speechless about the whole thing.
After all, he couldn't exactly dump the blame on Orochimaru. That would've been like dragging the presiding judge into court and accusing him on the spot. So he could only admit it was his own mistake.
Luckily, his background was spotless — graduated first in the Ninja Academy, personally taught a jutsu by Hiruzen, trained under Namikaze Minato, favored by Tsunade, teamed with an Uchiha like Obito, and with a father who had bled for Konoha. He was practically the model Konoha loyalist.
So in the end, they only gave him a token scolding.
Once the formalities were over, Uchiha Fugaku, who was currently serving as a unit captain in the police force, personally walked him out.
"Ahem, Genin Mikami, that was just procedure. Don't take it personally. Actually, Namika… I mean, Minato and I are friends. We eat together fairly often."
"So you're Uncle Fugaku. I've heard Minato-sensei mention you a lot too. He says you're one of Konoha's top Fire Release users."
Yuu immediately switched into full business-flattery mode.
Fugaku blinked. "Minato… really says that about me?"
"Of course. Minato-sensei really respects you."
Compliments go a long way.
There was no way Fugaku was going to run off and verify every word with Minato, and the two of them probably did get along pretty well anyway, so Yuu saying that wasn't really a problem.
Fugaku was clearly pleased. "Ah, it's all just reputation. With the Third Hokage, Jiraiya-sama, and so many people around, how could I count as a true expert… Though I think I heard Minato say you've got talent in both Fire Release and swordsmanship?"
"Hm?"
Yuu hesitated slightly.
Fugaku continued, "That works out well. Our Uchiha clan specializes in both of those too. We've got a few kids around your age in the clan — maybe you could spar with them sometime and let's see what level Minato's disciple is at."
"I wouldn't dare. It should be me asking the clan's children to generously give me pointers."
Yuu replied.
"Haha, this kid really knows how to talk. Way better than Obito."
Fugaku had probably just been making polite conversation at first, but after a few more exchanges, he found Yuu increasingly likable, and his tone grew more sincere.
"You're Obito's teammate, so feel free to come by the Uchiha district whenever you want. I'm usually around on weekends — I can help ask those boys."
"Then thank you very much, Uncle Fugaku."
After leaving the police headquarters, Mikami Yuu stopped in the middle of a Konoha street, looked up at the sun for a while, then let out a long sigh and turned toward the Konoha Research Institute.
At this point, he had already more or less figured out what had happened today.
But he still had to go see Orochimaru.
Because under normal circumstances, Mikami Yuu shouldn't know any of the so-called "truth."
And presumably…
With Tsunade and Minato backing him, Orochimaru probably wouldn't dare do anything too outrageous to him.
Probably.
At that very moment, in one of the labs inside the Konoha Research Institute, surrounded by precision instruments and experimental specimens, Shimura Danzo stood leaning on his cane, suppressing his anger as he stared coldly at the man in front of him.
"Orochimaru! You'd better have a proper explanation for why you interfered with Root's assessment and contact with Mikami Yuu!"
"Oh?"
Orochimaru didn't even turn around. He remained at the microscope, observing a culture dish, and only narrowed his eyes slightly as a faint smile curved his lips.
"So it's Danzō-sama. You came all the way here in such a fury over something this trivial?"
"Trivial?"
Danzo frowned, his anger flaring. "I am selecting suitable seedlings for Root, guiding them down the proper path, making Konoha's great tree grow more lush and strong. This concerns Konoha's future!
If you dare interfere even in something like this, are you challenging Root's authority?
"Don't forget who helped you reach your current position!"
"You're overstating things, Danzō-sama."
Orochimaru finally turned around and licked his lips. "We're both people who walk in the shadows. Why bother wrapping it in such lofty language? I'll be direct: that brat Mikami Yuu has the potential to become a researcher. Throwing him into Root to become an obedient blade would be a waste."
"Only with me can his value truly be brought out."
"And…"
Orochimaru paused.
"Don't forget — that child's squad leader is Namikaze Minato, the increasingly famous Yellow Flash. Jiraiya, that fool, looks ready to pass down his legacy to him, and Hiruzen-sensei seems to regard him very highly as well. If he goes on to earn major accomplishments in the coming war…"
"What do you think will happen?"
"You mean…"
Danzo narrowed his eye, finally grasping the key point.
"You think Namikaze Minato may end up competing with you for the position of Fourth Hokage?"
~~~
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