Chapter 300: The Alliance of Snakes and Masks
Inside the Hokage Office in Konohagakure. The midday sun streamed through the window, but the air remained cool and purposeful.
Mei Terumī, having quickly finished the initial, chaotic arrangements for her newly designated 'clan's' settlement, immediately came to report.
She stood in the center of the office, bowing slightly, her demeanor respectful but no longer desperate.
"Hokage-sama."
"The first batch of Hidden Mist villagers and shinobi, totaling over 1,200 people, have all arrived in Konoha's outskirts and have been properly settled in the wooden barracks."
Uchiha Akira's gaze was fixed on the window, overlooking the thriving Village.
"Very good, Mei." Akira nodded with satisfaction. "Efficiency is appreciated."
Mei Terumī straightened up, clasping her hands before her. She quietly awaited further instructions.
Then, Akira's voice rang out again.
"Next, I will arrange for the Hidden Mist shinobi to conduct tactical cooperation with the Hyūga Clan."
Mei Terumī was slightly stunned. The Hyūga Clan?
Konoha's oldest noble clan, renowned in the Shinobi World for their peerless Byakugan (White Eye).
Akira continued, explaining the ruthless logic of his plan. "The Hyūga's Byakugan possesses super long-range, 360-degree perception and X-ray vision."
"You, of the Hidden Mist, specialize in forest combat, utilizing Kirigakure no Jutsu (Hidden Mist Jutsu) and Sairi (Silent Killing Jutsu)."
"One side is responsible for reconnaissance and targeting, the other for assassination and elimination. A perfect synergy."
Mei Terumī instantly understood the terrifying potential of this tactical combination.
Under the continuous guidance of the Byakugan, the Hidden Mist's assassination unit would undoubtedly be the enemy's nightmare.
"This is an excellent tactical concept, Hokage-sama." Mei Terumī praised sincerely. "A stroke of genius."
She then changed the subject, a hint of necessary pragmatism in her tone.
"However, Hokage-sama..."
"The Hidden Mist Division is new here, with everything needing to be rebuilt, and most of our clansmen can barely maintain basic living standards..."
"I hope Hokage-sama can provide an initial batch of supplies and financial assistance to help us overcome this difficulty."
She looked at Akira's back with some trepidation. This was the moment she asked for the quid pro quo—the supplies needed to feed and house her people.
"You may have the supplies." Akira turned his chair, his gaze falling on Mei Terumī's beautiful, determined face.
"Just provide a detailed list of what you need—food, water purification, basic materials—to Lady Tsunade. She will handle the logistics."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!" Mei Terumī bowed again in genuine gratitude.
Akira raised his hand, signaling her not to be so formal.
"Summon Hyūga Hiashi."
Whoosh!
An Anbu Ninja instantly appeared in the office, kneeling on one knee.
"Yes!" The Anbu acknowledged the order, and his figure vanished again.
Not long after, the office door was knocked.
"Enter."
Hyūga Hiashi walked in with a characteristically serious expression.
He first respectfully bowed to Uchiha Akira. "Hokage-sama."
Then, his gaze swept over Mei Terumī standing nearby, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. A woman from the Hidden Mist? Why is she here, so close to the Hokage?
Akira ignored Hiashi's internal questions and directly issued his command.
"Hiashi."
"Starting today, the Hyūga Clan will dispatch 300 elite shinobi—those proficient in perception and tracking—to cooperate in combat with the Hidden Mist Division's ninja."
Hyūga Hiashi's body trembled slightly, and a flicker of understanding passed through his eyes.
As one of the first clans to pledge allegiance to Uchiha Akira, Hiashi was well aware of the Hokage-sama's cold, efficient way of doing things.
Combining the Hyūga's perception with the Hidden Mist's assassination techniques was indeed the best plan to maximize both sides' advantages. It was a perfect, deadly blend.
Hiashi did not hesitate. He immediately bowed to accept the order.
"As you command, sir. We will select the teams immediately."
This reaction—the immediate, unquestioning acceptance—slightly surprised Mei Terumī, who was standing by.
She clearly remembered the cold, almost lethal killing intent emanating from this man (Hiashi) at the Village entrance just a few days ago.
Yet now, facing the Hokage's command, he showed no resentment whatsoever? Only absolute obedience?
A faint, knowing smile appeared on Uchiha Akira's face.
"Very good." He looked at the two and reiterated his strategic intention, making it a final, binding warning.
"The Byakugan's perception, combined with the Hidden Mist's Silent Killing Jutsu, is a perfect combination. It is a terrifying weapon."
"The Hyūga are responsible for seeing. The Hidden Mist are responsible for killing."
Akira's gaze swept over Hyūga Hiashi and Mei Terumī simultaneously. "I do not wish to see any unpleasant friction, any internal conflict, or any disrespect between the Hyūga and the Hidden Mist going forward."
"Do you understand what I mean?"
Hyūga Hiashi stiffened, bowing again. "I understand, sir! I will certainly restrain my clansmen and ensure absolute cooperation!"
Mei Terumī also immediately bowed.
"The Kirigakure Division will perfectly execute Hokage-sama's orders and respect the Hyūga's contribution!"
Land of Rice Fields (田の国, Ta no Kuni).
In the gloomy, overgrown forest, the air was filled with a damp, rotten smell of earth and decay.
The inconspicuous entrance to an underground base was cleverly concealed by massive, gnarled tree roots and a layer of earth jutsu.
This was one of Orochimaru's many hideouts—a deep laboratory complex.
Suddenly.
Not far from this base, a strange, swirling vortex, pitch-black against the humid air, appeared out of thin air on the ground.
From within the vortex, the masked figure of Uchiha Obito emerged. His posture was tense, wary.
Then, Black Zetsu (黒ゼツ, Kuro Zetsu) also seeped out from the shadow of a nearby tree trunk, moving like liquid shadow.
"Obito."
"White Zetsu's Kagerō no Jutsu (Mayfly Technique) has already infiltrated the deep layers. Orochimaru is in the main laboratory on the lowest level, working on his experiments."
[Inorin's Note: Kagerō no Jutsu is a technique that allows Zetsu to merge with the ground, making him undetectable.]
Black Zetsu chuckled sinisterly, the sound dry and rasping.
"That Orochimaru fellow is not a good, stable partner for cooperation. Too restless. Too ambitious."
"Obito, to make him completely yours, to ensure his compliance, you must give him a lesson he'll never forget."
Obito snorted coldly. "Just a venomous snake playing with science."
"However, I had the same idea."
"For such a restless, treacherous fellow, he indeed needs a profound, immediate lesson in humility and power!"
Killing intent—sharp, focused, absolute—was fully apparent in Obito's single visible eye (the Sharingan).
He said no more. He coldly raised his hand, channeling his Mangekyō power.
The space in front began to twist and distort violently. A pitch-black, swirling vortex appeared out of thin air, rapidly widening.
Then, Uchiha Obito's figure was instantly swallowed by the vortex... entering his target directly.
Inside the gloomy, damp underground laboratory.
The air was humid, heavy. Only the eerie green light from the massive nutrient tanks flickered erratically across the walls, casting dancing shadows.
A faint, almost imperceptible scent of blood and chemicals permeated the air.
On a cold, metal operating table, a restrained, twitching experimental subject was experiencing subtle, final spasms.
Orochimaru, standing over the table, extended his crimson tongue, licking his lips in anticipation.
This human experiment was very successful. Only the final, crucial step of chakra integration remained.
However, before Orochimaru could proceed with the final step...
Buzz!
A pitch-black, swirling vortex appeared out of thin air within the center of the laboratory, distorting the eerie green light.
"Who?!"
Orochimaru's slit, reptilian pupils instantly contracted. His body reacted instantly, purely on instinct.
Almost the moment the vortex appeared, his signature Ninjutsu—Sen'ei Jashu (Hidden Shadow Snake Hands)—shot out!
Hiss—!
Dozens of white, venomous snakes burst forth from his sleeves and fingertips, striking directly at the center of the vortex!
Any intruder into this private, sacred laboratory would become Orochimaru's new experimental material!
"Fools who don't know their place," a cold, muffled voice echoed from the vortex.
The next instant.
Those dozens of venomous snakes passed directly through the center of the vortex, without any obstruction, without making contact with the person emerging!
The cruel smile on Orochimaru's face instantly, utterly froze! His reptilian eyes widened in shock.
He knew that technique. He knew that mask. He knew that impossible Space-Time anomaly.
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