During the following period, Shinju used the Flying Thunder God Technique to scout various checkpoints of the race, but he couldn't find any trace of the Wagarashi family's participants.
Just as Shinju began to wonder if they had already reached the finish line, Morino Idate finally arrived at the Todoroki Shrine with Naruto and Sasuke's help.
Afterward, Idate retrieved the Jewel enshrined within the Todoroki Shrine and hurried to the Grand Shrine on the opposite island to complete the offering.
The ritual was completed safely without incident.
With that, the Wasabi family successfully won this year's race and earned the governing rights over Degarashi Port.
"Hey, you filthy ninja! Where are the participants from the Wagarashi family?! Did you guys get them killed?!"
The Wagarashi family head pointed angrily at Shinju's nose, furious that their participants had yet to return.
Shinju slowly raised his head and locked eyes with the clan head.
In the next instant—
Crack!
The finger that the Wagarashi family head was pointing at Shinju suddenly froze solid, encased entirely in ice!
"I don't know," Shinju replied with a faint smile, shaking his head.
Boom!
The frozen finger exploded into shards of ice!
"AAAHHHH—!!"
The clan head screamed in agony.
Up on the stands, the feudal lord glanced briefly at the screaming Wagarashi family head, then shifted his gaze toward the red-haired young ninja, Shinju, before loudly announcing:
"Alright then, I hereby declare the Wasabi family the winners! For the next four years, they will have full governing rights over Degarashi Port!"
Morino Idate and Wasabi Jirocho immediately embraced in excitement, celebrating this hard-earned victory.
With their mission successfully completed, Shinju and his team were preparing to return home.
Before leaving, Wasabi Jirocho, grateful for Shinju's contribution, prepared a generous red envelope for the three of them.
However, the trio politely refused.
First, it was against protocol. Second, they had gained far too much during this mission already—they didn't need the money.
After all, just capturing the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki alone was enough to keep them wealthy for a lifetime.
...
At sea.
Inside a Lightning Release sealing barrier set up by Killer B, the Wagarashi family's participants were still trapped, on the verge of tears.
"Somebody save me! ꒦ິ^꒦ິ"
...
Otogakure.
Inside Orochimaru's secret laboratory.
At this moment, Orochimaru was lying weakly on a hospital bed, his face pale, as he spoke softly to Kabuto at his side:
"This body… I've used it long enough. The rejection is setting in. It's time to change to a new one."
He licked his lips slightly, his voice turning low and cold.
"We must bring Shinju here as soon as possible… I want that boy's body."
Even in his weakened state, Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with hunger when speaking about Shinju.
With that body, he believed he could uncover the mysteries of ninjutsu even faster.
Compared to it, every other kekkei genkai would pale into insignificance!
"That… might be difficult," Kabuto replied, looking troubled.
"According to the latest intel from our spy network, Shinju's squad has captured the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki… Killer B."
Orochimaru: (⊙o⊙)
A perfect Jinchuriki. Orochimaru knew better than anyone what that meant.
That was unquestionable Kage-level combat power.
Hearing this, Orochimaru instantly realized he wouldn't be getting Shinju's body anytime soon.
Even if Otogakure poured in all its forces, there was no guarantee they could capture someone like Shinju…
Still, Orochimaru's gaze burned with desire as he whispered:
"That boy Shinju… keeps surprising me."
Kabuto pushed up his glasses and added another bombshell:
"There's something else that may surprise you even more, Orochimaru-sama. During the battle against Killer B, Shinju reportedly used a kekkei genkai… Ice Release."
Orochimaru: (∑°Д°)
"Impossible! That boy… he shouldn't have any Ice Release bloodline at all!"
For a researcher of biological sciences like Orochimaru, this was utterly baffling.
"I've looked into his past," Kabuto explained. "During a mission to the Land of Waves, Shinju once fought an Ice Release user. Perhaps he learned it back then?"
Orochimaru immediately shook his head.
"Ridiculous!"
"Kekkei genkai exist precisely because they're nearly impossible to acquire through learning!"
"Nature transformation-based kekkei genkai come from merging two chakra natures into a new release. Once successful, the resulting ninjutsu gets imprinted into a ninja's genes and passed down through bloodlines…"
Kabuto frowned slightly and raised a counterpoint:
"But it's not always impossible to learn, right? For example, the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure mastered Dust Release, a technique created by the First Tsuchikage himself—an evolution beyond kekkei genkai."
Orochimaru sank into thought.
"True… but he had direct guidance from the First Tsuchikage. Developing a new release requires extreme precision in chakra nature balance and control. The learning process is unimaginably difficult…"
"Besides… Konoha has never produced an Ice Release user."
The more he thought about it, the deeper Orochimaru's headache grew.
"We'll deal with that mystery later."
"For now, what matters most is my new body. If Shinju is out of the question, then… Sasuke will do. I desire the Sharingan just as much."
It was a compromise, but a strategic one.
Abducting Sasuke from Konoha would be far simpler than capturing Shinju.
First, Sasuke carried a deep, unhealed hatred—he was destined to walk into darkness.
Second, Orochimaru had already branded Sasuke with the Cursed Seal of Heaven. Once Sasuke tasted its power, his thirst for strength would drive him to leave willingly.
"Send Jirobo and the others," Orochimaru ordered.
Kabuto hesitated. "But sending the four of them straight into Konoha… isn't that suicide?"
After all, Konoha was still the strongest of the Five Great Villages, home to countless jōnin and chūnin.
"Don't worry," Orochimaru replied confidently. "Most of Konoha's jōnin and chūnin are currently deployed on missions. The village is thinly defended. Jirobo's team can handle it."
"And what about Shinju?" Kabuto asked quietly.
"Even Orochimaru-sama can't defeat that boy. If they encounter him, they—"
"If Sasuke truly seeks power… he'll find a way," Orochimaru interrupted, a confident smirk forming on his lips.
"To be betrayed by a trusted comrade… I wonder how that boy will handle it."
"You really trust Sasuke that much?" Kabuto pressed.
Orochimaru turned his back on him.
"Kabuto, you've spoken enough for today. I'm tired. Leave me."
Kabuto bowed slightly and exited to pass along Orochimaru's orders to the Sound Four.
Inside the laboratory, Orochimaru's snake-like pupils glimmered with a crimson light. His long tongue slid across his lips as his expression turned eager.
"Shinju… how far can you go?"
"In this entire world… perhaps only you can help me achieve my ultimate dream… to master all ninjutsu."
...
Otogakure.
The Sound Four received Kabuto's relayed orders.
They were Sakon and Ukon, Jirobo, Kidomaru, and Tayuya.
During the chaos of the Konoha Chūnin Exam, it was these four who maintained the Four Black Mists Formation.
"Finally, we get to go to Konoha again," Tayuya said, the only woman among them. "That damned village… so peaceful it's pathetic. Makes me wanna break it."
"But last time, that wood guy… that guy was…" Jirobo hesitated, his round face tight with unease.
Tayuya immediately snarled at him:
"What the hell are you hesitating for, you cowardly fatass?!"