REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!Chapter 107: Shocking Developments at the Front
Under the carrot-and-stick approach, Yasushi successfully recruited Hiruko.
Originally, Hiruko had planned to kidnap a Scorch Release user in the Land of Rain to absorb their Kekkei Genkai. But now, after Yasushi's reminder, he realized that randomly absorbing bloodlines was foolish behavior.
He only regretted his previous lack of intelligence—knowing nothing, he'd randomly absorbed Steel Release and Swift Release.
Now he only worried this would negatively impact his future growth. He spent all day pondering how to wash away these two bloodlines. Where would he still care about that so-called Scorch Release?
However, over these years Hiruko had recruited some subordinates and accumulated some material resources. Yasushi didn't care about these things, so he let Hiruko handle them himself.
Hiruko also didn't want to be completely dependent on the Akatsuki organization. He wanted his own forces outside the organization, so he spent several days arranging everything properly before following Yasushi and the others back to the Land of Water.
Though it was a time of war, because the main battlefield was in the Land of Fire, the Land of Water hadn't been affected too much.
Moreover, due to the influx of resources and spoils plundered from the front lines, the Land of Water's economy actually experienced a certain deformed recovery.
On the return journey, in every city, town, and village they passed through, there were voices of praise everywhere.
"Ah, praise the Mizukage-sama!"
"The Land of Water has been at war with the Land of Fire for so many years—finally we see hope of victory!"
"I could tell from the start that the Fourth Mizukage-sama was a remarkable leader. Sure enough, it's come true now!"
Hearing those foolish people sighing with joy, Yasushi couldn't help but want to laugh inside.
No one knew better than him what state Yagura was currently in.
Under Obito's malicious revenge, the original "Village of Bloody Mist" policies had been intensified even further. Every day, shinobi were killed for all sorts of absurd reasons.
Yet now, when it came to the common people at the bottom, they'd completely forgotten these things. Tempted by a few petty benefits, they began praising this Fourth Mizukage's brilliance and might.
"Heh, commoners really are a bunch of ignorant things!"
"Whoever feeds them is their mother!"
"Forgetting righteousness at the sight of profit!"
Yasushi cursed indignantly, gulping down the beer in his cup in large mouthfuls.
They were currently resting in a small town, also learning about the situation at the front lines. But all they'd heard was an earful of useless nonsense.
Orochimaru's gaze swept across his face. Knowing he must have remembered the attitude of Konoha's villagers toward the Uchiha clan, Orochimaru said nothing, just eating and drinking as he pleased.
Hiruko, however, couldn't stand hearing this.
He was originally from an ordinary common background, with no common language whatsoever with a wealthy clan member like Uchiha Yasushi.
Moreover, Yasushi had put him through genjutsu earlier, leaving him quite uncomfortable.
Though he'd now joined the Akatsuki organization, that didn't mean he was convinced by Uchiha Yasushi.
"Hmph!" He snorted coldly and retorted, "How could you possibly understand ordinary people's suffering?"
"What they spend their entire lives desperately pursuing might be just basic things you were born with."
"If they don't scramble and struggle a bit, working hard to accumulate everything advantageous to themselves, they'll truly be trampled under your feet for life."
"And also, don't talk as if you wealthy clan-born people are so moral!"
"If you weren't hoarding shinobi technique resources, ordinary genin wouldn't have to go to the battlefield knowing only a few universal techniques taught at the academy!"
"Nonsense!" Yasushi slammed his cup on the table and shouted loudly, "Our Uchiha clan never hoards knowledge! Even someone like me, an ordinary clan member—as long as I can learn it, I can study whatever technique I want!"
"Hehe..." Hiruko laughed coldly twice, saying sarcastically, "Yeah, your Uchiha clan's techniques all require the Sharingan to display sufficient power. Otherwise, learning them is mostly useless."
"Outsiders would have to be brain-damaged to skip universal techniques and learn your clan techniques instead."
"You're so generous—how come I've never seen you make shinobi tools and such cheaper?"
The two were arguing when the tavern door opened. Several shinobi walked in. From the forehead protectors, they were clearly Kirigakure ninja.
The leader, upon entering, immediately spotted the two arguing and the eye-catching black robes with red clouds they wore.
The next moment, he stopped, his body retreating, wanting to slip away.
"Now, now, since you're already here, come sit down. Why the rush to leave?"
At some point, Orochimaru, who'd been sitting in his seat, suddenly vanished and appeared behind him, extending his head sinisterly from the man's shoulder. His long serpentine tongue flickered beside the man's face.
The man startled in alarm, hastily drawing his short blade to stab backward.
But the next moment, his hand was firmly gripped. With a "crack," it was twisted and broken. Then his abdomen took a heavy punch. His legs went weak and he collapsed, kneeling on the ground and retching.
Thud, thud.
Two sounds of bodies hitting the ground rang out. The Kirigakure leader forced himself to turn his head and saw his two teammates, each holding their own blades, having stabbed them into their companions' hearts. Both dead on the spot, corpses lying there with blood covering the ground.
When he raised his head again, he saw a pair of blood-red eyes staring coldly at him, their gaze icy and merciless, looking down from on high.
During the Third Great Ninja War, Kirigakure's main enemies had been the Uchiha. Both sides slaughtered each other—who knew how many died? They'd already formed a blood feud.
Earlier, when they heard the Uchiha clan was destroyed, countless people in Kirigakure had celebrated with cheers. Who would have thought he'd encounter an Uchiha again today?
"Alright, from your appearance, you should also be returning from the battlefield."
"So talk. How's the situation at the front?"
"Don't worry. Seeing as you're fighting Konoha, as long as you explain the intelligence clearly, I can let you leave."
Yasushi played with the cup in his hand, saying boredly.
The Kirigakure ninja was filled with suspicion, not really believing Uchiha Yasushi's words.
Seeing his hesitant appearance, Hiruko grew anxious. He slapped the table and scolded in frustration:
"What are you still hesitating for?"
"Even if he's lying to trick you, what can you do about it?"
"You don't actually think you could withstand interrogation techniques, do you?"
"Rather than being suspicious and losing your life for nothing, you might as well take a gamble and bet his words are true."
"You're just an ordinary shinobi. Your life's margin for error is very low!"
"If you make even one wrong choice, this life is completely ruined!"
"You have to seize every opportunity to possibly survive safely and then grow stronger to change your fate!"
"What loyalty or disloyalty?"
"What's worth your loyalty in that bird village of yours?"
"Worst case, just leave the village and become a rogue ninja—what's the big deal?"
"But if your life is gone, then truly nothing remains!"
After this wake-up call, the Kirigakure ninja gritted his teeth and finally compromised.
"Fine, I hope you keep your word!"
"We're returning from the front lines. The situation there isn't very good."
"Those useless people from the Land of Wind are dragging us down again. Their Kazekage Rasa was captured alive by Konoha!"
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