there's no "chapter 109" ig
Chapter 110: Continuing to Cause Trouble for Konoha
Though Zabuza was also one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Yasushi had no particular interest in him.
The Executioner's Blade that should have fallen into his hands had long ago been shattered to powder by the Meteorite during the battle at Konoha. There was probably no hope of repair.
From that point on, the Seven Ninja Swords would be forever incomplete.
And without the Executioner's Blade, Zabuza was just an ordinary shinobi, likely unable to even reach Kage level.
The current Akatsuki organization would consider recruiting him a waste of time.
But Haku—a fiercely loyal Ice Release user—was rare talent.
After so many days, Yasushi had deeply experienced the weakness of being short on manpower.
Though he now had a large pile of clansmen he could command, Impure World Reincarnation had obvious weaknesses and couldn't completely replace living subordinates.
What was most important when selecting subordinates?
Strength?
No—loyalty!
In a place like the shinobi world, loyalty was truly an extremely precious thing.
Especially subordinates willing to die for you—you could never have too many.
Root was an exception.
So the first moment he saw Zabuza, Yasushi had already earmarked Haku.
"You came for Haku?" Zabuza's expression changed as he gripped his blade tighter.
"That's right. I'm very interested in that little brat. Name your price—sell him to me!"
"What?" Zabuza, who'd thought a big fight was coming, paused, not quite processing this. "Sell to you?"
"Exactly." Yasushi said very generously, "Do you want three-tomoe Sharingan? I have plenty. I won't bully you—let's do an even trade. One Sharingan eye for one bloodline limit kid."
When conquering Root previously, besides obtaining the Uchiha clan's genetic information, Yasushi had also had Zetsu take away all the Uchiha relics they could scavenge, including quite a few clansmen's eyes.
Danzo's arm only had ten three-tomoe Sharingan transplanted—representing five jonin. But the Uchiha clan's jonin numbers far exceeded that figure.
Most of the Sharingan had actually been divided up by Konoha and stored away as treasured inventory. Danzo's portion was just a small fraction.
That's why even after Kakashi and Itachi lost their eyes, they could still receive three-tomoe Sharingan replacements.
Danzo's arm Sharingan should have existed before the massacre night, only being filled to ten after the massacre.
Regarding these Sharingan, Yasushi basically took a pragmatic attitude. He wouldn't hoard them unused just because they were clan relics.
He'd previously just been an ordinary Uchiha clansman. He didn't know forbidden techniques like Izanagi, didn't know how to conduct scientific research, couldn't use them for experiments—keeping them served no purpose.
Using them now to trade with Zabuza, he felt it was quite worthwhile.
As for whether Zabuza taking the Sharingan would be dragged down like Kakashi—what did that have to do with him?
"Sharingan?" Zabuza was indeed tempted.
Just as he hesitated, a delicate little figure appeared from behind him, looking at him with anxious, uneasy eyes.
"Zabuza-sama..."
Zabuza glanced back at Haku, not responding.
The current Haku wasn't yet the child he'd raised from small, who'd depended on him for years. He was just a bloodline limit orphan Zabuza had picked up by chance during his escape.
As a shinobi raised in the "Village of Bloody Mist," hands covered in blood—it was very difficult to have ordinary human emotions.
He certainly had some feelings for Haku, but definitely not many.
Haku bit his lip tightly, tears rolling around in his eyes. He worked hard not to let those tears fall, because Zabuza-sama hated people crying.
"I am Zabuza-sama's tool..." Haku lowered his head, murmuring quietly to himself.
"Fine, deal!" Zabuza only hesitated slightly before agreeing.
Though there was certainly the factor of coveting the Sharingan, the main reason was he didn't want to conflict with Uchiha Yasushi over a bloodline subordinate.
In the battle that destroyed Konoha, the Akatsuki organization's name had resounded throughout the shinobi world. No matter how arrogant Zabuza was, he wouldn't think he could provoke the Akatsuki organization.
Losing a bloodline subordinate was certainly regrettable, but obtaining a three-tomoe Sharingan—no matter how you calculated it, he wasn't losing out.
Subordinates could betray you at any time. Only one's own strength was the foundation for survival in the shinobi world.
"A wise choice!" Yasushi smiled and produced a scroll. After releasing it, he took out a test tube and handed it to Zabuza.
After carefully inspecting it and confirming it was indeed a well-preserved three-tomoe Sharingan, Zabuza smiled and put it away, waving his hand carelessly.
"Haku, starting today, you'll follow him."
"Zabuza-sama..." Haku's lips trembled, his heart full of the pain of abandonment.
But Zabuza simply ignored him, turning to plunder the wealth from the caravan.
"Alright, Haku, come with me!"
Yasushi smiled and extended his hand to Haku. Haku looked at the heartless Zabuza, then at Yasushi before him, smiling as he extended his hand. Finally, he deflated.
He didn't take Yasushi's extended hand. Instead, he lowered his head and bowed respectfully.
"My lord, from now on, Haku is your tool. I await your use."
Yasushi cheerfully helped Haku up, holding his small hand as they walked forward.
"Don't worry, Haku. As long as you don't betray me, you'll forever be my loyal subordinate."
Orochimaru's gaze flickered over Haku. His collector's disease was acting up again.
"Yasushi, is this little brat's bloodline limit very important?"
"No, it's just ordinary Ice Release." Yasushi shook his head, explaining casually. "It's just that I also need to start building my own forces now. I can't have Impure World Reincarnations do everything."
"Is that so..." Orochimaru clearly didn't quite believe this, but didn't ask further. He changed the subject. "I see you don't seem to value Sharingan that much. Would you sell me one too?"
"Heh, isn't the Tenseigan enough for you to research? What, now you're scheming for Sharingan again?"
Yasushi refused directly without even turning his head. Orochimaru didn't mind, just smiled and let the matter pass lightly. But in his heart he couldn't help sighing secretly.
The group continued forward and soon approached Konoha again.
"Hehe, back at Konoha again!" Yasushi's smile began twisting. "Should we conveniently cause Konoha some more trouble?"
"Hey, Hiruko, haven't you been obsessing over Kakashi?"
"Kakashi possesses all seven chakra natures. He's one of the few shinobi who's mastered all the basic attributes."
"Absorbing him will only benefit your future attribute balance, no drawbacks."
"Why don't we just lure him out and absorb him quickly?"
"Hmph!" Hiruko didn't know how his intelligence had leaked out. His face darkened, very displeased.
But his obsession with Kakashi had persisted for several years. Now with this opportunity, he naturally didn't want to let it pass.
After hesitating briefly, he finally nodded in agreement.
"Fine, then I'll activate my secret technique and lure Kakashi out of the village."
***
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