Ding Dong~
[New Wi-Fi signal detected: "Scar_Soma Red Persimmon."Signal strength: weak. Connect?]
…Huh?
A sudden Wi-Fi signal—here?
"Scar? Soma Red Persimmon? Who the hell is that?"
Hiroki frowned. He'd never seen that name before—certainly not on Konoha's network list.
An enemy?
He kept his expression neutral, lowering his eyelids slightly as he silently connected to the signal.
Then, he slipped into the other party's thought logs.
|Insider_in_position_ready_to_act.log|:
"The insider's ready… The employer said he'll move soon too."
|Target_Orochimaru_Divert.log|:
"Damn it, luring Orochimaru like this? If we get too close, we could really die! Hope Rattlesnake and Black Bear can keep him busy."
|Assassination_Nawaki_Priority.log|:
"Seriously? What's the point of killing some random Genin kid? Politicians are messed up."
|Clear_outpost_no_survivors.log|:
"If Rattlesnake's signal comes late enough, we'll take out the rest too. Can't leave any traces—if Orochimaru finds them, we're screwed!"
An insider.An assassination plot.
Got it.
Hiroki pieced everything together instantly.
No wonder—so that's why Nawaki, despite being under Orochimaru's command in the original timeline, died so early on the battlefield! It wasn't just bad luck—it was a setup, with a mole and a bounty involved.
But there was no data revealing who the insider was. Without that, Hiroki couldn't simply hack into their mind through the signal—too many unknowns.
He pressed his lips together.
He could, theoretically, kill the enemy through Wi-Fi interference—copying and executing a patch that triggered rapid muscle growth. Within minutes, the target would die from cardiac failure, calcium depletion, or kidney collapse.
But… if he killed this one now, the others might change plans. He'd lose his source of intel.
If he kept the link open, he could keep reading their minds.
His gaze flicked to Orochimaru, still discussing defense plans with Kitagawa. Then to Nawaki and Kushina, both oblivious to the danger closing in.
Whether to act or not…
No, first he had to warn Orochimaru.
Whoever these people were, they were strong—and reckless enough to attack a fortified Konoha outpost head-on. That meant they were no ordinary enemies.
And the traitor… might even be Captain Kitagawa himself.
But he couldn't say that outright. If Kitagawa really was the mole, exposing him too soon could get them all killed.
He needed a signal—something only Orochimaru, Kushina, and Nawaki would understand.
Something secret to their team.
Then it hit him.
Chakra control. The "standard deviation" code they'd discussed in training—a phrase no one else in the outpost would recognize.
Perfect.
"Sensei Orochimaru," Hiroki said suddenly.
Orochimaru turned, golden snake eyes meeting his.
Kitagawa frowned, clearly displeased that a Genin was interrupting a strategic briefing.
Hiroki spoke calmly, voice steady. "Sensei, I have a question about chakra control."
"Yesterday, when you taught us to climb trees, you said to maintain a stable chakra output. But even when I try, my control still feels unstable—like I could fall at any moment. How much chakra do I need to stay steady?"
Nawaki and Kushina both blinked in surprise.
What was he talking about? Hiroki had mastered that exercise in one go yesterday. He'd even discussed chakra units and standard deviation himself!
Kitagawa's frown deepened. "Now? At a time like this?" he muttered under his breath.
Only Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
He understood.
Hiroki wasn't a normal kid—his composure, his precision… and now this coded question.
"Unstable" meant danger."Standard deviation" meant eavesdropping or infiltration.
Orochimaru replied smoothly, his tone unchanged. "I see your concern. The problem is simply that your total output isn't precise."
He raised a finger.
"Try maintaining roughly one-sixth the chakra you'd use for a transformation technique," he said, staring into Hiroki's eyes. "Do you want to test it now?"
Message received.
Hiroki nodded, continuing the act. "But sensei, I used over four times that amount—and it still didn't feel stable."
Four or more enemies.
Orochimaru caught it instantly. He now knew the essentials:– There's a traitor.– At least four hostiles.– They're moving soon.
The exchange lasted less than fifteen seconds, but the tension it created was thick enough to choke on.
Kitagawa wasn't stupid. He could feel something was off.
A kid asking about chakra formulas in the middle of a crisis?And Orochimaru taking him seriously?
His hand moved subtly to his tool pouch.
Across from him, Hiroki mirrored the motion—his fingers brushing the concealed kunai in his sleeve.
Until he knew for sure, everyone was a potential enemy.
The air was taut, silent—ready to snap.
Then—
The door slammed open.
A drenched guard stumbled in, eyes wide with panic. "Captain Kitagawa! Lord Orochimaru! The western defense line—Hidden Rain forces spotted! It's a massive formation! The scale—it's unprecedented!"
Here it comes.
The thought struck Hiroki and Orochimaru at the same moment.
Kitagawa froze, then glanced at Hiroki before turning to Orochimaru. "Lord Orochimaru! The situation's urgent! Please, let me confirm it myself—you stay here and defend the outpost!"
Orochimaru's gaze sharpened.
Did he see through them? No… it was instinct—battle-honed intuition. The timing was too perfect. A textbook diversion.
Kitagawa was trying to prove his innocence by leaving. Clever—if he was the traitor, this would deflect suspicion.
"I understand," Orochimaru said evenly. "Go. I'll hold the outpost until you return."
"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru."
Kitagawa vanished in a blur—his body flicker leaving behind the faint shimmer of a transformation.
He'd disguised himself as Orochimaru.
Orochimaru smirked and immediately countered—transforming into Kitagawa's likeness.
And then—
BOOM!
The side wall exploded inward with a deafening crack!
Chunks of stone and wood tore through the air as a dark shadow burst through the smoke, moving faster than a heartbeat.
A blade flashed cold under the dim light—its tip aimed straight at Nawaki!
An ambush!?
Outside, multiple explosions erupted almost simultaneously—followed by screams echoing through the rain.
The outpost was under siege—from both inside and out.
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Sorry guys for delayed update as I was busy this month because I got a job as Associate software engineer, Yay!
After working there for a month the company went under and all the new hires got fired, so I'm back as an unemployed man again
I'll try to update daily