Chapter 76: You Have to Know How to Balance Work and Rest!
After parting with Risa, Oborotsuki went straight to the former Kaguya clan compound outside Kirigakure.
To his relief, Orochimaru had indeed not left yet.
At this moment, the man was sitting by a campfire, chatting with the young Kaguya Kimimaro—who he had just successfully "abducted"—while eating roasted rabbit meat.
"Should I call you bold, or just overly confident?"
Oborotsuki appeared behind Orochimaru like a ghost.
"Heh heh… I didn't expect it to be you."
"Are you regretting it now and planning to kill me here?"
Orochimaru stood up, turned around, and gave Oborotsuki a wicked smile.
Both were clearly joking; they understood each other perfectly. Orochimaru knew very well—if Oborotsuki truly wanted to kill him, there would be no nonsense.
He would simply strike at the most unexpected moment and end it in one blow.
Just like the day he had sliced off his head with a single swing.
"You guessed right, Orochimaru. I've changed my mind."
Oborotsuki wore a half-smiling, half-mocking expression as he pointed the Decapitation Greatsword straight at Orochimaru.
Beside them, the small Kaguya Kimimaro had no idea what was happening. He could only stare wide-eyed as the two adults faced off.
"You…"
Sensing the shift in Oborotsuki's chakra and the gradually intensifying killing intent radiating from him, Orochimaru's expression finally changed:
"You're really going to kill me?"
"You invaded Kirigakure. This place is now a forbidden zone. Why wouldn't I kill you?"
Oborotsuki smiled coldly.
His words left Orochimaru speechless. Their eyes met, and Orochimaru's gaze flickered with shock and uncertainty.
"There's a way to live."
"But you have to stay in Kirigakure."
The tip of Oborotsuki's Decapitation Greatsword rested against Orochimaru's neck.
With just a slight push, Orochimaru's head would separate from his body—no accidents possible.
"Heh heh…"
"So that's your condition?"
"Exactly—the condition for your survival."
Oborotsuki nodded.
"But… why?"
Orochimaru grew curious.
To be frank, he had never known Hōzuki Oborotsuki before. There was no prior connection between them.
Except for the brief time they had worked together in Akatsuki.
Yet Oborotsuki seemed to understand him unusually well.
And now he wanted him to stay in Kirigakure—inevitably making Orochimaru wonder about his true motives.
"If I have to give one reason… your talent is still quite useful, Orochimaru."
"I'll tell you what I need you to do later. For now, you just have to choose: stay and work for me, or die."
Oborotsuki finished speaking and glanced down at the young Kaguya Kimimaro.
The little boy's round eyes were staring up at him—not frightened at all, only curious.
"I have a lot of experimental equipment stored in other places. If you want me to stay—"
"No need to worry about equipment. I'll handle it."
Oborotsuki cut him off.
Seeing that Oborotsuki had already said this much, Orochimaru could only nod:
"Heh heh… it looks like I don't have any reason to refuse you anymore…"
…
After settling things with Orochimaru, Oborotsuki quickly went outside the village to rendezvous with Risa.
He swept his gaze over the six members of the two ANBU squads behind her and suddenly noticed a somewhat familiar figure.
Light blue hair and a tall, burly build.
Although he wasn't carrying the Samehada greatsword on his back and still wore a mask,
Oborotsuki instantly recognized him—Hoshigaki Kisame, who would later join Akatsuki in the future.
Kisame hadn't betrayed Kirigakure and joined Akatsuki because he opposed the Bloody Mist policy.
He had killed his superior, Suikazan Fuguki, after discovering the man was secretly colluding with enemies despite pretending otherwise.
Later, he accepted the invitation from the disguised "Uchiha Madara" (Obito) and joined Akatsuki.
In other words, the current timeline hadn't been altered enough by Oborotsuki's various actions to change Kisame's fate—he might still join Akatsuki later.
Oborotsuki obviously wouldn't allow that to happen.
He showed no outward reaction, simply nodded to Risa and walked over.
"Lord Oborotsuki, we've confirmed the target has entered the Land of Water and is heading toward Kirigakure."
"We still have plenty of time to reach the ambush point!"
Risa was completely focused on completing the mission. She had no idea Oborotsuki already had other plans in mind.
"You two squads go ahead and set up the traps. I want the target captured alive—do not kill her."
Oborotsuki issued the order to the six ANBU members.
"But… Lord Oborotsuki?"
Everyone froze in shock—including Risa, whose face was filled with disbelief.
After all, their original orders had been to eliminate Yekura.
"The Fifth Mizukage just changed the plan at the last minute. Don't ask questions—follow orders!"
Oborotsuki finished, then turned to Risa:
"As for you—you're coming with me to scout ahead."
Risa hesitated for a moment, but ultimately nodded without refusing.
…
Oborotsuki led Risa to a nearby mountain.
The location offered an excellent panoramic view of the forest below.
However, it was quite far from the planned ambush point for Yekura.
"Lord Oborotsuki… what exactly are we doing here… uh—"
Before Risa could finish speaking, her entire body suddenly stiffened. Her pupils rapidly flickered beneath the mask.
"This place has beautiful mountains and clear water—the scenery is excellent."
"Don't be so nervous. Relax a little."
As Oborotsuki spoke calmly from behind her, both of his hands began to grip firmly.
In an instant, Risa's expression showed pain, yet she didn't dare cry out.
"But… Lord Oborotsuki… our mission this time is to ambush the enemy."
Risa's body softened slightly, but she still remembered their original purpose.
"The enemy has only just entered the Land of Water. It's still a long way from the docks to here."
"Shinobi are always on high alert during missions. If you stay tense like that for too long, it's bad for your body."
"Missions are important, but you also have to know how to balance work and rest."
As he spoke, Oborotsuki increased the pressure by another third.
Hearing the slight displeasure in his tone, Risa immediately stopped resisting.
She recalled Mei's instruction to follow all of Oborotsuki's orders. Her eyes slowly closed.
"What's wrong? Are you unhappy about it?"
"No… Lord Oborotsuki."
"Lady Mei instructed me to assist you. No matter what order you give… I must obey… Whatever you want me to do… I'll do…"
"And… I think you're right."
"We really are… too, too serious all the time."
Risa quickly explained.
Hearing this, the corners of Oborotsuki's mouth curved upward into a playful smile.
The ninja system of absolute obedience to orders really was wonderful.
"In that case, relax properly!"
After speaking, Oborotsuki slowly backed up step by step, moving both himself and Risa farther away from the cliff edge.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Yekura—who had come alone to the Land of Water—still had no idea she was walking straight into an unknown fate.
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