Yahiko had short orange hair and a lively, cheerful personality, his demeanor naturally drew people in. It was a type of charisma reminiscent of Nawaki or Naruto, as if his very presence radiated sunlight. He had an energy so inviting that others couldn't help but feel a connection with him.
In the original timeline, he was meant to lead Akatsuki in Amegakure. However, fate had taken a different path. Orochimaru had brought him to the Sound Ninja Village, where he had lived ever since.
Some people in this world had talents that set them apart, and Yahiko was one of those rare individuals.
His combat ability wasn't exceptional. Even after years of training in ninjutsu under Jiraiya, his skills were at best comparable to an average jounin. But his true strength wasn't in physical prowess, it was in his mind. Yahiko had an innate ability to inspire others and make decisive, effective judgments. He had been the emotional backbone of his trio since childhood, possessing leadership qualities that neither Konan nor Nagato could fully match.
Yet, he was only fifteen. It wasn't surprising that Kana doubted whether he could handle the weight of negotiation, especially with someone as powerful as the Fourth Raikage. But with no one else available to consult, she reluctantly brought Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan to the negotiations with Kumogakure.
"A woman?" A frowned, his sharp gaze settling on Chana, who had appeared as the leader of the Sound Ninja Village at the border of the Land of Sound.
He hadn't expected this. A frail woman leading the village?
But something quickly struck him as odd. Chana's behavior and speech didn't carry the commanding aura of someone in charge, nor did she exude the presence of a powerful shinobi.
"Are you seriously the leader of the Sound Ninja Village?" A's confusion was evident.
"I…" Chana stammered, unsure how to respond.
But Yahiko smoothly stepped forward. "My sister may not be the leader of the Sound Ninja Village, but she has full authority to handle the village's affairs. If you have questions, you can talk to us, and it'll be just the same as talking to the leader."
It was proof of Yahiko's natural leadership talent. Even when standing before the intimidating A, Yahiko managed to maintain composure.
Although his heart pounded nervously, outwardly, he appeared calm and confident.
A, a man usually inclined to assert dominance, saw no reason to waste time on posturing. He cut straight to the point, addressing the prior incident involving Kumogakure's teams.
Yahiko handled the situation with a straightforward proposal: one-third of the Land of Sound would be ceded as a battlefield for the ongoing war between Kumogakure and Konoha. As for the Kumogakure ninjas who had been killed, Yahiko promised their village chief would provide an explanation upon his return.
Surprisingly, A accepted the arrangement.
At the moment, Kumogakure was locked in conflict with Konoha and couldn't afford to split its forces to deal with the Sound Ninja Village. Engaging in an unnecessary war with an unknown village, especially without solid intelligence, would only lead to avoidable losses.
And so, the residents of the Land of Sound were evacuated, and the area was turned into a battlefield for the two great nations.
The situation was bizarre—two major countries waging war on the land of a small nation, but neither dared to provoke the Sound Ninja Village directly.
The Sound Ninja Village didn't display overwhelming strength, but it had clearly made an impression on both sides.
The war between Konoha and Kumogakure, however, was of no concern to Orochimaru.
For him, the more chaos in the world, the better.
Even if the shinobi villages tore the earth apart, Orochimaru wouldn't be bothered.
In the southeastern region of the Land of Fire, hidden within a dense forest, lay a secluded underground base.
The entrance was narrow and well-concealed, appearing as nothing more than a small well. But once inside, it opened into a vast, fully equipped laboratory that seemed like an entirely different world. ṙÃΝ∅βĘȘ
The lab housed cutting-edge equipment: fluorescent lights, experimental chambers, clone pods, computers, silent generators, and a monitoring room.
The monitoring room alone had 24 screens, each displaying critical points within a five-mile radius. Four clones worked in shifts to ensure constant surveillance.
This base was significantly larger and more concealed than the current Sound Ninja Village headquarters.
"Dad, are you heading out?" Mi asked, looking up at Orochimaru with curious eyes.
"Yes. There's a small town about five kilometers from here. If you're bored, you can spend some time there, but make sure to check in at the base occasionally," Orochimaru instructed. "And remember—don't let anyone follow you back."
"Okay, Dad!" Mi nodded obediently, before hesitating. "Um… Dad, when will Mom come to visit me?"
Seeing the child's wide, expectant eyes, Orochimaru couldn't help but smile. "She'll come next time we meet."
"Of course." Orochimaru patted Mi's head affectionately before turning to pack his belongings.
As Orochimaru donned his black cloak and left the base, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Talking to the child he had created was oddly entertaining.
With a quick set of hand seals, Orochimaru performed a summoning jutsu. Boom!
A puff of white smoke rose, and a sleek black snake materialized at his side.
"Master!" the snake hissed respectfully.
"Yamata, tell me about the flora, geology, environment, and weather around Ryūchi Cave," Orochimaru ordered.
"Oh? Master, are you finally heading to Ryūchi Cave?"
"Yes," Orochimaru replied with a slight nod.
He had been planning to visit Ryūchi Cave for a long time. But plans often fell victim to the demands of war, personal strength development, and expanding his army.
Now that his immediate tasks were complete, he was free to pursue it.
For most, finding Ryūchi Cave was a daunting challenge. But for Orochimaru, the process was relatively simple.
By summoning snakes from the cave, he could estimate its location. Systematically eliminating the wrong areas, he was confident he would find the cave soon enough.
Once he mastered Sage Mode, he could take the next steps in his plans, obtaining the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and eventually the Rinnegan.
With the Rinnegan, he could unlock abilities far beyond his current scope.
Guided by the black snake, Orochimaru moved methodically, narrowing down the possible locations for Ryūchi Cave.
After a day, one area was ruled out.
After three days, two more were eliminated.
On the seventh day, standing in front of a range of rugged mountains, Orochimaru crouched down, sifting soil through his fingers.
"Hey, you there! Stop right now!"
A shout suddenly cut through the quiet. The voice, though youthful, carried a steely edge.
Orochimaru paused and began to turn around when another voice spoke up.
"K-Kakashi… do we really need to mess with this guy?"
"It's wartime. Anyone with a suspicious identity could be an enemy," Kakashi replied firmly. "You there, remove your cloak and identify yourself."
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