In the dark underground training field…
Asuma and the other two all had their eyes tightly shut, their facial muscles relaxed.
The three corpses looked as if they had only recently died.
Orochimaru, a frequent killer, saw it at a glance. He couldn't help but examine the bodies a little longer, silently amazed—Uchiha Yu's method of preserving corpses was even more professional than his own.
He gestured for Kimimaro to store them away.
Kimimaro called over two Sound-nin to carry the bodies away.
Orochimaru's expression softened as he looked up at Uchiha Yu, standing atop Garaga's head. Knowing they would soon part ways, he couldn't restrain his curiosity and asked:
"Yu-kun, before we part—could you finally tell me what's so special about Kakashi's three-tomoe Sharingan?"
"I'll tell you next time I return."
Yu replied calmly. He planned to bring Orochimaru into Kamui's space next time—a surprise for Obito.
Orochimaru's eyes glimmered with anticipation.
"Let's go." Yu glanced along the corridor.
Little Karin peeked out from behind her mother and called out in awe:
"You'll really come back to get us?"
"Mhm!" Karin nodded vigorously, like a pecking chick, before ducking back behind her mother.
"Kabuto… Take care of yourself. Stay by Lord Orochimaru's side and study hard. When you've learned all you can, come find us again!"
As she spoke, she reached out to straighten Kabuto's collar and adjust his glasses. She studied her adopted son's reluctant face, then gently patted his shoulder.
"Shouldn't you say… that you'll come get me?"
Kabuto muttered softly.
"Haha, you're grown now—a true shinobi. You need to learn how to find your own way home!"
Nono chuckled and turned to leave. With Shizune holding the slumbering Tsunade, the two leapt onto the crimson serpent's back, standing behind Yu.
Although reluctant, Nono had seen Kabuto's growth over their time together.
Just as Yu had told her: Kabuto's overall strength now rivaled her own. He had also shown tremendous talent as a ninja—a rough gem waiting to be polished.
Once everyone was ready—
"Step back a little."
Yu guided the group toward the rear of the snake's body. Then, he manipulated Garaga's weakened form.
The serpent's crimson-scaled body twisted, and its seemingly tough head smashed upward toward the ceiling of the underground base.
The ceiling burst open with a tremendous crash. Sunlight poured in from above as the crimson serpent began to climb out, carrying Yu and the others upward.
Although Garaga had been tortured inside Tsukuyomi for an entire month and appeared near death, with a bit of chakra injected by Yu and despite being under the control of Yasakani, it still showed the terrifying talent worthy of a Ryūchidō overlord.
Kakashi had been tortured by Tsukuyomi for three days and nights and ended up bedridden for a week.
But Garaga had endured a month of it. And after recovering a bit of chakra—it could already crawl after just three seconds.
Yu knew comparing humans and beasts wasn't entirely fair.
But even so, this proved the terrifying physical resilience of the crimson king serpent beneath him.
He wondered idly whether Garaga could withstand Deidara's "art."
Sunlight spilled through the hole above.
Yu glanced sideways at the massive crimson-red scales beneath his feet—like polished ruby—and felt quite satisfied with this new "Shinobi World Pet."
Kabuto stood in a daze. Only when Garaga's tail fully disappeared through the hole did he step forward with sorrow on his face.
Orochimaru turned back.
"For now, follow Kimimaro and familiarize yourself with the Sound Village. Later, you'll take over managing the village from him. He's been complaining to me for a while, saying he wants someone to relieve him. You've come at the perfect time."
Upon hearing this, Kabuto's pupils trembled. He turned and looked at Orochimaru's side profile in disbelief.
Orochimaru chuckled lightly—
"In the entire shinobi world, the only person who can earn the recognition of both me and Yu-kun… is you."
Kabuto's face flushed with emotion. His whole body felt hot, his chest surged with an inexplicable power—the emotional feedback of being trusted and expected.
"Give it your all. Oh, and have someone patch up that giant hole in the ceiling first."
Kabuto turned and glanced at the shattered ceiling.
"By the way… can you perform an eye transplant?"
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru, I can!"
"Good. When you're done, come to my lab. Just have someone lead you there."
The conversation ended, and Orochimaru turned down the corridor with a solemn look. He pulled a test tube from his robe and held it up to his eyes.
Inside were the spoils from this mission: three pairs of Sharingan.
While Uchiha Yu traveled to Kirigakure, Orochimaru had plenty on his plate:
Resettling the Uzumaki and Tsuchigumo clans
Collecting Hokage corpses, especially the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze
Researching how to combine the forbidden jutsu "Fury" with Edo Tensei
Orochimaru admitted to himself:
But before anything else, he planned to give himself a fresh pair of three-tomoe Sharingan!
He also still wanted to return to the Akatsuki to verify whether Yu's warning to "never go back" was legitimate.
Having sorted through his tasks, Orochimaru made his way quickly to the underground lab.
The ground rumbled violently.
At the edge of the forest, Uchiha clan members, Mei Terumi, and Ao looked up in alarm. Birds took flight in panic, and beasts scattered in fear.
Then came a deafening roar—
A massive crimson serpent erupted from underground, locking its lone golden eye on the group below.
It stood like a mountain, casting a colossal shadow across the woods. The pressure it gave off was monstrous, its mere presence a declaration of sovereign dominance.
Mei Terumi and Ao instantly pulled out kunai and fell into defensive stances, sensing overwhelming killing intent.
Moments later, at the serpent's head—
Uchiha Yu emerged, walking calmly from the rear.
Tamayo's eyes lit up. He immediately recognized Yu in white robes and shouted with joy.
"Hop on. We're heading to Kirigakure."
Yu scanned the gathered Uchiha and then directed Garaga to swing its tail down before them.
Black shadows leapt one after another.
The Uchiha clan members stared up in awe at the enormous crimson serpent towering dozens of meters tall. They marveled at its grandeur, then began climbing onto its massive head.
Mei Terumi and Ao stared at the creature, breath catching in their throats.
A summon on the battlefield... It would be a massacre.
Kirigakure had always lagged behind in summoning beasts compared to other villages.
"Big Brother, is this the gift Orochimaru gave you?" Tamao asked, lying on Xinya's back and studying its crimson scales closely.
Yu replied calmly. Then he directed Garaga to begin crawling east—toward Kirigakure.
Mei Terumi's expression turned strange. She looked down at the enormous serpent under her feet and wondered:
Does this guy… know what the word "pet" means?
Still, the thought of that blood-red Susanoo made her let go of her doubts. She stared at Yu's back, filled with anticipation.
Garaga, still dazed and reeling, cursed furiously in its heart. Under the control of Yasakani, it had no choice but to crawl forward.
It had lived for hundreds—maybe thousands—of years, and this was the first time its head had ever been this crowded!
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